Caleb & JoAnna enjoying their summer

Caleb is also an avid reader...when he can put his Legos down. He found this book (one of his reading books for school this year) early this afternoon and finished it by this evening. He also has a soft spot when one of the pups wants to snuggle. Tessa is taking advantage of that here.

JoAnna and I went to the pool this afternoon. I had so much fun with her. I watched her come down the slide and as soon as she hit the water she immediately started to "swim" to the side. I also took her to the dividing rope (between the shallow and deep ends). She hugged me and we giggled and laughed as we splashed around. It was a treat to spend time with her. I got sunburned a little...even though we use SPF 60!!! When I got home I realized that the medicine I am taking warns the user to not be exposed to the sun for long periods. OOPS!

Camping

This past weekend Caleb went on a campout with two of the men who lead his mentoring class and 5 other young men from the mission. He had a good time and did the devotion before communion on Sunday morning. When I asked him how it went he said, "I'm not sure it came out the way I had organized it in my brain. But it was okay."

I was also able to get this picture of Caleb in the Kodiak airplane...he's behind David.

Lydia is away at camp this week. The house is pretty quiet. Maia keeps walking around looking in the rooms like something's just not right. I think she's looking for Lydia. I am sending Lydia a care package. In the package are a few things from Tessa and Maia: A bag of dog bone treats and some stuffed dogs for padding. I will send her some other goodies, but the dogs just had to get their paws in there.

JoAnna is starting to read her reader books for this coming school year. She has really taken off in her reading and she loves it. At the right she is reading one of her all time favorites "Shh!! Don't Wake Up Mama." to Maia. On the left DeeDee (the dolly) is being read to.

JoAnna's missing Daddy

JoAnna came out tonight crying and saying that she misses her Daddy. When this happens we always pray and ask Jesus to give him a big hug from JoAnna and to tell him that she misses him and can't wait to see him again. I think, in some ways, this has been hardest on her, b/c she had the least amount of time with Chris. She, also, doesn't have as many memories so I think sometimes she is afraid of forgetting her daddy. Last summer I found my 35mm camera and it had a roll of film in it. I took it to Wal-Mart and explained that the battery was dead, but I didn't want to buy one battery just to get the roll of film. I also explained that I didn't know if the film was rewound and I wasn't sure what was on it. I told her that it may have pictures of my late husband and I didn't want to loose them--if there were. She took the camera and was able to develope the film. I found pictures of Chris the night he returned from Suriname and saw the redone kitchen for the first time. I also found pictures of JoAnna and Chris snuggled on the couch studying her AWANA Cubbie book. I found this "Daddy's Girl" frame for JoAnna's birthday and I knew exactly which picture to put in it. :) She keeps the picture on her school desk.

I am really enjoying this blog...it is a nice way to keep everyone up to date on what the children and I are up to. I hope you enjoy it, too.

Caleb and Lydia's big day

Yesterday, Caleb spent most of his day mowing the lawn at MMS. The end of the day brought a wonderful surprise. He had the privilege of going up in the new Kodiak airplane. He was so excited when he told us about it. I asked him if he knew how jealous his father would be. Chris had been watching the development of this airplane and looked forward to how it would impact mission aviation. I have really noticed a big change in Caleb since he has started spending his Thursdays at MMS. He was starting to get to that sullen teenage stage. Since starting in the hangar he has opened up and I can get him discussing anything...especially the ideas he comes up with in his head. I learned at the MMS conference this year that Caleb is an idea person. Josh, one of the guys in our hangar right now, is also an idea person. I was able to "pick his brain" and come up with some ways to 'help' Caleb. I am trying really hard to be a good listener and to encourage his idea personality.

Lydia plans to show Maia (My-uh), one of our Bichons, at the Coshocton County Fair in September. In order to go to the fair she had to go before 2 different judges and answer questions about her project book. She had her interview last night and both judges were very impressed by her confidence, poise and ability to keep eye contact with them. She has really enjoyed this project and has grown from doing it. This picture is when Maia was a bit younger and she had fallen asleep in Lydia's arms. I think Lydia's face says it all!!!

Setting up my blog

I am learning so much about computers now that my computer guy is in heaven. I just put out my first newletter without Chris' help. He would be so proud of me. Just days before he departed for his eternal home Chris told me that I was stronger than I thought I was. I think he knew I had it in me to do these things, but I had just relied on him for so long to take care of them. If he were here this whole blog would be done already...and it would NOT have polka dots on it!!