Special Song

Today our church choir was singing and I directed. A granddaughter of one of the choir members was being baptized and she wanted special music. I suggested we do "Josh's Baptism Song" and she loved the words and the child's name (Sofia) fit well into the spot that was originally written as Joshua. They loved it and the choir did it well and I was nearly reduced to tears at the end. During the joys and concerns I had expressed our gratitude that Josh had safely reached Portland after his long trip and explained that the song we would sing for the baptism would be the one written for his baptism by his father. It was a very special moment in the service. The little girl had been fussy during the formalities but seemed to enjoy the music.

Knutson's visit

We have just had a much too brief but great visit with Ed and Jayne Knutson some of our special friends in Texas. They are from South Dakota and were on their way to Lutsen on the north shore of Lake Superior where they will spend the rest of the week at a lodge of the shore with their son and daughter and their families. We are very familiar with that area and I know they will have a wonderful time. We visited non-stop and took them for a tour of our haunts in the area and had our daughter-in-law here with us for dinner so she could meet them. Of course we took a few pictures and if I can make it work right I will add one to this message. Not only did we enjoy their visit but Maggie was happy to see her old friends.

Our bird friends

We have lots of rose breasted grosbeaks at our feeders and our year-round visitor, the hairy woodpecker is willing to share the feeder. Aren't they a sight?

The original Fab 5, 1982

This was our Christmas picture in 1982
Judah holding Anna, Josh and Kirstin holding Carmen

Feed the camel

Visit to the Animal Farm

The last day of the Wisconsin family's visit we went to the Animal Farm. Feeding deer and a big turtle was fun and the lemurs were almost as acrobatic as the kids, but the best picture was this one of Damian and Emma getting acquainted with the camel.

Grant Lake fun

Miles and Liam-Men at work Emma & Stella testing the waters

Busy Week

While the two extended families were in town we had 15 at the dinner table four nights. Josh commented that they were testing the limits of our space. The kids hit it off so well and watching them at play on the beach and at the house was a sheer delight. Josh & Holly and Stella and the twins went home on Tues. Our Wisconsin family including 4 yr old Emma and 1 year old Tanner are here until Saturday. In the midst of all this I have had two appointments with the physical therapist and Wag had a follow up endoscopy to check on the conditions they found in Texas. The therapy has helped my stiff and achy neck and Wag's test was all good news. The ulcerated area was healed and no more polyps. Tonight we are going to have a fish fry with some of the great number the guys have caught all week and tomorrow we are going to visit the animal farm which the kids will love. It will seem awfully quiet when they leave on Saturday, but we will have lots of wonderful memories and pictures to show for it.

The fab five

This was the first time we have had all five great grandchildren together. We had 4 days of swimming, playing, visiting and of course eating and it has been wonderfiul fun, I have taken a slew of pictures but here is one.

Grant Lake adventures

We have had three days of great fun with all five great-grandchildren.

Here are the little workmen, Miles and Liam, with their shovels and pails.

thye fab five together for the fist time

We had a delightful gathering of the family where the five great grandchildren were together for the first time. It took no time at all for them to have fun playing together and I wish i had a recording of the giggles and squeals as they ran around, jumped on Josh or ran laughing when he pretended to be a monster. Tomorrow we will all go swimming and go riding in our son-inlaw's lovely boat. They have headed off to their motel and Josh and family to our daughter-in-laws for the night but they will be back promptly in the morning.