Jeremiah 29:11

http://withoutwax.tv/

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This video will bring tears, but if you have ever wondered about your plans vs. God's, this video is for you...it was for us.

Madison's DC Pictures

Amber, Madison, Rebecca, and Amy posing for a pre-departure picture.

Ready to stop posing and get on the bus already.

Gettysburg, VA

Gettysburg, VA













Battle Ground at Gettysburg

Minnesota Memorial at Gettysburg

Gatsby's Tavern in Gettysburg

The White House!

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8th Grade Class in front of the White House

8th grade girls

7th Grade Class in front of the White House

Joey, Mack, Josh, Devon, Amanda, Rebecca, Eric,

Amber and Madison...the entire 7th grade class.

The view from the Washington Monument

Again...

More...

More still...

And that does it.

Protesting war and nuclear weapons.

"Peace"

"Take your pictures everyone, spread the word".
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And that's all we have for pictures as the camera was dropped, oops, I mean broke mysteriously and no longer works.

Oh well, it was the best money we ever spent for a trip we didn't even get to go on, Madison had the time of her life and is still telling stories!

Someone Turned 37 today!

A great big Happy Birthday to my sister's husband Jonathan who turned 37 years young today!

A beautiful wife, four amazing kids, good health, and a charming sister in law like me...what more could you ask for??

Happy Birthday Jonathan!

Lots of Love -

Jon, Lisa, Madison and Emerson

Too funny!

This house, located near the intersection of Dufferin Street and Rogers Road is believed to be Toronto's smallest house.

Occupying what used to be a driveway, it's a one bedroom, one bathroom house that sits on a parcel of land 7.25 feet wide, 113.67 feet long, and has an interior area of just under 300 square feet.

The asking price is $179,900.!!!!

Curb appeal for sure!

Here's the living room/kids room, looking towards the front of the house.

Here's the living room again, looking towards the back of the house.

Here's the kitchen/laundry room looking towards the back of the house.

Here is the bedroom with the Murphy bed down...

which turns into a den/family room when the Murphy bed is put away.

Beautiful patio complete with privacy fence, with room for possible expansion.

Spacious and cheerful, with plenty of room for Isabelle to run!

Please Lift Up in Prayer

Yesterday at noon, in the middle of a church service, and one hour before she was set to leave on her class trip to Washington D.C., Madison indicated that her throat hurt and she was worried she might have the strep bug that is making it's rounds at school.

So, Madison and I got up in the middle of the sermon, raced to the Target minute clinic and did a strep test...negative. Then, we raced back to church which had just ended, picked up Jon and Emmy, went home grabbed all of Madison's gear and ran to school in time for the 1:00 arrival time for all of the kids going on the trip.

By 1:30 she was on the bus with a quick wave goodbye and was off on what would be the 19 hour non stop bus ride to Gettysburg, their first destination.

My boss is in town and we are hosting a customer event tomorrow so I have been out of pocket most of the day, but Jon was able to speak to Madison earlier today...they arrived safe and sound.

Madison said for the most part the ride was a blast, but some parts were "horrible" so

there will no doubt be a dramatic story surrounding that statement when she gets home.

In any case she sounded good and excited for the adventure.

Please pray that she remains well, as there is nothing worse than being sick away from home, and that God would protect the entire group and bring them all home safely.

Hard to believe we have a daughter who will be 13 in just 3 short months and that she is out there in D.C. having a blast, without her mom and dad!

Jon has threatened to show up and surprise her by doing cannon balls in the pool in front of all her friends...can you imagine!

Anyway, please pray if you will for Madison, all the kids, and parents on the trip.

In Case You've Wondered Why

I am sure that you have noticed the two links to other blogs I visit and wondered why they are there.

I don't know either of the families personally, but their stories have touched me in ways I couldn't have imagined.

The link to Noah Steven was shared with me by my sister Carrie. I am not sure how she happened upon it, but I have been a regular visitor to the site ever since. The story of Noah and his family have inspired me beyond words.

I have been moved to tears more times than I can count by the images of the Graves family and the words of Adrienne.

It was Adrienne's blog that led me to Bring the Rain - The story of Audrey Caroline.

This blog too has had an immeasurable impact on me and has captured an amazing journey of faith that I am lifted by daily.

Some may choose not to visit because there is sadness in both stories, but at the same time there is so much cause for rejoice.

These blogs are inspirational because the families have suffered a loss deeper than I can imagine, yet their words are filled with reminders of God's love and grace that lift me up in ways I can never fully express.

The words on each regularily remind me that I need spend more time on my knees thanking God for all he gives me, and that even when there are moments of sadness or despair, they too are always for His glory.

In a Nutshell

First week of managing the team, hoping to hire someone to fill my old spot very soon so that I can move my accounts around and focus on my new duties.

My mom had surgery Tuesday on her shoulder as the break wasn't healing as they had hoped and surgery was necessary. Pray for her comfort and speedy recovery, everyone who knows this surgery cringes at it, as it sounds simply awful and painful.

Jon left for Japan again on Friday morning, but this will be a quicker trip than last time, so we are glad for that.

Our niece Kendall (Heather's daughter) was baptized on Saturday, which was a great celebration and we had fun seeing the whole gang...even some from SC! Heather invited the girls to sleep over afterwards, so I had the evening all to myself. I cleaned and did laundry and wished that Jon were home so we could have a date. Instead, the kitties and Isabelle and I hung out, super fun!

Today came with more cleaning, homework, filling out the annual enrollment forms for school next year, and getting the check list out for Madison's school trip to DC that is fast approaching. Jon and I are jealous, as neither of us have been there and we keep teasing Madison that we will show up and surprise her...mortifying to have your "dorky" parents show up to anything don't you know! Anyway, that was our week...I wish I had pictures, but my camera is in Japan, hopefully taking lots of pictures of the Cherry Blossom festival that Jon tells me is in full swing right now.