GMS Burlington Vermont

We headed to Vermont on Sunday afternoon to visit four of our students attending our Navigator summer training program in Burlington VT.  This was the third time we have visited, last year when I was very prego and very hot, the first when we were just married for the day.  When we headed to bed Saturday night, I thought- "this is so crazy!  Who drags three kids to live In a dorm for three days and meet with college students?!"  I fully expected it to go terribly...

In fact, it was amazing!!!  Nate and I hit our stride taking turns watching the kids, accepting help and just having fun doing what we love as a family in a way we haven't figured out how to do at home quite yet.  

Sunday night we went out to dinner and ice cream with the four students from UMass.  We loved hearing how Thier summer was going while walking all over Burlington on a gorgeous night.  Monday and Tuesday morning Nate shared with the staff about spiritual multiplication and practical discipleship.  I got to meet one on one with each student and Nate got to meet with a bunch of the staff guys.  We really had a great time!!!  

Strawberries!

One of my favoritest things about living in amherst is strawberry picking!!!  We get ten quarts this year at our farm share so we have been busy!  

Preschool Celebration

Olivia had an end of year preschool celebration last Friday that we got to attend as a family.  Isaac joined in for a class game, songs, presents and hugs while Sam held the ladies attention:). We have been so happy with Olivia's school experience so far- so thankful for a great place for her!

End of year Navs BBQ

On Saturday we had our end of the year BBQ for navs.  Amazing it's the end of two years here already!

Sam clearly had fun!

Nate and about half the group that came through on Saturday 

Rachel and Sam- we are sad to see Rachel move down south this may but we are so thankful for her and how she helped us relaunch Navs the past two years!

These two ladies, Johanna and Elizabeth ,and one more not pictured, Becky, are headed to our summer training program in Vermont at the end of the month. We are so excited for all three of them! You can pray for their growth, financial support and good jobs in VT.

And Olivia and Isaac had fun too:)

Wellesley Ten Year Reunion

This last weekend I celebrated 6 years married and ten years out of college.  I don't want to think about how long I've been out of high school!!!  

I didn't return to wellesley for my 5 year reunion for many reasons but a main one was that it didn't seem like people I knew were going to make it.  Why spend so much money for something I wouldn't know anyone at.  Same thing seem to be happening this time with two differences-  my mother LOVES reunions and convinced me that it's fun meeting people you didn't even know in college.  And second, it was my sisters 5 year reunion and our classes had Friday night dinners together.

So Friday night Liz and I bravely headed to wellesley-  a place that has shaped me probably more than I realize or care to admit.  Feeling a bit nervous we checked in Liz first and then went to my class checkin.  After much indecision, we decided to just go for it and go into my class social hour.  We ended up having a great time!  I ran into a woman I had been an RA with and the rest is history!  

We caught up about where we are these days, where we had been, and most enjoyably all the things we remembered about college together. My favorite moment was a story about Facebook-  ask me sometime!

After dinner Liz and I walked all over campus-  stopping at the library where she used to work, heading to the roof of freeman where her installation artwork still exists, checked out the characters of Alice in wonderland in claflin, played pool in the student center, couldn't find the naked man statue (found out later he had been vandalized and taken down), ate a smore and then danced the night away!  I had so much fun!  It was really great.

Saturday morning I headed to campus with Nate and the kids.  We had a good but much different time...  We started at a story time in the library, headed to a craft room and the walked in the greenhouses which I had no idea about when I was a student!  Then we killed time till my class lunch where I had hoped to run into more people but the kids didn't last long at...  And then headed home to my parents for the afternoon.  Nate and I attended my sister in law Hannah's home coming concert where Nate actUally surprised me by singing the song he wrote for me 6 years ago.  Was very fun to be out without the kids!

Sunday morning we all headed back to campus, my parents included cause it was also my grandmothers 60th reunion!!!  Tradition is an alumnae parade Sunday morning which ended up being really fun.  And I got to actually talk to a Few more people in my class.  And got some great photos with my sis and grandma.

I am so glad I went and in five years I hope to recruit more friends.  It is expensive but worth it:)

And Sunday night I got to grab ice cream with Brita not only a friend from first year but also kindergarden!  I feel blessed by all the fun I had!!!

Six Years

On Saturday Nate and I will have been married for 6 years!  We can hardly believe it- especially when I look at our three children!  Last night our dear sister Hannah came to babysit so we could celebrate.  After a full day and even crazier evening feeding everyone (but ourselves) getting Sam to sleep and taking a shower!  We headed out to the car.  Nate surprised me once with a card and then a bag of chocolates.  Wouldn't you know that candy is actually the traditional 6th anniversary gift?!  We played a round of mini golf before stuffing ourselves with dinner at the High Horse.  While we ate we reflected on the last 6 years- babies, moves, cancer....this last year was tough as we welcomed a newborn to our two other babies. But as Sam gets older we are hoping for "easier" and better times ahead!  All our children are a joy and bring us many smiles (though not abundant sleep!)  We can confidently say we wouldn't trade it at all.  We love each other much more today than 6 years ago:)  And are SO thankful God brought us together and the adventure we are on, TOGETHER.

 06-04-14

06-07-08

Last weekend in May 2014

Last weekend we had a great time as a family.  Saturday morning we headed to Lake Wyola, a local state park and bought our season pass.  The weather was a bit iffy but Olivia has a blast in the water, Isaac built sandcastles and Sam got into our munchkins!  On the way home the kids fell asleep and we happened to check out all the "trash" left my tenants moving out....  we got blessed with a BIG flat screen TV!!!  We can still hardly believe it!  And then we headed to ChickFila for dinner.  Sunday we headed to church, Olivia has a gymnastics party and we grilled dinner AND ate outside on the deck.  A wonderfully full weekend.