Dream small....

It has been a long time since I managed to get a blog post out there.  What a really busy month May has been.  Ken and I took a few days to go away to a relatively nearby Tulip festival. There were miles of amazing tulips to see.   We have had birthdays, mothers day, and our anniversary.  And there were several end of the school year events also.  By the end of each day, I AM TIRED!  So, therefore, my blogging has suffered.   Beginning with today and going backwards, here is a photo recap of this very busy time!

Today was Anna's last day of preschool (for this year).  She had a "crossing the bridge" event today and this also marked the end of Gwen's teaching for this school year!  It was a big day for Anna - her first real "school" experience!

Last Sunday, Gwen ran a half marathon and Tim ran a marathon - IN THE POURING RAIN WHILE IT WAS ONLY 40 DEGREES!  These two are amazing.  When they have trained and trained for an event, it happens rain or shine.  So proud of their perseverance! Because they were running this race, I took care of Lia, Ellie, Zeke and Anna.  

It was a special day for Zeke and Ellie at their Sunday School.  Because they had done all their memory work, they were treated to a special Limo ride to see a movie.  As I said, it was pouring rain. So this is the best picture I could get of the event.  I was a proud grandma when Zeke said one of his memory verses in church before this fun event.  

Lia, Anna and I spent a couple of hours together and had a nice lunch. After we picked up Ellie and Zeke, we all went out for ice cream.  It was a a good way to spend a really icky weather day.

Zeke's birthday party fell during this crazy busy time.  A jumping gymnastics party was fun for all. Really hard to believe that Zeke is 7 years old.   Even Grace had fun at this party.

It is so wonderful to see the cousins together.  At fifteen months old, Grace is running everywhere.  She seems so old now, so much more a toddler than a baby.  We might have to stop calling her "Baby Grace!"

Just before Mother's Day, Anna's preschool had a Mother's Day Tea.  She invited me to attend (Gwen class had a tea at the same time so I was a "substitute mom").  Gwen spent a few minutes seeing Anna sing with her class, but I got to share the treats with her.  

While we were seeing hundreds of tulips, we also took some time to visit this lighthouse on Lake Michigan.  Ken took hundreds of pictures of flowers and other sights along the way.  It was a relaxing time away for us. 

Lastly, I wanted to share this really neat picture I captured of Ellie blowing bubbles on an early Spring day in May.  It just feels like spring to me!

So there you have it.  My last three weeks in a few pictures.  Actually, there are a couple events that I missed in this recap!  Ken and I celebrated our 44th Wedding Anniversary.  It was also Ken's birthday.  No wonder I didn't have much time to blog!  But during this time, I heard a new song that really "fits" these last weeks for me.  It is Dream Small by Josh Wilson.  The first time I heard this song I was in tears.  As you can see in this blog, my life right now seems to be lots of "small" moments.  I so needed this reminder.  

Dream small.  Don't bother like you've gotta do it all.

Just let Jesus use you where you are.

One day at a time. Live Well.  Loving God and others as yourself.

Find little ways where only you can help.

With His great love. 

A tiny rock can make a giant fall.  Dream small.

Keep loving, keep serving

Keep listening, Keep learning

Keep praying, keep hoping,

Keep seeking, keep searching

Out of these small things, watch them grow bigger

The God who does all things makes oceans from rivers.

These simple moments change the world.

Of course there's nothing wrong with bigger dreams.

Just don't miss these moments on the way to bigger things.

Cause these simple moments change the world.

So if your life is anything like mine - you are running from one thing to the next - don't forget this message.  These simple moments change the world!  

Jesus, thank you for all the fun, wonderful times we have had in the last few weeks.  Thank you for reminding me that it is okay to be doing these "small" things.  Help us all to keep this attitude in the daily grind we face.  Holy Spirit, help us all to live well and to love others with Your love.  Amen

Rain down on us.... more thanksgiving!

We are in the midst of a rain storm and some much needed rain as I begin this blog.  In one of my last blogs, I was crying out for spring or some promise of a soon to come spring.  Today it was 87 degrees and very humid and now it is storming.  But we also have been having warnings of fire danger since things are so dry.  It seems that we have passed right by spring and into our typical summer stormy season.  Sigh.  But, as I said, we really need this rain.  The trees and flowers need it.  The farmers need it.  All of us really need a bit of springtime rain.  I am so thankful for blooming flowers and trees and warmer weather.  Yes, this past couple of weeks have been thankful weeks for me.  

I was telling some friends today that Ellie asked me to accompany her to her dentist appointment this week.  I had previously gone with Gwen to take both Ellie and Anna to have a filling.  Gwen wanted to stay with Anna and she didn't know how Ellie would be without her.  So I willing went and sat in a chair in the corner while Ellie had her filling.  This time Gwen would have been able to go with Ellie, but she asked me to come with her instead.  While this might seem a bit strange to some people, knowing that Ellie trusts me and know that she can count on me - even in scary and hard situations - is really a special thing.  I have blogged in the past about how close I feel to the grandchildren.  I don't know if I have really thought through how they feel about me.  I was a privilege to take Ellie for her second filling.  She didn't even seem nervous during this visit and their dentist does a great job with the kids.  The hygienist noticed that Ellie didn't have her "bunny" with her (this is her special security item) and she said "Oh, I see you brought your Grandma instead!"  I thought that was really nice.    I don't think Ellie realizes how much it means to me that she wanted me to sit in the chair in the corner during her appointment. What a blessing for me to be able to be a part of these little things with them.

Several months ago, I had purchased a Groupon for a bounce place.  Gwen and I thought it would be a good idea to visit BEFORE school let out for the summer.  So we spent a great morning letting the kids jump to their hearts content.  There was hardly anyone in the place, so these four cuties had it mostly to themselves.  Anna managed to get me to jump, something I would never have done if there were more people in the place!  And I am so thankful for this time just celebrating JOY and FUN with them.  Afterward, Ken joined us all for lunch.  What a wonderful time together.  Really, you can't beat a great Portillo's lunch (anyone from the Chicago area will agree) with those you love.

At the end of that day, Gwen and the kids came to a Photography Exhibit where Ken had three photos on display.  That beautiful pink tulip is one of Ken's photos.  The kids had a great time.  They are very thoughtful when looking at art of any kind.  I am so thankful that Gwen and Tim have always taken them to art museums.  They were all engaged and thoughtful as we looked at every photograph on display.  They each had their favorites and especially loved the photographs of animals.  Even after such a long day, they sure made both Ken and I proud.  It poured rain on the opening of the event and the artist reception.  In spite of the rain and very cold weather, so many people came to view the photos and greet the photographers.  The building was packed with people.  The exhibit continued for the entire weekend and over 800 people viewed the work of these talented photographers.  I am so thankful that in this transitional time of retirement, Ken has found a wonderful hobby with great opportunities, and wonderful friends.  

I snapped this very (unprofessional Iphone) photo of this Japanese Magnolia Tree blossom, that is right near the parking lot we used for this exhibit.  I was just so enamored with the beautiful purple buds right in front of my eyes, on each trip to the event.  I was stunned by how amazing each bud was.  Some of the buds were still tightly closed (it was only 34 degrees on the first night of the exhibit!) but there were a few that were more open.  Such a picture of the hope of springtime to come.  A bud poised to open when the rains come and the temperatures increase.  I am so thankful for the creation that surround us.  In every season of God's handiwork, there are pictures of the promises of God for us.  There is hope in the buds on that tree.  A promise of beauty to come.

So, as the rains are falling tonight, with thunder and lightning, and the air conditioning is running (since it is still in the 80's), I am filled with so much thankfulness.  I have been reminded more than once that thankfulness is more about perspective than anything else.  After looking back at the words on this page, that sure seems true!  While Ellie's need for a filling in her tooth is not a "thankful" thing, I am so thankful that she knows I love her!  And I am thankful that we have ready access to good dental care.  Ken being out of work before he was really ready to retire could have been a really bad thing.  But I am so thankful that he gets to spend more time with our family because he is not working.  And he had time to prepare for this wonderful photo exhibit that, most likely, would not have happened if he were still employed.  Yep, I'm thankful for retirement!  Finally, I am so thankful for spring this year.  It has been a long, long, dark winter.  Everyone of us needed the blue sky and warm weather that we have had the last week.  Even the rain is a welcome reminder that spring is truly upon us.  

I stepped out into the rain for just a minute this afternoon and it was wonderful.  The air was warm and the rain was softly falling.  The sun was sort of peeking out from behind the clouds.  It was one of those moments when you just know that you are blessed.  And very thankful.

Jesus, thank you for the wonders of creation.  Holy Spirit, thank you for raining down your presence on us every day in every season.  Give us all eyes to see the things we can be thankful for - even in those really tough situations.  Thank you for rivers of living water that refresh and renew us all.  Amen