June Days

It's hard to know where to begin to catch up on the events of our lives.  The last month in particular has passed so quickly, and it's hard to believe that Kathy has returned to school for summer classes and we are seeking to adjust to life without her once more.  Those were wonderful days and weeks we shared together, and we pray for many more in the months ahead!

While she was home, Kathy taught a series of Bible study classes in our home for the ladies in our church.  We were thrilled to have Essie and Sarah join us for a couple of these times.  During one of those sessions we learned how to do a Discourse Analysis (aka, Bible Diagramming).  We all had to think hard but the truths gleaned from the Scripture passage were richly rewarding!  

Dad took Benjamin to his very first Indians baseball game one evening, and they had a blast together!  And what do you know?  Benjamin went home with a ball!

A robin nested in our dwarf dogwood tree this spring.  We were thrilled to catch a glimpse of her babies waiting for another meal, a wonderful visual of God's children opening their mouths wide to be filled by a faithful and wise heavenly Father.

With the Turner clan now only 15 minutes away from us, it has been fun to see all of them more often during the week.  One Monday, I brought Sarah over to spend part of the day with me.  We baked watermelon cookies and went shopping for some flip flops, sunglasses, and a new cross-stitch project to do together.

 We also started a count-down calendar until Kathy returns for four days in August.

I wouldn't say that the last several weeks have been all that easy for us.  It seems that each individual is facing a life circumstance this is posing new challenges and discouragements.  But as we walk through these things, we know that God is with us and working on our behalf to accomplish his purposes in our lives and make us more like himself.  As the well-known hymn aptly reminds:

All the way my Savior leads me;

What have I to ask besides?

Can I doubt his tender mercies,

who through life have been my guide?

Heavenly peace, divinest comfort;

here by faith in him to dwell.

For I know whatever befall me, 

Jesus doeth all things well.

Wisdom's Words

The enjoyment of God is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied.

- Jonathan Edwards -

Wisdom's Words

Wisdom's Words

God's greatest blessing always rests in God Himself. 

- Vaneetha Rendall Risner- 

Wisdom's Words

The secret of joy is Christ in me, not me in different circumstances.

-Elisabeth Elliot-

The Passing Days...and a Birthday!

The last several weeks have been quite full with a lot of extra activity.  It has been a joy to have Kathy home and have her enter in to the family events!  One Monday shortly after she arrived, we (Mom, Kathy, and I ) spent most of the day at Laura's helping her pack up rooms to prepare for their move.

The cooler, damp weather has made the flowers this spring so beautiful!  Last Saturday afternoon I enjoyed snapping a few photos of our blooming  roses.

The kids recently participated in another music recital.  Just as they were waiting to turn in to the parking lot where the the recital was held that afternoon, they were involved in a three-car collision.  We ourselves had just parked and were getting out of the car when we heard the awful crash - and all of us instinctively knew it was Ben & Laura.  It was a scary few moments as we ran down the drive to see if everyone was okay.  God graciously protected all those involved, and the Turner van sustained hardly a scratch.  We unloaded the children and all their instruments and, while Ben remained at the scene to talk with the police, the three oldest proceeded with the recital and did amazingly well.  

At the picnic reception following the recital, we managed to get a sister picture.

Perhaps the crowning event this month was Grace's birthday party!  This little redhead had been waiting a long time for her birthday, so I knew we needed to do something special. After all, turning three is a big milestone, right?

We decided to decorate with green since that is Grace's favorite color.  When I asked her several weeks ago what she wanted for her birthday, she said, "Candles!"  So interpreted, I knew that meant we needed to bake a cake to have something to hold the much-desired candles.  This is what resulted:

The cake was a huge success since this is all that was left of it...

Another fun activity we prepared for Grace and the other children was a piñata.  Mom and I found a cute cupcake piñata and filled it with some of their favorite snack foods.  Thankfully since it wasn't raining, we hung the giant-sized cupcake on the monkey bars and let the whacking begin! 

Things didn't go exactly according to plan when the string to attach the piñata was destroyed, so we finished off the cupcake pounding it on the ground.  It was still fun. :)

Little Katie missed all of the action...

Samuel is growing up and is getting good at throwing balls!

At present time, Grace was one exuberant, thrilled birthday girl!  It seemed that there was a delightful squeal after each gift she opened.  This was the typical expression:

Here she is looking up at Grandma after opening her butterfly chair - such a precious expression.

It was a wonderful party and everyone had a grand time!

We are now looking in to June (can you believe that?!)  Between helping Laura, hosting a ladies Bible study on Thursday nights, trying to spend as much time with Kathy, and dealing with all the other things that come with normal life and work,  the days and weeks are extremely full.   But we treasure these days together and thank God for the memories he continues to give us.

Wisdom's Words

It is very clear...that he lives the best and holiest life who lives and strives for himself as little as he can, and that no one lives in a worse or more evil manner than he who lives and strives for himself alone, and thinks about and seeks only his own advantage.

-John Calvin-