July 2014

While in TN we had some time to vacation and then visit Great Granny Rich and the other TN relatives.  We celebrated the 4th of July with them.  We spent one morning picking a gallon of blackberries, went to the new water park in town, visited Granddad's grave, and toured the battleground of Shiloh.
Back home ... we went a couple of times to the McDowell Ranch Aquatic Center.  So much fun!!  They have a high dive, fountain area, swimming area, water slide, and lazy river.  (We may get a pass to here for next summer.)
Matt treated us to a DBacks game (level 2) vs. the Cubs.  GO DBACKS!

June 2014





It's summer!!  Our break from school has begun.  Lilly completed kindergarten, so we had an Open House Party and a Graduation Ceremony for her.  She looked beautiful, and all grown up, in the same red cap & gown that I wore for my kindergarten graduation.  It was very fun!

Four families from our Strong Families Sunday School class got together for a camping weekend at Woods Canyon.  It was a beautiful & fun weekend.

Lilly made her dad a "Father's Day vest" for Father's Day.  We enjoyed celebrating his special day with him.

Lilly loves horses!  So, we planned a special surprise for she and her brother.  We took them to our friends' home - the Visser family and they got to ride horses around the block.  They both enjoyed it, but Lilly was super duper happy!

Summer activities begin:

• Family summer movie - How To Train Your Dragon 2
• LAFitness - Jodie and her friend Jennifer; the kids rotated home and going to the Kids Club
• AMF Summer Fun Bowling
• Ice Den - Ice Skating

This summer we are hosting our neighbor girls, Millie & Ollie, 3 days a week.  They will be able to join us for many of these special days.





 

TIME FOR OUR SPECIAL EVENT:  BEV & JOE NEIHARDT'S 50th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

For a year, we've been planning a trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee to celebrate mom & dad's wedding anniversary.  Mom & Dad and all three girls (Rhonda, Jodie & Tonya) will be getting together, with families, for a week.  The cabin we stayed in was amazing, roomy, and sitting on top of a hill where we could see the town of Gatlinburg.  It was a terrific time together!  CONGRATULATIONS MOM & DAD!

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.