My Dad is quite the Patriot and I think that when they bought their house one of the top selling points was the flag pole. He has proudly flown Old Glory as long as he has a flag to fly. Awhile back the rope broke and came out of the pulley and, sadly, no more flag. It wasn’t as easy as just running another rope up there…this pole is probably a good 40 feet up in the air!

Dad stated he couldn’t have thought of a BETTER birthday gift than this one.

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Our Summer is in full swing with Baseball and T-ball games each week. It’s keeping us very busy and it is so much fun. Jaden is in T-ball this year and it is hilarious to watch the little ones running around the bases and hitting the ball off the tee. I’m glad that he is playing and meeting some kids that will be going into Kindergarten with him this Fall. Hopefully he will know a couple of kids in his class.

Julian is enjoying kid pitch this year which is a whole new ballgame - pardon the pun. It’s much more competitive and it stresses me out in a good way.

Somehow I think the kids favorite thing is the candy and sharing nachos. I’m going to go broke at the concession stand.

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It’s been a good school year! Julian successfully finished 3rd grade and will move on to the 4th grade next year. Jaden finished the Mother’s Day Out program and will head off to Kindergarten in the Fall. Evely also finished her Mother’s Day Out program and will have one more year of getting ready for school there.

The MDO program has a graduation ceremony and singing program for parents at the end of the year. This year was extra special because of the graduate in our home - Jaden. It was a bittersweet moment watching him walk across the stage and get his little diploma. It seemed to be a marking moment of my little boy growing up. No longer a baby or toddler, he’s fully kid. He now his his own ideas, humor, plans, likes and dislikes. He’s stubborn but very sweet. He has a heart that leans toward God and I love that about him. He asks great questions and likes to laugh. He can burp extremely loud and loves candy, sugar, sweets and pop. He hates veggies. I still catch him sleeping with his “green blanket” on occasion. He’s an all around GREAT kid! So much fun. I will greatly miss him when he is off to kindergarten every day - all day. Yup! It’s sad.

So here are some pics of the kiddos on the last day of MDO.

Evely in her new dress with her adorable new frog purse. It was loaded with a bunny rabbit and a plastic carrot.

Jaden receiving his diploma. They ask them in the microphone what they want to be when they grow up and he proudly said “A SPY!”

I love this picture! Only a boy would do that during graduation.

I’m looking forward to Summer!

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Jaden, my 5 year old, has been doing some deep spiritual thinking lately. The questions have sometimes been difficult to answer and the fact that he asks these questions continually surprises me. Some of these are hilarious; enjoy….

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One of the perks of being a Mom, is the ability to relive childhood again through your kids. To feel grass or mud on your toes, to see the beauty of nature and the surprise of new knowledge. I love that part of parenting!

A couple weeks ago I was able to relive the exhilaration of learning to ride a bike for the first time through Jaden. Remember that feeling? The wind in your hair and speeding down a road - alone and unbridled. Nothing holding you back. Just you and the bike at top speed and a first taste of what freedom is.

He is so cute on his bike. The first few morning after learning to ride he would get up, get dressed and go outside to ride and ride. The newness is wearing off but he is out there everyday perfecting his turns and going through mud puddles.

My wheels don’t seem to touch the road
As I fly through the wind.
When I look down,
The road flashes by.
When I look up,
The world is slow motion again,
And I swerve a corner,
Almost floating.

written by a 10 year old girl

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Recently we have had our fair share of rain. I know it’s Spring, but I’m ready for sun-shiny days and warm breezes. The other day Tom headed out to town for something but quickly came back home and came inside. I asked what was wrong and he said “Kids! Let’s go get the worms…they are out on the roads!” So everyone donned some rain gear and off they went.

Tom’s filling up Julian’s new worm box with water. He received this for his birthday from Grandma and Grandpa. He’s ready to do some fishing and they got him this nifty worm bedding and box which is now nestled in our downstairs fridge full of worms.

Coming back from a successful worm wranglin’.

A couple days after this experience I was doing Evely’s hair and she was looking out the window and she gave this giant sigh. I asked her what big thoughts were going through her little mind and she said “Mom….it’s raining…” I said “I know, Ev, what do you think about that?” After a really long pause she said “Woooorms!”

I had to chuckle at that one! I was thinking how bored I was of the rain and she was dreaming about worm hunting. I imagine my kids will look back on rainy days and remember Tom getting them out in the soggy weather to pick up creepy crawlies.

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Today is a day of celebration. It is my Mother’s birthday!! We spent most of the day together sitting around the living room with family, bouncy kids and good food. My brother Mike, surprised us with another visit and my Aunt Carolyn flew in for the occasion. It was a wonderful day. Nothing too overly special was done or said, but it was priceless none the less.

Here’s Mom reading another birthday card….she has received 93 cards in the mail so far!! Thanks everyone!

Four years ago I didn’t think I would have spent today with my Mom. The Doctors didn’t think she would be here and they stated that “even with chemo….well, maybe two years.” However, she is still here and still brings JOY to my life each day. I can say that Mom is one of the best friends that I have ever had and it is a special relationship because she IS my Mom. I know that over the last four years we have experienced pain and hardship. We have rejoiced together over good news and good times and cried over the painful reports and the difficulties that come with fighting cancer. Yet, I am honored to walk with her through this and I am equally honored to call her my Mom. I have never known of someone with her stamina, her strength in weakness, her joy, her faith, hope and endurance in the face of such a fight. She has taught me so much without ever opening her mouth as I have watched and listened and observed.

If I could go back and choose who my Mother would be, I would pick my Mom. I wouldn’t change a thing! I can only hope to be to my children what she has been to me over the years. God was completely merciful to me when he gave me my Mom. So on this special day, I want to tell Mom that I love her and I am grateful to everything that she has poured into my life.

Isaiah 46:4
Even to your old age, I am He,
And even to gray hairs I will carry you!
I have made, and I will bear;
Even I will carry, and will deliver you.
~God

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Easter weekend was a flurry of fun and family. Bill and MK came over Friday night to help us install a new and much needed toilet. Mike also came down for the weekend. The rest of the family came over for dinner Sunday evening. It was a good weekend to celebrate our Savior and that he is ALIVE.

I really pondered the meaning of our celebrations throughout the weekend. It also becomes very personal to me each time I experience explaining the truths of Jesus to my children. To explain it again in such simple terms and to hear their questions, makes me appreciate a God who sent His son to die for me. I’m humbled that He came to save me from my sins. Most of all I am very thankful that He is risen and I don’t serve a God still in a grave- that would be so pointless.

Saturday was a gorgeous Spring day, one of the few we have experienced this year, and we had a giant Easter egg hunt for the kids. Mike helped me stuff egg after egg after egg…I think we were sick of it. Then we hid them all over our acre and let them have at it.

Jaden completely cracked me up during the hunt! Check out his bunny ears that he is giving himself.

He took off screaming and running. Here he is with his hands full of eggs and he abandoned his basket on the lawn behind him. See it?

This egg had broke open and when Jaden and Evely found it they yelled “It Hatched!”

Isn’t she big….

Jaden officially “won”. He had the most eggs with a basket overflowing.

Going through the loot.

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On a side note, thanks for your continued prayers for Mom. She seems to be doing some better. She is tolerating this chemo better than the last. They have officially given her the first “round” which was 3 treatments. She said she seems to be feeling stronger each day. She is hopeful.

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This was such a busy weekend for our family. The sad and happy all at the same time. My Uncle Harold passed away last week and Friday we attended his funeral. Though sad, it was also a celebration of his home going to Heaven. It was so nice to see my family together and it’s too bad that we wait till funerals to get together.

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For those that keep up with Mom by the blog…

We appreciate your continued prayers and support! We trust in God for her life. It ultimately is in His very capable hands. We appreciate each day and what it brings, knowing that He is in control.

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