Strawberry Fields Forever

You've all heard of good, better, best. 

How about big, bigger, biggest?

Tom and I picked strawberries today and this one was big.

This next one is even bigger.

 The last one is the BIGGEST!

 Just how big is biggest?  Andrew is holding this one single berry.  The picture doesn't do it justice.

 At these sizes, they fill up the flats in a hurry.  I don't think we picked more than half an hour to fill both of our flats. 

Now the processing begins.  Freezing?  Jam?  Freezer jam?  How about strawberry pie!

No matter.  It will all be DELICIOUS!

FHE @ Bay Beach

Yesterday afternoon we headed for Green Bay to spend our Family Home Evening at Bay Beach with the Gourleys.  It was a lot of fun and no crowds.  We didn't really have to wait in line either which is always a plus. 

Clare & Brock on the helicopters.  Clint and Adam were behind.

 Brock LOVED the jeeps.  He was able to use two steering wheels.

 Adam liked the bell on the jeeps.

 A little smiler waiting outside the Zippin Pippin.

 A train ride with Papa.

 Cami & Brock on the Ladybugs.  Again a steering wheel for Brock.

 Clint & Tom on the Zippin Pippin.

 Apparently there was an Elvis sighting.

 Bumper car fun!

 These four had a great time.  Adam didn't appreciate this ride too much.

 Ready for scrambling.

Adam shooting down the enemy.

 Flying high on the Yo-yo.

 This ride makes me dizzy.

 I think Brock liked the Merry-go-round, but a steering wheel would make this horse a lot more fun.

 Clare & Cami getting scrambled.

Captain Adam.

Extraction

On Thursday I took Andrew to the oral surgeon to have his wisdom teeth removed.  They weren't bothering him and were not even broken through.  In April his orthodontist took a panoramic x-ray and told me he could have them out at any time.  I'm thinking that he didn't want them doing damage to that perfect smile he helped create.

At any rate, as with all my daughters, there was only a local with nitrous.  I'm too cheap to pay the extra $400 to have them put under.  Besides, I don't think it's necessary.  Andrew, just like his sisters, did great!  Some nerves going in, but who wouldn't be nervous?  I was.

He doesn't have a lot of pain that I can tell.  Some on the way home after the "freezing" was beginning to wear off and before I could get some pain meds into him.  Did I fill the vicodin prescription?  Not a chance.  Advil and Tylenol every two hours did the trick. 

He's got some swelling as witnessed by the above photo.  So far no bruising, but we'll see.  That may show up just in time to go to Youth Conference this week.  Then he'll have a story to tell about the bruising on his face.  Just kidding.

State Special Olympics Track Meet

State track for Special Olympicss is held the same weekend every year at the campus in Stevens Point.  Tom has qualified most of the years he has competed, but due to limits on how many athletes we can send from our agency, he doesn't always get to go.

This year we had enough spaces to take everyone who qualified.  Tom qualified in two events but gets to compete in three. 

Here he is in the running long jump.  He won the gold medal! 

He really enjoys doing the Turbo Jav.  He got 5th. 



We go back today so he can run the 100 meter dash. 

He absolutely loves Special Olympics!



An End that Marks a New Beginning

Yesterday my fourth year as a seminary teacher ended.   I would never have guessed that I could have done this calling for four years, let alone do it again next year.  Every year I think about how it will be next year with the new kids coming in and the oldest ones not coming back.  This year is a little different as the youth not coming back have ALWAYS been in my class.  They were newbies back when I was one too.

 Four beautiful seniors from high school last night.  We'll hold our own seminary graduation next Sunday.  All four of these youth have brightened my mornings for four years and I'll miss them.  Here they are!

Trevor.  The one I can always count on to give answers and talk.  Who will talk and make comments next year?  He was the class valedictorian.  Congrats Trev!

 Rissa.  She's been the go-to girl in all of our scripture mastery games this year.  She knows the scriptures and she's really fast at getting them out.

Dest & Jas.  Both bring their own style.  Jasmine is never afraid to add a comment to the discussion.  Destinee brings a warm smile and plenty of love to the class. 

All these wonderful youth/adults have been a pleasure to work with.  They've each completed the Stake Presidency Challenge all four years!  That is no small accomplishment.  There are only a few youth in the entire stake who accomplish the challenge each year and these four have done it every year. 

I will miss these bright, wonderful people.  I know they will be a success in whatever they choose to do in their lives.  

Kickball in Lyndhurst

 This spring, we burned off the field behind our house and have been mowing it ever since.  It's quite a lot more to mow, but the tall grass and endless Locust trees are now gone.  It's also a great ball field.  Tonight was our first official use of the field.

 Bishop and Christian are our home teachers and the plan was for us to get together for a game as their home teaching visit.  They invited the Roes, Jensens and Templeton/Haffners over.  I actually didn't play but held Brock so Clare could play.  Here's Andrew sliding into second and he wasn't safe!

 Amy makes the greatest faces.  She was a lot of fun to watch.  The game was the adults against the kids.  The little ones got to have a "free pass" and couldn't make outs.

 I believe the adults were the winners tonight.  Here they are waiting their turn to kick.

Another Amy face.  It was a lot of fun to watch.  I would have liked to play, but this gave me the chance to take some pictures. 

A New Bishopric

A good day at church today as we sustained a new bishopric.  Bishop Rekow was a wonderful leader for our ward.  He is good and kind and most caring.  His heart is bigger than most people I know.  He sincerely loves the people of our Gresham ward.  I know because I've felt his love for me.

Today he was released and his son-in-law, Newell Haffner was called.  Newell is very different from Bishop Rekow.  That's not a bad thing.  He sees things very black and white but I know he has a great capacity to love.  Just last week I heard him bear his testimony of his great love for the young men of our ward.  I've seen it in action as well.  He one of the good guys.

Will I miss having Bishop Rekow at the helm?  I think I might as he's such a kind, wonderful man.  Do I look forward to seeing the direction Bishop Haffner takes our ward.  Absolutely!  John Rickert and Aaron High will stand by his side as his counselors.  Yes, it was a good day to be at church and raise my hand to sustain these men.