Summer Vacation

This year we were able to travel east across the country and visit family. These trips always seem to go too fast.

We stopped at Arne and Debbie's first. They are our hotel along the way. They welcome us at all hours, feed us, give us a wonderful place to sleep, and don't get mad when we are only there for a very short time. We love going to worship with them. Dave's sermon was really good.

We did get to see Mama and Papa Robinson in Brevard, which is always a blessing. We got to sit and chat for a bit and catch up on what they have been doing, as well as talk about the wedding. Papa is already making plans! :)

Adam and Mary Kathryn were getting ready for their trip to MS, but graciously took us in for a few days. Adam cooked - which is always interesting, complicated and yummy. He cooks all those things that I bypass because it takes too long, or needs constant interaction. We sang around the piano, and enjoyed Peter and Philip's bass and tenor voices and Mary Kathryn's beautiful soprano! We relaxed and solved the world's problems on the couch or outside in lawn chairs. We love going to their house!

Then we went to Max and Anne's in Renick, WV. They have a beautiful blueberry farm there with lots of animals. It has the peacefulness of a farm with all the commotion of 13 cousins. Faith and cousins and Marshall and cousins all came to visit as well. So, we also gathered around the piano and sang. Max and Marshall sing parts, and all the kids love to sing. Some of them sing parts as well. So, from the living room of a farmhouse rang out praises (in parts) to our Lord. You can just imagine the music floating over the countryside. Everything we ate had been grown on the farm - meat, milk, cheese, veggies, fruit. Aleya got to milk the cow and feed the calf from a bottle. The girls fed the chickens and picked berries and tomatoes. One night all the cousins slept in the barn with a strange cat and bats (hmmm). The next night they all slept in the field under what would have been stars had it not been overcast. They woke up drenched! It was great!

Then we got to go back to Arne and Debbie's and stayed a little bit longer this time. We were able to worship with them again. Dave's sermon was good (I hear), but I accidentally took a sleep aid instead of Motrin in the morning, so I was really fighting sleep all day. They knock me right out, so I can't believe that I wasn't lying down in the pew, but Tom managed to keep me upright. We are hoping that Arne and Debbie can come for Thanksgiving this year!


Vacation is about seeing our wonderful family, singing and eating with them, and enjoying the beautiful scenery in all the wonderful places we get to go. We are so thankful for all that the Lord has given us. Don't forget guys - you can always make the trip to Des Moines too! You are welcome anytime!

Reformed Youth Conference

Kayren and Lorien left last night to go to Oregon. Oregon - wow! They get to go out to the beautiful state of Oregon with 700 other teenagers, and attend a Reformed Christian Conference out there. I have to admit a little bit of jealousy. Tom and I really enjoy going to conferences and I hope that they will have as much fun as we do when we go.

Kayren called last night from Kansas City. While she was taking a shower at the hotel, the bathtub overflowed, as well as the sink and toilet (yuck). So, they had to move to a different room. Exciting adventures await, I am sure.

They called today to say that they had made it safely. Now they will give up their phones and electronic toys and spend the week listening to godly men teach them from God's Word. How exciting!

Mid-Summer Rest

Ahh. The 50th's are over. What a joy and blessing it was to participate in those celebrations, but it is nice not to be so busy for a moment. We have some tremendous photos of both, taken by our good friend Amanda, who very kindly gave up lots of time to make these special occasions last on paper.

I have three more weeks of school, and then we are hoping to get back over to the east coast and visit family there. I do need to call and see if they are going to be home when we can come :)!!

Aleya turned 10 yesterday, and Kesse turned 21 today. The twins will be 32 on July 12th too, and Johanna, my niece has a birthday on the 8th ( I think). Busy month of birthdays!

The Lord has indeed been gracious to our families!

Busy week

This week we are looking forward to family coming in and spending time celebrating my parents' 50th anniversary. We have a few things planned, but mostly, it is so fun to have family come and spend some time together. I am really looking forward to it.

Of course we are going to need to put the house back together after the basement flooding again! Bummer. This time, we were more prepared. We were able to pull up the floor and put the furniture in the garage, and suck the water back out rather quickly. We put a sump pump in and we went from 4 inches to dry in 12 hours! Yea!

Summer

Summer is already swamped!

This week, I begin a new semester at DMACC with two classes. We are trying to get ready for Tom's parents' 50th Anniversary party on Memorial Day. It looks like 80-90 people are coming.

My parents have their 50th this summer as well, so we are planning a 50th for them on July 3rd here in Des Moines.

Kesse is working for HyVee and looking for other work. Kyrie is working a LOT at Cracker Barrel. Kayren is planning on babysitting and working at HyVee, and Lorien is planning on babysitting. Aleya will probably just play!

I took a class today on electronic gradebooks, and was excited about the Excel program that DMACC has set up, however, it didn't exactly fit my grading program. The lady who was teaching was trying to help me with my program, but finally she just laughed and exclaimed, "You have the most complicated grading system I have ever seen!" After quite a few hours now, I think I've got it! Finally! Now - I hope it works.

I can't believe that May is almost over!

Summer

We are in summer mode now, but it doesn't really feel like it. Two of my girls are still in school, and right when they get out, I start again. My college girls are home and working as many hours as possible in order to make enough money to get back to school in the fall. Also, May has been very cold for Iowa. It is nice because we aren't running the air conditioner, but it is just so unusual! Everything is green and growing, and beautiful. My flowers are thriving this year. I always forget how busy the summer is.

This year we are celebrating Tom's parents' 50th Wedding Anniversary (on May 31), and also my parents' 50th (on July 3). It is remarkable that both sets of parents would be celebrating their 50th in the same year. The celebrations are quite different - one with almost 100 people, and the other just with close family. But, we are grateful to have the opportunity to celebrate with them an occasion that is not common anymore. God has been very gracious to our family!

We are hoping to take another trip out east this year, but haven't had the time to think about when to go. We are hoping to see Robinson family in August!

We are very thankful for our church, and learning a lot through the preaching and teaching there. It has been a constant encouragement to us.

Well, Kesse made it home safely, even driving the crummiest car that we own. She had to stop periodically and put oil in it, but smoked it all the way home.

Kyrie, however, missed her plane because of weather and was stuck in the Detroit airport. Then, a very nice flight attendant got her a free hotel and breakfast! She was thrilled! She should be home in the morning.

We are giving a ladies' tea on Thursday for the ladies in the church and friends, and it will be so nice to have the girls home!