Adventures of the Supersized 6

We celebrated with joy our freedoms and idependance with family and friends. Family started to filter in on Friday and Saturday. I went to get my contribution to the party at my local shopping establishments while my kids played at mamaw's and papaw's. I arrived with Annika sleeping in the van. I left it running, air on while I unloaded my loot. Here is the funny part. I had to take some stuff to my house which was not for the party, and I wanted to change my clothes. So one of the Aunts (name withheld with Love) got Annika out of the van and left it running since I had meat in the van that was going home with me. The doors locked and were shut. So there my van ran, doors locked, purse in the van with my spare keys....And Aaron was golfing with his keys. Luckily one of the kids had left the middle window open. I had been thinking the entire morning of climbing back there and shutting it, but I never did (thankfully). So my skinny arms and a new boat oar later (picture that one!!) I managed to whack the button on the drivers door that unlocked the door. Fun stuff. By Saturday night we were enjoying the nice evening air and the sights of fireworks in the sky. Annika loved them which was great. The other three would cry when they were that age. Sunday brought more relatives and friends in to enjoy massive amounts of food and fellowship. It was hot so some sought the comfort of our pool along with us. Monday was school for me, test day. and the day of the great clean up. Some of the decorations from our hawaiian themed party found it's way to Madie and Annika's surf/Hawaiian room. It looks cute, girly cute. And Tuesday found us lounging around and watching movies while a storm brewed ruining our chances of a true 4th of July fireworks show. But it was a great weekend none the less.

It was odd to be celebrating our independance while my history class was deep in the chapters surrounded the Revolution. It brought it all into perspective and it had more meaning given the time of year. Very cool. Oh, and I managed to get an A on my 2nd test. I hope to keep the momentum going.

This weekend is all abuzz with Pirates. The kids are chomping at the bit to see the Pirates of the Caribbean dead mans chest. I think it may be a family outing with mamaw and papaw joining us. Papaw is really a kid in an AARP member's body. =) Then we will start to get things ready for our Chicago trip. Yes we are going back tot he windy city to see friends and convince ourselves that we love Ohio and don't want to be back there. No, things are great here and I know that this is where we are supposed to be. I just really loved living in Chicago too. It will be good to see our friends who are really like family. Fellowship with them, worship with them. I am looking forward to it!

Well, I am off to the pool. By far one of our most worthy investments here. Next to our home of course.

I hope everyone is having a great summer!!

TLM

VBS is done for this year. It was a relief to know that it was over and that what I set out to accomplished was achieved. The kids that attended had a better understanding of God's promises, and Christ's presense in their own lives. Praise be to God! We had 41 children go through the program throughout the week. We had set a goal of 40 and I am glad that we met that. It gives us an idea of what to plan for next year and it has laid a foundation for a children's ministry to be implimented. Aaron and I got plenty of compliments for a job well done. It is hard to say thank you when you feel you simply doing what was needed and what God asked of us. There is a warming of the heart in knowing that the hard work you did put in was appreciated by others. And to have littles come up and hug on Aaron and myself was all that we needed. For those of you that helped, you have no idea how much I appreciate it. And for those of you that prayed I am equally greatful! You are treasures to me and the kingdom of God. Dig It!! (That was our big phrase for the week) =)

So today was my first big college test in some 9 years. I was a little nervous about it, but I felt I had studied enough and with it being open book how much easier can it be? Oh....Dr. Ghebre-Ab starts to had back the results and I feel instantly hot in the face when I see an 80 on my scantron....80? How can that be? On an OPEN BOOK test!!??? I felt very confident and double checked my answers before turning it in. During our break some of us started to compare and realized that we had all gotten the 8 questions that had an "all of the above (or below)" as a response. I asked for a copy of the test questions to review what I had gotten wrong. In fact those were the ones I had gottnen wrong. I looked further and remembered that durring the test two of the three possible aswered applied to the question but not all three; therefore it was not a technical "all of the above (or below)" answer. The majority of the class did what I did and picked the most obvious of the two that applied and moved on, and the majority of the class got an 80 like I did. There was one girl who I guess figured it was all of the above (or below) and marked it. She got a 90. When questioned about it, Dr. Ghebre-Ab said that we should have marked "all of the above (or below)". Which I internally argued should not be since not all three of the other options applied to the question. Hmmm...let me see. Question: The motivation for the British to migrate to the Americas was: 1) Civil war, and religous separatism? 2) lower supply of food and goods to sustain the growing population? 3) The desire to form the first British American circus? 4) All of the above. Hmmmm....now #3) may be part of said motivation, but it was not in the text, but #1) and #2) are in the text. So if I mark All fo the above that is right!!??? Whatever. We will find out on Wednesday if we are going to be graded on a curve or not for today's test. I guess from now on if two of the 3 options fit I should mark all of the above (or below)!!! I did however get very good compliments on my essay assignments. Dr. Ghebre-Ab even held on to mine to show some of the others turning theirs in for his initial how to do it the right way. Hmmm....I wonder if I can ask for a 20% extra credit for getting it right the first time!? =)

Coming up: Madie starts her American Heritage Girls camp tonight. She is excited to be with the girls, and I am glad to have her doing something other than swim like a fish. We are also getting ready for our fun weekend with the family. It sounds like a smaller crowd this year. But with growing families there will be scheduling conflicts as everyone tries to divide their time with both spouses family.

Well on to the next chapters!

TLM

So I am knee deep in reading, I have to read 2 chapters, 78 pages. Then go over my notes from lectures, go over the list of 40 things that my instructor said would be test content and review the chapters with those 40 items in mind. I have to get my "learning mastery assignment" done. This assignment is writing "2-3 fully developed paragraphs, with fully developed sentences" for about 9 questions or statements for the two chapters. So, about 18-27 paragraphes. This is due Monday as is the test I need to study for. I better get used to it, in September I will have 4 classes.

VBS could not be better. Well maybe a few lessons are being learned along the way, but really it is going great. Bottom line- the kids are learning bible stories, and along the way they are realizing God's promises for each of them. God Loves you, God knows you, God treasures you, God forgives you, and God is with you always. DIG IT!!
The leaders have been wonderful and we have had as many as 37 kids this week. We have had 4 teen helpers and I think I counted 17 adults making it all run smoothly. It is chaos but what a blessing it is.

We are also gearing up for the big Cooke invasion. For one weekend every year in the hot July sun roughly 30 of my mother in laws tribe travel from the far away lands of Springfield, Columbus, Dayton, and DeGraf to celebrate the independance of our country. Some pitch tents, or they find some floor inside, some even travel to North Main street to sleep. All bring goodies to share, and we play ridiculously silly, yet fun games. We eat, we laugh and we be merry. We also luanch fireworks which is fun too. This year we can swim if we want as well. It is looking to be a fun time this year.

Dispite all the rushing here and there I have to take a moment and step back and see how God is working through each moment. It is a wonder to realize that even though it is very crazy and I feel like my handle on it all is slipping, God has it all in his hands. What a wonderful thing. I pray that he gives me the knowledge and stamina to get through each day.


TLM