CT Ohio 2016

The problem with waiting so long to post about our Ohio trip is that I might have a hard time remembering the sequence of events. Alas, I'll try my hardest!

We had a huge group this year! I think about 50 or 60 of us went to Ohio for the week. We attended the Velocity conference on Denison's campus, and as usual, went on service projects during the day. 

This was our giant group, in front of the dorms we slept in!

It's such a beautiful campus. I stayed in a dorm with Rachael Epley and Sarah Seirocki. This next picture is the students who rode down with me. Yes I had to drive a 15 passenger van. We had a little issue with getting the vans when we were supposed to, which put us behind 2 hours. But we eventually got them and were on our way! 

These next few pictures were taken in the chapel, right before morning session. We'd have a morning and evening session, with our work projects in the afternoon. 

The first day, our whole group traveled to a nursing home about twenty minutes away. It's seriously one of the nicest nursing homes I've ever been to. We did a few projects but mostly visited with the residents. 

The students did an amazing job engaging with the residents, even taking the time to dance with them! I think we truly brightened their day.

Day two, our group went to Life Community Church, where we've gone every year. I helped organize stuff in a warehouse, as well as organize some other rooms in the church. We were able to accomplish a lot!

Day 3, our group split and went to two different Habitat resale stores in downtown Columbus. We spent the afternoon cleaning and organizing the store for them.

On our final service day, we went to Gladden House in downtown Columbus and weeded in the 90 heat for 2 hours! Again the students did awesome! Gladden House is a community center for the inner-city and they have a big community garden that we worked in for the afternoon.

I didn't take that many pictures this year but you get the gist of the trip. It was a great week! Our students worked really hard and three of them gave their lives to Christ that week. We are blessed to be a part of such an awesome church family that values our youth so much and allows them to go on these life-changing mission trips.

Summer Fun (May - July)

Summer time!!! I LOVE Summer! It's been a hot one too. We enjoyed the end of the school year, as well as the end of a great softball season for Mike and for Ava. Mike and I went to Ohio with Impact and we just got back from our vacation out east. I'll post about both of those trips separately. But here's what's been happening around here.

Ava had a great rest of the season. They went into play-offs but ended up losing after three games. She loved her coaches and teammates and it was a great experience. 

Ava's choir sang at the Spring Fling at school. That's a big end of the year picnic with games and food and music. Allie and Hannah enjoyed getting their faces painted. 

Mike and I went to Jessica Moreno's wedding. That was a nice date! 

I thoroughly enjoyed working with this lovely lady all year.  

We celebrated Coby's 6th birthday! 

We had dinner with our marriage group and Dave set up this giant slip n slide for the kids. 

Hannah had her farm concert! So excited that that's the last one of those I'll have to attend:) 

The girls had a blast at their field day. Ava beat all her classmates in the 50 yard dash. Allie came in second for her class! It was a beautiful and fun day! 

We started ANOTHER project. Since Mike is working on the exterior in the back, I suggested we add on a bigger master bathroom, so we could add to the main bath and our closet. So Mike got started on that! So many unfinished projects! 

Our gardens get more and more beautiful every year as the flowers multiply! 

Mike and I did pre-marital counseling with Catie and Cody this year. We had a fun time attending their wedding with Allie and Hannah. Ava was at Michigan Adventure that day with the choir!

Peonies have to be one of the loveliest smelling flowers! 

Jace graduated from high school! How is that even possible!? I still remember the day he was born and Katie and Katie coming to the hospital to visit, and me walking out, shouting "I'm an aunt!" We had the family over for a BBQ after his commencements! 

More of Ava's softball team. This was after their final game! 

Mike has been very intentional with trying to take the girls on little adventures this summer. This afternoon, he took the kids to Mill Race Park. Brian and Emilia came along, as well as Ava's friend Zoey. And since we were right behind 7-11, of course we had to get Slurpee's. 

Once again, we planted a big garden. I love how the flowers are really growing up around it. Mike and I have been talking about downsizing! We are thinking about turning the garden into a sand volleyball court and then just having planter boxes around the yard for vegetables. 

Ava was honored to be picked to play in the All-Star game this year!  

Hannah's teacher retired this year so some of the parents threw a little party for her. One of the parents put together this adorable poster for her! 

We were so excited for the last day of school. It was such a privilege to work at this school this year. But I was super excited to start summer break, as the girls were! 

We celebrated this amazing ladies birthday the day after school let out! 

My longest friend came into town with her family! It was awesome getting to spend time with her. The Hughes and the Rosses spent a lot of time together when I was growing up. It's always great to spend time together. 

We celebrated Father's Day with this great family. I'm so incredibly blessed to have Mike father our girls. He's AMAZING with them. And I'm truly blessed to have been raised by my dad. So nice to take time to appreciate these two amazing guys. 

Brian has turned out to be an incredible dad to Emilia as well. So nice to celebrate with him as well. 

It's been super hot so it was nice to spend the day at Jackie's pool:) 

We took the kids to see Finding Dory, a very cute movie. 

I'm loving the front of my house, along with my new hanging baskets! 

The girls participated in a week of Creative Arts Camp at church, which culminated in the family fun night and silent auction! 

We bid on a few things, one being this awesome basket full of gift cards! 

Todd Boomstra made this awesome plan for landscaping for us, so I'm trying to do a little bit at a time. This side came out great. But boy, it took me an entire day. Landscaping is hard work! 

We spent time with cousins setting up for Jace's grad party. The party itself was a blast too! 

We had people over for the 4th of July! It was a great day with friends and fireworks! 

We colored Ava's hair with kool-aid. It looks super cool, especially in the sun!

We have been able to spend a lot of time with Emilia! 

And look how caught up I am! This happened today! We met the mom's group at Laura's sister's pool. Whew. What a great summer it's been! I'll post about our trips soon.