Last Days of Summer

I cannot fathom that summer is almost over and school starts next week. Meanwhile, I have several things I have wanted to post but the camera software is acting up and I cannot download my pictures to complete the updates! So meanwhile, I guess I will wrap up the kids final swim lesson days, which were actually a few weeks ago.

Mrs. Schickler has taught all three of the younger kids swimming the last two summers, and it was a highlight of their summer each time. She liked to once in a while throw in an exercise where the kids have to "help" each other by grabbing the other's head and guiding them... ah, yes, a perfect recipe for mischief. Especially for Jacob.


Our final day of lessons. Always a sad day as I know that now summer really is almost over...

Deep Creek in pictures

Deep Creek Lake, Maryland

We spent 3 days there last week with some of Danny's family - the kids had a blast on the water.

My three kids along with Jeremy, a friend of Jacob's

Danny's parents - the gracious owners of the family home at Deep Creek

Hannah fell off, but she isn't sure she wants Jacob to help her get back up...

Hannah after her first fall!

Ryan as captain of the boat!

An action shot - enough to make this mother nervous as the kids go flying around the lake at 30mph... I can tell you that it is NOT easy for me to watch. Yep, I'm a wimp.

Tickle tickle!!!!

Floating around, waiting for some action

Here is the action!!!

Happy 20th Matt

Happy Birthday Matt!!! I can't believe that you are turning 20 today!! (I think your birthday makes me feel older than my own!!) I am priviliged to have been your mother these past 20 years - you have been such a blessing to me.

You have grown into a very fine young man. You work hard at what you set your mind to, and you have determination to reach your goals.

You are so kind to all who meet you - you have a love and passion for people that is rare. I know that God is going to use that in your life.

You have gone cheerfully (mostly haha) to a job this summer that isn't your preference, and made the best of it.

It is sweet to see the way you serve Sherry - I am proud of the man that you are growing into in this area.

And thank you so much for ALWAYS making me laugh!! You are the funniest person in the world!! I really think you are an intelligent, handsome, funny and kind person. I am so glad that you are my son...

Love ya!!!

Lazy Days of Summer

I just cannot believe how quickly the summer is flying by. Yes, we have had some "lazy days" and we have also had some crazy days! We had company for a week after returning from vacation - my sister and her family and my parents drove out from Minnesota. We had a packed and full time with them, and now the house seems so quiet and empty.

I am going to give updates on all the kids and what they have been doing lest we forget what we have accomplished and enjoyed this summer!

Matt

Matt has been working full time at Dustin Construction as an intern. He took a summer class and is preparing for his fall semester. He got all four wisdom teeth pulled out last week, and was in a lot of pain for more than a week! He has some concerts to go to coming up, and next week turns 20! YIKES! He has also spent a lot of time with his lovely girlfriend Sherry.

Jacob

Jacob has been doing a lot of grass mowing this summer and has spent time sleeping in and playing some video games as well. He has done swim lessons, and spent several days in West Virginia with a friend. He has spent time reading - a Ted Dekker trilogy has most recently captivated him until wee hours of the morning!

Hannah

Hannah has grown some flowers, swam, and spent a lot of time practicing piano. She loves to play, and I thoroughly enjoy listening to her. She has really improved over the summer. She spends a lot of time with her bunnies, and making her mother laugh!!! She also draws during free time.

Ryan

Ryan has been busy with swimming lessons, enjoying vacation and his three boy cousins who visited, and taking lots of pictures. He has a real knack for photography. He pursues his older brother Jacob relentlessly, and they spend a lot of time together shooting airsoft guns.

Danny

Danny's work has slowed down a bit and the stress has lessened slightly. He is still adjusting to having a commute, and I am adjusting to seeing less of him. He has spent time this summer wrapping up projects around the house and helping me move our school set-up to the basement for the upcoming year. He continues to be the worlds most kind, loving husband ever.

Mom

Well, I have been busy with homeschool planning and trying to get the entire house painted this summer. I just have a harder time than some picking those colors!! I will post some pictures after the job is done. I am trying to enjoy my children as well, and spend time with them each day. I wish we had done more things this summer, but, I also have grander plans than I have time or energy to carry out. I have spent time this summer studying the sovereignty of God - my soul has been fed.

Well, we have one month left, and let's hope and pray that by the end we are ready for school, and that we have meanwhile made some sweet family memories!!

Cape May pictures

Nothing needs to be said about this shot - absolutely beautiful. This is when we would see dolphins jumping around in front of the house.

The kids enjoying the beach. The water, though, was filthy and they never actually swam in it. We didn't expect the water to be brown!

Sweet shot of Jacob enjoying the sunset. I know it's blurry, but I love it.

Danny, FINALLY getting some relaxation in... much needed for my hard working husband.

Matt after creaming the whole family in a game of miniature golf.


We celebrated my birthday there, and we went to a genuine, Japanese sushi restaurant, where we all had to take off our shoes and crawl into our booth. It was so cool!

And the sushi was some of the best I have ever had!!

One of the many horseshoe crabs we saw on the beach... This one was actually alive!

Thank you, my wonderful husband, for flawlessly planning and executing a wonderful family vacation. You are so generous, and so kind to us all. I am so sad that we are home and now we don't have long, drawn out days with you... to entertain us, to make us laugh, to love us, to shower us with blessings... you are greatly honored and appreciated. Love you...

Cape May

Yes, the Dustin family is at the beach... cool breezes, gorgeous sunsets, the sound of the waves coming through the windows of the house, and family togetherness - the best part of all. We came here with our only goal being to do absolutely nothing. We have done pretty good so far. We have sipped on tropical drinks, read books, and watched hours of Stargate!!

The view from the porch... God has been so good to us!!

A fun shot!

A beautiful sight to behold, which Ryan took from the porch of the house as Danny and Hannah walked along the beach. So far, my favorite shot...

View from the beach up to the house.

My Dad, My Hero...

My Dad. The best father any girl could ask for. A man with a tremendously funny sense of humor. A many who works harder than anyone I know. A man who serves unceasingly everyone around him. A man who rarely complains. A man who loves and serves his wife faithfully. A very intelligent man who knows a lot about a lot, and is like a walking encyclopedia. He knows everything from what the weather was like on June 4, 1973, to how the migration of hummingbirds affects world climate. A man who is humble before God. A man I hope my boys grow up to be like. The man I have been blessed beyond measure to call my Dad....

This is a RARE (and I do mean rare) shot of my Dad actually relaxing. Dad - Danny and I really do miss having coffee and chatting with you in the mornings!!!

Dad, always hard at work, as you will see in the following pictures. Here he is drilling holes for maple syrup this past winter. Is there such thing as an electric drill that could do this? Sure! But Dad will always choose the harder way, just to get more exercise!!


Part of the wood pile he first created by cutting with a hand saw, and what he later hauled away or burned as he cleared our woods. (Could he have used a chain saw? Sure! But what fun and exercise would there be in that?? haha)



More wood....


Dad works hard, but enjoys life as well. Here he is with Mom at Mt. Vernon. He is still a young man who will do fun things and is FUN to be around!! Most people cannot believe that he is 71 - he doesn't seem like it at all - he really has the strength and stamina of a much younger man.

A loving grandpa saying goodbye to his grandson as they moved away...

Mom and Dad had their own cleaning business for many years. Oh yeah, this is AFTER he retired from a career in the government and worked at other jobs as well... Dad will work hard until the day he leaves this earth. A quality to be much admired. I tell him this all the time - great is his reward in heaven!!

One of the 350 moves he has helped his kids with!! Honestly, we all can say that we don't know what we would have done without him on all of the moves we have made. And he never complained - he was just there, doing all the dirty work, cleaning out crumb-filled drawers, hauling stuff to the dump, doing WHATEVER needed to be done.

Aaahhh, a sweet shot.... what a loving grandpa he is.

Like I said, Dad can really have fun as well. He loves my mom so much it brings tears to my eyes. He has always loved her and been affectionate with her as long as I can remember. I always say that my mom is very lucky to have married a man like him.

Love this one!

This Grandpa has been so faithful to attend his grandchildren's events - this is a family night at History Camp. It was hot and sticky, but Dad was there!!

Serving the Bodine family - building a kitchen table so they can fit all nine of their children at the table and eat dinner together.

Painting with Jacob in our back yard.

Building a fire for maple syrup

Hmmmm.... what can I say about this shot?? Well, it certainly isn't an autobiography!! haha

Dad, I cannot thank you enough for being the man that you are, and for loving and serving and teaching me so faithfully all my life. You are truly one of my biggest encouragers - always telling me how special I am, or how funny you think I am (and nobody else in the whole world thinks I am funny!). I always feel your unconditional love for me, and I cannot tell you how much that means to me. Thank you for being so kind, so sweet, so humble, so fun to talk to, and for making me laugh! I am the luckiest girl alive...

Happy Fathers Day!!!