Slowing Down?

It generally takes me the first week of summer vacation to recouperate from all the busyness of the end of the school year. This year is no exception! There hasn't been much time to rest but today I finally feel as though I'm catching up.

• Josh decided to spend the summer at home this year. He's figuring it will be his last opportunity to spend this amount of time with us again as he graduates next year. We are glad to have him. In spite of his mother's green thumb and disinterest in yard work, he has become quite a good gardener. My yard has been transformed in one week! Things are getting dug up, cleaned up, raked up, mowed, planted, and cared for. It's looking good!
• Amy has decided its time to spread her wings. One of her friends was looking for a room-mate so she will officially be moving out in another week.
• Jacob won a scholarship for a week-long vocal camp at Kansas State University. Cliff and I took him over there yesterday. It's going to be an unusually quiet week around the house without him. When he gets back, he's going to work for some friends of ours on their farm.
• Emily is working for her mother this summer. We are going to clean and paint and wallpaper. She's so good at this kind of work!
• Cliff will continue to spend his summer evenings driving the highways of the midwest. He enjoys it!

BUSY DAYS

It happens every year. As we come to the final days of school, things get hectic with final choir concerts, track meets, etc.

On top of our busy family schedule, We had a big 30th anniversary celebration at church in which I played a major role in the planning plus I put together 5 videos. We also had a wedding this past weekend which I had to work for.

Right after church on Sunday, we drove the 3 hrs. to Newton for Josh's final "Open Road" concert.

And, in the middle of all this busyness, I TURNED 45!!!!!

Mother's Day

It took me several years to figure out that the best gift I could give my mom on Mother's Day and my Dad on Father's Day is an invitation to dinner at my home. TIME!!

I think I finally came to this conclusion because I now have adult children and I think there's no greater gift they can give to me than their time and ATTENTION

So, in honor of Mother's Day this past Sunday, I had my parents over and cooked my mom one of her favorite meals. Lasagne. It was really good too (if I say so myself)

And Cliff and I and our kids had an amazing evening with them around the dinner table.

These are things I no longer take for granted. Time is moving way too quickly.