I Suppose...

...when your last field trip was to the Medieval Festival and you saw a lot of this....

































...you just have to expect that one day you will go outside and witness this...

Year End Celebration

Our home school group had a year end/graduation party at the beginning of June. It was a wonderful afternoon to celebrate everyone, and especially the graduates.

The children were all encouraged to bring along something that they had done, made, or studied during the past year. There were many projects, bug collections, lego creations, and even a hand carved chess set. Brent had been reading a book on science tricks and decided he wanted to do a magic show. We researched and experimented with quite a number until we finally settled on 3 that he was able to perform without fail.

When the MC called out that it was his turn he jumped up, pumped his arm and whisper-shouted "YES!" He was made for the stage. Not an ounce of fear. (I was a nervous wreck!)

He made a salt shaker disappear, read the mind of a graduate, and made an egg go into a bottle. Next time you see him ask him to show you!

15 Years Ago

OK, I'm a bit behind on my postings, but I still wanted to include this...at least my blogging is more up to date than my scrapbooking!

On May 29 Mark and I celebrated our 15th Anniversary. 15 years to testify of how God provides "more than we can ask or imagine" and how He remains to be "our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. " (Ephesians 3:20 and Psalm 33:20)

Looking at these shots I don't think we've changed a bit...well, OK, Mark got bifocals...but other than that...

MICHAEL !!!!

For those of you who aren't related to us, here' s a little family tree info. Mark's oldest brother is 15 years older than Mark. Mark's oldest nephew was 24 when Devin was born, his youngest niece was 13. Our children have a lot of cousins that are a lot older than them! Fortunately, Mark's sister had a daughter the day after Devin was born, and adopted another a few months older than Shannon, so they do have some cousins the same age on that side (and yes, the nephews have been having children right along with us as well...)

But today's focus is on the older guys, the ones whom our guys look up to, love, and admire, and in particular, Michael!

Michael took a special place in our hearts as we followed him (in spirit) as he rode across Canada on the Sea to Sea bike tour a couple of years ago. We put pins in our Canada map every day to mark his progress, followed along in their devotional and read his blog. We met up with him when the tour took him only 1/2 an hour from our house, ready with our "We 'heart' Mike on a Bike" sign.

Then he moved to Lake Louise and our rendezvous became few and too far between.

Last week, he came home for a visit and took the time to come to our house for lunch. The kids were all over him...as the picture shows. He listened to all their stories, watched all their new tricks, AND tuned up their bikes! (which of course was followed by a race around the driveway)

Thanks for stopping by Michael..we still 'heart' you!