May 2014

This month we began to take our "fueling system" more seriously.  After praying, talking with friends, and researching we purchased a juicer and began using Young Living Essential Oils.
We spent Mother's Day at Cracker Jax.  It was such a fun day of go-karts, bumper boats, and miniature golf.
Micah had his piano recital (a beautiful baby grand piano) and baseball play-offs this month.  (His pitching caught some eyes, but they didn't win.)
We spent Memorial Day weekend with our EE camping crew in Woods Canyon.  Just before our arrival, a wildfire on the north side of the lake was contained and put out.  It ended up being an amazing weekend.

April 2014

Another great anniversary celebration - 14 years!  Matt completely surprised me with an evening at As You Wish Pottery, taking a 'Glass Class'.  The project was designing a cross.
We celebrated Easter at the chapel where we were married.  Such great memories during a very special weekend.  We hosted our annual Seder with friends, and served at Neighborhood Ministries with our Home Fellowship.
Micah's baseball season is well underway.  He's on the Black DBacks team.  Coach Scott has him primarily in pitching position.
Lilly graduated to the 'Petite Elite' class and participated in the NVG Devo Showcase.  The girls looked great in their matching leotards.  Lilly's scored well in all her areas.
We participated in the Strike Out Child Abuse Hope & A Future 5k Walk.  We walked just behind Jan Brewer - our AZ Governor.  The walk ended at Chase Field and we enjoyed a great game as a large group.
We pulled out the telescope, stayed up late, and watched the first of four 'blood moons' that will occur over the next months.

 

March 2014

 Time for the DBacks season to get started - we went to Opening Game with our Home Fellowship.  Soon after, the kids and Jodie went with Eastside to Chase Field and got to sit in the DBacks dugout.
We went with Dave, Max and Aracely to an annual Polish Festival.  It was our first time to go.  It was good food and good entertainment.
Jodie & the kids were invited to Aunt Alice's Delta Kappa Gamma meeting.  We were the presentation/ Q&A for the topic of 'homeschooling'.
We all had a chance to meet, Nancy Olsen, this month.  She's a wonderful lady from Chicago, who's here to participate in the Cancer Treatment Program at Mayo Clinic.  While staying in their facilities she needed a 'roommate', so Jodie was able to volunteer for a few nights one week.  One of those evenings we hosted Nancy in our home for dinner.
At the end of the month we all participated in our 2nd annual SportsKidzAZ 5k.

February 2014

It was nice to all be home again!  Micah - really likes Lego Ninjago (lego sets and the shows) & drew a photo of the Ninjago characters.  Lilly - really likes dressing up her stuffed animals, here's a picture of Tigger.

Micah accepted Christ as his Savior late in the evening of February 20th.  We are so very excited!  Please pray for his walk and relationship with Jesus.

January 2014

 Arriving home, we celebrated the New Year with our neighbors, Dave, Max, and Aracely.  Micah's art teacher, Mrs. Whitehouse, invited us to an art exhibit at the Herberger Art Gallery.  We got all dressed up and enjoyed seeing Amy and lots of amazing art.
Matt joined Micah on an Eastside field trip to the Ping Factory.
Then it was time to separate as Matt began his journey to Tanzania, Africa.  He spent 2 weeks traveling, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, and visiting our two sponsored villages (Mairowa and Kondoa).  It was very special for Matt to visit our sponsor child, Nehemiah, on his actual birthday.
While Matt was gone, Jodie and the kids flew to Florida and visited her sister, Rhonda, and family and her parents.

December 2013

December came quick!  We had Lilly's birthday party on the 15th.  It was a "Kitten Party" - the girls came to the 'Pet Store' and adopted a stuffed animal kitten, had it checked out by the Vet (Micah Rich, DVM), and played some kitten games.
We've kept moving with Christmas parties and a few new traditions this year.  We went to 'Follow the Star', helped a friend with 'Hope & A Future', took a trolley ride around town looking at Christmas lights, and our movie outing was to see 'Frozen'.
Micah's flag football season ended in November and basketball at the YMCA began this month.  He's already had two games.
Our greatest news this month - Lilly accepted Jesus' gift of Salvation on the evening of December 4, 2013.  We are so happy to share this and ask that you pray for her relationship & walk with Him!

 

We wish all our family and friends a very wonderful and joyous Christmas!! 

Continue to visit us here in 2014.

 

 

November 2013

Matt turned 42 years old - in Slovakia.  He was there for 9 days finishing up his last week of training for his Lean Master certification.  (He spent one week in each location: Arizona, China, Minnesota, and Slovakia.)  We celebrated when he got back.
Lilly turned 6 years old at the end of the month.  Her birthday was the day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and she wanted to go 'shoe shopping'.  Matt took her out and they purchased some silver, fluffy, cheetah boots.  They are awesome!
Matt took a few days off of work and went with us to a few 'field trips':  Phoenix Symphony; AZ Science Center; and We Make History.  We had lots of fun at each of these and enjoyed sharing these experiences with him.  We even got to meet General George Washington and see a re-enactment of the Revolutionary War.
Lilly started riding her bike without training wheels.  Both kids became interested in roller-blading.

October 2013

By now our main activities of the fall are in full swing - school, gymnastics, fitness, Home Fellowship, piano, Eastside field trips, Barton House, and flag football.
Matt gets in a few hikes and bike rides to prepare for his upcoming events raising funds for the schools in Tanzania, Africa.  (His bike event Tour De New River is Nov. 2, and his hike to Mount Kilimanjaro is in January 2014.)  Jodie celebrated another birthday.
Micah participated in a business simulation called BizTown.  Kids from all over the valley learned about economics, went through an interview process, and then had a 'work' day in the BizTown facility.  Great experience!
Lilly is doing terrific in her new gymnastics class (Mini Elite).  Her teacher is one of the team coaches - nurturing, disciplined, and great with the 3 girls.  (Yes, 3!)  This new class and new time has provided Micah the opportunity to participate in a class at the same time - Homeschool Fitness.  He enjoys being out on the floor and has Lilly's most recent coach, Coach Zach, as his teacher.
The cooler weather has brought the neighborhood kids out of the woodwork after school.  We have a few new neighbors:  Elliot, Kevin, and Lillianna (Lilly, spelled the same way).  Halloween was spent walking around the neighborhood with some of the neighborhood crew.

September 2013

The month began with Labor Day and grandparents visiting.  Dave & Julie (G&G Rich) spent a week with us before we began our new school year.  They went with us to see Micah skydive (end of August), took Lilly to her gymnastics class, and we all went to the Diamondbacks game.
Our neighbor, Dave, pulled out his guns and took Matt, Micah & Jodie to Ben Avery Shooting Range for a morning.  We shot a mixture of 8 pistols & rifles.
School started on September 9th.  Lilly's first day of kindergarten and Micah beginning 4th grade.  It is our first year to purchase a pre-made curriculum.  We are studying 'My Father's World - Adventure' focusing on the discovery and foundation of the United States of America.  We are learning about our fore-fathers and how/when each state joined the USA.
Other special events:  Tanzania Sponsor Event; Strong Families Farewell Picnic; Neighborhood Ministries Dinner; Eastside Explorers' Kick-Off.
We went on a field trip to the new Butterfly Wonder.  We enjoyed the multitude of beautiful butterflies all around us in the sanctuary - but Micah said "it was a little much."  Micah began his first season of flag football this month.  His team:  Falcons; his position:  quarterback.

August 2013

Micah turned 10 - double digits!!!  We hosted a Lego Ninjago birthday party with 10 of his friends.  Nana & Papa Joe Neihardt came to visit for a week.  We took them kayaking at Willow Lake.

We had our annual 'Micah's birthday camping' trip to Dogtown Lake with the Gravel family. This year we weathered through afternoon thunderstorms, with lightening and strong winds.
Lilly was invited into the next level of gymnastics - Mini Elite.  This class will be taught by one of the competition coaches.
Grandpa & Grandma Rich arrived at the end of the month to spend Labor Day weekend with us.  We went to Eloy, AZ with them one day to take Micah indoor-skydiving.