Caleb's hockey

 Our son Caleb decided to join the local recreational league hockey this March. It has been fun to watch him compete in a sport again. He's played golf the past few years, but that is not a spectator sport! He was a little nervous to join, partly because he'd never played a real game. He could definitely ice skate, and he played lots of hockey in our garage (on roller blades) with his sisters.

He has done really well and enjoyed it a lot! He's made lots of goals and learned as he's played. We've also enjoyed seeing him indoors, instead of freezing in the wind, rain, or boiling in the sun (like in baseball!).

He's played the lower levels in his league, which are C and D. They had similar guys on two teams. The last night that they played this season with the D league was their championship, and they won! They even had an imitation Stanley Cup that they got to hold and skate around with. It's been fun to cheer with his girlfriend (now fiancée), our niece, and his sisters. We take a bag of blankets with us to the ice rink.

His first jersey was an old loaner that said "JIM" on the back, so that's what we called him when we cheered.

He got a New Jersey halfway through the season with our last name on it. It was spelled wrong, but he wore it anyway. 

The skates make him seem really tall!

Even if he has grown up, we're still his parents cheering him on!

Genesis 18:3-4
He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree."

Job 37:9-11
The tempest comes out from its chamber, the cold from the driving winds.

The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen.
He loads the clouds with moisture; He scatters his lightning through them.

Caleb's 19th birthday

 Our son Caleb celebrated his 19th birthday last weekend, and we had a small coffee brunch at home for him. It was fun to see family and friends, to have fabulous coffee and delicious food. He enjoyed all of the gifts and time to see extended family.

Opening gifts at the party... we gave him black slacks, golf putting aid and...

(showing off the putting aid)

a guy's guidebook...

and a new flannel shirt. He loves his flannels in winter!

Showing his pumpkin chocolate chip cake with a candle in it. It was a great birthday! We are so thankful for this fine young man. He works hard at Chick-Fil-A in the kitchen, he is doing well in his first semester in college, dating a sweet gal, and even still gives his Mom hugs. What a wonderful son! We are glad that God allowed us to raise him. 

Psalm 11:7
For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face.

Proverbs 3:11
My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke...

Proverbs 23:19
Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path...

Caleb's graduation, part 2 (2021)

 We had a wonderful graduation week for Caleb, and we enjoyed a few other graduation parties during the week too. We had some extended family come for Saturday, where we all briefly got to see him pitch in a baseball game that afternoon. We set up for the graduation party outside, and it promptly began to rain! Everyone helped us bring everything back inside and we waited for 15 minutes and then the rain quit. We needed up having nice weather, although a little windy, for the party. 

We were so thankful that lots of friends and family came to celebrate our Caleb with us!

Chatting, lots of chatting...

Kids looking at golf clubs...

Posing for family pictures with our graduate...Caleb with his grandparents...

Our family with my parents...

The cousins (who were there-- we were missing two)...

Love these silly kids!

Caleb with Aunt, Uncle & cousins...

Caleb with Auntie... 

Grandpa and the grandkids...

Nana and the grandkids...

Caleb with Dad and Mom... we are very proud of this guy, we've loved seeing him mature into a fine, young man these past few years. What a blessing he is to our family!

The cousins just had to line up by height, this is not age order! 😁

We loved seeing "the kids" hanging out in different groups. I enjoy his friends a lot! 

It was a really nice party. The food was great (he chose the menu of burgers, hot dogs, coleslaw, slushy fruit salad, chips, drinks, and s'mores for dessert). We were disappointed that it was too windy for a fire. We didn't have s'mores but enjoyed a lot of Mallory's cookies that she made the week before the party.

We enjoyed the party a lot, but it was a little stressful. I slept a lot on Sunday and Monday after... I was tuckered out! 

Do you have any graduation traditions with your kids? We are so glad that our backyard is nice and large enough for a good group of people.

2 Chronicles 30:21
The Israelites who were present in Jerusalem celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great rejoicing, while the Levites and priests praised the Lord every day with resounding instruments dedicated to the Lord.

2 Chronicles 30:23
The whole assembly then agreed to celebrate the festival seven more days; so for another seven days they celebrated joyfully.

A good verse for graduation time...

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Caleb's Graduation, part 1 (2021)

Seems like just yesterday that my sweet boy was beginning kindergarten...

Before graduation, our church had an open house for the graduates. We set up Caleb's table and sent in a slideshow with some of his favorite music. It was a really nice time!

The five graduates this year... four of them we have known since baby days!

A sweet time of parents praying over their children...

ALL of us were weepy...

Caleb and his gorgeous girlfriend by his table...

He got his cap and gown and tried it on at home. I started crying... how can we already be here?

I was very happy for him that he got an academic award. He worked hard in school this past year, we are proud of him!

All dressed up and ready to go... I loved that he matched his tie to the cord and gown! His cap has a Star Wars quote by Jengo Fett.

Walking in to "Pomp and Circumstance..."

There he is... Wah-Hoo! He did it!

We took photos after the ceremony in his cap and gown...

With Mom and Dad... the bad part about the ceremony was the WIND! You can see in the background how the wind blew the gowns, cords, sashes, caps, and tassels.

With the whole family...

The four kids...

Three generations...

Part of me was sad that he didn't do the homeschool graduations. He went his own way for his senior year. He really enjoyed being in public school. He made some new friends. He did really well in his classes. There was a big load off of me, but I missed him being home. 

We are so thankful for our wonderful son, what a gift from God he is to us. He has always been ALL boy! We pray that he does well as he heads off to our local university in the fall to study Sports Management/ Kinesiology. We thank God for our Caleb, and for helping him reach this milestone!

1 Kings 17:23
Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, “Look, your son is alive!”

Psalm 11:7
For the Lord is righteous,
he loves justice;
the upright will see his face.

Proverbs 10:1
The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

"Concert season"

We joke in our family about having "seasons" of different things. In the fall, there are a large number of birthdays in our family and my husband's family, so we call it "birthday season." Since we have had a group of concerts lately between our four kids, we've been calling it, "Concert Season." 

My son had a "jazz jam" concert with his high school band, and other jazz bands in nearby schools. If you look VERY carefully, he's the tall drummer in the back.

My daughter sang at her boyfriend's oboe recital. It was lovely!

Our daughter sang in an opera of "Little Red Riding Hood." We liked the rhyming lyrics and the fun story line.

Our audience at the opera... what a great crew!

Our family after the opera performance...

One of our daughter's final vocal perfomances... she finally was able to direct a choir piece! Also, a violin

professor that was injured played again. We loved it!

This was a very cool outdoor performance, called "Prism." It included all of the music department, the choir, violinists, soloists, small ensembles, large groups, choirs, bands, the smaller marching band, orchestra, etc., They all did a great job performing and we got to sit in the middle! At the end, they did a big finale all together~ WOW!!

Below is the choir singing in the finale...

The very next evening, our son had a jazz band concert, and then our daughter had a jazz ensemble concert that she sang in... both very fun to listen to!

Our daughter Mallory had an 8th grade band concert too!

Our oldest daughter had her college senior recital and it was so wonderful. I laughed, I cried, I relaxed and I was very impressed how far she has come in her singing abilities. She sang several songs in foreign languages, had to prepare weeks ahead of time, she had to prepare the program, advertise, encourage people to buy (free) tickets, etc., Her pianist was excellent, her boyfriend played oboe with her again, and her dear friend sang a fun piece with her from "City of Angels."

It was a godly performance, and the highlights for me were the last two songs. One was "I shall not want," by Audrey Assad, which I was not familiar with. The next one was "Legacy" by Nicole Nordeman. She did a beautiful job singing each song. I was so happy and excited for her that it went well.

I am so glad that we are able to be there to listen and celebrate each of these wonderful kids and their performances. I know that they have worked hard to learn the music and performing is so good for them. We are looking forward to a few more concerts in May, including our youngest daughter's 6th grade band concert. So glad we can applaud each one. We are thankful for their teachers and professors who have guided and worked with them.

1 Chronicles 6:31
The Temple Musicians: These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the Lord after the ark came to rest there.

Ezra 7:7
Some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers and temple servants, also came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.

Nehemiah 11:23
The musicians were under the king’s orders, which regulated their daily activity.