Ta! Ta! to the Pattersons!

Have a great trip, Mark and Joyce, Mike and Sonia!

Thirty-six years ago Tom and I spent about 4 days in London! It was part of 31 day choir tour through Europe. We went first to Paris, Strasbourg, Heidelberg, through the Alps in Switzerland and Austria, to northern Italy, back to Austria, back into Germany (including E. Germany at the time)and finally over to England. It was quite an experience with lots of memories.

My memories of London - changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, Tower of London and the crown jewels, Saville Row, Picadilly Circus, Westminster Abby, Stratford (to see Faustus), Warwick Castle, The Tube (after traveling on it - 2 hours later a power outage stranded thousands in it), going to see the movie M.A.S.H. and wondering what the Brits thought of Americans after seeing that movie. I remember that my watch disappeared out of my hotel room and miraculously reappeared after telling the front desk about it.

Have a wonderful time! It will be fun to see your pictures and hear your memories!

Does my summer break begin today??

This morning was the first morning of my summer break that I could have slept in--but I woke up at 5:36. Go figure! And like Ron, I have a wacky back this morning. Mine's in my upper back (feels like a rib is out). It may be the prospect of the mess of pea pods waiting to be picked and shelled in my garden. Last summer I vowed not to plant peas anymore after the repetitive motion of shelling them injured my shoulder and I had to undergo therapy for 8 weeks. What a wimp! But, Tom, evidently was unaware of my vow and planted two rows. Do you think he'll shell them? Not!

Well, here's my procrastination plan--check my blogs, water my sod, go to MI District Convention to man the LSEM booth for 2 hours, go to Quinn's dr. appt to watch the girls while Quinn's getting his check-up--by then it might be raining and I can postpone until tomorrow when it's supposed to rain again--the forecast is for all week. By Saturday when the weather is nicer the peas will be too far along and it will be a waste of time to pick and pod them. How's that?

If anyone is really hungry for fresh garden peas they're welcome to come pick and pod at my place!

VBS Finale, Sod, and Grand Haven

Three things to look forward to today!

Last day of VBS! It's been fun and rather easy on my part--no longer a traveling musician of yesteryear, but I just do music at the opening and closing. Kids loved the music and it's been a fun week!

We're getting a pallet of sod today to finish the clean up of our well mess! I'm for instant gratification and didn't want to wait for the grass to grow to get rid of the mud!

Joyce and I are taking a trip to Grand Haven tomorrow--to see Andy and to get some paint for Merle's house. I always love the adventures that Joyce and I have and the bonus is that I get to see Andy!

It has been a fun and gratifying week! VBS, Prayer Group revisited at Patterson's, fun times with grandkids and kids and parents, got the mums hoed and rototilled (although with all the rain they'll probably need it again soon), finally got our pool water clean and clear, and finally got caught up on laundry!

Blessings on your weekend, everyone!

A Confluence of Grandchildren

The Patterson grandchild meets up with the Schroeder grandchildren this afternoon. After VBS Emily, Heidi, their offspring, and I are going to Joyce's to meet Seth. Kristie, I hope it won't make you think--"What have I got myself into!"

I'm looking forward to seeing Seth again and seeing how much he's changed since Memorial Day weekend. I'm also looking forward to seeing my youngest grandchildren's reactions to a newborn--especially Sophie's, since she will have competition in another couple of months.

In other news, we are so thrilled for Bob and Ellen! What a joy that he is no longer a diabetic! Amazing! Our God is soooo good! We also thank God for and pray for the family of the organ donor. What a gift! Godspeed your recovery, Bob!

29 Years Ago

Where did the 29 years go? The day before (a Sunday) was spent at Nellie and Fred's cottage at Joslin lake. Then to Oma and Opa's to drop off Heidi and then to the "new" St. Joe for check-in. At 9:11 the next morning Emily came into the world. It was a planned C-section, so we knew her birthdate, but we were surprised that she was a girl. Beforehand the nurses all said--oh, it's a boy--something about her heart rate. They were wrong. She had lots of dark hair and every time she went to the nursery, you could tell that the nurses were having a good time playing baby beauty shop. They would have it combed up like a cupie doll. I'd comb it down and next time it would be back like a cupie doll again. Joyce came to visit and brought daisies from her garden in a beautiful glass pitcher. Years later that pitcher got broke and Mark bought me a new one. The daisies have popped out in my yard--right on time -- offspring of the very daisies that Joyce brought 29 years ago! Happy Birthday, Em! I, too, like Joyce wonder if Woehlke little girl #3 will have Em's dark hair. Thanks for posting the pictures Joyce!

Aloha! From VBS!

Welcome to our island adventure -- where we find God's greatest treasure -- His love!
I'm blogging this morning between music sets for VBS! This year's VBS is a family affair! Tom leading opening, me leading singing, Emily teaching 17 3 and 4 year olds! (Whew!) and Heidi helping, 3 grandchildren in that class and 2 in the nursery! Our two VBS directors have done a wonderful job setting up this "Island Adventure" and the props and crafts are amazing! Thank God for air conditioning-- I remember many a VBS involving lots of sweat!

Pray for lots of kids learning of "God's Greatest Treasure - Jesus"!

A Blessing in Disguise

I spoke too soon about my commute from a meeting in Detroit in my last blog. I had another meeting today and it took me an hour and a quarter to crawl from downtown to the airport. I was extremely tired of sitting and staring at brake lights. The blessing in disguise was that I decided to take 275 south instead of staying on 94 and I stopped to visit Joyce and Mark. We had a great visit. They treated me to pizza, a sit on their back porch, a sit on their front porch, and a tour of Merle's refurbished front porch (a la Ron). It was a great way to celebrate Joyce's and my launch into our summer vacation!

Last Day Commute!

Today was the last day of my commute to the north side of Ann Arbor--at least for this year! And it was the longest! Yesterday I got to Detroit for a meeting faster than I got to Whitmore Lake Rd. this morning. But I'm not going to complain. They have been working on 94 and 23 for a couple of months now and never had a serious slow down (at least going north) until this morning. It was down to one lane and was backed up for 4 miles. It gave me time to listen to and learn new music for VBS next week! And I still made it to school before any other teachers. I really have nothing to do here this morning, except one meeting with a parent and helping the second graders sing and sign the Lord's Prayer for their last chapel service.

I'm ready for vacation--yet I won't really feel like I'm on one until the 27th of June. Meetings the rest of this week, VBS next week, manning our LSEM booth at the District Convention a couple of days the following week, and then! Ahhhh!

Preparing for a Triple Sleepover!

So that the McClelland parents can celebrate their 5th anniversary in peace and quiet, Grammy and Grampy are keeping the kids for a triple sleepover Friday night. I need to exercise, have plenty of toys, and have beds ready in order to meet this first time challenge. We have spent lots of time with our grandchildren, but we've never had all three over for a sleepover. Pray for lots of fun, lots of energy (mine, not their's), and lots of willing sleepers!

Scherenschnitten

Watch how you say it! If I had a digital camera, I would post a picture of my own "scherenschnitten by schroeder". Late last night I scherenschnitted (scissor-cutted), mounted, and framed a tree (not much like the one in the picture). This was a retirement gift for my good friend at St. Paul. She's my age and decided to move on to something else besides teaching even though she has been an excellent one. Good for her! Jeremiah 17:8 was a perfect verse to go with the tree and to describe Susan. "He (she) will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." I thank God for Susan who has never failed to bear fruit and who has helped so many children establish their roots by the streams of "Living Water". She'll be missed!

Paperwork!

I'm finished meeting with my students for the remainder of the year. Now, what remains is the mountain of paperwork that I need to prepare, collect, and haul to Detroit next week.

What is it about paperwork that makes me find all kinds of other things to do before I start. This blogging thing is a good method of procrastination!

Between the emerald ash-borer and this paperwork I have to do, there will be a lot less oxygen in the world this summer! Let's hear it for saving a tree!!