Like so many things in life this has gotten away from me. Our summer has ended and we are in the second week of school. I had pondered this blog for a year, was so excited to start it and then all our travels began. I have had to realize I am a person who needs structure. Why is this so surprising since God is a god of order. I have not gotten into a rhythm of this blog being in my daily, weekly or monthly life yet. I so aspire to be a blogger. I read them, I am inspired by them, I learn from them, I am hoping to have one be a part of my life....

So I would like to begin my second attempt at blogging by sharing highlights from July and August of this year.

We enjoyed swim team in our neighborhood and both our youngest children received the award for Most Improved in their age range. We enjoyed getting to know some of our neighbors better and got to spend time with some we rarely see.

Our little bug doing Breast Stroke. Oh how I did not realize how much I missed seeing them swim the past two years we have not swam on team.

Aaron could barely swim across the pool before we started the team. He was ready all the time to learn a new stroke and compete in the race for the new stroke.

Oh the sharpie arms with their name and all their heats and strokes.



Swim Team is as much about the snacks as it is the swimming!

 



We spent a lot of time in MI. Thank you to my in-laws for having us so much. We have never had friends come to stay until this year. For my birthday some dear friends the Trent's came with two of their boys. The weather was not the best, but we made the most of it. We especially enjoyed ourselves when other friends, the McCoeys, stopped by the beach for the day. What great food and fellowship!

 Smores on the beach! Best because we get to see the sunset as well!

What a gift to spend my birthday with one of my dearest friends. Thanks Kel!

We loved sailing in Papa's and Grammy's new sailboat.

 

I am amazed how life is orchestrated sometimes with moments that leave a mark on our lives even when we do not know it is happening. Our second daughter turned 10 in June and only wanted to her three best friends to go to Grammy and Papas on Lake Michigan. From that desire sprang a desire to take the next step in her faith and get baptized. This is the moment I was just referring too...the one where we get a glimpse as a parent into our child's heart and we are inspired by their step of faith. Below are some of my favorite pictures from this time in MI. Her love for nature and all the is created is why she desired to be baptized in one of her favorite creations and by her dad. Bonus was that my Mom was there with us from NC. Thank you MOM!



Kathryn's baptism in Lake Michigan with Daddy! He shared why we get baptized from scripture and she shared her testimony. This is the moment that inspired me!

My Mom and Kathryn. What a special moment to experience as a grandparent. Thank you mom for being there with us!

Kathryn's love for the Lord is contagious!

So proud to call you my husband. Thank you for leading us and encouraging our faith.

Little Kathryn, her three besties, Aaron and Emma dug the deepest hole I have ever seen. Then they spent hours jumping over it and me capturing them in mid-air.

Having fun playing outdoor games for Kathryn's 10 Birthday Party.

 

 

My Mom treated the kids and I to a few days on Mackinaw Island. Can you imagine life with NO automobiles? It was great. We rode 9 miles around the island and just enjoyed the history of the island. We were so blessed throughout our times in MI with a family down the beach from my in laws. They are one of the most generous families I have ever met. We enjoyed tubing on the their boat, kayaking, their porch in Mackinaw and their grand kids!

Mom and I taking a break from biking on the Island.

Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Island.

 

Memaw and kids at our favorite rock along our horse and buggy tour.

 

We went back to MI for our annual Walpole/Oskam week away from reality. 7 cousins, 6 adults, and a dog. What fun we had riding a Dune Buggy on the Dunes at Silver Lake. It was a treasure to hear my husband and his family remembering the houses they rented on Silver lake when he was our children's age. Oh how things sift as we get older...that is the sand from the dunes.

We had so much fun Cousins!

 

What a great picture of an amazing family. I thank God often for the family I am gifted with through marriage. We have such good times. Thank you Papa and Grammy.

 

After MI we hosted my family at our house in IN. My mom and her friend Frank brought my nieces early and we enjoyed pool time, adventures in the woods, a water park and much more. Once my sister arrived we took off to Chicago for the day (only girls) while the boys went to Cincinnati for a baseball game. We enjoyed our last day of the summer with Aunt Na Na driving through the streets my husband and I owned our first home. We found an incredible Bistro on the Canal and had the best meal of the week. Then school began....

 

My kids and my sisters girls feeding the ducks in our neighborhood.

 

A day at the water park. It was cold. They are so funny. This is Elaina my sweet 8 year old niece.

 

 

 

This is the niece that changed my life. After meeting her day 2 of her life I decided I had all my priorities wrong. One year later we had Emma. I love Carly's sense of humor and her smile.

 

 

The top of the Hancock Building was more than I expected. The girls loved cleaning the windows and watching the air show.

 

 

What a day all because of my mom. Thank you for allowing all of us to see the best sites in Chicago.

Hancock Building, Navy Peer, the Bean, American Girl Doll Store, and the fountains. You are the best!

 

Taken from the Ferris Wheel. I love Chicago.....

 

I love you Rene! I love your free spirit combined with your unwavering faith.
Thank you for spending you days off with us. You are a delight.

 

OK I promise to never have such a long post. Goodbye summer and hello school year where we talk about Spreading Joy every day to those around us. I hope you join us again to see how we are spreading joy.....

Thank you God for all the joy I got to
see spread and my cup is overflowing.

 

4th of July Party

Too many days have gone by and I can admit I am still getting the hang of how to post and when to post and what to post. Thank you for stopping by to read my musings of the joy we spread and experience.....

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

Do you have those places and events in your life that leave an imprint on your life? We have not been able to attend our friends family 4th of July party in 4 years due to going to Lake MI each year. This year we decided since the 4th was on a Wed we would go. The moments I experienced on this day will be etched in my mind for years to come. The Trent's live in one of the most wonderful small towns in IN called Flora. Their house is set in front of some old railroad tracks and they even have a caboose to stay over in or for the kids to find ours of joy playing.

We played hours of corn hole, saw their 94 year old grandmother's quilts, helped the kids build a human pyramid, laughed, went to the greatest fireworks and of course ate. Before dinners prayer Mr. Trent told us they had been having this party for 13 years. We have attended it at least 9 of those those years. I treasure all of the memories of taking our kids pictures on the caboose stairs, lady talk time, sharing how God has worked in our lives, and time for kids to bond. Here are some of my favorite pictures that do not do justice to the actual experience:

Kids on our favorite caboose!

Love pitch-in dinners!

Kathryn trying to find  way to
cool off in over 100 degree weather.

Grandma's quilts!

  

  Inside the caboose made
for HOURS of fun.

       

Emma and two dear friends from church.

 Kids Pyramid. They were wet and this made
it difficult to hold eachother.

Aaron loved being on the TOP of the pyramid! 

 

Thank you to all these hands who
made the yummy food and awesome fellowship!

All the men who enjoyed hours of corn hole.

Thank you to all these women (and some missing ones)
who teach me through their example
how to love the Lord and our families.

Getting ready to enjoy the fireworks.

Summer Spontaneity

I love summer for how we have more time on our hands to just be spontanious. I am thankful for my husband because he is continually teaching me how to be spontanious which is something that is not as natural for me. So when he called at noon yesterday and said, "I am off and do you want to go up to Michigan?" I actually said YES! Michigan is one of our families favorite spots to escape too. My in-laws have a house on the lake and it makes for one of the most relaxing not too far places to go. When I see a sunset over the lake I cannot help to stop and thank God for all he has done on that day for me. His mercies are new every day and when I see the waves and place my toes in the sand I feel closer to Him. Amazingly my troubes just wash away in the waves. Why does this suprise me because He has taught me over the years that if I am thankful and live confidently in Him that I will overflow with joy.

Great is my confidence in you; great is my boasting on your behalf.
I am filled with comfort; I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction. 2 Corinthians 7:4

We were surprised at what we got to witness with this unplanned trip. My in-laws had recently bought a catamaran. How do you get catamaran onto the shore for use when you do not have a dock near-by? Well the pictures tell the story. I was so impressed with the creativity that was used and how they worked as a team.

Yes they brought it down the dune with a pulley. It was incredible to witness. I look forward to being able to sail on the lake with this. So thankful for the experiences we have at the lake!

The kids are simply daring when we are here and able to unplug from the world and just be free. I am amazed at how the temperature of the lake never stops them from getting in the water.

Thank you to my sweet husband for teaching me how to be spontanious and to my in-laws for allowing us to invade! I look forward to being reminded of all I am to be thankful for while away from the busy suburban life.

Thank you for stopping by to catch our joy...Shari

My first post...

For a year now I have been thinking of starting a blog to share our lives. I have had such encouragement from a dear friend I hope to introduce you to soon. Why you may ask should you choose to read my blog. We all have a story...this is mine. I am blessed to be a wife of one amazing man and the mother of three incredible children. Again how is this much different than most of you? I just wanted to have a place to share how we are learning each day to spread joy to those in our home and outside our home.
So here goes our first day of sharing the Wally's story...I wanted to share about today on our over 100 degree day when our neighborhood pool got closed due to...need I spell it out. Why do pools get closed? So here are a few pictures of how the kids rediscovered being imaginative again:

Here the kids are making the first fort we have had in our home in many months:

So when the kids got tired of the fort they went outside to run around in the sprinklers. How much fun is this on a SUPER HOT day with no pool:

Thank you for stopping by to catch our joy...Shari