A busy little boy...

Josiah liked Uncle Phil's big blue truck! (There is just something about little boys and their trucks!)

By the way, Uncle Phil really likes it too.









Josiah played the piano for us....
and he showed us how he plays ball.
He certainly has a happy smile that he is very willing to share!














Taz liked going for walks with Josiah...
and he was a good little dog for him!
(...Taz sure got worn out and fell asleep as soon as Josiah left!)













All of us, including Lori, decided that he is a really cool kid, and so
we hope Josiah will come and visit us again soon.

Two and a half hours later...

It was worth it after all!
Thanks, Mom, for not letting me quit when I wanted to!

Thanks to my many faithful supporters!
(...some of whom were willing to sit for two hours
while 1400 names were read,
only one of whom they knew!)

Special guests came to our house on Saturday to celebrate the graduation and to enjoy the lovely
Saturday weather.

Nothing quite like a spring afternoon on the porch!

Commencement...

Five years ago I began a journey.

One week ago I completed my last final exam.
On Monday I stood before my professors to present my action research project.

Today we celebrate the completion of my Masters degree!

I am thankful for supportive family and friends and colleagues who have all helped along the way. I praise the Lord for this privilege and opportunity. God has been so good to me!

Motherhood...

"Most of all the other beautiful things in life come by twos and threes by dozens and hundreds. Plenty of roses, stars, sunsets, rainbows, brothers and sisters, aunts and cousins, but only one mother in the whole world." --Kate Douglas Wiggin

"A boy's best friend is his mother." --Joseph Stefano

"Grandma always made you feel she had been waiting to see just you all day and now the day was complete. " --Marcy DeMaree

"Grandmas hold our tiny hands for just a little while.....but our hearts forever." --Author Unknown

"Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children." -- Alex Haley

"Grandmother - a wonderful mother with lots of practice." --Author Unknown
"Mothers all want their sons to grow up to be president, but they don't want them to become politicians in the process." --John Fitzgerald Kennedy

"A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us when adversity takes the place of prosperity when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts." --Washington Irving

"A mother's arms are made of tenderness and children sleep soundly in them." --Victor Hugo "Over the years I have learned that motherhood is much like an austere religious order, the joining of which obligates one to relinquish all claims to personal possessions." --Nancy Stahl

"Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother."

-- Lin Yutang

"The phrase 'working mother' is redundant." --Jane Sellman

"The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother." --Theodore Hesburgh
"To describe my mother would be to write about a hurricane in its perfect power." --Maya Angelou
"Youth fades, love droops, the leaves of friendship fall; a mother's secret hope outlives them all." --Oliver Wendell Holmes (1775-1817)

"All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. that's his." --Oscar Wilde

Happy Mother's Day to the beautiful mothers (and grandmothers) in my family!

Sixty Reasons Why...

... he means so much to me!



He's caring.
He's considerate.
He's clever.
He's creative, convivial and kind.
He's positive,
proud,
patriotic
and a man of prayer.

He's generous, devoted,
respectful, enthusiastic,
energetic,
and loving...
He is wise and wonderful.
He's handsome,
happy,
healthy,
thoughtful and careful.

He's a giver,
a tenor,
a lover,
exhorter,
provider,
protector and problem-solver!

He's musical, he's ethical, he's wonderful.
(Did I say that already?)

He is supportive.
He is understanding.
He is industrious.

And he
cooks for me,
and he makes my tea.
And he starts my yoga tape for me!

He's my plumber,
my mechanic,
my electrician and mason.
He's my roofer, finisher, gardener, and landscaper.
He is my installer and appliance repairman.

He's my rosemaler,
woodworker,
calligrapher,
dog trainer,
tincture-maker,
fire-builder,
and doggie trainer.

He has character.
He loves the Lord.
He is a great Dad.
He is a doting Grandpa.

He is the best.
He wants the best.
He always tries to do better!

...and he is my friend.

When you turn 60...

...take more time for your favorite things...

Find yourself fishing!


Get yourself Golfing!


Grab opportunities with Owen!

Continue your creative cooking.

Take it easy once in awhile!

Travel new and exciting trails!

...but most important of all, PLEASE TAKE ME WITH YOU!

Congratulations - A Ribbon...

at your first show!

Beginners Honorable Mention at the

Norse Rosemaler's Association Show.

for your beautiful painting!

I'm so proud of you!

See, you just keep getting better and better...

and better and better!

A Busy Weekend...

Phil, you still got it! WOW!

Friday evening: grade the driveway.

and ...run the compactor!

Saturday morning: pour out the concrete.

and finish the concrete... soooooo nice.

Sunday afternoon: Spread the dirt and plant the shrubs.

Voila! A big job is beautifully done.

Thank you so much. It is beautiful, and you made it almost look easy.

What else happens when you pray?

God answers again!
If you have a request that is big, such as finding a lost earring or small, such as finding a little church in which to serve, it would behoove you to pray about it. At least that is the lesson that I learned from my sister recently.
On our way to Reiley's birthday party in Illinois on Saturday I lost one of my earrings. Since they were a gift from my daughter and were irreplaceable, I was sad that I wouldn't be able to wear them again...

At the party we met the "prayed-for" twins and enjoyed their sweetness. We also had the opportunity to catch up (sort of) with the boys. We watched as they tumbled and flitted from one activity to the next. Their growth in body, mind and soul being another testimony of God's design. It is exciting to watch the unfolding of the little people they are becoming and it is evident that their safety is prayed for daily!

Finally we were able to see the Little church for which my sister prayed. First having been led by God and then taking a leap of faith, my sister and her husband moved from the big city to the little city. They bought a home, found new work and moved all their stuff. In her heart of hearts my sister wanted a place where her husband could minister and that was the desire of his heart. So she prayed for a "little church". "Is that too much to ask", she wondered as God was already answering her prayer. In God's own way He gave them the desires of their heart. He provided "exceedingly and abundantly" above all they asked. He gave them a church home and gave PR a place to minister and serve and use his gifts and talents. On the way home we decided to pray about finding my lost earring. "Is that too much to ask?" Then we looked in the car and under the seats. We stopped at places where we had been along the way and looked. We looked at the gas station and in the driveway. Home again, I looked one last time under the seat. There, stuck in a crevice, where I thought I had already looked, was my earring! Thank you Lord!

What happens when you pray?

God answers!

Our niece, Karina, knew what she wanted and that was to have more kids! But she also understood her limitations... So she did what any believing child of God should do and she went to her heavenly Father about it. She prayed for twins... (I call it "two for the price of one".)

Her beautiful twin daughters are a double blessing and a constant reminder to all of us that God answers prayers! We were delighted to meet them and hold them and share in her double scoop of "two-for-the-price-of-one" joy.



Kate and Madison Austin - age 11 weeks.

Surprised speechless...

After nearly 39 years of marriage I was certain that there would be no way my mate could keep a secret from me; and by my 58th birthday I thought that I had pretty much seen it all. At least that was what I thought... but I was wrong!

Last week, on my birthday, I was waiting in the car while Phil checked us into our hotel for a "little" vacation in Florida. (Lori was with us and MB had decided at the last minute to fly down and join us too.) Sitting there, I just turned to glance at a car that had pulled up along side us and... everyone in that car looked familiar! That was weird. I looked again. I blinked. I was momentarily speechless. My thoughts churned: whoa... wait a minute! whe? ...whaa? ...who? When I found my voice, "OWEN!" was all that came out, but they were ALL there! Julie from Colorado; Rachel, Rog and the baby from Minnesota and Mimi at the wheel of a rental car! With perfect timing, Mimi had left from Cape Coral in the morning, swung through the Orlando airport to pick up the others and pulled up along side us as we checked in - to a gorgeous fully appointed vacation suite! The various flights were nothing less than miraculous as most of us escaped just ahead of snow storms, blizzards and bitter cold temperatures.

Later we were joined for pizza by Mark, Kathy, Tyler and Abbey! (another miracle... another story) We met up with them again later at Universal Studios.

We sunned and funned; we used the pool and the spa; we played and we walked and we laughed. We ate giant hamburgers and Lori's lasagna; we rode rollercoasters and shuttles; we played Pictionary and Soup (thanks to Tyler); we drank coffee, watched movies , took pictures, shopped the outlets and took many turns hugging Owen.

Though the idea originated with Phil, it took off as each one joined in on the surprise. It took everyone to pull it off, and each one did their part to make it a special four days together. I will never forget it. It was AWESOME! Thank you.

The Birthday Girls - MM and Kathy

Ladies Man

G G-ma relaxing

Universal Studios

We saw Abbey and Tyler too.

Tried Feeding Tyler to the Shark!