Random Pictures from Mike's phone

Summer blast. Sydney, Lisa and Katie.

Lisa at her first swim meet.

Lisa sliding off the slide at Heather and Bob's house. They are hosting our small group for the summer. We are studying 1 Thessalonians.

Katie and "Blue". One of my cousin Melissa's Great Daines in D'Hanis. Those dogs are TALL. They are also so sweet.

Lisa turning in her swimming race.

Mike and I got to go on a date. Guess where? I thought this picture was hilarious.

Happy Father's Day

Katie calls her daddy "Big D". I think that is so cute. Sometimes she calls him "daddy-o". Equally cute. She will sometimes call me "big mama". I think of a diner and a skillet when she calls me that.

Lisa calls her daddy "dad". And that is good. Lisa loves her dad and especially loves to go to Home Depot or Lowe's with him. She will drop EVERYTHING and go.

Both girls love to watch movies and pop air popcorn with their daddy. They like to spend time with him at the beach, at home, at the pool. They adore him and he adores them, even when they are talking non-stop.

I am just in awe of this man that God has given me. What God has done is nothing short of a miracle and I will live the rest of my days praising Him for this gift.

Mike's shirt says "I'm not the man I ought to be, but, thank God I'm not the man I used to be."

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Mighty to Save

Tonight Mike and I watched a Loui Giglio video called Fruitcake and Ice Cream. The topic is on friendship and grace.

Part of the story was about a college senior who was balancing a party life with completing college. She was not a Christian, her boyfriend lived in an apartment with her and then cheated on her. She kicked him out and got another room mate who happened to be a Christian. Now this Christian girl did not judge, she listened and she prayed.
Eventually, after much boyfriend drama, this party girl wanted what this Christian girl had. Part of the story, and the story is much deeper, is that when she heard the song Mighty to Save the first time, it made her cry, she wondered why everyone raised their hands.

I needed to read the lyrics again, like I was listening for the first time.

Everyone needs compassion,
Love that's never failing;
Let mercy fall on me.

Everyone needs forgiveness,
The kindness of a Saviour;
The Hope of nations.

Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.

Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.
So take me as You find me,
All my fears and failures,
Fill my life again.

I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in,
Now I surrender.

Shine your light and let the whole world see,
We're singing for the glory of the risen King...Jesus

This party girl would journal and in her journal called her room mate a fruitcake and that is why part of the title is Fruitcake and Ice Cream.

This story does not end here. The party girl gave her life to Christ, journaled about it, about her changed life, e-mailed Loui Giglio, he responded and she thought it was crazy awesome that he would e-mail her back.
Three months later she died in a car accident. She was only 22 about to graduate from college.

Wow. It has made me think so much this evening.

We don't know how long we have on this side of heaven.

We don't know what our witness does for others.

Lord, I pray that I don't come across judgemental towards others, but loving. Let me not care what others think of me, if they think I am a fruitcake, let if be a fruitcake for you.

So take me as you find me, all my fears and failures, fill my life again. I give my life to follow, everything I believe in, now I surrender...

Summer time

This summer I want it to be low key and restful. So I will start with this bible verse:


Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10


Lisa and Mrs. Fincke, her third grade teacher.
Mrs. Fincke was such a blessing to Lisa this year and is a great teacher who loves the Lord. My third grade teacher (Mrs Davis, who still happens to teach at Concordia) was my favorite teacher in elementary. Third grade is a tough year, compared to 1st and 2nd grade. This was Lisa's first year at Concordia and Mrs Fincke just really "got" Lisa and helped her this year.


Katie and Mrs Boriack, her second grade teacher. Mrs. Boriack is also a great teacher and has been a sweet blessing to Katie. One time in church Mrs Boriack was up front in the choir and Katie saw her and told EVERY person around us "That is my teacher, Mrs Boriack." When I told her that story, she said "thanks, Katie" The way she said it was priceless.


Katie got "hurt" at a soccer game and Lisa rushed to her aid.


Daddy and Lisa at our first swim meet. We learned so much about race numbers, heats and lanes. Also to bring chairs and snacks. Also that a swim meet lasts upwards of 4 hours and there is A LOT of down time. Also to bring a book, phones with cool apps and your patience.


Mom and her little swimmer. I just love the swim cap and goggles!


Look at that form. She is working on learning to dive from the dive block.


Great job! So far she competes in the freestyle, backstroke and 2 relays.

I am hoping that we can have a restful summer. I think when June is over we will. We have swim meet practice every day from 3:45 to 4:30. Swim meets are on Mondays from 4:45 until 9pm. My last day of Griefshare is this Thursday and I think I am ready to have our evenings open.