Spring Equals Baseball

We are once again looking forward to spending a couple nights a week

out at the ball field...

Happy Mother's Day

We are so blessed to have you as our mother!! Thank you for living your life striving to bring God glory in all you do. We love you!!

Jan--Ben's mom

It has been probably 8 years or so since I have been able to celebrate this day with my mom by my side. It will be a memory I will cherish for a long time. We are truly blessed to have you as our mother! You too, are a virtuous woman of the Lord. We love you!!

Jodie with her mom

Thank you Jake and Kacie for making my day special (with dad's help of course). You two are truly gifts from the Lord. I am proud to be your mother!!

As I reflect on being a mom today, I think about how often I let the little things frustrate me and forget about how the little moments in my life will have such an impact on the rest of my children's lives. I heard a guy say recently that we live mostly in the mundane of life. What he was trying to get at is that we keep waiting for those "big" teaching moments. But really we are helping to shape our children's lives every time we act and react towards them....the mundane. Proverbs 31:28 talks about a mother being called blessed by her children. I know that all of us moms want that. And I am thinking maybe this mother is called blessed because she is consistent in her loving and caring. And is plodding along day to day in the mundane helping to shape her children by acting and reacting to her children the way God would lead her. I encourage you in your role as a mom to continue to plod away in raising your children. And know that all of you in my life who are moms often encourage me as I watch you with your children!!

A Mini Vacation

This weekend with a retirement party to attend just south of Kansas City we decided to make it into a mini vacation. Maybe some of you didn't know that I (Jodie) grew up in Olathe just outside of KC. So we stayed in a hotel Sat. night and then the next morning we went to the church that my family attended while growing up. To say the least it was wonderful to get a way and have fun together and to see many people I have not seen in years.

If you didn't know...I have the most wonderful husband in the world! Thank you Ben for being patient and watching the kids while I took a stroll down memory lane!!

Ben attempting to eat a HUGE hamburger at the Cheesecake Factory

Pool Time

Kacie & Jake

Suprise After 28 Years

On Sat. May 10th, we traveled to Oswatomie, KS with my mom. It is a town just south of Kansas City. My pre-school teacher after 28 years of teaching retired. Some of us "kids" from her first class in 1980 decided to surprise her at her retirement party.

Jodie, Evelyn (teacher) and Kathy (Jod's mom)

Jodie and Kendra (pre-school friend)

Evelyn was truly an angel to our family when we met her. She helped our family out in many ways and continues to be a special person in our lives. Thank You Evelyn for not only teaching me how to write my name and tie my shoe, but how to give of myself sacrificially. You are such an inspiration when it comes to putting others first!! Many blessings to you and on your retirement!

A New-Old Friend

Chloe is the daughter of some dear friends of ours Jason and Denise. We were able to spend a couple of days with her this past week. Kacie and Chloe have not really played with one another except for a handful of times. They had such a giggly, fun time with one another.

School Fun!!

Last Tues. May 6th, Jake's kindergarten class took a field trip to the Sedgwick County Zoo. It was a wonderful overcast day. However, the kids in our group wanted to play at the playground 75% of the time. Let's just say we really didn't see the animals... go figure!!

Jerry and Jacob at the Zoo

On Friday May 9th, the Rose Hill students participated in Kansas Fit Day. Jake and his partner had to finish 30 events in 2 hours. It was a lot of fun watching the kids have a great time together!

Jake and Shane

Nana and Kacie

My mom drove back with us to Kansas from TX after her graduation. She was able to stay the week with us....she went to the zoo, helped in Jake's classroom, went to Kansas Fit Day, played and read lots to the kids and helped to celebrate Jan's birthday (Ben's mom). Mom, it was such a blessing to have you around! Thanks Grandpa Ron for giving her to us for a week!!

Way to Go Mom!!!

On Sat. May 3rd, Jodie's mom graduated from Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, TX. We are so proud of her for her perseverance in completing her degree in Human Services.

Jake, Kacie and myself were able to travel to celebrate with her and all of the rest of the family.

Mom, you did it, you really, really did it!!

Aunt Carrine, Kathy (Jod's mom), Murr and Papa (Jod's grandparents)