Warm Springs GA

Hello

Paul and I had a great adventure today. We went to see Warm Springs. http://gastateparks.org/net/go/parks.aspx?locationid=49&s=49.0.1.5 This is where Franklin Delano Roosevelt built the Little White House in 1932. We had a great time.

there was a really good movie by HBO http://www.hbo.com/films/warmsprings/interviews/kenneth_branagh.html about this. It is only about 30 minute drive from us. I just wanted to share the interesting day. We went to the house and springs. The little town has a lot of cute stores and a ice cream place. We had a small picinic at a road side park right next to the pools. We will have to take you when you visit!!!

Well enjoy you week.

Love

Emily

A Night at the Museum

Tim and I headed out with some friends to the Detriot Institute of Arts in downtown Detroit! We first ate out a delicious Irish Deli called Eph McNally's in Campus Martius and then headed off to see the Ansel Adams Exhibit. We all had a grand time. I was reminded of the many places that Mom and Dad brought us kids in our trusty ol' venture camper.

Happy Birthday Lindsey

I hope it was a wonderful birthday! May God bless you and keep you this year.
Love, Tracy

Shout out from Tracy!

Hi Everyone - I hope you are all doing well. It sounds like everyone had a wonderful Easter. I enjoyed spending time with Mom, Dad, and Pete.

I am off to church today and have and Africa meeting this afternoon.

Carrie and I went to the Royal Oak Market yesterday morning and bought parsnips, carrots, and onions. They were delicious. We also made bread in the bread machine. What fun!

I also bought two containers of wheat grass for the guinea pigs (humans can eat it too) and they thought it was pretty wonderful!

Easter at Florida

Hello Everyone
I hope you had a good Easter! We had a great time and really enjoyed being with each other. I thought you may enjoy some pictures from the beach. We are back in GA and getting back into the swing of things here. take care
Emily

Think spring!

Hello everyone!
We had a wonderful Easter weekend in Ishpeming -- in spite of all the snow! There was so much more than when we were there at Christmas! We figured it snowed about 10 inches Friday night after we got there. We stayed with Addy and Faith and as always we had a blast together, but didn't get enough sleep! No, Faith didn't keep us up, we just visit and catch up til late at night! Faith is such a beautiful baby and has a sweet personality -- she's very easygoing. We got to hear her say her favorite words -- especially "dog!" It was so much fun hearing Debbie and Linda play in the bell choir on Easter morning. What a beautiful service. And then there were the ham balls! Yum!
We took Isaac to a ear/nose/throat specialist last week to figure out his ear issues. It turns out that yes, his adenoids have grown back AGAIN and that is the source of his plugged ears and hearing loss (since January). Isaac has had his adenoids removed twice before and in the 30 years this doctor has practiced he's never had to do a third adenoidectomy on a patient. He's stumped, I'm bummed and Isaac is thrilled and very proud of his new nickname "Adenoid King!" Isaac is scheduled for surgery for ear tubes and removal of his adenoid on Monday, the 16th. This will be his 4th surgury and he thinks its tons of fun. I'm just glad he'll be able to hear again. He has great coping mechanisms and it doesn't seem to bother him usually but his teacher and I can definitely tell he's not hearing everything.
Everything else here is fine. The boys have both started soccer again and are loving it. We're looking forward to their Saturday games.
We hope everyone had a blessed Easter! We were missing all of you!
Love, Joy

The Pollen has come to Georgia

Hello Everyone
Well it is pollen time in Georgia. I couldn’t believe it. The green/ yellow stuff flies through the air like a green cloud and lands on everything. I opened the window to let the spring air in and the kitchen turned green. I posted some before and after pictures of the screen room when we power washed it, just to show you. We are waiting for the rain to come and wash most away. Then we power wash everything.

The top two pictures are from Paul’s latest trip to Japan and China. The pictures are from his hotel in China. I thought the housing was really interesting. We don’t know how wonderful we have it in this country.

Take care, and have a great Easter.
Emily

April Showers bring May Flowers

Good Morning Everyone - Can you believe it is April already? This morning we had strong April showers that have continued on into the morning here. I am hoping that these showers will indeed bring beautiful May flowers.

I have been busy working on the trip to South Africa as of late. We only have 75 days until we leave. It sounds both so short and yet so far away. Thank you to everyone who has responded to my support letter - whether in prayer, finances, and/or medicine. It is really appreciated. I'll certainly keep you up-to-date on my progress! You can also check out my Team Blog.

Yesterday I went to a worship leaders meeting in which we analyzed our 34 strengths according to the Gallup company. It was really interesting. The whole idea is to key in and work with our strengths and surround yourself with people who have complimentary strengths in order to be most effective in your job, your life, and for us our worship teams. My top five were: Activator, Achiever, Arranger, Restorative, and Developer! I wonder what all of yours are?

I am contining on at weight watchers and still am at about 10# lost - I really need a jump start right now. My friend just sent me several links to some good websites that I thought you might be interested in too!
(1) Hungry Girl
(2) Aimee's Adventures
(3) Jaime's Kitchen
(4) Half My Size
(5) Dotti's Weight Loss Zone (This has tons of weight watcher points info!)

I hope you are all doing well.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Love, Tracy

Shout Out from Tracy

Hello Everyone - this is just a Shout Out to say that I hope you are all doing well. Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Love, Tracy

Happy Birthday Grandpa

I hope it is a wonderful day!! Full of fun, family, and celebration.May God watch over you another year - keep you safe - and bless you tremendously. Grandpa - I LOVE YOU very very very very much. You have made a difference to me!!!! to this family!!!! and to this world!!!!!

Hello from Royal Oak

Hello

I made it to Tracy’s house. Paul leaves for China in just a few hours. He first goes to Japan for a meeting then off to China. He is excited to ride on a train that will go over 300 miles an hour from the airport to the city he will be staying. He loves the adventure! I am sure he took his camera and I will post a few pictures.

Joy I am 56 wonderful years! I love my fifties! I am have a great time. My birthday was so nice. I went to my Thursday Bible study. The women there have been just fabulous friends and so very nice to me. They made me a southern pound cake. I think it was just like the one I saw Paula Dean make. It had a pound of butter and buttermilk and melted in your mouth. Then we went to lunch and had Chinese. I gave myself a present of a facial and full body massage. I loooooooovvvvveeeedddd it! Then I went to Stephen Ministry training and they had birthday muffins and a candle for me. When I got home Paul was home from Detroit. All in all it was a wonderful day. I am just overwhelmed at how nice everyone has been to me on my Birthday and I really only been here for six months. Southern hospitality is really true. It was also nice that so many of my friends from Michigan remembered me too. I got flowers delivered and cards and little presents in the mail. I really felt special and loved.

I hope Isaac is better soon. There is nothing worse then a ear that hurts all the time. Didn’t Ryan have tubes when he was little? I seem to remember that he did. I will keep the boy’s in my daily prayers for healing.

I am still amazed at the wonderful art work the boys did! I hope they post more. I love the bright colors and wonder that is shown in the work. Good job guys, I visit you work on the web often.


Well take care everyone and know that you are loved.
Emily

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Emily! We hope you have a wonderful, fabulous day and the beginning of a great year! How many years young are you? : )

It's been a crazy week here. Adam has been under the weather and it turns out he has pneumonia and an ear infection. Poor guy. He's much better now thanks to the miracle of antibiotics! He's glad to be back in school.

Isaac has been having trouble with his ears -- it's been a reaccuring issue for years now -- he gets fluid in his ears and it stays for months and in the meantime he can't hear. This year his hearing is worse than other years, but the theory is just wait and it'll go away on it's own...ugh!!! The pediatrician told me Tuesday that not only has it turned into double ear infections but that part of the issue is his adenoids which have regrown -- he's had them removed twice already! I can see our future now. It'll be ear tubes and adenoid removal this spring. He sees the ear, nose and throat specialist April 5th and we'll know more after that. I just want Isaac to be able to hear normally again. Please keep both boys in your prayers!!!

On a happier note, we enjoyed some unseasonable warm weather earlier this week -- mid 60's! When the boys stepped outside, Adam said "I feel like we're at Disney World!" Our snow is almost gone and we can see grass again. Emily, I loved seeing the pictures of your flowers!

Love, Joy

Happy Birthday Mom

I hope it is a wonderful day!! Full of fun, family, and celebration. May God watch over you another year - keep you safe - and bless you tremendously.

You are such a wonderful, caring, supportive, Mom - You're the best.
Love, Tracy

Spring in GA

Hello Everyone
Spring has come to Georgia! It has just been beautiful here. I thought you may want to see a few pictures I took of the flowers in my yard and the Pear tree across the street. There are 100s of Pear tree flowering all over PTC. However, they have an awful smell. It is really bad.

Paul is on his way right now to Detroit for a meeting then he turns around tomorrow and flies home as quick as he can for my Birthday. Two of my dearest friends here took me to lunch today for my Birthday. I really enjoyed myself what a really nice thing to do for me. They had cards and presents and everything.

I really like the cards I have gotten from all my family and friends. What a special card from Mom and Dad! thank you.

well I need to get going.

love

Em

Weekend Update

Good Day Everyone -
I hope you are all well. Did you Spring Forward into Daylight Savings Time? The automatic download from windows worked perfectly on my computer. Now I just have to remember which clocks I advanced last night - and which ones still need some tinkering.

Last night I went to see the movie Amazing Grace at the MJR Theater. It was a great movie (rated PG) about the abolition of slavery in England. I would recommend it to everyone. When I got home I was still a little bit wound up and not ready to go to bed so I watched one of my favorite tv shows called Ace of Cakes - in this episode Duff and his team made an sesna airplane, a ski jump, and cake for Glitterama. Duff cracks me up!

I have lots of papers to grade this weekend and I am working on sending out my support letters for South Africa. Other than that - I am going to try to take in as much sunshine as I can (it was sunny and 45 yesterday!) Spring is definitely poking its head out in metro Detroit.

Dad is headed to China at the end of the week and mom is going to come "up north" to spend some time with me while he is gone. I look forward to her visit.

Oh yeah - and the pigs are holding steady. Piggy is letting me put her medicine without a fight (thank goodness) and it seems as if her little infection is settling down a bit.

Okay lovely family - those are my little tidbits - updates - and random thoughts for the day. Off to church I go. Love you all - Tracy

Hello Everyone

Hello Everyone

Paul and I are doing just fine. This is a picture of Peter's new place in Chicago. We went to visit him about two weeks ago. We had a great time getting things and putting furnture together to make his place a home. Paul took this picture so I can put it up on my family house wall. I still need a few more pictures of houses from people. I am still hoping that Joy and Ryan will send me one. I have just about everyone elses.

The weather here has been cooler at night but the days are in the 60's to low 70's. Spring is here. The flowers are out and the trees are blooming. There are some really beautiful trees all pink and white.

We can't wait till Tracy comes to visit on Good Friday. We are looking forward to the time together. She has not seen the house here since we moved. So she is flying to Atlanta and then we will all go down to Florida together. It only take 9 1/2 hours to drive from here to there.

Paul is going to China this month on the 16th. I am looking for tickets to fly up and visit with Tracy when he is gone. I have not been able to visit since Christmas.

Well take care everyone. By the way I lovvvvvve the pictures the boys did. They are really nice. If they ever want to make me one to hang in GA just let me know.

Love

to all

Emily

Happy Birthday Addy

I hope it is a wonderful day!! Full of fun, family, and celebration.May God watch over you another year - keep you safe - and bless you tremendously. You are doing a great job with Faith - can you imagine how she will change in just a year?!

Isaac and Adam's artwork

Our artists!

Hello everyone!
I'm a proud mom who has to brag a little! The boys each had a piece of the artwork chosen for Youth Art Month at our local art museum! Art is chosen from students all over Manitowoc and then on display for a month -- today was the big opening. So we took the boys to find their art and they were so proud to show us. Isaac class was learning about Monet, so they did a Monet style painting in acrylics, and Adam's class was learning about still life art. I'm trying to post the pictures I took -- hope it works! The boys spend lots of their free time drawing and creating so I'm so thrilled for them that their art teachers recognize their talent!
Yesterday we spent the day at the boy's Destination Imagination competition. Both boy's teams did very well and earned some special awards for the presentations they did. It was a blast for everyone! I was Adam's team's coach and was so proud of my little 1st and 2nd graders who placed 6th out of the 13 teams they competed against! The ages of the teams were 1st-5th grade. Isaac's team got 3rd place and he was competing at the middle school level because he had a 6th grader on his team. He was the youngest on his team and did so well. I can't wait til next year!
We've been enjoying all the snow we have this year! Finally! We had almost 16 inches in one weekend, and an additional 10 inches a few days later. Ryan brought the snow blower in the backyard and made a huge pile of snow for the kids to play on with their sleds. We have two snowmen and a fort too. If we have to have winter, it should be just like this!
Missing all of you!
Love, Joy

Saturday News

Happy Saturday - Thanks for all of the updates on how Grandma and Grandpa are doing. I keep them in my prayers everyday.

This morning I went early to Weight Watchers and lost 0.6#. Slowly but surely - just like a turtle in the race. Afterwards I drove to Farmington Hills to do a Future Problem Solvers Evaluation - but it was apparently cancelled so I treked back home. I brought my guinea pigs (Piggy and Ruby) to the Warren Woods Vet. Piggy has ringworm and Ruby has a broken tooth and a small cyst. They were pretty pathetic at the vet - scared to death. They just kept shedding and shedding and shedding. They were a big hit with all of the staff at the vet since they are sooooo cute.

Tonight I'll just clean the house and grade papers. Tomorrow, I will help lead worship at church and then I plan on working on details of the South Africa trip!