Happy 20th Birthday Garrison!

 Gregg, Baby Garrison :) and Gabriel

We love you Garrison and we are proud of you each and everyday!

Last Day of School

 Do they look a whole school year smarter?

 Do they look a whole school year older?

Bring on summer vacation!

Rodeo Day

Dwight and Cosette are headed to Rodeo Day at Mount Olive Lutheran School. There will be lots of hot dog eating, horseback riding, cow lassoing and just a Rootin' Tootin' good time! Adriane, are you jealous?

Special Olympics State Games 2011 Bozeman, MT

 This is the bus that Garrison rode to Bozeman, MT for the Special Olympics. Buses are really important to Garrison. He pretty much knows every make and model of any bus anywhere and tells me every time he sees one on the highway. I think that's what he will miss the most about high school next year, riding the school bus everyday.

 A proud boy and his medals and ribbon.

 2 Gold Medals to be exact-one for bowling and one for the softball throw.

Garrison and Tammy Grimm. She is amazing and we are so thankful for her. She is in charge of all the special athletes.  She is everything to all of the kids. Tammy Grimm Rocks!

Well Done Garrison! You always make us so proud.

Ceramics

 Grace and Art just go together. This year Grace decided to take Ceramics.

Sometimes she makes something awesome like this beautiful pitcher and gives it to ME!

Guess who's excited that Grace is taking a Jewelry class next year?

I admit it. I like country music.

I like the stories the songs tell (when they're not about drunk men & cheating women). I love a good guitar or banjo. I like the range of voices you get in the country genre. Let's face it, when you hear Willie Nelson, you know it's Willie Nelson. Sometimes those pop singers just seem to sound like one big pop singer. There is some great talent in the country music circuit. And according to Garrison, there is a big name coming someday soon. Scotty McCreery to be exact. Garrison loves to watch American Idol and Scotty is one of the last two idols standing. He's only 17 and has been compared to Garth Brooks. Now that's impressive. (more impressive that he is only 17!)  Take a listen if you dare...

Is this sincere and heartfelt or what?

"Here Cosette, I found your toy that I lost. Now you can forgive me and we can go back to our happy lives once again." ---Dwight

Dwight really LOVES honey.

In fact, he loves honey so much, I overheard him going on and on about it this morning to Cosette at breakfast. As he was eating his toast with honey on it, he said,"I love honey. Bees are so awesome. Aren't they amazing? What would we do without them?  I mean, really, think about it. Honey is the best. Thank you bees for being so generous." 

What was Cosette's reply to Dwight's beautiful honey monologue? "Mom, do cats backwash?"



Life's Not Fair! by Gregg Hein (Higher Things Magazine Summer 2008)

I found this Higher Things Magazine when I was organizing my closet this morning.
So fitting for me today.
Here's a little excerpt:

The biggest why ever asked is "Eli, Eli lama sabachthani?" In English, "My God, My God, Why have You forsaken Me?" There with His why question, Jesus draws into Himself all your why questions. Why do innocents suffer? Why is there evil? Why me? The answer to all your questions is this: "It is finished." The Righteous Son of God died. As God the Father answers with His Son on the cross and risen from the empty tomb, God is revealing His fullness while retaining His mystery. Because God is God and you are not, your fallen, finite brain will not comprehend the meaning of everything, even things you can clearly see. In the crucified Christ, the Holy Spirit comforts you with confidence in the hope that is not seen but carries you past every suffering in this world.
Even in the crucified and risen Christ, life isn't fair, but it is good and never ends.

Nothing but blue skies... Part Two

 Another trip to the Rims because that's what happens when AJ talks nonstop about how cool it was to climb the sandstone. Then the siblings want to experience it too.

 At the top!

Happy Mother's Day

I Like Moms

by Cosette Hein

I like moms.

Not just any mom

I like

Silly Moms

Lazy Moms

Funny Moms

Jumping Moms

I like moms

Moms on the roof

Moms in the bed

Moms that sing

I like

Happy Moms

Nice Moms

Sleeping Moms

Cute Moms

Not just any mom

My Mom!

Nothing but blue skies...

 Billings, MT has the Rims-rock made from sandstone.

 AJ wanted to climb every sandstone he saw along this path.

 Hi Billings, MT! And yes, that's a huge cliff just in front of us. I was glad AJ was sitting.

  Montana really is big sky country. Look at that blue, blue sky.

AJ took a photo of us.

Tosca

Grace was part of the adult chorus in Tosca. I'm very proud of her. Brava Grace!