School Pictures

Ten days done with school. No I am not counting down until the end of school. I'm just sort of getting through the shock of the last two weeks. For those of you who send your children off to school at the age of five, it so weird to do it for the first time at 14 and almost 13. I do have a picture, but that camera does not download to this computer, so it will wait. The boys leave at 7:45 (walking as we are two blocks away) and don't get home until 5. This week starts cross country meets. We have two weeks until Mitchell has a game.
Kirsten and I are doing fine at home. This week seemed to zoom past with a lot going on the whole week. On Tuesday evening we went out on the lake with friends.


It was a cool evening and very enjoyable. Wednesday was a benefit concert for friends in the church who are getting a Habitat house. The church choir sang and many different groups performed. It was a lot of fun, but it went until almost 10. Thursday was a meeting for Women's ministries at the church. There is currently nothing going, so Dan and I had a meeting with women who are interested in seeing something happen. I then had to go to worship practice, so another late night. Tonight Dan and I were at a dinner party. Tomorrow looks like fun. We have one service with a picnic after it. I don't have to be at church until 10 am. I usually have to be there at 7:30 when I am playing, so this is sort of fun. We don't have Sunday School for the next two weeks as next week we have church in the park downtown.
Last night while the boys were at the High School football game, Kirsten and I went out to get her school pictures as the boys will get theirs taken this week. (Hers are so much more fun.) The background is the lake at twilight.---How beautiful.

More phot shoot pictures

Kirsten's photo shoot

I bought a new camera last week that will be my birthday/Christmas gift (a few months early). It was clearanced down, so I didn't want to wait. Kirsten and I went down to the park yesterday after we were done with school to try out a few features on it. I need to get some new pics of the boys also, but since they are at school, we have a schedule to work out.

Concert Fun

Last Saturday night, Kirsten and I got to to go to a concert here in Clear Lake. For those of you who are not up on your 50's pop rock, Clear Lake has significant music history. It was here in Feb. of 1959 that rock legends Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens performed their last concert here. They flew out of Mason City only to crash a few minutes later on a farm in Clear Lake. Since this time, the Surf Ballroom has hosted many musicians of differing genres, but I think it fairly safe to say that they have never had a group like last Saturday. A new lady has taken over the management of the Surf. I've heard that she is a Christian. She invited the group Point of Grace to come. It was full. There are booths in the style of the 50's and then some tables on the floor. The rest of the "dance floor" was standing room at the foot of the stage. They did have to keep the place alcohol free. We are hoping that they did not lose too much money in order to have more nights like this. An area group was put together to open with praise music. It was a great night!

While we lived in South Bend, Point of Grace had been to Elkhart a few times. Kirsten and I went last Christmas with the knowledge that we might not have this opportunity again!!!

The group just recently lost their fourth member. They decided to keep it a trio. A really neat thing ---I thought was that the man who announces all of the concerts was quite impressed with the group's credentials before hand, and floored when he heard them sing. This man has his picture taken with each group and put up on the wall. Their spot is near Alice Cooper. Kirsten said that they won't look as scary!

A time for new things...

I realized that I had not written in a week. I left my laptop at my parents and I am missing it when it comes to getting my things done. I can't post pictures on the blog with my pc as easily as the laptop, so there may not be any until I get it back over Labor Day. The kids like to be on the computer also, so I find that I have to get my allotted time also.
We had a few firsts this past week. We signed the boys up to go to Clear Lake Middle School and for Peirce, Clear Lake High School. This has been such a huge matter of prayer for us. Since we knew that we were moving to Clear Lake, I have been petitioning God in this matter. When I felt peace about sending them, I asked over and over, "Are you sure?" We know that if needed we can take them out at any time, but for now we know that we are doing what God wants. Peirce will be involved in Cross Country and Mitchell will be in 7th grade football. Should be an interesting fall. I hate the fact that now we are on "school schedule". I really liked moving things around to work for us, but I knew that that would end at some point.
We also made a large purchase today. Dan and I travelled up to Minnesota (30 min. away) to purchase a 2004 Toyota Sienna. It has been 8 years since we have purchased a vehicle, so we had a need and found a good deal.
So we have now 10 days before school starts. I have 40 people coming over on Sunday pm, so I am thinking that the kids will have to wait until next week to get some special things done before they are busy all day. (I think that they are in for a huge shock!!!)
Pray for us as we make this transition. I want the boys to both find quality friends. They both know kids from church, but I am praying a hedge of protection from the ones that they shouldn't be around. I am excited about the possibilities for them. I have been impressed by the administration of the school and the teachers that I know. It is not the normal public school. I of course will have some separation anxiety, but I am looking forward to this time with Kirsten. She has a friend that will be homeschooled this year also, so we are looking forward to some times with Kim and Tory.