Look what Jordan caught!!!

Jordan went on a field trip with her "Outdoor Adventure" club yesterday. She went on a charter fishing trip on Lake Michigan. Look what she caught!! Now I have some salmon in the fridge that I need to cook. Anyone know of a good way to cook salmon? I was thinking of grilling it??? Jordan had a great time.

Caleb's Last Baseball Game....

The boy on the sandlot gets just as big a kick out of a home run as Babe Ruth.


Caleb had his last baseball game of the season tonight, a double header. I think they were my favorite games of the year. They won both games, lots of exciting plays, fun games to watch. I got some great pictures.

I can barely believe that 12 years ago I was watching Caleb play T-ball. Over all these years we have some great memories of all the times we have spent at the ball fields. I wouldn't trade them for anything.

Enjoy the photos from Caleb's games today.........

Nobody can do for children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of children. There is nothing more glorious than generations changing hands. If you want an accounting of your worth, count your friends. It takes a long time to grow an old friend. Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it you will land among the stars.Swing hard in case they throw the ball where you are swinging.If you don't have confidence, you'll always find a way not to win.It's not true that nice guys finish last. Nice guys are winners before the game even starts.The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.To be a great champion you must believe you are the best. If you aren't pretend you are.It ain't over till it's over.

Signs of summer!!

Our Beloved Eagle Lake Cottage




We had a great weekend. We spent the whole day at the cottage Saturday. My first day out there for the season and it felt so good. We even sat around a fire in the evening. The pontoon boat is getting an overhaul this year with a new deck, new carpeting and all new seating so that was the project for the day. Caleb and Jordan got to spend the day with cousins Allen and Dustin; they even did some swimming and jet skiing.

School is winding down for the year as are all the activities, sports and lesson that coincide with the school year. That leaves us looking forward to lazy days of summer......Yea right, there is no such thing in our household. But we are looking forward to the change of direction and the things that we only do in the summer. "Everyday we live a priceless gift of God, loaded with possibilities to learn something new, to gain fresh insights." (Dale Evans Rogers).

Enjoy your priceless gifts..........


Craig and Caleb.....spring projectsCraig and John working on the pontoon boat

Dustin Caleb Jordan and Allen

First jet skiing of the yearJordan catching some rays

My Mother's Gardens

Isaiah 35:1-2 (NIV)....the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; and it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.

This is a tribute to my Mother and her gardens. God has given her a gift and she will always be an inspiration to me with my own gardens....although my gardens pale in comparison.

Thanks Mom for giving me and so many others the joy of your gardens. Before you know it your new home will have just as beautiful gardens as Hipps Hollow.

Beautiful Hipps Hollow Home

Hosta Garden

Side Yard

Dad enjoying Mom's Garden

Rain

God has given us beautiful rain for 2 days solid. I have been praying for rain to transform us into a wondrous spring. You won't hear me complain about the rain. You never appreciate the color green as you do in early spring. "Blessed by God be his land:The best fresh dew from high heaven,and fountains springing from the depths..." Duet. 33: 13.

I ran some errands and did some shopping this morning and everywhere I went it continued to rain, light and steady. I loved it. When you realize that even rainy days are a gift from God then you can appreciate the outcome of the rain. That is my positive outlook for the day......

I was by myself in Kalamazoo today so I took the opportunity to go the Family Christian Book Store. I walked around and looked at all the books for about an hour or more. So many books....so little time....so little money!! I did buy "Through the Gate of Splendor" by Elizabeth Elliott, the missionary story of Jim Elliott and 4 other missionaries that were murdered in 1956 in Ecuador. I have recently become aware of their story from the movie "End of the Spear" and am curious to read more about it.

Enjoy the rain!!! And the blessings.

Jesus The Prince of Peace

Tonight was the Mother/Daughter Banquet at church. Mom, Kay, Jordan and I went. The dinner was great. For entertainment they had a ventriloquist/chalk artist. It was so entertaining!! It was funny and inspirational at the same time. His message was "What is Peace?". He did a chalk drawing of the most beautiful mountains and lake scenery with Jesus in the sky. "Jesus, The Prince of Peace!!" It was one of the best entertainments we have had at a banquet.

Sleep

It's Sunday afternoon........a beautiful spring day. I am sitting out on the front porch with Seadra and Zoe. Seadra is content to listen to the sounds and watch the birds but Zoe is so content as to sleep at my feet. I've been watching her for about 15 minutes now. Every once in a while her eyes open to barely slits and she changes positions. I have noticed that she has carefully placed herself to where the suns rays are keeping her warm too.

Watching her has gotten me to wondering....What does the bible say about sleep. I have just read several passages about sleep and have picked out my favorite....Psalm 4:8 (The Message) "At day's end I'm ready for sound sleep, For You, God, have put my life back together." To me this says that I can sleep because God has kept me safe and made me content.

Looking at Zoe reminds me to be content with what I have. How does this make sense? What does a dog have to be content with? She doesn't own anything? That's exactly my point. She is content with the love of her family. She may not understand that God gave her to us so she should thank God for this love but I understand it. God has given me my family and I feel their love and warmth and security. For this I am so thankful for.

At the end of the day I hope you sleep sound........