Family Time

Emily came home from her first year down at Greenville College.  My parents graciously chose to bring her back to Michigan from Illinois, along with all of her stuff.  It also worked out great for celebrating birthday's for our May Birthday Boys, Dad (Robert Earl) and Caleb.  And, as an added bonus, Mom and Dad were able to see Caleb and Zack perform in their Band & Choir Concert.  All in all, another great weekend with FAMILY...and a big thanks to Mom and Dad for making the trip up here.  (Here we are on the back porch after  Sunday dinner meal)

Too Busy to Blog

It's THAT time of year...when life get's "more than a little busy"....

Over the past years, it has been busy this time of year, but now add the recent visits to a Chiropractor 3 times a week and having boys in both Middle School and High School Track with usually 3 or 4 meets a week.  There has also been a weekend Jr. High "BELIEVE Conference in Holland, MI one weekend...which was awesome, and the next weekend, a trip down to Greenville for the Agape Music Festival and a GC campus visit for 4 of our Michigan group and 4 of my sister's group from Tennessee.  Add to the above, the usual spring activity of trying to get the camp ready for the camping season and the grass that seems to actually grow before your very eyes.  By the time we get done mowing everything...it is just about time to start again.   For me, spring is "more than a little busy".  Here are a few pictures to represent the past month or so...

Top Picture - Caleb pole vaulting - His personal best for the year so far is 10' 6". He is getting points for the team by consistantly taking second place, next to his friend and mentor, Casey Gauss, who has also been fun to watch, as we await Casey's breaking of the school pole vault record of 13 foot.

(this link will bring you up to date on Casey and the school record)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA05enEPFZM

Second Picture - Zachary's Long Jump - He got his personal best of 16' 5-1/2" on the last meet of the season.  He has become quite a student of the long jump and hurdles by video taping and watching himself and others in these events, so we antincipate he will be having more success and fun in the future with these endeavors. 

Third Picture - Agape Music Festival in Greenville, IL - This has also become an annual event, where we fill our van and head south.  This year was extra special, with Emily already down there at Greenville College, so my niece, Grace, and her friend Caitlyn were able to stay in the dorm with Emily.  Combine that experience with a campus tour, and I think Grace and Caitlyn were able to get a good college experience.  Both Caleb and Zack took friends with them, Specer Hofer and Aaron Cryderman.  My sister Cyndi, and my niece, Kayce, and her three friends, Shelby, Savanah and Tori, all came up from Whitehouse, TN, which really added to the fun of the weekend. 

Bottom Picture - Our Jr. High group from JFM that went to Holland, MI to the BELIEVE Conference.  This is an awesome event put on just for Jr. Highers.  They do a great job of combining music, art and the spoken word to create an unforgetable worship and ministry opportunity for all of us, youth and adult leaders too.  If you are not familiar with the BELIEVE conferences, and you work with Jr. Highers, you should check out this link and see if there is an upcoming event in your area.  http://www.ciy.com/believe/