He Is Legend rocks Jaxx

So while I'm updating... Sunday before last I took Daniel and 3 friends (yes, that's a full car because we took the Cavalier) to a concert at Jaxx in Springfield, VA... that's a 3 1/2 hour drive. I was hoping to make a little jaunt to the Lincoln Memorial, but ran out of time, since the we were leaving around midnight for our drive back to VA. But, with the loud music all the way up, all the way back, and during ... I couldn't help but stay awake for the drive. I believe they had a good time... got to see several local groups and one they saw perform in Lynchburg previously, Thin Dark Line. The lead singer remembered meeting them. The night was capped by He Is Legend, the more popular group in the line-up. Mostly rock, metal, screaming -- hardcore stuff... but it's what has become popular with a large segment of our youth.

Happy 3rd week anniversary!

Tomorrow, Allen and Linda celebrate their 3rd week together!! So glad we could be there in OH to celebrate with you! Hope the time in Canada was fabulous! Love to you both from our family.

Laura, thanks for the reminder to update with the happy couple... love you!

Back to Ohio - no pretending!

A week ago we were in OH to celebrate a new beginning for our sister-in-law Linda who lost her husband suddenly 3 years ago (Laura's brother Rob). Linda and Al got married on Friday afternoon in a very nice ceremony. It was a great chance to reunite with Laura's youngest brother Rick, who we last saw in Oregon when he and Monica married. David, Lily and Daniel really enjoyed seeing him again and doing things with both he and Monica at grandma's house -- swimming, playing in the sand, just talking...

I came back from vacation to learn that my manager-partner (the day manager) had just up and left. Never worked out a notice, left any kind of contact information or let anyone she was close to know we wouldn't see her again ... so we'll all a little worried and hope she's OK. That was a good time for the team to take a fresh look at our progress, challenges, structure -- it always is. It was determined that the role of assistant manager (both of them) was not needed at this point, so I have accepted a supervisory position -- back in the role I was in two years ago. Change that I don't fully embrace yet -- but I'm OK and how I handle it makes a huge difference in the impact I have on others around me and any opportunities I have in the future. This is a picture of Rick and Monica... visit their business website at http://www.goblinart.com

Summer vacation

Back in Lynchburg after a great break away from everything routine. Our trip home to PA was longer than usual as we first drove West and South to pick up Daniel fom Camp Powhatan. That added about four hours and we also took along Daisy and Isaac. David, who had been in PA since May 31 was very happy to see us - lots of love and hugs - but not at all ready to think about leaving to go back to Virginia. We had our, I guess now fourth, annual family reunion. By the time we ended we had been joined by Tina, Jackie, Bonnie, Dale, Marsha, Stacey, Keaton and Kent (who stayed with us until Sunday). Monday and Tuesday we did some of our favorite bargain-hunting and just hung out. Wednesday, several of us went to visit Uncle Wayne where Kent and Loraine had a very nice meal prepared. After visiting a few hours Kent joined the trip back home to spend the next several days with us. Thursday we all went to DelGrosso's amusement park and enjoyed a super time together (Arla and Gerald joined us as well). It was great to be home and to significantly reconnect with family. If it wasn't for such a thing as a job I could easily move back and love it.

LaurArt

Daniel captured this great moment...

A June morning ... catching up

Dentist appointment this morning. Cavity filled. Great way to wake up! Had a late night at J.Crew last night ... unexpected associate matter... left at 1:40a, stayed up a whilte after. So, a little tired today.

Daniel is at Warcry, a week-long youth conference sponsored by our church's presytery (hundreds of teens), being held at Liberty University.

David is still in Pennsylvania. His grandparents came to see he and Joshua (his cousin) graduate from pre-school on May 31 then took them both along back until our families go up later in June (actually next weekend) for vacation. Sounds like they are doing fine. Lily is loving the one-on-one time and extra personalized attention! She was even helping me do some "Bob the builder" the other day.

Last week, Isaac (another cousin) got to ride a limousine for the reading points he achieved (among the highest in his school)... see the photo.

I'm off today and tomorrow (had to work Sunday and will work Saturday) so its just a trade-off, but have some extra time with Lily and Laura as a result. Maybe we'll do lunch. Right now Laura is at a water colour painting class. I'll need to post a picture of one of her works. Very nice and getting better!!

Some of those promised photos from Spring Break

School is out

Well, for one - David. Daniel still has finals next week before he is free for the summer. David is a bit nervous about the whole graduation exercise on Wednesday but knows special things are in store for him afterwards, like a trip to PA along with cousin Joshua to spend a couple weeks with grandparents, uncles and aunt. Grandma and Grandad will be here for the graduation and to take them back until we join them while on vacation in late June.
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Still here

I know some of you have been looking for an update.... sorry... I'll add some more pictures later... So what has happened since I last posted?

We spent Spring Break in Cincinnati with Laura's mom. I actually drove up and back twice. Laura spent the whole week, but I had some obligations in Lynchburg. Laura was helping her mom move between apartments.

I finished my 2nd MBA class with an "A"!!! So happy about that. Taking another break now between classes.

Laura went on a women's retreat with the church to Natural Bridge.

Daniel and David are both getting close to the end of school. David 'graduates' pre-school next week, and it looks like his grandparents from PA will be here to celebrate. David, however, is a bit apprehensive about the whole school ceremony thing... but so excited about going to PA for a few weeks afterwards... "today?" he'll ask.

I have meetings today at work, so Tina will watch David and Lily for a while this afternoon.

David's Big Day

I think he waited about a year for it! :) Actually, he would always add to his birthday list whenever he wanted something he could not have... so he was anticipating for quite some time now... and I believe he told everyone he saw (even at Kroger) that it was his birthday yesterday. Actually, he's still doing that today, bragging about turning 5! David's day began with school -dress like a rancher day, then we made a cake, went to CiCi's as a family after Daniel got off school, he had his Rainbows at church, then we had cake and ice cream after he came home... quite a great day for turning 5!!!!

In Pencil-beania

Spending the weekend with family in Pennsylvania, or Pencil-beania as Lily would say. A short trip, but good. Laura wasn't able to join us, but last night we had cake and ice cream to celebrate David's birthday (in 3 days now) and of course, Hartley's chips. Heading back to Virginia in a little while.

The Dairy Farm Field Trip

David's class went on a field trip to a dairy farm yesterday where they milk 350 cows three times a day!! Lily and dad got to go along, and cousin Joshua and Aunt Tina were there as well as Joshua's class also participated. The kids enjoyed seeing the cows until they got closer and were a little clingy. I know dad learned a lot!

Daniel's party

We hosted a big birthday party for Daniel Saturday night in our church's fellowship hall/youth room.... 34 teenagers! That was crazy! Noisy, chaotic, well... a little stressful. I know looking back, Daniel will appreciate what we did for him and hopefully we'll be able to find a way to top it in 2007 when he turns 16, yet in a more manageable framework. Still, all went well, and I believe he had a lot of fun. He had three of the guys come over to spend the night at the house afterwards. We're getting some very wet snow falling this morning ... not expecting any kind of accumulation, but it makes it pretty. I'm off today to help around the house and hopefully to make some progress on my MBA class work. Daniel plans to go buy a new guitar tonight after school with the money he got for his birthday. He's quite jazzed about that.

A morning walk

With Laura off today, and a nice mild day .... we had about a half-hour to walk this morning before cousin Joshua came over after school. We need to do this more often ... missing it. Just wanted to share a few pictures I captured...

Happy Birthday Daniel!

WOW! How time has flown... our oldest son, Daniel, turned 15 years old today. Seems like only yesterday we were hoping for the day we would have a family. David and Lily really enjoyed singing to Daniel and blowing out their candles on their own cupcakes, too.

Over the weekend, Daniel had mountain camping/hike event with his Boy Scout troop so he came back pretty tired. We just stayed at home and watched some movies to celebrate the day -- Wallace and Gromit, and Sky High.

This week begins my next MBA course, Effective Executive Communication, so I'll be doing lots of reading and writing ...

Daniel VIC runner-up

SURPRISE! I'm finally back.

We just came back from Liberty Christian Academy where the Virginia Independent Conference tournament was held. It was postponed from Saturday because of snow. I have not felt well with a really bad cold all day - but figured I could cough just as well there as at home.

Well, Daniel was fortunate to have a bye early on and wrestle a lesser experienced opponent, whom he pinned, so he wrestled in the finals (against a senior - who also took the most impressive wrestler award of the day) and comes away runner up with a second place medal.

This officially ends wrestling season for him and he ends up with a 16-11 record, runner up champion for the conference!!!! We're very proud of him!

Where Have I Been?

Wow... sorry to let time slip away. Lily turned 2 on Friday!!!! On Halloween it will be two years to the day since her heart surgery. God is so good!

Since last time posting, I have been busy with MBA class work, with SuperConference at TRBC, Alumni/Homecoming weekend, family visiting for a week from PA, getting used to working with a new manager at work (some 12 hour days!) and some extensive worship workshop stuff at church.... so time is of essence. Entering last week of MBA class, and lots to do, so I'll get back to it.

Well...

School... cleaning... parenting... new manager on board at work... did I say school? That's where I've been. Doing well with MBA class and under 4 weeks to go!!

TGIF

Friday actually isn't a "Thursday" for me this week as I arranged to work a M-F shift -- first time in a long while, so I'm looking forward to a weekend. Have lots of cleaning to do to prepare for PA family visit the end of the month. Hey, good to hear from you via the blog. Lily was sick on Wednesday with a fever, but bounced back pretty quickly to her normal self yesterday.