Cousins

This month my cousin Sue and then my cousin Deb came to Kansas.  It was so awesome to see them!  Sue and Deb and their siblings grew up in Seattle so we only saw them about every five years or so.  I was closest in age to Carol and remember a trip she made when I was 14 or so and we spent a lot of time together.  Sue was closest to my brother Dave growing up.  One summer, Sue and Deb went on a two week cross country camping trip,with us so I have lots of memories with them in our station wagon and at camp grounds.  Then in high school, Deb lived with us for a whole year!  Sue has made the trip back to see us several times now.  But this was the first time Ives even Deb in over 25 years!

It is amazing how family is family no matter how long it's been since you've seen them.  Deb and I stared at each other and declared we looked the same!  Deb and mom came to Manhattan with Dave and Lisa and they spent the night at the house so we had hours to catch up.  It was so fun!  We talked and talked and laughed and even shed some tears.  We ate and drank and shopped and talked some more.  

Now I can't wait to go to Seattle!  And we are going to do a round robin snail mail pen pal thing with my mom.  

Whirl Wind Weekend

I love love love having family home.  This weekend Hannah drove in from Denver and Leah and Dave and Emmet came too!  There were so many special memories and moments to hang onto.  We all went to Chipotle, walked the Konza, sat around the livingroom and played cards, all pretty standard for a Clark family hang out.  We also played with sweet Emmet.  Saturday afternoon, Scott and I spent some precious moments with Emmet on the back deck.  I was lying with my head on Scott's lap with Emmet on his tummy leaning against me so he could see both of us.  Scott was playing with his nose and he giggled and giggled.  I fed him rice cereal and got it everywhere!  He loves it!  At Ba'an Thai restaurant, Emmet got fussy so I took him outside.  He was fascinated by the cars.  It was dusk so they had lights on and were going down fort riley blvd with their tires thumping the cement.  He turned his head quickly repeatedly.   So fun.  Emmet is such a good baby.  He is so content and alert.  He makes eye contact and smiles or giggles.  He can sit up unsupported for a couple seconds, reaches grabs and brings toys to his mouth.  He can roll over.  He is 5 months.  Today Julie came up and Hannah stayed and we walked around the park then Skyped Joel.

Emmet 4 months

I spent today in Newton with Leah and Emmet and wanna hang onto the memory. Emmet is so interactive!  He loves to giggle and smile and hold onto fingers. He was distracted when he ate with me in the room so I went in the other room. Then he was quiet for awhile then I'd hear him giggle then Leah giggle. So sweet. Emmet screeches with happiness and sounds sort of like a teryldactil. He giggled when I kissed his neck. He giggles and kicks on his changing table. He is pretty content even when he's hot or riding in the car. He sucked his thumb on his own a few times. He grabbed Leah's face with both hands and kissed her three different times. 

Such Fun

Yesterday I was honored to do two things:  host a going away party for a Homestead graduate and go out with the girls to celebrate the birthday of a friend from TRU.

Heather is going back to Lexington.  It has been such an honor and a blessing to know her and to watch God work in her life.  She is truly transformed.  It is bittersweet to have the girls leave us.  It feels like a parent; you know this is the plan and you hope you've done enough to help them be successful out there.  You know you will see them again but it is so hard to watch them go.  Heather is ready.  She loves God with all her heart and she knows how to access Him.  She know He is all she needs.  She will be fine.  She's going to get a job dog grooming then get a place of her own and raise her son and be close to her college sons.  We will miss her so so much.  

Right after the party, I ran out to UMI steakhouse to meet Karlisha and the girls for dinner and drinks.  We laughed and laughed and laughed!  Then we picked up another friend and laughed some more on the way to the movie.  It was so special to be included and so much fun.

Blessed Recoup

I've been running around a LOT this summer.  This week was TRU Club Rio, TRU vbs.  and I've been spending moore time at homestead since Sandy, our house mom is in the hospital again.  Every time I do kingdom work, I am blessed.  God always pays back what you give Him and more.  

So I volunteered or got volunteered to feed 100 people three nights in a row.  Tuesday night after spending the day w baby Emmet in Newton, I did the shopping for all the food with Erin and Krisitn and we had a silly, fun time.  Thursday I prepped for walking tacos and browned all the meat.  And I did Homestead group.  The two of the girls came with me and were a giant help serving food!  I've been spending extra time with all our new girls and love them so much!  

Friday I went to see Sandy in the hospital and had a long talk with Deb about some of the stresses with homestead.  And prepped and served fruit and crescent roll hot dogs.  And I also got to spend an afternoon at the pool Saturday with Christana whom I love and miss and hadn't talked to since May.  She is getting her kids back soon and I got to see them, too!   

Then Saturday all day I baked 100 cupcakes into ice cream cones and iced them to look like Olympic torches.  It wasn't easy at all but I have had fun all along joking about it over text with Kristin.

Yesterday we went to church and brought Adelle home and I helped her shave her legs and learn some other very helpful feminine hygiene habits to get ready for the pool.  Then I picked up Alexis and Amber from Homestead and we went to the TRU BBQ and award ceremony then the entire BBQ went to the pool!  I loved it!  Splashing around the pool getting to know my church friends better was so awesome.  This is church, serving alongside each other, fellowship, and fun. 

Today He's paying me back with a recoup day.  We took the car to get the brakes fixed so I have an entire day to do what I want (and need) to do.  I will walk down to the pool for my water class and then when the car is fixed go to my favorite weight lifting class and step class at the gym.  I got a cortisone shot for my elbow that worked this time so I am very much looking forward to doing these classes pain free!  I plan to makes some phone calls today and get some things done that will make our loves better such as change the sheets!  

A Day with Baby Emmet

Oh what a sweetie!  Yesterday I spent a long anticipated day with Leah and Emmet in Newton.  When I arrived, he was just waking from a nap on Leah's bed and he was in the best mood!  We sat together on the couch with him propped on my knees and he looked into my eyes and grinned and giggled for more than 10 minutes!  I'd smile and he'd smile and then do the cutest chuckle/giggle/squeak!  Absolutely priceless!  

Leah is taking a break from one side so I was able to give him a bottle.  He kept pushing his head back so he could lay flat and perfectly still while he concentrated on drinking it.  Then he spit up on both of us!  But each time I laid him down on the changing table he looked at me and smiled and giggled. 

Leah is such a good Mom.  She looks so beautiful and happy.  

Emmet is almost two months old!  He has filled out more and he's more alert.  And so strong!  I pulled his little arms up by his head and he stood up on my lap!

We put Emmet in the stroller and walked over to Mojo's for lunch and he slept with his little sunglasses on.  We toured Dave's new building next to the hive.  Every time I go to Newton, I think what a great peaceful life they have there.

   When we got back, I decided it was nap time for Grandma so we laid on the bed together and he snoozed awhile.  He took a second nap on me on the couch all bundled up and he snored!  So cute!

I love my little Emmet.  I am so grateful he lives close but I wish they lived even closer!

Prairie

Our time with the kids home is rapidly coming to an end:(.  We have Kent here now along with Hannah.  On Saturday, we drove through Council Grove on highway 177, aka Scenic Byway, to Strong City to meet up with Leah and her adorable little family.  We had some amazing eats at Ad Astra, best kept Prairie secret.  Several of us had the Barn Burner burger and homemade potato chips.  Kent tried the fried Brussel sprouts and Hannah found some yummy vegan fare.  

Then we drove 10 minutes up highway 50 to Cottonwood Falls to hike around on David's families land.  We stood on the very spot where Leah and David got married just two short years ago.  It was Emmet's first trip outside utero to the prairie.  Scott was being

exceptionally silly.  He talked to the cows and had us all cracking up.  "Line up please", he told them. And asked, "Do we have any first time moms?"  

This is the tub that held the cold waters on ice for the guests at the wedding.  Still there.