A Few Random Updates

Hi Everyone,
I hope you are all doing well. Thanks Debbie for writing a post - I love knowing that you are doing well. So a few posts that I have been wanting to write are conglomerated into one here so that I wouldn't forget!

Did you know that Flat Adam came to Africa with me? He is booking his flight back to Wisconsin later this week. He had a great time and especially loved seeing the wild animals. (Double click on the collage and you will be able to see the pictures up close!)


Tim and Carrie were able to attend the Oakland County's Outstanding Teacher of the Year banquet with me on the 7th. I was a nominee. 3 fantastic teachers won - I was honored to be in the running. Then again, Tim and Carrie should have been nominated too! We had a delightful evening - many great speeches given by the teachers - each speech was very different. We then enjoyed an array of hor d'oeurves.


This past Saturday I volunteered for the CDC (Central Detroit Christian)'s Little League Football. We served up a barbecue (hot dogs and burgers) for all of the teams and the volunteers that help with the games. It was lots of fun. We were rained on a bit but we didn't melt. I even had the chance to pass the football around. I LOVE the size of the peewee football - it's just perfect and I can throw a pretty decent spiral with it!

This morning, despite my head cold, I managed to get up at 4:30 am and head on down to the Eastern market for flower day. It is one of my favorite days of the year. Five of us kept warm walking around and picking out new blossoms for our yards. This year I bought dwarf snapdragons, herbs and vegetables, zinnias, dahlias, English daisy (it's really cool - it's pink and white and totally wacky), marigolds, and lobelia. We were home by 8:30 am and were able to all make it to church on time. (We did make a quick stop to one of my favorite bakeries - Avalon - mmmm!)

Flat Adam Returns to Wisconsin

It was a sad day to see Flat Adam return to Wisconsin. I sure have enjoyed having him here in Detroit. Follow this link to read a little bit about what Flat Adam did while he was in Detroit. You can see the pictures of Flat Adam here.

MidWinter Break

It's Sunday Evening which marks the end of an overall wonderful midwinter break. I am fortunate and still have an entire week's time off in February. Tim had Wed-Fri off and Carrie had Mon-Tuesday. But I had the entire glorious week. Thank you Lord.

I rested the first weekend and had fun with friends at a pizza party on Saturday evening and a Chili party for Sunday Night Dinners (a once a month event my friends and I partake in). I lead our church in musical worship on Sunday morning in which the message concentrated on God's Knowledge. He knows EVERYTHING - even the things we wish He didn't know - He knows. He still covers us in His grace. I am so thankful. This is one of the messages in our latest series called Your God Is Too Small. After church and before chili dinner, Flat Adam and I had a great time with my friend Alli exploring some of Detroit. We even took a ride through the tunnel to Canada. It was a lot of fun.

Monday through Wednesday I spent most of my time working on my taxes (still not done yet), preparing for my trip to Africa, and getting things in order at the house. Housework never seems to stay put. I also had the opportunity to see Tim's new house in Troy - he placed a bid on the house and it was accepted. Hopefully he will soon tell us all about it here at the blog!

On Thursday, Flat Adam and I took the train from Detroit to Chicago to visit Pete, Emily, and Alaina. It was so much fun. We relaxed and enjoyed each other's company the entire time. Alaina is growing so fast!! She is really starting to get all over the place. You should see that way that Alaina looks at Emily - it's precious - she knows that she loved - what a secure little girl. Pete made homemade baby food: carrots and apples. Pete told us how Alaina started crawling into their room to find him and that it just made his day! I had such a wonderful time and I can't wait to get back again.

I hope you are all well - Miss you lots - Tracy

Special Visitor Arrives in Royal Oak.

I have a very special visitor staying at my house for the next month. His name is Flat Adam and I am thrilled to have him. He arrived in the mailbox today. I hope he wasn't too cold - the temperature has been rising here - it's around 30 degrees. We welcomed him into the house and introduced him to everyone living at tracy's blue house: Not-So-Flat Tim, Not-So-Flat Tracy, Not-So-Flat Carrie, and Not-So-Flat Guinea the Pig. We are all going to get along smashingly (pun intended). Flat Adam was a bit tired so we showed him around the house and then he took a few minutes to write an e-mail to Not-So-Flat Adam.

(picture of the whole gang)

(Flat Adam meeting Not-So-Flat Guinea the pig)

Here's what Flat Adam wrote in his e-mail:

Dear Not-So-Flat Adam,

Thank you so much for sending me on this
adventure. It was a bumpy ride but I have made it safely to No-So-Flat Tracy's house. I'm tired and will write again soon. I wonder what I am going to see in the lower peninsula of Michigan? I heard that they have the first paved road in America right down the street and tunnel into a foreign country called Canada. I forgot to bring my winter jacket but No-So-Flat Tracy said that she'll pick one up from Target for me. Have a great day at school - work hard and have fun at recess. I am going to go to school with N-S-F-Tracy in the morning - I heard they don't have recess at the high school. Boo Hoo!

See you soon,
Flat Adam

Afterward, Flat Adam brushed his teeth and went to bed in the guest room. I wonder what tomorrow's adventures will be?

Love, Not-So-Flat Tracy

ps. Flat Adam is inspired by a book called Flat Stanley written in 1964. There is a large Flat Stanley Project going on that schools participate in. You can visit the Official Flat Stanley Project Website here.