Summer So Far

It's been a splendid summer so far!  I love how nice and slow it's moving.  We're not even through June and we've already had a great mix of relaxation, special time together, and big adventures!

Summer always kicks off with the celebration of Ella's birthday at the end of May.  Since she is starting to take online college classes, we gifted her a laptop before her birthday and told her to expect a pretty low key day.  A few silly science-y presents, a table full of her favorite desserts, and a house full of her favorite friends to watch her favorite movie proved to be a perfect 17th birthday.  Pictured above-- Ella's new pet Henry, a Venus fly trap who is waaaay higher maintenance, but also way more delightful to Ella, than I could have imagined!

On her birthday, Ella also started her summer job which she has been LOVING.  She's a camp counselor/climbing instructor for the summer day camp at her rock climbing gym.  She trains, she encourages, she belays, she teaches crafts, she referees games, she awards prizes, and she helps kids conquer fears, achieve goals, and fall in love with climbing the way she has each day.  It's the perfect summer job!

Delia found a fun way to make some money this summer too!  She and a few friends were hired to serve at a big graduation party.  Serving this Mexican family, the girls enjoyed a legit fiesta with the best tacos, a pig roast, fresh made churros, and fancy fruity drinks.  She had a blast and made $100!

A large chunk of our summer has actually been Dave-less!  He spent two weeks in the Midwest visiting family and attending Synod as a delegate for our Classis.  We girls found one fun thing to do together each day that he was gone.  Ivy's first pup cup, a shared sundae, a visit to the farmer's market, dress shopping for Delia, and a Tom Holland movie brightened our days.

Dave has not had any kind of break since last August, so we were thrilled to send him away for a good time to reconnect with loved ones!  His time with family was wonderful!  Besides getting to hang out with his siblings, nephews, and parents, he especially enjoyed all the fun Chicago food-- Buena Beef, Giordano's, and a fun date at the teppanyaki place where they light firecrackers at your table and fling broccoli into your mouth!

While Dave was in Chicago, our nephew Miles had a surgery to adjust the growth rods on his spine.  Dave was so happy to be able to see him a few nights later when they had a sleepover at Karen's house together!  On his last day in Chicago, his dad had an unfortunate fall at the golf course, doing a number to his leg and ankle that will require surgery next week.  While not the most fun outing, Dave was glad to be there to take Dad to the ER too.  He continues to minister to the sick and injured, even when far away from our church! :)

Synod was exhausting and challenging, but Dave really enjoyed most parts of it and says he would for sure go again. Wisdom, discernment, sound judgement, and good listening skills are some of his strengths, so he served well and voted on hard things prayerfully and fairly.  The best part of Synod was reconnecting with old seminary and pastor friends!  Above is Scott, one of Dave's best friends from seminary.  Back in the day, their professors actually nicknamed them "The Dream Team".  Fun to see them reunited-- with beards! 

And, probably the summer's biggest highlight so far, the girls went to their first HiCamp!  They've grown up visiting their dad there, so for them to finally experience it for themselves was something we were really excited about this summer!  All their expectations were met and exceeded.  HiCamp was full of all the cabin shenanigans, powerful worship, challenging speakers, wacky games, volleyball competition, beach and boardwalk days, and time to bond with friends as always!  We've loved hearing the stories of how the girls laughed during all the crazy fun and grew closer to the Lord throughout this special week.  Above, a picture of Ella's cabin after dominating their volleyball matches.  And below, some fun game where they had to recreate famous paintings.

Ella's cabin and her whole class.

I got way more pictures and updates throughout the week from Delia!  Haha!  I love this about her.  Her best days were beach day and boardwalk day.

Delia was a tad apprehensive about HiCamp, knowing how much volleyball, games, and competition there was going to be-- NOT her things.   My favorite story, though, is that on Delia's last day she chose to take a big uphill hike (also NOT her thing) to the cross for her Time Alone with God (morning devotions) and listed this as one of the highlights of her week!  The whole week I prayed that she'd be brave enough to do things outside of her comfort zone.  She did and she had THE BEST week.    

Delia's best friend and best teacher, who went up as a counselor-- Mrs. M. is now Karissa! :)  And her cabin pictured below.

The HiCamp speaker for the week was our old high school Bible teacher!  When we picked up the girls, we had a wonderful time reconnecting!  Rev. (or as the girls call him "Jeff") is timeless!  Here are 4 VMs who've now been impacted by his stories and sermons during formative high school years! 

And what did I do all week while everyone was gone?  I must admit there were times that stretched long with no meals to prepare and no one to expect coming home.  A to-do list of weird projects to complete (Filing cabinet is now totally cleaned out!  Curtains and valances washed!  Car maintenanced!) and a few movies to watch and books to read helped.  I also filled those long hours with one friend date each day.  I had lunches, breakfasts, and coffee with some of my favorite people.  My best day was one spent entirely at the lake with Doreen and Lisa at Lisa's parents' amazing lake house.  The week went quick enough with several high points, but I sure do love having everyone home again-- even if they brought me 4 loads of laundry and an unending sink full of dishes! :)  

   

Another Great Year in the Books

2021-2022.  Another school year survived!!  I sat at high school graduation last night (these things are hitting closer and closer to home each year) reflecting on this school year and just feeling SO THANKFUL.  Thank you, Lord for another group of the dearest, sweetest preschoolers; for 2 new co-teachers who became fast friends; for a blow-our-socks-off Robotics season, for 3 amazing plays and the joy that is watching Ella and Delia and their castmates shine on stage; for a year of friendships grown and adventures had; for good grades and good reports from teachers; for all the end of the year hugs, tears, treats, cards, gifts, and appreciation I get from my parents.  It's been a great year and one I'm a little sad to say goodbye to.  At the end of the year Awards Ceremony, the girls even walked away with some special recognition.  Delia received a Presidential Award for Character, recognizing her positivity and leadership in the classroom.  And Ella got one of the Distinguished Christian Awards.  They hand these out to the students who intentionally and distinctly live their faith in the categories of Fine Arts. Academics, Athletics, Service, etc.  Ella was awarded hers in the category of Leadership.  We are so proud of both girls for their extracurricular and academic achievements, but even more for the strong Christian character and faith they share with their classmates and teachers.

 

Here are a few pictures from the last month of school.  One week the high school had a fun spirit week and the girls could dress up every day.  Above was their favorite: "Anything But Your Backpack Day".  Delia is using her old R2D2 suitcase as a plan B when Dave said she could NOT roll the pulpit around all day.  Haha!  Her favorite was the boy who carried his school stuff around in a grill, and then lit it up and threw some burgers on it at lunch time!

 

Bucket Hat and Sunglasses Day

Hawaii Day

Field Day!  This favorite tradition at our school has each class dress in a color and spend a day competing in outdoor field games like tug-of-war, dodgeball, Kan Can, and (Ella's specialty) the waterslide.  

Delia and her Orange Freshman had a blast at their first Field Day!

Ella and her Robotics team once again led an assembly for the middle school to show off what their robot could do and try to get some new recruits.  I was able to pop in and watch and it never ceases to amaze me the ease with which Ella handles herself on stage.  She had an auditorium of rowdy middle schoolers in the palm of her hand-- attentively listening, eagerly asking good questions, and jumping up and down to get picked to drive.  She knows of at least 3 for sure new students joining them next year and is super excited to grow the team.  This is her passion and she dreams big-- this year she hopes to add a Robotics Exploratory to the middle school curriculum too. 

Delia was finally able to bring home the fruits of her labor from her most fun class this year too-- Ceramics!  These are just a few of our favorites.  I LOVE that you can totally tell these are Delia's!  She found such creative, cute, colorful ways to complete the assignments!

I had my end of the year lunch with the preschool staff.  These are dear friends, but a day in preschool is busy-- there's not much time to socialize!  We always love being able to sit together and just fellowship.

On the last day of school, we celebrated with Delia's favorite: fancy hamburgers!

While Ella and her friends celebrated a little differently-- by driving straight up to Yosemite after their last exam and crushing the intense Vernal Falls hike!  Are they nuts to go straight from a 2 hour, brain-bending Calculus exam to a 1000 foot of elevation gain in 1.5 miles, leg-burning hike? Yes.  But, Ella assures me amazing memories were made.  

They actually spent the night and had the best time getting soaked in all the magnificently flowing falls the next day!

They hiked to Mirror Lake.

The post-exam hikers made it back just in time for graduation.  We celebrated with Ben's family, who had an 8th grade and high school graduate this year!  

Tessa is Delia and Kate's best friend.  They are so excited for her to join them in high school next year!

So, now summer.  We look forward to celebrating our graduating friends, anniversaries, and birthdays this coming week.  We'll revel in rest, and completing projects around the house, and welcoming our 2 new church staff members, joining us in the next few weeks.  We'll continue to work: Ella is taking college classes online and working her dream job teaching kids at her rock climbing gym; Dave has been studying hard to prep for his big role as a Synodical Deputy in Grand Rapids.  Highlights on the calendar include the girls' first HiCamp, a big family vacation to Washington DC, and a visit from Auntie Heather.  It will go fast, as it always does, but we anticipate a summer as fun and rewarding as our 2021-2022 school year!

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Our middle school play this year was Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.  Because 2 classes, the 9th and 10th graders, lost their middle school show Aladdin due to Covid, our director invited them to be a part of this production too.  So it was a play for 6th-10th graders, with upperclassmen serving as mentors.  Ella was a stage manager, while some of her drama friends did vocal coaching, hair and makeup, etc.  I love these shows where the gifts of literally every drama student in the middle and high school are being utilized!  My girls loved it because it gave them the opportunity to get to know the next crop of drama kids.  Delia became fast friends with all the 6th, 7th and 8th graders, forming tight bonds across class lines.   

The play was cute, the music was catchy, and Delia as the car delighted us with her facial expressions.  But, I must say that as far as story goes, this is an odd one.  My friend Donna summarized it like this: "Vulgaria, a kidnapper, a living car, a romance with little character development, and a bunch of soldiers who changed sides abruptly..."  The first time I saw it, I was a little lost honestly.  But, by the fourth show, we were genuinely laughing at the absurdity.

  

Of course we are biased, but Delia as the car stole the show for us!  She didn't have any lines, except to sing that iconic theme song over and over (she never wants to hear it again!).  All her acting was done entirely with her face and she was perfectly cast!

When she wasn't on stage as Chitty, she was a member of the chorus, singing and dancing to some of the big numbers like "Toot Sweets" and "Teamwork".

Cast pictures-- above the professional one, below the before-performance one featuring our favorite stage manager!  Ella kept things running smoothly backstage, was in charge of the finicky fog machine, helped with costume changes, and came on stage before the show with her friend Marina to introduce it with witty banter and pray for it.

All the freshman.

Stage sisters.  Delia was beside herself when our director told her she could keep the costume!  Guess we're set for Halloween now! ;)

This is so special to us.  Delia's Sunday School teacher, Mr. D., has not missed any of her plays this year!  He's been such a kind encourager!  We love that he always brings his grandson for a special date.

And a just a few of the new friends!  You know Delia has always run on the pure and innocent side.  I think a whole season to hang out with kids younger than her, who looked UP to her, was just wonderful for her!  She ranks this play as one of her best experiences.  And she joked with everyone that she feels qualified to nail any future role as an object.  For next year's Sound of Music she has her eye on the part of...THE HILLS! Haha!

All the Prom Pics

At our school Prom is called Junior/Senior Banquet (JSB).  It is traditionally hosted by the junior class to celebrate and honor the senior class.  Ella had a wonderful time at her first JSB!  There is a strict rule that only juniors and seniors are allowed to attend though, so Ella's boyfriend Ben had to sit this one out since he graduated last year.  Though he was missed, these lovely ladies made the most of Girls' Night Out!  After a day of setting up the Community Center to be a "A Night in Italy", these girls then spent hours doing each others' hair and makeup and getting ready together.  Ella said this is always her favorite part of a formal.  

Pictured left to right: Maya, Ella, Marina, Ansley, Madison, Anna and Ruth.  Not pictured 2 friends who couldn't make it: Kacy and Avery.

A few new friends have joined this group in high school, but many of these kids are ones that have been in our life since grade school.  They've slept over at my house, eaten dinner at my table, come to birthday parties, rollerbladed and played laser tag after hours in our church, and joined us on family outings.  We've cheered for them in sports and drama and FFA and Debate.  We've attended their art shows, choir concerts, and princess coronations.  They are a magnificent bunch and one of my greatest joys has been watching Ella and her friends become beautiful inside-and-out young women who use their many gifts to glorify God!