DC to Baltimore-family fun

Breanna flew out of Baltimore to visit friends in NC so we decided to take some time to explore DC and Baltimore before we picked her back up at the airport.

We spent a day in DC visiting musems and looking at monuments...it was HOT!

This was in the Natural History museum. Pretty good museum but way over the top with evolution.

Maddy takes any opportunty she can to study animals...dead or alive.

I just love her curiosity, her intrest in God's creatures. I can't wait to see how she uses this passion to further the gospel.

We all liked the photography display from National Geographic.

Here the kids are talking about the move "The Night at the Museum"

Our little "sweet pea"

just beautiful

Dinner Time! Hot Spot in DC

It was so hot during the day that we waited until the sun went down to check out the White House and a few monuments.

So tired, done for the day!!!

Billy took Logan by the Redskins stadium...Happy Boy.

So the next morning we headed to Baltimore to hang out before we picked up Breanna at the airport

. Billy took me by Charm City Cakes...very thoughtful indeed.
One of the girls who works there was outside but when she saw me coming with the camera she took off around the alley.  I'm sure they are over people like me stopping by all the time.

We checked out a few sights in Baltimore, it was HOT!  Very HOT!

We were all very excited to go pick up Breanna from the airport.  We all missed her very much and we were happy to have her back home. Logan cuddled with her all the way back home from Baltimore. She did a great job flying by herself for the first time.

We had a fun time getting away together for a couple days, much needed with how fast paced life seems to be this past year. The next time we make this trip I sure hope it is not as hot!

Maddy's end of the year

It is very hard to believe that the kids wrapped up their first year of school here in PA. Where does time go? Maddy adjusted very well to her knew school and was pretty busy throughout the year between band practice and choir rehearsals after school. She had several opportunities to perform at the end of the year with band and choir.

She has enjoyed learning to play the clarinet this year. She will be participating in the summer band program as well.

 This was the concert on the blacktop, and it was hot. HOT.  It was fun to look around seeing several kids waving frantically as Olivia and I walked through the crowd. Kind of one of those moments that you take in and realize how much has happened and how many people we have met over the school year.

 Why is Olivia holding this little pebble? Why did I take a picture of it? Why am I sharing this with you? Just so you can see it in her hand after she blew it out of her nose!!! She said "I don't know why I did it" Did I mention to you it was HOT?

Maddy performing at the awards ceremony.

One of the many awards she was recognized for during the ceremony.  Maddy racked up with certificates for library helper, choir, art, classroom, citizenship, music and  2 band certificates. I could safely say that she has had a fun and full first year in PA.

Here is Maddy's principal, Mr. Selvenis. He will see 3 out of 4 of our kids come through the school.

This is Maddy's teacher this year, Mrs. Millar. Maddy had a great year academically and socially. We are looking forward to having new friends hang out over the summer.

Perhaps just an excuse to get in the kitchen and have a creative outlet but I made a few teacher gifts for the kids to pass out. Yellow and White cake pops for teachers and office staff.  We put little tags on the cake pops that said "Thank you" from Maddy/Logan.

What a great school year!

Celebration of a life well lived

Today, we are celebrating Ms. Judy's (Judy Morris) life as she went home to be with the Lord this past week. It was a priviledge to visit and get to know Ms. Judy as she battled cancer and other heath issues. I left those visits blown away by her faith and how she trusted the Lord in the timing of the events in her life. It was evident that God gives a gift of peace that surpasses all understanding when your hope is secure in the Lord. Please pray for this family today as they ache with sadness but celebrate Ms. Judy's life and the leagacy she left for generations to come.

Here is a video of Reyna and Kayla, Ms. Judy's granddaugters. They will be singing at the service today to honor their grandmother.  We had the awesome opportunity to have them sing this song at our baptism service back in April.  Listen to the words...

This is the passage of scripture Ms. Judy clung to for the past few months.

Psalm 71

¹ In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
² In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;
turn your ear to me and save me.
³ Be my rock of refuge,
to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
⁴ Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.

⁵ For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord,
my confidence since my youth.
⁶ From birth I have relied on you;
you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.
I will ever praise you.
⁷ I have become a sign to many;
you are my strong refuge.
⁸ My mouth is filled with your praise,
declaring your splendor all day long.

⁹ Do not cast me away when I am old;
do not forsake me when my strength is gone.
¹⁰ For my enemies speak against me;
those who wait to kill me conspire together.
¹¹ They say, “God has forsaken him;
pursue him and seize him,
for no one will rescue him.”
¹² Do not be far from me, my God;
come quickly, God, to help me.
¹³ May my accusers perish in shame;
may those who want to harm me
be covered with scorn and disgrace.

¹⁴ As for me, I will always have hope;
I will praise you more and more.

¹⁵ My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,
of your saving acts all day long—
though I know not how to relate them all.
¹⁶ I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord;
I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.
¹⁷ Since my youth, God, you have taught me,
and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
¹⁸ Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your mighty acts to all who are to come.

¹⁹ Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,
you who have done great things.
Who is like you, God?
²⁰ Though you have made me see troubles,
many and bitter,
you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
you will again bring me up.
²¹ You will increase my honor
and comfort me once more.

²² I will praise you with the harp
for your faithfulness, my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,
Holy One of Israel.
²³ My lips will shout for joy
when I sing praise to you—
I whom you have delivered.
²⁴ My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
all day long,
for those who wanted to harm me
have been put to shame and confusion

Here is a link to her obituary that appeared in the Harrisburg Patriot News.

http://obits.pennlive.com/obituaries/pennlive/obituary.aspx?pid=158245880

Limo and ice cream- Who needs the major League?!

 What a special night the boys had after their baseball game! The opposing team is sponsored by Unique Limousine service so they treated both teams with a limo ride and ice cream.  It will not be a night they will forget anytime soon. On a side note, our team won and we will be playing in the Championship game on Saturday.

They brought a Hummer and a Lincoln Navigator

The winning team about to board their limo

The boys were amazed at all the details.  They loved the neon lights on the floor and ceiling that changed color.

Billy had the "priviledge" to ride in the limo & keep the boys under control.

He said it was pretty loud in there

Both Teams getting ready to celebrate a great season