One Week Down, One to Go!

Jeff made it to Arizona without any problems. He did take some pictures of the terrible flooding in Iowa from the airplane. Seems like the rain keeps falling in the same places. Speaking of weather, we have had nice mild weather all week. Last night we did have an isolated thunderstorm. I was at work and it must have hit close. Lost power briefly then it was all over.

I worked 31 hours this week, including a night shift last night. I'll work another tomorrow night as well. It really screws up my sleep and I am tired the whole next day. I will work around 30 hours next week too. As some of you know, I continue to look for a new job. I applied for 2 more jobs this week. So far I have had all rejections.

Mt Calvary had VBS all week at Camp Concordia. Matthew stayed at camp as a junior counselor and had a wonderful time. He helped at VBS too. Mary went to help the skit team on Thu and Friday. The weather was perfect and they had over 100 children participate. Matthew got a little too much sun on his ears and they have blistered. We saw the doctor and he prescribed a wide brimmed hat until it is healed then back to the baseball cap. Benadryl for the itching. HE loves to be at camp and looks forward to another week as Jr. Counselor in July.

Sarah had a new experience this week as well. She played softball with the Hope College girls team on their summer league. It is quite a bit more intense than HS ball. She was at first a little intimidated, but played well and made some new friends. I'm telling you the people at Hope College are just so welcoming. During the double header, Sarah played Left Field the majority of the the innings, and had several at bats. The highlights were a diving attempt to catch a fly ball that popped out of her glove. She went to the doctor too, her knee was swollen and bruised. All clear for any damage. Just bruised. She'll play next week. Back to the highlights, Sarah had a beautiful bunt at the end of the second game. There were runners at first and third, runner at third came in and the runner at first went to third, which pulled the fielder off second and allowed Sarah to reach second base on her bunt. WooHoo! She caught the last fly ball to LF to end the game. FYI, the sun was terrible for the outfielders that day.

Mary has been babysitting to earn money for a iPod. She is very close. There are a couple other families that have her name for future jobs. Mary also has job playing her cello, Liam, tomorrow at the Flat River Historical Museum at 2:30 pm. Mary has been viewing the sunset as much as possible each night and taking pictures. She and her buddy Gia have started riding bikes each night to their viewing spot and around town.

So we made it through one week without Jeffrey, who is at Davis Monthan AFB until next Friday. He is doing fine. He took his Air War College test on Thursday. We won't know if he passed for a week. So now he works on some papers and also at the weather office. That is all I know. So one week to go and we'll have him back just in time for the Baseball Game on Saturday at the Whitecaps Stadium. It is Star Wars night and Thrivent night too.

This week is of course work for me, Church softball on Monday, Little League on Tuesday, Fast Pitch softball for Sarah on Wednesday and Quilting on Thursday. Of course there is the day to day stuff and the need to shop for our upcoming vacation to FL in a few weeks.

The girls made pizza for lunch so I am signing off. Have a great week.

Until next time,

Grace

PS... Matt had a great day at his ball game. He had two RBI's and got on basae and stole his way home. He was responsible for all of the runs scored today. Way to go Matt!

Almost a Week Later....Happy Father's Day!

Time really flies by, doesn't it? It's been a week, and I can hardly remember what happened. It is good to stay busy, I guess, but rest is good too!

I worked Mon-Wed-Friday this week and had good days. Monday night we had our weekly church softball game and we won 18-11. We started off a little shakey, but had a big inning with 10 runs! Matt had a baseball game the same night and they lost. Tuesday all the teenagers had there yearly check ups and are healthy. Sarah received her meningitis immunization for college and had TB test too. The doctor had a lot of forms to sign for the college health office. Matt had baseball practice and Sarah refereed a game. Oh, our piano was tuned finally! Thurday I sewed in the morning, did some paperwork and took Sammy to the Vet. He is healthy too. Matt had his last baseball game that night and was the starting pitcher. He did a fine job. Pitched 3 innings. We were ahead, but lost by one at the end. However, the other team used a pitcher that was supposed to be on rest since he pitched less than 48 hours earlier, and there were a few bad calls by the umps, that could have changed the results of the game. The baseball banquet was last night and it was a very large crowd. It was a huge picnic for all the players, not just for our team. We survived and Matt received a nice trophy. Today Jeff and I played 18 holes of golf with our friends, Randy and Norma in the Camp Concordia Tournament. We did pretty well. It is a good thing it was a scramble, or we might still be looking for some of our balls. We went to a couple of High School open houses and then had small group bible study tonight. Whew! What a long day. We had a lot of fun.

This week promises to be busy as well. I signed up for 30 hours of work this week. Probably M-W-F again. Matthew is helping at Vacation Bible School held out at Camp Concordia all week from 10-2. Mary and Sarah are volunteering a few days and I will go out on Tuesday and Thursday. Sarah will be a chaueffeuer a lot for me this week since Jeff is going to Davis-Monthan AFB for 2 weeks starting Monday morning. Matt has ball Tuesday and Saturday. Sarah refs a softball game on T-TH and hopes to play community fast pitch ball on Wed with some of the girls from the Hope College team. Oh, Church ball on Monday night. We play one of the undefeated teams and they beat us for the championship last year. I hope that we can win! Right now we are 4-1. I need to find a replacement pitcher, Jeff won't be there! I should go quilt on Thursday at least in the morning. We have a few more open houses to attend this month.

Mary has found a new hobby.. She loves sewing. She has made 4 dresses this month! She is so creative and can really make her ideas work! The projects she does and does them well. Watch out Martha Stewart!

Well I had better get going..Church in the morning! Happy Father's Day!

Grace

PS: The glasses are for fashion!

Praise, Storms and Parties

We had a "fun" praise service today. I played the clavinova, and we had singers, a drum, guitar, violin and madolin. Everyone sang well and Jeff gave a good sermon. The Ice Cream social was well attended and delicious.

After we arrived home, we began setting up for Sarah's Open House. Everything looked really nice. Our friends helped, by setting up their tent (@ our house), and we some lend us a roaster, coolers and tables. Sarah set up a very nice display of her high school life. Then an hour before the party, the sky got dark, windy and then the downpour. We were glad that Sarah took pictures before it rained. I will post them as soon as she does. We had a nice turnout and didn't have too much leftover. Everyone enjoyed the taco bar, chips and salsa, cake and fudge. We have pop left, but that will keep. After the party was over, many of our friends stayed and helped clean, take down the tent, and move table and chairs back to church. We are blessed.

Sarah is exhausted. She opened her cards and gifts and fell asleep. The kitchen is clean enough for me to go to bed without thinking, I should really stay up and clean. I do have to work tomorrow (8-4), so the girls can clean the rest up while I work. Matt has a 1/2 day of school left and then has a baseball game. Church softball is tomorrow too. we will see if we play. Lots of storms. We are expecting another storm in the next few hours.

I guess that is all.

Happily,
Grace

It was a Happy Birthday

I had a very nice birthday. We went shopping at our favorite local stores and then had lunch together before I took mom to the airport in Lansing. We all had such a nice time together for Sarah's graduation. Jeff's parents left a few days earlier and stopped to see some friends in Indiana. Anyway, on the way home I drove into a severe thunderstorm. My weatherman called me several times to forewarn me. Sure enough just as predicted, I drove into a storm with strong winds and torrential rains. I pulled into a church parking lot and parked next to the building to be protected from the wind and then the hail started. I waited around 15 minutes till the storm passed and got home safely.

Jeff and the family took me for a barbeque dinner and then we spent a few hours cleaning up the basement. Fun! Actually it is nice to see it so clean. Tomorrow is the graduation open house and Sarah wanted to have extreme ping pong, thus cleaning the basement. Mary baked me a chocolate layer cake and it was moist and delicious.

The excitement began later when a bat appeared in the house! Jeff and Mary's friend Greg help apprehend the critter and released it into the night sky.

During the past week, it was nice to have Sarah home and we went for birthday lunch at Red Lobster with Ernie and Marlene, Gloria and Jeff met us there. Thursday was a busy day...quilt, clean, banking, piano lesson, baseball practice, Band Booster meeting, Softball banquet and a GHS Jazz Band concert in the park, which was really good. We actually went to all the events.

Today will be busy enough. Matthew has a baseball game, open houses, cleaning house buying groceries, decorating and preparing for Sarah's open house tomorrow. I play for church in the morning and am part of the fellowship team after church! I'll need a rest, but I work Monday from 8 am to 4 pm. My patient is moving to California, so I need to work as much as I can before that.

Better Run!

Grace

Graduation Day

It has been a long time since I wrote an update. I am going to make this one on the short side, since I am very tired after a long day.

Grandma and Grandpa Wilhelm arrived safely. We attended the following activities:

Baccalaureate: It was very very nice. Jeff gave the address and it was awesome. The whole auditorium was quiet and he received many compliments. What a wondeful message of God's Love for all and for the journey that continues.

Matthew's Award Day: He receieved awards for perfect attendance, musician and singer. Plus he is on the high honor roll. There was a fire drill that brought the ceremony to a quick end.

Graduation: It was a beautiful day today. The graduation was exciting, I think. The graduates processed and recessed to Star Wars music and the pomp and circumstance was during the presentation of diplomas. Mary was impressed to see her teachers with their graduatioin robes, some with the Master's stoles. After all the pictures were taken, we drove to Grand Rapids and ate at Olive Garden. We finished up the day's activities with an ice cream cake that was delicious.

Mary had an eventful first gig playing for a wedding in a string quartet. It was so windy at the park, that some of her sheet music blew away into the nearby river. I guess even the flower arch over the altar blew over. Several men held it up for the rest of the service. She recently received a trophy for best actress from the drama club.

Matthew had a few baseball games this week. They won one and lost one. He pitched the last inning of his last game and did really well. He battled at the plate and eventually got the walk. The game was called before the third out, because we won!

Sarah has been attending multiple open houses and enjoying a lot of fun times with her friends. I can't believe that soon she will be off to college and I won't see her everyday.

I worked 12.5 hours last Friday and work 8 tomorrow. The rest of the week will be pretty much free. Of course there is always something that needs to be done. Plus it will be nice to spend time with family before they go home later this week.

Getting really tired, better head off to bed.

Grace

Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day!

I need to start way back to Friday when Sarah had her "swingout" from high school. She looks very nice in her cap and gown. After the assembly, we took lots of pictures outside before she got on the bus for the senior mystery trip. Sarah had fun on the trip. They went to Gameworks in Detroit and then went on a dinner cruise in Lansing. She spent the night at her friends house after they returned home around 3 am.

I worked on Saturday after Sarah came home. It was a long afternoon and evening, but Hailey and I had a lot of fun. Sarah had her hair cut for graduation. Nothing drastic, just a few inches off the bottom.

We had a nice Sunday service, Matthew played "Taps" after the benediction. he did well and it was quite effective. The church was silent. After church was our sunday school end of the year picnic. Grilled hot dogs, potato salad, chips and cookies. Later in the afternoon, we saw Indiana Jones movie and then went for Ice Cream at Charley's a favorite place with good ice cream and prices! Jeff put down some new mulch around the house in the garden beds.

Today had many acitivities. Lots laundry, Mary made a dinette set that I go this week that will actually be my sewing table. It looks really nice. Unfortunately, she cut her finger on a sharp screw that needed attention. I doctored it up and it has stopped bleeding, but it still hurts. We went shopping for a few things had Subway and then I cleared off my desk...hurray! It was way overdue. Sarah had softball practice tonight.

Tomorrow Mary and Matt go back tomorrow and Sarah will be at home. She has been filling out housing info and other forms for Hope College today. We will be setting up banking this week and will try to make a picture presentation for graduation. Sarah will be playing softball in pre-districts, last game of the regular season and then districts this Saturday. Baccalaureate is Thursday. Mary is playing for a wedding this weekend on her cello along with friends and their violins and viola. Matt has baseball on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

We look forward to Grandma and Grandpa Wilhelm's arrival on Wednesday this week to celebrate Sarah's graduation. It is less than a week away now.

I will work on Wed (8-4) and Friday (5-5) for sure. Maybe Thursday morning for a few hours. Plenty to keep us all busy!

That is all for now.

Grace

Orchestra Ovations

Tonight's orchestra concert was really fantastic. Mary and Brandon's duet went well. The dynamics were precisely executed.

The high school concert was exceptional. I really liked the "Hoe Down" by Aaron Copeland and "Inchon" by Robert W. Smith. The percussion in Inchon simulated sounds of helicopters, gunfire and water. It was quite impressive. The audience gave immediate standing ovation at it's completion. You may be able to hear it in the future on Greenville High School's Performing Art website under the mp3 section.

Tomorrow is swingout. I can't believe Sarah is done with high school. I know that I will become emotional. We are all very proud of her and all of her accomplishments.

Matt's team lost tonight, but he got a chance to pitch and he said he did a little better. Sarah is pretty tired after a long day, softball practice and umpired her first game.

Mom is having a good time, driving all around Greenville with me and going to all the activities.

Time for some shut eye..

GW

The Excitement Builds

Yesterday was Scholoarship day. Sarah received a scholarship from the Rotary Club, and Hope College. We are still waiting to hear from Air Force Aid and another one for athletic training.

We did some shopping and then headed to Lowell for cello lessons. They went well and then we cooked dinner and went to the GHS Jazz Band Concert. It was great! Matt played well and the whole evening was very enjoyable.

Today was academic achievement awards. I drove over there after working for 3 hours at Hailey's. Mary received a plaque for maintaining a GPA above 3.9. She looked very nice. Sarah received her award for maintaining a GPA over 3.8 throughout high school. She also received a letter from President Bush for academic excellence and a Gold Honor Cord to wear on Graduation day. Tomorrow is Swing Out the senior's last day. By lunch they will be on a bus for a 24 hour trip.

Later today Mary will be in her last orchestra concert until the fall. She is currently 2nd chair and will also play a duet with her friend during the concert. I am looking forward to it. Matt has baseball game tonight in GR, and is spending the afternoon with a friend and ride to the game with him and the coach.

Need to pick Sarah up from Softball practice and then she umpires a community ball game. They craziness begins!

Grace

Perfect Timing

Today was so full of activities that perfect timing was important. I spent this AM writing articles for the newsletter and Sunday bulletin. Three loads of laundry were done last night and three this morning. I picked up the kids at 3pm, Sarah had a double header at 4 pm and Matt had a game at 6pm. So Grandma and went to Sarah's first game, Jeff drove Matt to his game and then came back to watch Sarah's second game while Grandma and I drove to see Matt play his game. One hour after his game started we all left for Matt's last middle school band concert. It was at 8 pm. We all made it and enjoyed the concert. The trumpet section did a great job! Unfortunately, Sarah did not get to play either game and the team lost both of them. (Next time put Sarah in the game coach.) Matt called a friend on the team and they lost by one run, again. Matt played really well at first base and scored a run.

Monday was awards day for leadership/activities and Mary received her superior award for the role of "Martha Webster" in the production of "Bury the Dead" the one act play last winter. It was a great moment.

Tomorrow is scholarship awards day. Sarah will be getting at least one award. The assembly is at 0845. I worship committee and then drive Mary to cello lessons at 4:15pm. The Jazz Band concert is tomorrow at 7:30pm. Another busy day!

Better get going, I have brownies in the oven for Sarah's Anatomy class tomorrow. Good Night!

Grace

The Party is Over

Mary's party is over and everyone had a nice time. We grilled hot dogs, opened presents, played Guesstures, ate cake and then had fun up in her room. Most of the guests left by 5:30pm. Gia, Dave and Greg stayed and watched a few movies, "Clue" and "Young Frankenstein", had pizza and ice cream. Although we expected rain today, we had blue sky most of the afternoon and clouds in the evening. I am not sure if we ever had a raindrop. Thank you Lord! Have a great Monday!



Grace

Matthew's Mackinac Island Trip

Matthew and Jeff had a nice trip and better weather than expected. The Harmonizers sang well, Matt's solo went well in the Blue Skies song and the clinician was very complimentary. I have posted a few pictures of the Cheboygan Opera house where they had the vocal clinic, and also some of Matt and Jeff sightseeing on mackinac island. The one from up high is Ft. Mackinac. You can see the Mackinac Bridge in the background. There are more pictures on the Wilhelm Family Photo Album.


Mary's bake off was a success. Both cakes were edible even after a little sabotage with pop and peanut butter. Yesterday was uneventful. Sarah had tournament and they lost all 3 games. She did get to catch a little, she coached 1st base a lot and then played left Field. They have another game on Tuesday.

Mary's official party is in progress. It started outside with a hot dog roast, cake and Guesstures, and now moved up to her attic. I have heard her guitar playing, guess I got the right replacement string. I will post party pictures later.

This week is very busy... Monday: Awards day, Grandma H. arrives, Theater Banquet and Church softball. Tuesday...Work, baseball and softball game, Middle School Band Concert. Wednesday: Scholarships Awards day, Cello lesson, Jazz Band Concert. Thursday: Work, Academic Awards, Baseball game, Orchestra Concert. Friday: Sarah has Swingout, last day for Seniors! Then she will get on a bus with more than 100 others seniors and go on their mystery trip. It lasts around 24 hours. I work Saturday 10 hours in the afternoon. I wonder if I can jam anything else into this week?

Well, I will update later on...after the party and post some pictures.

<> Until later this evening, Grace

Happy Birthday Mary Sweet Sixteen 16

Good Morning! Nothing new just a few pictures of the birthday girl.. Have a good day!

G

Later on Mary's birthday....

Mary had a fun day so far. After I got home from work, I took the girls to El Rancho for dinner. Mary received a fried ice cream for dessert. Then Mary and I went to the Dirty Dozen Jazz Band Concert at the High School. They are from New Orleans and were really good. The GHS Jazz Band opened for the concert (we missed that part) and then they were invited to play with the band on stage. That was really awesome. Mr Ayres the Jazz Band director was dueling with the lead trumpeter. It was just fabulous. There was just so much talent. I took a picture with my phone of the trumpeter, he played a trumpet and flugelhorn at the same time. The picture is kind of blurry, but you can tell he has something in both hands. Now we are awaiting a birthday cake bake off that begins soon and lasts past midnight. I wasn't here for the cookie bake off, but I am sure it will be interesting to watch and they will have fun. That is all. Here are the pictures of the trumpet player.

Wow, What a Day!

Today was a great day! I worked for 3 hours and then took a nap, because I knew it would be a late night. Matt had a game and then we went to the girls' choir concert. First I did some birthday shopping for the birthday girl and made what resembled weinerschnitzel. It was tasty, but "not as good as in Germany".

Matthew's team won their game tonight. Had good at bats with a RBI. Jeff got some pictures of him playing. The weather was pretty chilly, but it was a fun game to watch. Matt played 2nd base and did a good job. Way to catch the pop fly, Matt! He will miss Saturday's game, because he and Jeff are going to Mackinac tomorrow with the Harmonizers. Jeff predicts cold wet weather.

The High School Choir Concert was absoulutely fabulous! The

songs were great and it is so amazing how well these high school students sound. Sarah's group the village green was awesome..They become like a little family (big really 30!). The singers get pretty emotional at the end of the concert, esp the seniors, since it is their last one. Even I got emotional watching them get all teary.

Mary is excited about her birthday tomorrow. I am excited, because my client called and doesn't need me until 0745. I can sing Happy Birthday to her in the morning to keep with our family tradition. She is quite the trooper with all the activities going on, her birthday gets squeezed in.. Tomorrow is the late night bake off. Sunday is the hot dog cookout with all her friends. WHew!

Sarah has a softball tournament on Saturday in Big Rapids,about an hour from here. I am going to stay home and get the house cleaned up and work on other projects.
Next week is her last week of high school. I can't believe it.

Better get this posted.

Grace, (mother of the birthday girl, senior singer and baseball 2nd baseman)

A Wednesday Full of Activities

Today was filled with things to do! I spent several hours this morning working on invitations and trying to get our scanner to work. I never did, but got the job done using other methods.

Sarah had their class photo this morning and then the seniors were released for lunch and senior tea for girls and a guest and the boys went golfing after lunch. I took Sarah to Applebee's and then we went to the tea. It was ok. I can't believe that she only has 7 days of high school left. Sarah's team won their softball game and Sarah played well and is very happy.

Mary had cello lesson at five. It looks like we will have only 3 lessons left for the year. With gas prices and summer events, Mary is taking the summer off. Cello lessons are ~15 miles away. That's 30 miles a week. Gas prices here are $3.98 per gallon. We will see how next year pans out. It is sure to be busy with drama, show choir and orchestra. Mary is driving more and more and is getting good experiences and doing pretty well. Tomorrow she and Sarah will be in the HS Choir concert. I am looking forward to it!

Matthew sang in the middle school concert and did a great job! He had a little solo part in the song "Blue Skies". He was wonderful.Matt looked calm and relaxed and sang with confidence. We are so proud of him. Tomorrow he has a baseball game at 6 pm. We will watch him for a while then attend the girls concert at 8:15pm (there are two performances of the HS Choir concert).

Jeff and I signed up for a golf outing in June with our friends. I hope that it will be a best ball scramble. I work tomorrow and Friday at 0515. I work 3 hours on Thu and 12 on Friday, Mary's birthday. Jeff and Matt leave for Mackinac on Fri morning for an overnight. Mary and I,and maybe Sarah will go to the Dirty Dozen Band Concert at the HS. It is supposed to be awesome. Then a few friends are coming over to bake a birthday cake. We try to squeeze as much as possible into one day! Sweet Sixteen-how time flies! I will need Saturday to prepare for the party here on Sunday afternoon. Hope the weather warms up by then. Cold weather for the season is back.

Well, better get some shut eye..

Grace

Heathrow Terminal 5

Here's a video that pretty well sums up how things are (still) working, or lack thereof, at London Heathrow's grand new terminal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kp3bNlBi-Iw

Awards and Wins

Tonight was choir awards night. Sarah received her Varsity Letter for choir, and an award made just for her, "Where Did My Voice Go"? She had laryngitis on her choir trip. Mary received Musician of the Year Award (sophomore). We are very proud.

Speaking of proud, Mt Calvary's Softball Team won their second game tonight. We are 2-0. Jeff managed the team for me and pitched half of the game, and I went to the choir banquet. Next week, there is a Theatre Banquet, and we will have to repeat the procedure. Grandma will be here that night, so she can attend the banquet as well.

Sarah's softball team had another loss, but Sarah keeps smiling as long as she gets to play. That is the spirit! Her knee is still bothering her after she hyperextended it at Saturday's game. She had to dance on it today for show choir, as the choirs performed for the elemenatary schools today. Mary's choir sang as well.

Well, I had better catch some ZZZ's, because I work at 0515 again and it is 2330. Yikes!

Goodnight!

Grace

Baseball, Softball, Parties and Plays

Happy Mother's Day!

Matthew's baseball game started at 9 am and went for 2 hours. They lost by one run. When Matt's game was over, we stopped at home picked up water had a bite to eat and then drove over to Sarah's 2nd game of a 3 game tournament. They won their first game and lost the last two. Sarah made a spectacular play in left field. I wish I had a video camera with me. She dove for a ball, caught it did a somersault and held up her glove with the ball in it! Way to go Sarah! She did some good base running as well, and slid into home plate and was called out, but I am sure she was safe. Ties go to the base runner, blue (ump)!




Jeff went to the third game and I went to my patient's birthday party. It was small family affair of which I feel a part of by now. She had fun playing in frosting, wearing frosting and even got to taste a little.

While all this was going on, Mary was baking a cake and dinner to surpirse me for Mother's Day. They made tacos and a delicious funfetti cake! Thanks guys! I wanted to go to the whitecaps game tomorrow, but it is supposed to be rainy all day. I guess we will do something else.




The Hobbit had it's final performance. It went quite well. Matthew did a fine job for his first role. He thinks he might try being a techie next time, and Mary wants to return to acting. We do have an addition to our house. One of the spiders from the play lives in the attic. Creature crew got to adopt a spider. The dragon is so big that they may have to destroy him.. too bad they worked a long time on him. I guess there is just no place to store him. Maybe they should put it on Ebay and see how much they get for him. Shipping would be quite expensive. This pic shows Mary working on stage preparing for this week's concerts.

Sarah went to a softball team bonfire at a players house tonight. She had a good time and now all the kids are sleeping. I should be too. It was a long busy day.

Tomorrow is the day of Pentecost and the kid's choir is singing and we have a very musical service ready to go. I will be playing quite a bit.

Next week promises to be busy as well. I work 4 days (~30hours), have ball games, choir banquet on Monday and the school music concerts are on Wed and Thursday. Quilting, Cello lesson and Mary's sweet sixteen on Friday with a party next Sunday. Jeff and Matt are going to Macknac this weekend with Matt's school chorus. The fun will continue to the end of the month. I don't want to overwhelm myself with all the upcoming events. I need to take them a bunch at a time.

I am off to Neverland!

"The Hobbit" and Quilt Update

Tonight was opening night of Greenville High School's production of "The Hobbit". Last Tuesday was a dress rehearsal where I took most of the pictures. I took a couple of Matt after the play as well as one of the Trolls. The show was very good with lots of good costumes and special effects. Gandalf even threw fire, and the dragon, Smaug, breathed smoke! Sarah's picture was in the program in an ad for senior pictures. The owner called me a few weeks back and asked my permission . I sell tickets at Saturday's performance and will go to the show with Jeff that night. Tomorrow I will be driving to Grand Rapids to pick up Jeff from the airport. I guess I will need to get a ride home for the kids. Sarah might be back from her double header by 9:30, which is when the show is over. I guess it should work out fine.

I spent about 3 hours with another quilter today and finished tying the quilt. It looks really nice. I have added some pictures of it as well.

Matt cut the grass for the first time this year and I cleaned out a flower bed and our 3 season room. The laundry is finally caught up, now that it is time to start all over again. There never is a loss of dirty clothes.

Saturday is another day filled with ball. Matt has a game at 9 am, and Sarah has a tournament, followed by a team get together at one of the player's homes. Thanks for your prayers, the pitcher who was hit by the ball is fine. PTL! My patient turns 4 years old on Saturday and there is a party in the afternoon. I will need to get ready for Sunday as well, Kid's Choir sings and I will be playing a lot of the service on the clavinova. In the meantime, I had better get those annoucements out! I keep saying that but it doesn't get done. It will though.

Guess that is it.. Until the weekend,

Grace

PS--Mary is still first chair cello.

Excited and Exhausted!

Sarah is home and had a wonderful time on her trip to Boston with the Village Green Show Choir from the high school Here are a few photos of the trip and see more on the photo album site. Sarah was very tired but pulled it altogether and got her work done. There was a double header today and although she didn't play she coached 1st base to a win in the 2nd game! They finally won!

Equally as exciting, our church softball team won it's first game tonight. We had a lot of good hitting, fielding and base runningby all. Both Matthew and I had at least 2 hits a piece. I am very very happy. The weather was beautiful today. I went donw to Grand Rapids twice, once in the early AM to take Jeff to the airport, then later with my patient for a Doc's appt. We ran out of gas on the way home. Luckily we were just a couple hundred yards from a gas station and a kind man from UPS, Jeff, helped us and we were back on the road within a half hour. Praise the Lord.

Mary had an orchestra banquet tonight and she was awarded most valuable sophomore by her peers. That is an honor. She ran for secretary for the orchestra next year but lost to her oppponent. She is still running for Sec of the Theatre Club. We hope to get Mary's permit to drive tomorrow. The Hobbit has a performance for the middle school and parents are invited to come and take pictures. I think I will try to make it.

I am striving to send out annoucements this week and plan Mary's party. She is going to have a baking day on her birthday with some of her friends and then a larger party when dad gets home from his trip with Matt and (the Harmonizers, mixed chorus) to Mackinac Island. We are going to tie my red white and blue quilt this week too! Matt has a baseball game in Grand Rapids tomorrow evening. I hope that #1, we find it and #2 it doesn't rain!

I am getting a bit tired so I am off to bed!

Later on Saturday....

Matthew's team won! Wait until you read the score-34-19. It was crazy. They forgot to put time limits on the game so we played 7 innings! It took nearly 4 hours. My scalp is pink eventhough it was cold..still sunny. Matt played his first game as catcher and then center field in the last 2 innings. He also had two base hits. So we hurried from the game to the HS auditorium for play practice. I picked up Mary from home first, she packed Matt a lunch.

While Jeff and I were at lunch, Sarah called in from New York City. They were on the way to Ground Zero. She still sounds very happy and full of excitement. She better sleep alot on the way home, because she has lots of homework waiting for her. She was going to take it with her, but they have so much planned that it wasn't worth all the effort.

Now I am baking brownies for our Small Group Bible study. We helped a member today with cleaning her windows and such. She was very grateful. I bought a pumpkin pie yesterday and I thought I should have some type of chocolate to take too. I practiced the piano for tomorrow. I am playing for the choir tomorrow and of course prep for Sunday School. Softball practice and concerts and laundry the list goes on!

Have a great SONday!

G

May 3, 2008 Great News!

Good Morning!

I have heard from Sarah a few times now, and she is having a wonderful time! Their concerts went well and everyone is safe. She called Thursday from the top of the Prudential building to tell us she could see Fenway Park and there was a baseball game is progress. They went whale watching yesterday and they saw them and took pictures. Today they left for New York City and will do sightseeing Ground Zero, Times Square and a Play tonight. Tomorrow they stop at Niagra Falls before arriving back in Greenville tomorrow night. Sarah heard from here friend on the softball team that one of the pitcher got hit in the face by a hit ball. She was in the ER with a concussion. Please keep her in your prayers. Also two girls quit the team. The drama continues!

Matt's first baseball game is this morning and he is already there warming up. I need to bundle up a little,since it is still just 55 degrees, I won't be moving around like he is. Both he and Mary have play practice today and tomorrow from 1-6 pm. The show is next week. Mary is dealing with an unhappy 2nd chair cellist who nit picks at everything Mary does and refuses to turn the pages which is the inside musicians job. Mary said she will memorize the music and then it won't be a problem. She receives support from many in the orchestra. She had a wedding gig at the end of the month with a few violins and a viola. She is the conctact person to schedule people. It will be good for her to earn money playing her cello.

We have small group bible study, and a garage sale today and tomorrow is confirmation, church softball practice and Jeff and Mary are going to the youth symphony concert, where one of her classmates has a cello solo. Jeff leaves Monday morning for the week. I will keep things running here and will keep you posted of all our activities.

Gotta go watch baseball! Yea!

Grace

May 1, 2008 Just a Few Words

Good Morning!

Sarah is off to Boston as of 6:20 pm last night. No word from her yet. They are supposed to arrive in Boston around 10 am.

Mary kept 1st chair after a 3-way challenge in orchestra yesterday. She is also the organizer of gigs for HS students requested by the community. She a few others will be playing for a wedding at the end of the month.

Matthew is excited about it first baseball game of the season on Sat at 9 am. He is busy with the last week of practice with the Hobbit as well.

I have started with celebration plans, still long way to go! Work is fine. No word from the application. Softball is coming up and now I keep hearing of banquets for clubs every Monday. There is just too much going on.. It is this way every May! I just take it day by day.

Jeff leaves Monday for Arizona. He has a lot going on before then, including going to the youth symphony concert with Mary on Sunday afternoon.

That is all....we'll keep you posted.

GW