A Family for Ellie-Kate

Saying good-bye... June 16-17, 2012

On June 7, Grandma passed away at age 95... Even though she suffered a stroke in early May and then wrestled with increased loss of vision and hearing, it was still sad to say good-bye on June 16. We love you, Grandma! We took the above photo at Converse Cemetary shortly after the graveside service on June 16. After the service, we went to "the Cow Place" for dinner and then back to Warsaw.

On June 17, we started the process of saying good-bye to Grandma's house... I cannot tell you how many times that I ate at that table or sat in this kitchen...

Grandma's piano is the cornerstone of her living room...

Grandma's den featured so many pictures on the walls, Grandma and Grandpa's recliners, and treasured momentos... When I was in middle school, I slept on this couch after we moved to Warsaw, and I remember seeing the "eye" in the pictures behind the recliners :)

Grandma's bedroom...

I remember dashing to the step and pounding on the doorbell when we would arrive for a visit at 1040 South Buffalo. I will never forget her post office box (63) or her phone number (267-6993).

The cousins pose outside of Grandma's house-- Phoebe, Britti, Emmy, Ellie-Kate, Brodie, Chelsea, and Grandma B.

Friend Mini-Reunion-- June 16, 2012

Shari, Christie, Michelle, Corinne, Britti, Ellie-Kate, Emmy, Carolyn, Chelsea, Patti, Sandy, Lisa, and Crystal

Lunch at the Boathouse Restaurant in Winona Lake-- June 16, 2012-- Corinne drove 18 hours for a visit, and we all turned out in force to share memories and renew connections :)

Christie, Corinne, Lisa, and Carolyn
Shari, Crystal, Crystal, Patti, and Michelle

What a week!!

Vacation Bible School is always so intense, but really intensely fun as well. Throughout the week, we arrive by 4:30, rehearse, eat with our church family, and enjoy drama, music, crafts, games, snacks, movie time, and the store. Our theme for VBS this year was "Amazing Aviation," and our skit featured two pilots vying for sponsors in a national air competition. I played "Rosie," a tough airline mechanic with a firm faith in God. At the end of the week, Rosie got to lead another character to Christ-- very cool!! During the week, we balanced interacting with the kids, signing our character cards, and frantically rehearsing for the next segment of our ongoing skit. We really went crazy with our special effects this year... explosives, visual comedy, and sound effects...

Meanwhile, Chelsea served as a "flight attendant," and Emmy and Ellie-Kate got to enjoy all of the stations. Britti covered for Chelsea on Tuesday night, and Roger came as a visitor on Thursday night. Thus, VBS-- 2012 was very much a family affair :)

Can't wait until next year!

We love VBS! June 12, 2012

Ellie-Kate and Carter enjoy traveling as a train and eating snack-- June 12, 2012

Christie, Jeremy, Phil, Tim, and Amy-- we were such characters :)

Patricia, Jenna, Tess, Madison, and Emmy enjoy their last VBS as participants!

Say YES to VBS! June 11, 2012

Christie as "Rosie," an airplane mechanic in the 1940s, for ABC's VBS-- June 11, 2012

Chelsea and Ellie-Kate at VBS-- Chelsea served as a pre-school "flight attendant," herding four little kids around to their rotations during each evening.

Emmy, Ellie-Kate, and Chelsea-- June 11, 2012

We had a "blast" at VBS... The hair spray wasn't horrible... the make-up wasn't horrible... the bucket of charcoal all over my head and face weren't horrible... the stress of knowing that we were actually using explosives backstage at church wasn't horrible (ok, it was, but...); however, the powdered chocolate that I had to spit out to simulate smoke was downright nauseating! I literally lost my spaghetti right after I got off of the stage!