I have a love, a dear one far away.  An invisible bond ties my heart to his, somehow.  Somehow we are part of each other, though doing very different things, though in very different places.  I am incomplete apart from him. Yet I have him even when he's gone.  He's with me, in my heart.  I guess I left part of me with him, and kept part of him with me.  That way we are one together, and together apart, and incomplete without each other.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, but only if that heart has once known presence.  I think of the presence of my beloved, and long for it.  Everyday greetings are made special.  Goodbyes are much more meaningful.  A last look in those noble eyes, both confident and vulnerable, knowing and asking, happy and sad, then he goes.  His expression remains.  His beautiful face stays steady before my eyes, though behind my eyes, in the swirling mists of my heart.  My hands tingle for the feel of the solid him.  My eyes look through his reflection, waiting for the true him to cut through his surroundings, to be here.

My eyes are heavy with waiting.  My arms strain for the stress to release at that first hug.  I will fold into him, warm and happy, one with myself and my love.  Then the dance of reunion will begin, with talk and laughs and play and hugs.  Everything will be known, everything made known.  Until our next departure, we will be as normal again.  And then the time will loom, will draw closer, and dare to come.  I will hurry to that last kiss, a sign of loyalty, of love, of attraction, of enduring patience until he comes again.

I gotta admit, I put alot of work into this Valentine's Day.  Weeks ahead of time I planned all the dishes for a special Polish dinner for us (No, we're not Polish, but last time we had Polish it was great!).  I researched all the recipes, went on a special shopping trip for good ingredients.  Then yesterday I  cooked nonstop from 10:30am to 7pm, but I did it!  Dan, Eddy and I feasted over candlelight on Pierogies, Golumpkies, boiled potatoes with Dill, and the best Polish pound cake you've never seen! =)

By the end of the day, the end of the meal, the end of dessert, I was beginning to wonder whether Danny had anything in store for me at all.  Right when my anxiety began to rise noticeably, Danny disappeared upstairs and came back with a very large flat package wrapped in brown paper.  "Don't wreck the front," he said.  It was A foot-and-a-half wide and 3 FEET tall.  I carefully removed the paper to reveal a particle board artist's painting of a caricatured blues trumpet player! (pictures to come)

He said when he visited New Orleans on his way home from buying our car, he ran across a whole bunch of artists in progress on very New Orleans style pieces.  This artist sold his paintings for less because he put them on less expensive materials, such as particle board.  But they were just as good or better than half the other paintings for sale!  Wow!  With this, and my uncle's blues painting, I have the makings of the perfect music room!  My husband sure knows what I like!  A perfect surprise for a perfect Valentine's.

I hope your Valentine's was just as special.  Tell me about it!

In the wake of our business sale, Dan and I have started to discuss our new direction in life.  We have been talking about where to go to school, when, how much school I should do, when, and when to have more kids.  I would really like to get pregnant soon, but we also discussed adoption -- a passion of both of ours.  We discussed which to do first, and many details and issues involved.  It was a very deep conversation, one which we hadn't touched on for years.

Funny, on our way to church today Daniel pummeled me with a plan I didn't know about.  He was staying after church for a media workers' lunch, to train in the new guys.  Hmm.  What would Eddy and I do?  We had no time to plan a visit to Connie's house, and didn't see her, but during announcements noticed that right after church there would be a lunch for those interested in orphan care -- childcare included.  Is that great timing or what?

Many more people came than the two couples hosting it were expecting.  Extra pizzas were brought in and the fireside room was packed.  It was so encouraging to see so many other people also passionate about God's call to us (James 1:27, "Pure religion and undefiled is this, to visit the widows and orphans in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."). We got loads of valuable information, not only about orphans, but child work or sex slaves (there are 127 million of those), as well.  There were two videos, and for the first (below), not an eye was dry in the room.  For the second -- an inspiring film about the International Justice Mission (see ijm.org), it made everyone emotional and angry!  But here is the TRUTH about orphans... orphans my family is committed to help.  How about yours?

We did it!  We're free!  The latter half of this week has felt like chains were falling off and our minds were gradually releasing all that stress we kept up there to prepare for another season of drudgery.  But this year is different.  On with life, on with future, on with family.  The next several months will be a lot of business transitioning, but since Dan, has he put it, will be "partially unemployed," I think our family will have a good chance to breathe and regroup.  Then comes fall semester!  No telling where we'll end up, but we're working on that one, too.

After years of waiting and working, we couldn't be happier.  Kinda feels like a different kind of graduation.  We fulfilled our responsibilities, we learned a ton, and now we have the opportunity to take our lessons in the direction we've been longing for, take them to the next level, and dive into more directed studies.

Whatever we do will be a grand adventure at this point!

Dan left yesterday for some very important meetings in the twin cities.  There has been a lot of exciting activity the last month and a half -- even without the holidays.  We've allowed ourselves to dream now, to make plans, to get our hopes up.  He has even started renting a room near Minneapolis to commute to & from Eau Claire and his family.  It's month-to-month, so it can be short-term.  If all goes as we hope, it will be.  Dan's meetings should be over Thursday -- our anniversary.  So, here I wait.

The last couple weeks I've been engrossed in one Harry Potter book, but at Dan's departure I felt the urgency to take a break.  These few days require a lot more prayer and reflection than I'd devoted time to before.

Life changing decisions are being made over there.  A world of opportunity, or not.  I tingle with excitement, while even now bracing for defeat.

It's a special time, this waiting...a sacred time.  The lingering dissident chord before resolution.  I'll think I'll go pray some more...

I sat here in the kitchen of our farm home, fiddling on my computer in the quietness of night.  Suddenly from the quiet I heard, skuttle, scratch...then quiet...then skuttle scratchity, then the tiniest squeery-squeery-squeak-squeak breaking the silence and sending shivers through me.  The mice were back.

Earlier today I'd seen one scamper across the floor and under the dishwasher, but it had been several hours, and I'd all but forgotten about them.  Now they were relentless.  Scratching and squeaking and scratching and squeaking...every few minutes pulling me into the pantry to investigate.  Every time looking and searching thoroughly, I found nothing.  I finally assumed they were in the box of paper bags, tried but failed to find a mousetrap, alerted Dan, and returned to the table.

 Sritchy scratchy...no, no.  It's okay.  Dan will handle it later.  Back to work.  squeaky squeak...oy, I hope they don't find food somewhere.  Then it happened.  Aha!  On the counter a mouse had inwittingly revealed himself -- amid the bread, no less!  Now I'd had it.  Forming a standoff with Mr. Mouse in the corner of the counter, behind the bread basket, I stared him down and would not let him escape.  At the same time I picked up the phone and dialed Dan, upstairs in his office, to come down to help immediately.  He did, and with long thick gloves, a rustle and some awful squeaks, he had caught him in his gloved hands.  I rushed to open the door for him, and way out in the snow the mouse went.  Victory!  Back to work.

Ten minutes later: scritchy scratchy scrawl scrawl.  Oh, no!  Is this another one, or the same mouse! On the counter again.  A stand off, a call, a few strategically placed countertop items, a brave husband and some mouse violence that thankfully did not go through the glove, and out again...or perhaps to keep his friend company.

Ten minutes later yet: more scratchig and a flash of brown and a tail runs behind the toaster.  Really?  This is beginning to be routine.  A call, a tussle, but no!  He slipped behind the stove and we lost him in the pantry.  More waiting.

In the pantry the noise stops, then picks up when all is quiet.  I'll leave him be.  Then, Uh-oh.  I can't believe it!  In the breadbasket, crawling around the bread!  It keeps getting worse!  Another call, another tussle, and way way out this time, halfway down the driveway he went, to find a new home in the woods.

Several hours later and no sounds.  Perhaps we threw three mice brothers out, perhaps one very hungry one.  We'll never know.  But it sure was a rush!  Never underestimate the importance and glee of excitement in marriage and home life...even if it does give you the jitters.

Late last night we experienced a really strong thunderstorm, lightening and thunder in loud, fast succession, pelting rain and hail, and tons of wind.

Eddy ran into our room and declared, "I'm scared."  At first we popped him in our bed until it quieted outside a little (about half an hour), and sent him back to his room.  Ten minutes later, back he came.  "It's scary."  We hugged him and sent him to bed.  Ten minutes later, pat pat pat.  Here he comes again.
     "I'm scared."
     "It'll be okay, sweetie."
     "Oh, I'll be fine."  And he turned around and went to bed =)

Soon after, it got really bad.  Dan went to check the weather, and to make sure his equipment and product were safe.  Eddy and I were going to snuggle in bed until four words from Dan popped me out of bed with Eddy and blanket in arm faster than you'd think is possible at that hour.  "Could be a tornado."  We decided to wait downstairs.

The thunder got louder.  The lightening got faster.  So fast, in fact, I had to shut my eyes from the strobe light effect.  Eddy was scared.  I held him on a cushy chair and tried to stay calm.  Dan didn't come in.  The storm was really loud.  I've never been in a tornado before.  He said it is extremely loud and comes without warning.  Will we have time to run outside to the cellar if it comes?  Will that put us in danger of this close lightening?  I couldn't take it any longer and popped out of the chair with Eddy.  I was ready to head out to the cellar when I looked through the door on the porch and spotted Dan, sitting at the computer.  I exhaled.  Finally.

Dan was examining the weather radar in expert fashion, having studied meteorology and practiced "reading the skies" sensibly for his business for years.  Boy, was I relieved.  He was safe.  He was right by us.  He wasn't worried.  Best yet, he wasn't doing anything drastic.  The storm must be okay.  We'll wait for a word from him.  I sank into the chair, this time with truly comforting words for Eddy, because I was comforted.

"It'll be okay.  Mommy's right here.  I've got you.  Daddy's right here.  He'll protect us.  God loves us, and he's bigger than any storm."  We sat peaceful and quiet until Dan came in.

Apparently there were tiny dots of storms speckled from the twin cities all the way down to Iowa.  The 5-mile speckle we were in was one of the worst, but it would soon pass.  No tornado warnings or watches.  No hail large enough to damage anything.  Back to bed we went.

Pat, pat pat, in our room came Eddy again.  Still too scary.  2:30am now.  Dan just wanted sleep.  Eddy wasn't going to leave, so I pulled him in bed.  Dan jumped right out and retreated to the guest room.

I figured Eddy would wonder why so I explained, "Daddy had to leave because he can't sleep when you wiggle so much."
     Eddy's head sprang up. "It's okay mommy.  It's not a problem."

He got sent back as soon as the thunder quieted.

Oh, and look at that!  Another one of our trees got split in half.  This one landed on our neighbor's cow pasture. No wonder that thunder was so loud.  It sure was close.

BEFORE

AFTER

I never would have believed it when I was a teenager, but it's true.  There is never a dull moment for a parent.  There are many cute moments, some happy moments, frustrating moments, exciting moments, even a few restful moments, but not dull.  Eddy makes certain of that.

For the last 4-5 weeks Eddy (and his cousins when they were here) has wanted to watch one of the favorite kids' movies in the house: Curious George!  But after searching the house over and over again, I gave up trying, and just told Eddy, "It's lost. Sorry, bud."

Today the temperature was in the 40's all morning, so Dan and I decided to start our first fire of the season in the wood stove.  I'm recovering from the flu, and couldn't wait to get it warmed up in here.  We started it late morning and by Eddy's naptime the house was warming nicely.  He went to bed.  Good timing, as it turns out.

A few minutes later Dan noticed some smoke coming from one of the vents in the wood stove.  Maybe it's just dust from over the summer...but, seems like a lot of smoke for a bit of dust.  Peering into the hole with a flashlight he spotted it. "It's Curious George." My heart sank.  If only we had found it sooner.

Well, we set right to work.  First we transported the red hot fire outside, via a metal trash can.  I'm surprised Eddy didn't wake up to that.  Every smoke detector in the house went off. (mental note: don't count on Eddy in a house fire) Then we systematically removed as much of the DVD and case from the vent as we could with Mom's old metal spatula, a bent metal yardstick and a needle nosed pliers.  The plastic that remained we decided to burn off, with the windows open, of course.  Time to bring the that fire back in.

The whole incident just made Dan and me laugh.  There really is "never a dull moment"!  Unfortunately Eddy won't be laughing when he sees what's left of his movie.  Live and learn!

I've been planning a special birthday date with Danny for months!  It was a lot of work to try to work out a babysitter and find good tickets for just the right show at this great restaurant and music club to which I had been introduced this spring.  I told Dan waaaaaay in advance to block off his calendar for his birthday, and, despite being really busy this week (and being in Eau Claire instead of Afton), he obliged, and drove all the way back for his birthday.

Dan arrived at the house and found Eddy and me running around the house trying to get everything together.  First we gave him some birthday hugs and kisses.  Then we rounded everything up and hit the road pretty quickly.  I was impressed.  Off to the babysitter!

Apparently babysitter Kristen didn't tell her little girls that their friend Eddy was coming, because they were quite shocked to see us walk in the door, after three months of absence!  They were very excited.  Eddy was excited, too.  He had been looking forward to seeing his friends for two whole days!  And he had birthday cookies all ready to share with them.

Off we sped in our gorgeous clothes, our cool sunglasses and our shiny fast sports car/Subaru down I-94 toward the city, opposite all the rush hour traffic.  We were happy, for a while, until we learned there was traffic in both directions.  Oh.  Good thing I planned lots of extra time to get there!  We had plenty of time to park, walk to the restaurant, find our seats, mull over the menu 20 times before deciding, and open presents before the show.

It was a great show.  I don't know if you've heard of the Gin Blossoms, but they were really popular in the 90's (I remembered several songs from the radio growing up) and have a new album out this year.  (I did plenty of checking on youtube before buying tickets).  It was a last minute visit for them, only a week and a half notice, but still the place was packed.  And everybody joined in the fun.  We were up on the mezzanine right in front of the stage, and found it provided the perfect balance of privacy and action, and a great view of the band.  We clapped and hooted with the best of them, in between eating our gourmet (though a little more expensive than we're used to) dinner made by a nationally renowned chef.

We went on a walk after the show, enjoying the perfect summer evening of downtown Minneapolis.  All the nightlife was lighting up, and the sky was still light blue.  The huge harvest moon added to the mood.  The ride back was much less crowded.  With windows down and wind in our hair we jammed out to Daniel's other birthday present, the hip-hop sounds of tobymac!

Eddy was happy to see us and tell us all about the fun he had, I was happy for the night to be a success with no major hiccups, and Dan was happy for all we'd done for his birthday, especially for cookies to eat and new music to listen to on his hour drive back to Eau Claire.

Thanks, Danny, for being so great, and letting me show you a good time for your birthday.  I'm so happy to be with you!  Happy birthday!

It's been really hot here lately.  There was even a heat warning out a couple days, and we had to send our employees home mid-route.  Everyone in the town of Afton had to choose whether to roast their skin in humidity or cower in the dark by the air conditioner.  Most people chose the latter.  One such day was Monday.  It was a strange thing for Dan, Eddy and me to spend the whole day in the house together.  Last time that happened we had to break loose and go to the museum (and, as it turned out, the famous MICKEY'S DINER).  This time we went to the beach.

The evening was just starting to cool off when we headed to the nearby town of Lake St. Croix Beach.  This town sits just upstream our beloved Afton, but is much more popular on days like these, because this town has -- as the name implies -- a beach.  And that's about all they have.  There are signs posted on every street that read, "No parking on ANY city street".  And they have only one parking lot: the beach parking lot.  I love small towns.

We parked and walked the gravel road to the shore together.  Eddy's sandals kept falling off, making it a haltingly slow process...until we stuffed them in the diaper bag and held him off the ground by both arms.  Whatever works!  Ah, the sandy goodness!  Shoes were kicked off, the waves were flirted with, and Daniel dove in for a much needed cool down.  There were plenty of people there that day, which made me happy.  I love enjoying the weather with others.  It was quite like a local party, everyone invited, no charge.  Then I noticed something: Eddy wasn't swimming.  He wasn't splashing.  He wasn't even getting his feet wet.  The all too familiar "I don't wanna swim," was all he would say.  This would take some work.

I prodded him from the shore, Dan coaxed from the water, but he would not go in.  Why does he have this propensity to do what will only make him unhappy later?  Finally I bit the bullet.  Though still dressed in my tie-dye skirt and t-shirt, I picked up Eddy and stepped in the water.  "I'll just go up to the knees."  Right.  One thing led to another, and I was as wet as Eddy.  Finally, I couldn't resist the urge of going all in with hippie clothes on.  It just seemed to fit.  So, though I had my swimsuit on underneath, I dove in and swam all the way out, skirt and all =)  I got out, got all sandy and jumped back in.  Why don't more people do this?

Eddy did realize he liked the water.  He walked as far out as he could stand, he and I attacked Daddy with splashes, we even let him dunk a couple times.  It was a blast.

Eventually people began to disappear from the party, the sun went down, and a layer of mosquitoes graced the top of the ripples (haha, as if mosquitoes ever "grace").  We trudged through the sand and over the gravel to the car.  What a successful trip!  Laughter and pleasant talk filled the car all the way home and followed us in the house, just in time to open up the windows for the night.

Here we are at home.  It feels like so long since I've been here.  I missed my Danny terribly, and so did Eddy.  Eddy scarcely spoke a word Wednesday that didn't involve seeing Daddy =)  How special it was to walk out of the airport and see Danny's face once again.   Eddy always gets loud when he's excited, so every head on the sidewalk turned when Eddy and Daddy were reunited.

The Van Dyke sibling camping trip ended in a delightfully different dinner at a French Basque restaurant, from which everyone got home late and tired.  Wednesday was spent sleeping in, packing, visiting the Woodfields again, then driving the beautiful road straight westward to the San Francisco International Airport, Nicki at the wheel.  Over each mountain pass the air became 10 degrees cooler and more humid, starting with an arid 90 degrees and ending with a balmy 60 at the bay.  Along the way we saw many orchards, then deserts, then dry mountain peaks, each one capped with scores of very old windmill generators.  Soon there was a train railing along by us with commuters to the city, then the roads became larger and busier until we found ourselves skimming just over the water on a six-lane low bridge.  The bridge was several miles long and rose gradually until we were flying way over the water, with a grand view of Oakland and the cloud that covered up San Fran. On to the airport.

Goodbyes and hugs and into the most beautifully constructed airport I'd ever seen.  Towering high ceilings hosted 3-story windows of the plane yard, giant tile murals, and framed paintings.  3rd floor balconies with seating by the windows also overlooked all the gates, which were nestled in below, on the 2nd floor.

Both in good spirits after a relaxing car ride and good lunch, Eddy and I were easily able to cope with the airport pressures, thanks to the help of the amazingly accommodating airport staff (waiving the baggage fee to check our bags, carrying our carseat on the plane for us, and other kind gestures) With snacks and the ability to give Eddy freedom because of the placement of the gate, both our moods stayed elevated all the way on board.  But nothing kept us from missing "daddy".

There were several upsets on the plane as the night grew later and Eddy grew ornery, but no earaches, and no more than I could handle with grace without dampening my evening in the least.  Then we descended.   Then we landed.  Then we taxied.  Then we parked.  Then everyone stood.  Then the doors opened.  Then we packed our bags and car seat.  Then we filed out.  And we were free!  We were IN Minnesota, our hearts racing to see the one we loved the most.  Through the maze, down to the baggage claim, we searched all over the room...but no Danny.  Where could he be?

A quick phone call and some confused conversation and the mystery was revealed: "He's outside in the car!  Let's go."  Again the momentum rose as we raced down the sidewalk lined 2 and 3 deep with cars loading and unloading until, second row out, behind a group of passengers, we spotted the BioLawn symbol!   "Daddy!"  Eddy jumped in the front seat to see his Daddy while I ran back to get the bags.  With the bags and stroller loaded and Eddy strapped in, I finally got that hug and kiss I was waiting for.  We were finally here again...finally home.

Today is the day...it's all downhill from here!  We woke up at 'Gramma's' house in Eau Claire, we finished packing the items that we didn't have in Afton.  A couple errands and we're set for the month.

Forrest will come in today and we'll go to dinner with him and Cathy...that's vacationing!
Tomorrow will be filled with Hobbs family fun activities...that's vacationing!
Sunday, July 4th will come, and with it will be happy festive friends at church...vacationing!
Straight from church to Dad's house for a Van Dyke reunion!  Vacation time!
A ride with Aunt Bonnie to the airport and Eddy's loooooooonnnnnngggg awaited airport and airplane time will commence...our vacation!
A packed week in Los Angeles with the siblings...hooray for vacationing!
A train ride with Eddy! Vacationing!
A whole week with brother, silly, and a brand new baby!  What a great vacation!
Siblings all camping together...vacationing!
Reuniting with hubby to see what life brings us next...

vacationing =) here we come.

Gramma Cathy and her dog Casey drove in while we were in Afton.  A couple days later the cousins Emma and Elie got picked up.  Maya arrived in her truck on Saturday, and we drove down to Eau Claire.  A great weekend followed.  Monday Uncle Collin, Aunty Kara and baby Annie drove up.  And we picked Bappa up from the airport on Tuesday.  Today Aunty Lindsey is coming back with the girls and the days are filled with berry picking, walks in the gusts and sunshine, and picnics by the river!

There is never a lack of conversation in the house this week.  Always people cooking together, playing with each other's children, doing projects outside, meeting and greeting.  And right now the nature around us is like a scene from a painting...or a dream...and it smells delicious.

There is so much to do and so many people doing it, I feel guilty turning on my computer.  But, here I am.

Family together.  It's better than camp.  And I'll soak it all in while it lasts.

"A 2-Day outdoor fine arts and traditional crafts fair in a picturesque setting on the St. Croix River Valley

May 3rd is a very special anniversary for Daniel and me.  It's not our wedding anniversary, not our engagement, not our first date (well, not officially), and not the day we met.  It's the day we decided there was something there.

I love May 3rd because it's filled with memories of long conversations all day long in the park, of hope for the future and new love.  May 3rd was determination to do right, and the reward for seeing goals through.  May 3rd was happiness together.  Another special thing about that day was it wasn't a one-time event.  There are at least 3 successive years that May 3rd was significant and unique in the life of our relationship.  May 3rd, 2003, when we decided there was something between us more than friendship, and the decision that a relationship would be beneficial...when we got a little older.  May 3rd, 2004, the culmination of a year of keeping unbelievable boundaries, in order to learn from life and seek guidance. This one didn't end in a full-blown dating relationship, but was incredibly romantic and fun, as we talked of the future, and enjoyed each other's company for the first time in a year.  May 3rd, 2005, finally, we have been dating, and experience for the first time an anniversary together, as well as make other momentous decisions about each of our lives.  And I hold each May 3rd since in my memory, for each has been in very different circumstances, with very different flavors.

As you know, yesterday was May 3rd, 2010.  It was probably the busiest May 3rd we've had.  Dan was on a very long and hard route, I was pummeled with calls in the office, Eddy was at the babysitter's, we were catching up on work, etc.  And for the first time in our history, Daniel has remembered the date before I did!  I tried to make up for the fact by cleaning and cooking a nice dinner to be ready when he got home, but I'm afraid he bested me.  My dirty, starving, overworked, under rested, bedraggled Danny came through the door at the end of the day carrying a large pot filled with blooming violet/white Phalaenopsis orchids, and swept me away.

Not the most eventful May 3rd, but definitely a sweet one.

Five of us from BioLawn (Dan the boss / Charlie the sales & tech / Gayle the secretary / Naomi the finacier / Eddy the mascot) drove to St. Paul Park for a visitation and memorial service today.  It was packed.  We were the only ones there who knew no one else there (except one of Ken's sons we'd met once and another ex-BioLawn employee who knew Ken came as well).  Sisters and brothers and parents and aunts and uncles and cousins and college friends and rehab friends and childhood friends and all their spouses and children and friends were there.  The service itself was all right.  A few people stood and talked about their friendships with Ken (including our Charlie -- thank you). No family stood up.  The sermon was good -- really close to being a good Christian message. A very good practical message to Ken's loved ones.  We found out much deeper about Ken's addiction-riddled history while we were there.  Apparently there are still hurt feelings.  The deacon spoke on forgiveness.  Jesus forgave quickly and readily.  We should too.  The rest of the service was lame but we got through it.  The whole event was very awkward.  But it was nice to see the crowds of people who loved Ken, and whom Ken loved -- his legacy, so to speak.  They banded together and cried together (Ken's mother hugged and cried with Dan / Ken's sister hugged and told us Ken really really really loved us / Ken's aunt said what a drastic positive change Ken's life took when he started working for us and making "those new friends" who were only us).  Apparently we didn't know the same Ken the rest of them knew -- the Ken with issues he could never seem to get over...until last year.  But it was still good to see the dozens and dozens of people who knew the same guy we knew.  Because he was the same guy -- just in different seasons of his life.  We got to see him on the top (which makes Daniel OH so much sadder), happy, confident, gaining success in his relationships. But everyone saw his compassion, his love for children, especially his own, his humility, his openness, and his hard work ethic: things we cherished.  This huge crowd of people love and miss him like we do.  It was good to hug his sisters and get to know them a little bit.  I wish we could've gone to the dinner afterward to be more relaxed with his family, but perhaps I'll stop by again in a couple days and see how they are doing.  Ken is the invisible bond that brings all these people together in love and tears and hugs.  Loved ones make it worth it.

But it was still an exhausting day.

Okay, so I borrowed this awesomely cool cookie dough scooper (kinda like one of those squeezable ice cream scoopers...only tiny) from a friend during my huge cookie project in February.  It worked like a charm -- I just had to show Dan how cool it was.  So, when we celebrated my birthday a few days later, what did Dan get me, but a cookie dough scooper!  Boy, was I surprised!

Of course it was the wrong size and he got it way over in Minneapolis, so it took until last week to exchange it...which brings me to my story.

I just got a perfect cookie scooper from Dan AND made my first batch of chocolate chip cookies in our new house!  I stayed up late into the night to make them.  I was astonished -- we had every ingredient we needed at the house except white sugar and baking soda.  Brown sugar substitutes well, but Eddy and I had a fun adventure asking one of our new neighbors for the baking soda, which they were happy to lend =)

It was a success.  The best chocolate chip cookies we ever tasted.  Check out the pictures. P.S. Please excuse the fuzzy phone pictures.  I couldn't find the camera at the time.

Last night Dan, Eddy and I had the pleasure of going to a birthday party at Olive Garden for a friend. It was a jolly time of getting to know acquaintances, sharing love, laughing, and gobbling down food as fast as everyone could (especially bread sticks -- Benny currently holds the record on those with 9). The birthday girl was amazed that so many people would come to her birthday party, and we were honored to be of service =) We didn't know anyone too well, but mixing and making new connections was part of the fun. Plus, it was great letting Eddy meet more of the people we know (unlike Bible study, when he has to stay home with a babysitter). There are so many cool people all around us. Birthday parties are one way to get to know them...a yummy way =)

Every spring I am astounded at how smart Danny is at handling business. Even after assisting him for several years, I still can't think through things when and how he does...maybe that's because he keeps getting better! =)

I remember a few years ago, everything seemed to just fall into place for Dan, then the tides turned. Everything became a struggle, and we had to stretch our schedules, our minds, our hearts, our abilities, and our faith...especially Dan, of course, being the leader. He learned so much that year -- as much about God as about business.

We got through it and God began to bless us. Now I can see Dan's decisions working out and know it isn't luck. It's God, it's good business, it's a good husband. And I learn every day from his expertise.

Today I got to see our new property in Afton for the first time. It is beautiful, and perfect for our needs. And it has big gardens, flower beds, a tire swing, a patio, and a beautiful blackberry filled greenhouse! With all this outdoor work to do, I can tell I am going to have a GREAT summer.

Here's Eddy playing with our new tire swing at our new house!

I will post more house pictures as soon as I can.