on the road again...

So, I guess I won't be making any dresses for Maria for a while anyway! We are moving. Larry received a call a week ago to call the Warsaw District Superintendent. So he did and we were told that he was being appointed to Wesley UMC in Culver. Wow, we were not expecting this, since it is after annual conference which is when most appointments have already been made. Saturday we met with the Pastor/Parish Committee of this church and then everything became official, once Maria won them over with her charming looks! Our church was told this morning, and though many were sad, they know that God leads us where we are supposed to go. So, after our week-long mission trip to Red Bird Mission in Kentucky, which we leave for today, every free moment will be spent filling boxes. We could use your prayers for this hectic time. Pray for our mission trip, safety, and for the work to be meaningful to the receiving party. Also pray for my mom and grandma and Larry's mom as they watch Maria while we are away...hopefully she will be on her best behavior, and them too. :) Pray as we get ready to leave, and as we adjust to the newness there. It has been a great three years in DeMotte, and we are thankful for the love and support of the church family here. What better family could we have asked to bring Maria into.

Our new church home

Our new parsonage home

We have plenty to praise God for; his guiding hand on our lives.

Meeting Charlotte Amelie

A week ago we were able to visit our friends Rachel and Daniel in Chicago and meet their newest family member Charlotte Amelie. She is adorable and such a blessing to their family. We are so happy for them. Here are some pictures...I stole them from Rachel's blog...I didn't have my camera.

We have plenty to praise God for; good friends we enjoy visiting.

Happy Father's Day

What a great Dada Maria has.

We love you!

p.s. made this kerchief for Maria from scraps that my mom had from making this dress for her.

We have plenty to praise God for; wonderful Fathers

feeling crafty

front
back

So, I had been wanting to make a dress for Maria for a while, and I finally had the time, thanks to some prep help from my mom, and got it done this weekend. So what do you think for a first time pattern follower, I have done other sewing, but never from a pattern. I only had a few screw-ups; like cutting out two identical back pieces when it was supposed to be two mirror images, and I sewed a seam the wrong measurement. When you follow the pattern it really isn't too hard...but there were a few head-scratching moments! We'll see what else I can whip up this summer! It's a good thing I have so many friends with little ones...future recipients.

Isn't she a cute model?

We have plenty to praise God; smart people who know how to make SIMPLE patterns!

Happy Birthday Trey...baptism too

My nephew had his golden birthday this weekend, in case you have never heard of that, it is when you turn the age of your birthday date. So in his case he was turning 7 on the 7th so it was his golden birthday.

Maria helping Trey with presents.
Trey reading his cards, he is getting to be such a good reader.

He wanted a hunting cake...so there was a hunter, trees and some deer on it.

We were also able to be a part of the celebration of his baptism. Larry was the dunker in the tank with him. It was a hot weekend and we were tired from vacation, but it was good to be a part of his special weekend.

Trey's confession of faith with the children's pastor in front of the congregation.

Uncle Larry baptizing Trey...the heater in the pool was broken so it was a bit cold!

Trey with parents Jeff and Michele

Trey with Uncle Larry
We Love you Trey!

We have plenty to praise God for; new life in Him.

Welcome Charlotte Amélie Rose

Charlotte Amélie Rose

06/07/08

7 lbs 13 oz.

19 1/2 inches

1.33 am

Chicago, IL

Congratulations Rachel and Daniel... and Hamlet and Ophelia too.

What a beautiful baby and such a blessing!

Maria's vacation fun

Maria trying out a shower cap. (that's Buffy checking her out)

Maria playing piano with Dad.

more time at the beach

Maria loves to play in the sand.

Cape May Lighthouse
At the top...199 steps up!
Look at the birds mom!
I'm not quite sure about the waves, they are kind of loud.
See the waves are okay.
Ah, I love the beach.

Maria playing in the sand...(sorry for the loud wind sound)

the beach

We took a drive down to North Wildwood to the beach, it was getting windy and a bit chilly so we just took a walk and headed back home. Maria liked watching the birds and water.

we have plenty to praise God for; oceans.

Cape May Zoo

Brown Bear

Bison
Giraffe

Camel


Flamingos

We spent our first day in New Jersey poking around the Cape May Zoo here in Cape May Court House. Some of the animals were really active. We even saw a bison chasing an elk around their habitat. Although Maria seemed more interested in the other kids than the animals...we had fun.

We have plenty to praise God for; beautiful animals.

caged animal

Maria is having a great time on vacation...here is her favorite place to play! Buffy's cage. We are staying with friend's of Larry's from when he attended seminary in New Jersey and had his student appointment.

Bill and Arla at North Wildwood beach with Maria.

We have plenty to praise God for; great friends willing to open their house for us to have a wonderful, relaxing vacation.

road trip

Maria and I took a road trip last weekend back to my parents for a baby shower for my best friend, Mindy. Larry had to attend conference in Lafayette during the same time. While I was home I was able to visit with my grandparents, my two grandmothers and my grandfather who is in a nursing home . We also went to dinner at my brother and sister-in-law's house. We had a nice visit with all of them.
On Friday night we went to the shower for Mindy, who is having a baby boy in July. She got lots of great baby stuff!

Maria had been running a low fever since Thursday and wasn't feeling her best. Upon returning home I thought Maria's fever was going away, we had hoped it was from teething since she has had that before, but at 5am Sunday morning her screams told us otherwise. She was burning up, and with a 104.6 temperature, I decided to head to the ER while Larry stayed behind for church service. The ER doc decided that it was an ear infection. So we got a super dose of Motrin for the fever and a scrip for some antibiotic. We were a little concerned since we were to leave for vacation that afternoon. They assured us it would be fine, just watch her fever and make sure it stayed down and eventually went away. It really was a blessing in disguise as she slept for a nice portion of the trip out to New Jersey. Within 24 hours she was seeming to be her normal 1 year old self!

We have plenty to praise God for; a daughter who has just had her first major sickness at 13 months.

beautiful blooms

Some of our mystery bulbs we planted last year from church came up and surprised us with such beauty! And other bushes started blooming too. I love Spring.

We have plenty to praise God for; beautiful colors.