Harrison's Birthday Month

What a great start to summer this June has been!

Harrison had his birthday and turned 15. 

His friend gave him a nice "Happy Birthday Girl" banner to wear and then was the step stool for his feet. 😂 Crazy boys.

Singing Happy Birthday with his two plain chocolate cakes ~ no frosting. I have to say: that's not a bad choice. 

Playing Airsoft. 

With their faces masked and covered, they look like a bunch of hooligans about to terrorize the farm.

Some game time. 

Great group of guys. I'm always glad for my kids' friendships.

We talked the boys into coming with Phoebe and I to see Shakespeare in the Park. A pretty good production of Hamlet! 

We got there right on time (which is late, apparently), so we had very back row seats. We definitely need to go earlier next year. We couldn't see anything really. But they are mic'd, so we could at least hear it. Jonathan enjoyed it more than he thought he would. 

Jonathan has been preaching at two churches in Jamestown, MO every Sunday. He had Harrison go with him on this particular weekend so that Harrison could do the children's sermon. They happened to stop for supper at a little town that was having a fair. So they got some fair food and a goofy picture.

I think this may have been on the way home from the pool. 

A Howitzer the boys built out of Lego.

From the luggage on the floor, it looks like Harrison is about to pack for camp. Or he got home from camp and needs to unpack. At any rate, he's about to pack again because Preacher Boy Camp is next week.

Phillip showing Phoebe how to use his iPad to draw and paint. It's pretty cool what those two can do.

Phoebe bought a Thrift Store couch! It was $45. She rented a Rug Doctor from Dollar General and cleaned it up nicely. We've been using it plenty. I'm going to miss it when it's gone; it's quite comfortable!

Phillip rented a jackhammer and finally got those concrete steps out.

The tractor came in handy on several occasions for this particular job.

I have to show off the biscuit cutter my dad made me. I love it!

And if I'm making cinnamon rolls, that usually means Cody is coming over. 😁 He was here over the weekend, and we're always glad to spend time with him.

Harrison with his mug and sunset.

He took the test for his permit yesterday, so he is now licensed to learn how to drive. 

And we had quite an emergency at church. It was a BYOBucket and BYOWet-vac type of deal. 

Our church basement flooded after the town had a bunch of rain dumped on it in a short amount of time. The drainage system couldn't handle it, and several places in town flooded. Anyway, Jonathan called us saying the basement was flooding and could we bring our shop vac and some buckets. At the same time Phillip got a text sent out to the deacons and elders to come on down and see what could be done. 

We had quite a crew show up!

The teens were so much fun and a huge help. 

Even as it continued to pour in, we scooped or vacuumed up all the standing water. Phillip and I didn't stay the full time, but Jonathan and others didn't get home till 11 that night.

And the next day there was a clean-up party at the church. With all hands on deck, it only took a few hours. 

 

Phoebe's Graduation

We've had some gorgeous days over here.

I was trying to capture this field of Butterweed (Packera glabella). It was kind of pretty seeing this field full of it. Other fields had a few yellow sprouts popping up sporadically, but this field across the road from us was absolutely packed. 

Turns out it is bad for animals and humans to consume, causing liver problems. So don't eat it. It's great for pollinators though.

Then the farmers came and those yellows fields were gone in no time. 

From our house you could see up to 7 or 8 tractors in the fields all around us as all the different farming families planted.

Jonathan and Harrison making chocolate chip cookies.

The boys went to the Kiamichi Preaching Gathering.

Jon kept a good eye on everyone and no one was injured. You never know what'll happen when a bunch of boys gather for a week out in the wilderness.

Harrison and Silas preached in the contest and did really well.

Amos and Lanaya Elizabeth took a trip to Oregon for Amos' birthday. I believe they are in front of Multnomah Falls.

My parents arrived for Phoebe's graduation party. We had some time to kill, so we went to Hannibal. Dad bought us a new Keurig (since ours had just broken that morning), and we visited downtown Hannibal and walked down by the river. 

We also shared a piece of mint fudge from Clemen's General Store. You won't regret a pass through that store.

And finally Phoebe's party came. 

This was my first time doing a Walmart cake, and I don't regret it. Phoebe designed it, my dad picked it up, and it tasted pretty good too. And we didn't have a ton left over, which I was glad of!

The boys and my parents were a big help! Phillip did the slide show (which isn't as easy as you'd think if your devices won't connect to the TV). Jonathan helped fix the slideshow problem. Harrison and my parents helped in the kitchen and with decorating. Absolutely couldn't have done it without all of them!

Phoebe and Ainsley will be rooming together in Linn, MO starting in August. I'm thankful for their friendship!

Thanks for taking the pictures, Bryn!

Then the very next day the church had a Rededication Service. Everyone waited outside and walked in together to see the newly renovated auditorium. A lot of work went into the renovation. We met downstairs in the basement for almost 6 months while it was redone. New flooring, pews redone, new paint, new lighting, new electrical stuff.... I don't even know what all was redone, but it looks totally different and so beautiful! The stained glass windows really stand out now, and we have the original wood floors back.

Phillip spoke briefly and presented a plaque to Bob Moore who donated a lot of time and skill. He headed up the building committee, did the electrical and lighting, and was the de facto contractor.

 It was a lovely service all around.

 

Advancing Toward Summer

We've had quite the busy time since Easter. 

But we are thankful we have the health to deal with it.

Phoebe's Easter outfit. She made this skirt by hand!

Amos and Lanaya's Easter picture. Always a cute couple!

They were having supper with friends and got an adorable picture with the friends' baby.

And Phillip and I flew to Orlando to be there for Jon's graduation from Advance. They are going fully online after this year, so there will possibly not be another in-person graduation ceremony.

It was a late flight because of weather in Atlanta. We were supposed to land in Orlando by midnight, but instead got there at 3 am. Absolutely no one was there to help with car rental, but we finally looked clueless and tired enough that a taxi rolled down his window and reluctantly said he'd drive us to our hotel 15 miles away. The carless situation worked out since either my parents or Jonathan were around to pick us up for whatever was needed.

Trying on cowboy hats at Boot Barn. 

Nana and Aupa with Jonathan at Kissimmee Christian Church Sunday morning. They drove many hours from Jennings, LA to be there and I was glad to see them.

And it's so sweet that the McFerrins and Gradys (faithful friends from Jacksonville) drove down to be there for the graduation too. 

Jonathan has been staying overnight at the Gradys in Georgia while driving to and from Florida, and he has spent his Thanksgivings at the McFerrins. 

Ann McFerrin caught this picture and sent it to us.

Jonathan was the Student of Distinction (because of grades, I think; that boy got the highest score they gave in every class the past two years!). 

So he got to address his class. We were all glad to get to hear him speak and he truly did an awesome job.

Jim Book, the founder of Advance Ministry Training.

Jonathan's class being goofy. They look like the dwarves from the original Snow White. 😆

Phillip and I flew home without incident. Then Jonathan left the next day to drive back home with all his stuff stuffed into his car. I always thank God profusely for safety once he's home. It's such a long way to drive!

Phoebe and I went to our church's Women's Banquet together. 

They always have such a good meal ~ and lots of good fellowship.

The next day Uncle Earl and Aunt Pat, Aunt Anita and Mimi and Papa came over for supper. Mimi made the main course (a delicious chicken casserole). And the others also brought delicious foods with them.

We always have such fun talking with all of them.

Phillip had to fly to San Antonio for a work trip the next day. While he was gone, the kids and I made a trip to St. Louis to visit the art museum and the zoo. If there is a climbable tree, Jon will climb it.

The boys and I spent the morning at the museum, had lunch with Phoebe at their cafe (where I spilt my soup!), and then went to the zoo for the afternoon.

Phoebe wanted to spend all day at the art museum, so she got her fill.

Phillip's flight back from San Antonio was detained so that he ended up spending the night in Chicago and flew home a day later than he was supposed to. Ah well. We're not sure if flying has changed since we were young, or if we're suddenly doing it wrong. There always seems to be some kind of troubles.

We are all home now and glad to be together. 

We have one week of school left! Jonathan is planning to supply preach at two churches in Jamestown, MO this summer. Harrison has at least three camps to attend this year. Jonathan is also recruiting him to do some of the children's sermons at the churches he'll be preaching at. Phoebe is going to have her graduation party in a couple of weeks (May 31st from 2-5 at the church ~ everyone invited!). And she'll be working, going to CIY and moving to Linn in August. We also want to visit the art museum in Chicago and go to a Shakespeare play in St. Louis. 

It's been wonderfully sunny! So I've been walking down the lanes for exercise, getting a little burnt and watching the tractors who are finally able to get into the fields.

I can't believe we get to see these skies every day.