blue bird

everyday gift: a flash of blue in the garden

a father's gift

since father's day a few days ago, i have been thinking about all mark does for our kids as their dad. on sunday we honored him and thanked him with father's day gifts: cinnamon rolls for breakfast, a homemade card, a funny booklet about dads, a shirt, his favorite meal of bratwurst on the grill.

but today i am thinking not about father's day gifts, but of a father's gift. last night after the younger kids were in bed, and my own eyes were closing on my book, i overheard mark in the kitchen with C. over the clinking of spoons in the ice cream bowls, i heard C asking questions about the sunday sermon from the book of james. i heard the rustle of bible pages turning from the new testament to proverbs. i heard my son wrestling with the big questions of faith and works, of consequences of sin, and a christian response to this world. and i heard a father engage his son with wisdom, patience, and love.

this morning as i start the coffee in the kitchen, i see sticky ice cream bowls left on the table, C's bible, and sermon notes in his own scratchy handwriting. and i smile. what a beautiful sight. i guess i will not scold about the dirty dishes left out or the handwriting that needs improvement. instead i am praising God that mark has established such wonderful lines of communication with his children and he is not afraid of their hard questions.

everyday gift: late night talks at the kitchen table with dad

croquet

we did not get the rain that was forecast for father's day, so we were able to enjoy an afternoon playing croquet in the yard. everyone seemed to find great pleasure in sending my ball in the opposite direction. mark and boys are the competitive ones so we had quite a lively game!

S going after C!

nice shot, B!

darling, yoooooou send me!

okay, who got a hold of the camera?

i can not believe that you would send your own mother into the flower garden!

i'll be sending you...to bed early!

go grammy!

everyday gift: playing croquet in the yard

buzz for bryce

saturday we went to a party to show our support for young bryce who has lymphoma. his chemo treatments are having the expected side-effects including hair loss, so they held a "buzz for bryce" party where you could lose your hair right along side bryce!

bryce giving the pastor of his church a buzz

good friends

please pray for bryce as he wages his battle against lymphoma.

before-n-after

human foosball

have you ever played foosball?

no, i mean have you ever played foosball???
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the golden arrow

while at camp, C earned 4 merit badges: small boat sailing, pioneering, leather working, and archery. he was especially excited to receive the golden arrow at the end of the week. this is the award for the highest scores in archery for the entire camp.

shotgun shooting

knife case made for his leather working badge

everyday gift: a bullseye