He Came, He Slept, He Left

Tim and I flew down to Fort Lauderdale.  It had been 2 years since I had been there.  Where has time gone?  Back to the intent of this post.  I forgot how much my brother loves to sleep.  I mean really LOVES to sleep.  He slept in the loft, on the couch, at the beach, on the plane, in the car.  I think he refrained from sleeping at any restaurants because next to sleeping - Tim LOVES food and it would be a shame to waste precious sleeping time if there was good food to be had.  The picture above shows Tim in his most often found position:  reclined.

There is evidence, however, that on occasion Tim was found to have his eyelids open!

Merry Christmas from Detroit

Merry Christmas.
We are all over Tim's house.

Dad woke up early and drove until he could start the morning right - with Starbucks - that is! He loves his Starbucks. I wonder if they make a "patch" for emergencies!

I (Tracy) drove over early in my pajamas. Tim has been hobbling around as he hurt his foot last night on a toothpick - Ouch! Tim decorated his house with his nutcrackers. I am going to post some pictures of all of them in the next couple of days. They are all very unique. Tim also has a Christmas tree up with white lights, green, red, and silver jingle bells.

We opened our stockings with Pete, Emily Ann, and Alaina over video g-mail chat. It was really fun to see them this Christmas morning even though they are hundreds of miles away. Alaina really loved the peppermint sticks that her Daddy received in his stocking. It's hard to believe that in no time at all they will no longer be three but four!

Mom wrapped all of our presents so beautifully. She also made a lot of our gifts - gloves, hats, paintings, and I love the bag that she made me. I can't wait to show you. It's beautiful. Dad did a great job picking out all sorts of electronic for us - big and small - he did a great job! Right now he is watching his new corvette DVD. It's crackin' me up! Mom also bought DAD a BRA! HA HA ha ha he he he! A corvette bra that keeps the bugs off the front end.

Mom is cooking right now - a glazed ham, cranberries, mostacioli, and asparagus. Tim requested brownies for dessert - Perfect!! I'll make a few posts throughout the day - I hope you do too - tell us what you are up to. What are some of your holiday traditions? What was the favorite gift that you gave? Did something funny happen today? Can't wait to hear from you today.

Merry Christmas - Love, Tracy

Happy Birthday Maestro Tim!

Tim conducting the pit orchestra for the musical Urinetown.

See his arm flailing upword.

So cool he is.

Come They Told Me . . . Pa Rum Pa Pa Pum

What a lovely weekend - What a fast weekend. Pete, Emily Ann, and Alaina arrived late Friday night. We had the pleasure of spending the day together on Saturday. Since I saw Alaina last June, it seems that she has become a drummer! She loves all sorts of music, noises, and dancing!

Band Camp

This past weekend was SUPER busy - but among the craziness I had the opportunity to dash the construction and the deluge rain to see Tim and his students perform at Band Camp. We were on the phone several times while I was driving to Lansing because the rain was coming down so hard that they thought they might have to cancel. They've never cancelled in 22 years - so Tim devised plan B and we saw the band play meso forte in the cafeteria at Hubbard Hall.

One of the greatest aspects of seeing Tim and his band is that Tim's LOVE for what he does really shines through. It is so evident that he thoroughly enjoys his career. He gives bold instruction, talks quietly with a student to say that he really likes how they've done this week, he meanders through the crowd of parents telling them how appreciative he is that they were flexible, he smiles at the flags to let them know he hasn't forgotten that they are tucked in the corner of the cafeteria and he waves his arms with enthusiasm as he conducts and then turns it over to his "fresh out of the box" drum major!

Tim - thanks for making this world a place where kids love music!!

64 Degrees of Freedom

I went swimming in Tim's pool today - it was a chilly 64 degrees Fahrenheit - it felt so good to cool off.

(It will warm up as the summer goes on)

Tim's new house

I bought a new house!

Tim's new "blue" is:
3450 Ellenboro
Troy, MI 48083

It is only 10 minutes away from Tracy, and less than 15 minutes from school.
I cannot wait to have you all over to swim in the...wait for it... pool!

The specs: 1971, 3 bedroom, 1600sq ft, original owner, ranch, full basement, above ground pool, .25 acres, and blue!

I used the time during my spring break to move in. Luckily I don't have much "big stuff", therefore I've taken my time to bring things over and unpack bit by bit.

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

Snow

Job 37:5-7 (New International Version)
God's voice thunders in marvelous
ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.
He says to the snow,
'Fall on the earth,' and to the rain shower,
'Be a mighty downpour.' So that
all men he has made may know his work,
he stops every man from his labor.

We ushered in the snow today.
I've been praying for snow.
Tim - our hero - shoveled the entire driveway and the sidewalks.
He even distributed salt around the slippery areas.

I sat on the couch and watched local coverage of the snowfall and the auto bailout.
Thanks, Lord, for the snow.
Thanks, Lord, for the loans. I pray we use them wisely.
Thanks,Tim, for shoveling.
Thanks, Tim, for shoveling without me even asking.

So far we've had 5 inches fall and it is still coming down.
It's beautiful.
Did I mention Tim is beautiful? He shoveled.
Did I mention I ate challah french toast for breakfast?
Did I mention I am still in my pajamas?
I love the snow.

Psalm 51:6-8 (New International Version)
Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;
you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

Tim's Birthday

Tim turned 31 this year! I can't believe my little brother isn't so little anymore. I guess he'll always be younger!! Tim has been super super busy with school. Marching band season has just come to an end, the school musical took place "Pirates of Penzance", two cold and snow parades this past weekend and now Pep band starts for the basketball season. Tim managed to squeeze in a piece of cake or two! I love you Timmy! Happy Birthday.

Drumstick Dash

This year our family is going to Indianapolis for Thanksgiving. We will be joining the Donnelsons for a lovely time. I am going to run the Drumstick Dash which is 4.5 mile run. They run is generating proceeds to support the Wheeler Mission in its effort to feed the hungry. I am really looking forward to spending my Thanksgiving this way - thankful for my family - thankful for the ABUNDANCE that God has given me. My prayer is that I would be His vessel that overflows onto those around me.

Tim the Director

Tim has put together a really great show this year.
Here he is getting the band to play a little louder.


A few new formations

How cool - do you see how they are shaped into a canon? The tuba section comes shooting out of it!

March Madness

A few highlights from March Madness!

Swimming in the Ocean
Brotherly LoveRoyal Oak Farmer's Market
1st Blooms in the Garden
Pig-in-a-blanket winterhat

Ann Arbor Farmer's Market
Zingerman's Birthday

(Mom, Emily, & Carrie's Birthdays too!)

Painting at the Creative Arts Studio

Genesis Communications Team

Pastoral Search Committee

Parent Teacher Conferences

Ice Cream Treats at Jim's Dairy

Helping out the South Africa Missions Team

Snow Day!!

Tim felt his blood pump'n when he did the 5:45 am snow shoveling. It must have been a lot of snow because it was the first time he has ever come in to take a break!








I am SOOOOOOooooooo glad that Tim and Pete gave me a new snow scoop for Christmas this year. I had no idea how many times I would get to use it Tim would shovel the driveway for me.













The best part about the Snow Day - God answered my prayers for a little bit of rest today!!!

Bravo Tim!

You did a really great job at the MSBOA Festival this weekend. I am so glad that I was able to watch your performances. Your dedication really shows through all of your performances.

*******

Tim's band at Rochester High School performed at the Michigan Schools Band and Orchestra Association Festival. It's sort of the MEAP test for the musicals. The first performance included three pieces of music that the students prepared ahead of time and was performed in the auditorium. The second performance included two pieces of music that the students have never seen before. Tim lead them through only 7 minutes of instruction to pull off both of the pieces. The judges seemed pretty impressed with their musical interpretation!

The Vedict: It snowed!

It sure did! Tim and I shoveled this morning and Carrie tried out her snow shoes (she's been waiting two years). Tim is a master at the snow scoop! He made perfect mounds just the way that Dad always does!
Thanks for your help Tim.

Love, Tracy

Family Sweet Family

I was just thinking back to a couple of weekends ago when Mom and Dad came to visit. My dear Mom is such a blessing - she helped me with laundry (she is now officially called the laundry fairy) and with getting my house back in order. It was a real blessing to me since this semester has been especially hectic. The new contract at school has given me an extra class, half of my prep time, and 180 students. It is a bit overwhelming - so Mom's help is just so appreciated.

Dad rearranged his worldwide travel just to be with us. He brings so much laughter to my home - it is precious to me. He and Tim fixed the railing to the bungalow (which had never apprently been screwed into the studs - duh!). I had been fretting over it for weeks and they fixed it in just a couple of hours. How amazing!

On the Friday evening we went to Tim's homecoming game where he was conducting the band. He is a master at what he does - coordinating hundreds of kids, cheerleaders, and activities all at once. You can see how much he enjoys the whole process - his smile is always ear-to-ear when they are "making music" and he is waving that wand!

Here are a few photos from our time together.