Endings and Beginnings

When Avery was about 18 months old (or thereabouts) we got our first annual membership to the children's museum in our town. In those preschool years we went there 2-3 times a week, especially in the winter. As the girls got older and started school, it was still a favorite place to head after morning Kindergarten or on the weekends with Daddy. At just the right time (for us), the museum added some huge new areas and "grew" along with my girls. This museum has been a memory-maker and marker in our family's life -- the beginning years of motherhood, parenting, and family outings.

Here are some pictures from earlier years at the children's museum:

Annual Halloween party with Mother Goose (Avery is 5 and Ella is 3):

Ella has always been into the craft areas!

One History Place...

Sadly (to me!), September 2009 marks the ending of that phase of life. Last Friday, we visited the museum as a family -- most likely the last time we will use our membership before it expires this month. I cried off and on throughout our afternoon. The rest of my family just acted like it was no big deal (imagine that!).

Pictures from our "final" visit to the museum:

Eric said, "It's not like you're never going to come here again". To which I responded, "Yeah, but we won't be members. It's not the same!"

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven" Ecclesiastes 3:1

September at the Beach

Trying to get in those last days of summer, we headed to the beach a few times earlier this month.

Church at the Beach was an amazing event! In addition to the awesome experience of worshiping God outside in His creation, I had the privilege and great joy to help baptize my friend, Meg. Meg placed her trust in Jesus a couple of years ago, and chose this day at the beach to publicly proclaim that He is her Savior and Lord.

As we lowered Meg into the water, her baptism symbolized Jesus' death and going into the grave.

When Meg came up out of the water, her baptism was a symbol of Christ's resurrection -- the ultimate defeat to sin and death for all those who believe!

I am thrilled that Meg and I will be friends forever -- literally! Because Christ lives in both of us, we will not only be friends on this earth, we will also meet again in Heaven to live for eternity!

I praise God for the work that He is doing in the lives of all the people who were baptized at the beach on September 6, 2009!

We also enjoyed some family time at the beach on Labor Day.

It wasn't a super-warm day, so the main event was playing in the sand.

All four of us enjoyed some quiet reading in our beach chairs.

To top it off (well, actually to start it off!) we also enjoyed a great bike ride along the trails.

It's always a little sad to see summer end, but we are looking forward to the many adventures and joys that God will bring us this Fall!

First Day of School

This was NOT like every other first day of school! This was the first day of public school for Ella (2nd grade) and the first day of middle school (4th grade) for Avery. They were both very excited and a little nervous.

It was fun to wait for the bus with their good pals and neighbors, Meghan and Carter.

Here is the whole neighborhood gang (including preschoolers) waiting for the bus.

Ella's good pal, Anaja, even ventured to try the bus this year. Unfortunately, the bus broke down before it made it to our stop! After 30+ minutes of waiting, we carpooled the whole gang to their respective schools. I heard the bus finally pass by around 9:40 am.

Avery, Ella, Eric & I spent last evening (the last night of summer vacation) talking about God's faithfulness, every day, wherever we go. We had a great time pulling apart these verses (Joshua 1:9 & Psalm 23:6), exclaiming loudly that God is with us wherever we go (including school) and that His goodness and love follows us (chases after us!) all the days of our life. I am so thankful for the confidence that we have in Jesus. He will never leave us or forsake us, even when He calls us out of our comfort zones.

Final Summer Fling

On Monday, the girls and I met my sister, Lori, and her kids, Greg & Amanda, at the NYS Fair. I haven't been in at least 15 years, and this was Avery & Ella's first visit. It was a perfect (not-too-hot, not-too-cold) sunny day and we had a blast!

One type of exhibit that we really enjoyed was the sculptures. Often the artist was in process and we got to watch him work. Below, the cousins are standing in front of a huge sand sculpture.

One of my personal favorites was the butter sculpture. We also saw a sculptor using just a chainsaw to make amazing figures out of logs.

We also got to see (and feed) many animals.

Avery waited all day to feed a baby calf from a bottle :)

One of our favorite buildings was the 4-H building. There we saw the projects of kids from all over the state. There was a big variety, including sewing, photography, art, animals and even a DDR exhibit, just for fun. Greg enjoyed beating the 4-H kids who were there!

After a lot of walking, the kids relaxed with a "Footsie Tootsie" massage for just $.25!

Nothing could be more fun than a day with the "cousies"!