I know it has been awhile since my last post and hope that I remember everything to report tonight. Seems like when I feel as though I am catching up, more things need my attention.
Sunday night bowling went pretty well. We took 3 points. We won the first and second game, lost the third and took total pins by only 1 point! No bowling on Easter, and our final "party" night of bowling is the following Sunday. The TV situation at bowling is out of hand. They u
sed to be on the wall opposite of the alleys. Now, they are right above the alleys. The shows they play on the tv are really quite offensive. They have had fighting shows on every week. I have asked to turn the channel only to have a team say "we were watching that". Well last week, we had the channel changed because the show was 1ooo ways to die. I couldn't believe it. So women's basketball was on and we were enjoying the OU/Louisville game. Then during the 3rd game, the simpsons came on because the ladies Basketball offended someone. That is crazy. Those people must have a lot of pull at the alley to always get what they want. We finally requested it be turned off, after all we are there to bowl.
sed to be on the wall opposite of the alleys. Now, they are right above the alleys. The shows they play on the tv are really quite offensive. They have had fighting shows on every week. I have asked to turn the channel only to have a team say "we were watching that". Well last week, we had the channel changed because the show was 1ooo ways to die. I couldn't believe it. So women's basketball was on and we were enjoying the OU/Louisville game. Then during the 3rd game, the simpsons came on because the ladies Basketball offended someone. That is crazy. Those people must have a lot of pull at the alley to always get what they want. We finally requested it be turned off, after all we are there to bowl. 
Monday morning we were off to Chicago. Mary drove 3 hours, then Jeff took over. We had lunch at the Cozy Corner Restaurant. It was pretty good. Then we visited Concordia Chicago, formerly known as River Forest. We had a nice tour and Mary and Matt both got a free t-shirt. It seemed kind of wierd that the campus was so dead. We didn't see many people and it wasn't spring break. The education building was very new and nice. Jeff enjoyed seeing the theater that he remembers watching plays at as a child. After talking with the admissions counselor, we also met with a 
guy from the education department and the drama department. Seems like there is potential for scholarships for Mary at concordia. They don't really have the call night like they used to, now it is more job placement with interviews and such. Still they say 100% placement after college for Lutheran school teachers and 95% for public teachers. We went by the bookstore and got a lanyard and Matt wanted a new ball cap. All in all Mary said it was OK. I guess it didn't really wow her very much. She did like that is was so accesible to downtown Chicago.Monday night we stayed with Jeff's cousin Jim and his family. We always have a lot of fun with them. Matt loved being with Logan, Brett and Katherine. Fatime made a delicious lasagna dinner with pumpkin pie and brownines for dessert. Mmmmm. We watched the MSU Spartans lose to NC Tarheels. Oh well they did great to make it to the finals.
Tuesday morning Matthew went to school with Logan at Milwaukee High School. Jeff and I talked to Katherine's class about Japan, since they are studying that right now. That was a 
lot of fun. Our next stop was Wisconsin Lutheran College. From the time we arrived and parked in our own reserved spot, ate lunch with students, attended a choir class, toured the immaculate and new buildings, Mary was completely impressed. She really liked it there. The dorms were nice and the very small campus is easy to get to class. The fine arts there are just spectacular. They do have an education program too. Laundry is free. Rooms are modern. Best of all the college has already told her if her GPA stays where it is at along with ACT score, she is eligible for a 10,000 dollar scholarship and can also audition for more scholarships for music and drama. We still have one or two more colleges to visit. The nice thing about Wisconsin University is that she would have family just minutes away. That night we spent with Uncle Bill and Aunt Bobbie. We had a tasty meal of pork chops, veggies, applesauce, rolls and cookies and ice cream. Steve Heather and family and Fatime Logan and Kate came too. Lots of fun.! On the way to Bill and Bobbie's we stopped at Jim's school and saw his classroom.
lot of fun. Our next stop was Wisconsin Lutheran College. From the time we arrived and parked in our own reserved spot, ate lunch with students, attended a choir class, toured the immaculate and new buildings, Mary was completely impressed. She really liked it there. The dorms were nice and the very small campus is easy to get to class. The fine arts there are just spectacular. They do have an education program too. Laundry is free. Rooms are modern. Best of all the college has already told her if her GPA stays where it is at along with ACT score, she is eligible for a 10,000 dollar scholarship and can also audition for more scholarships for music and drama. We still have one or two more colleges to visit. The nice thing about Wisconsin University is that she would have family just minutes away. That night we spent with Uncle Bill and Aunt Bobbie. We had a tasty meal of pork chops, veggies, applesauce, rolls and cookies and ice cream. Steve Heather and family and Fatime Logan and Kate came too. Lots of fun.! On the way to Bill and Bobbie's we stopped at Jim's school and saw his classroom. 
Wednesday we visited Bethesda Lutheran Home in Watertown WI. I have never been there, so it was nice to see the place I have always heard about and recently our sunday school sent money to them as a mission gift. Mary will be spending a week there for summer camp. I wanted to chaperone, but they didn't need me. I think it will be a great experience. I also met a man who had my Aunt Gert for a Sunday School teacher years ago. We had a nice lunch with Bobbie, Bill and little Elsi. She is adorable. Her brothers are very polite and easy to get along with. It is so hard to believe how fast everyone grows up!
Jeff drove most of the way from Wisconsin through Chicago and to our dinner spot, Valparaiso. We know of a good Mexican place to eat. Then Mary drove for a few hours and I finished up the last hour. We got home around 10:30 pm. Twelve hours later we were driving again to my doctor's appointment in Grand Rapids and then we went to lunch at Steak and Shake, shopped at the mall, where Matt got his first pair of metal cleat baseball shoes. Then we picked up Sarah from Hope College and got home it time for Maunday Thursday church. Mary sang a solo, Lenten Love Song, which sounded very nice. She received many compliments. We had a quick choir rehearsal and then got some groceries at Meijer.
Tomorrow I work at 0530 to 12 noon. Then we will need to go try Mary's prom dress on, and do some more errands. Good Friday service is at 7:30 pm. Kids choir sings The Lamb. Saturday we will color eggs and I will play Easter bunny as usual.
That is all for now.. I better get some sleep!
Grace
There are more pictures on Fatime's blog...just click on the link below the Sooner Schooner!
You can always see pics on our family photo album and I will post a link to Wisconsin Lutheran College as well.
