I can't stop lovin' you...I'll always be a mom

I decided it was time for some good old home movies. These are some of the oldest that we own, so of course very priceless.(but I do have some when I was a kid!) Gram, Pop, Debbie are all gone. And the rest of us are much, much older!
Dan and Seth and Pop jogging at Rehoboth. Tom and Pop reading on the screened-in patio. Dan's 3rd birthday party. (watch when I accidentally bonk him in the head with my purse!) Seth's 2nd birthday party.(He works so hard to blow out the candle and then I light them again. Shoot me!) My favorite bit...Seth is opening his birthday present. The suspense is killing him. "What could it be? What could it be?" Everyone is breathless as they look on.
Oh...boy....a T-shirt. Gee thanks. That's exciting....
I guess you could compare that to getting socks and underwear for Christmas. Just doesn't do the job, if you know what I mean!!!
The other really cute part was when Cathy, Debbie and Dan go to collect flowers. Cathy and Debbie pick beautiful yellow daffodils. Dan thinks a stick is much better. And we wonder where Zane gets his "manhood"!
Oh, and when the horse goes crazy...does anyone think to worry about Dan???? Geez kid, how in the world did you ever survive us???
If it's too long for you, then so be it, I love every second of it.

Dull, dull, dull and loving it

Just to warn you, there is not much happening on this side of the pond. Tom goes to work, Steve goes to work, and I go to yoga and tennis. And yes, I feel guilty. I read in the afternoons and find it a real pain to fix dinner. Sometimes I don't. Oh, I hope they don't fire me, because this is a great job!
Now you young mothers, don't despair. You beat your brains out for 31 years or so, and you earn this lifestyle. It's totally worth it.
Mind you, in Belgium they totally shut down in the summer. Nobody expects you to visit teach till Fall. I handed over my Seminary materials, and as yet I don't have another calling. So church is a breeze (Ok, they asked me to sub on the organ till I leave in August, but I can handle that). The house stays clean for so long I don't even have cleaning help anymore. (Of course, maybe I'm just getting used to more dust and grime!) Everyone has left for the summer so there are no luncheons, or service projects, or activities to attend.
So don't expect any news on my blog. There just isn't any! Ahhh, I wonder which book I should start? Or should I really work on my family history? Oh, and I mustn't forget my hair appointment this afternoon. I have officially become dead dog lazy!
I can hear you young mother's cringe from here.....hang in there! Retirement comes!

Free shutterfly book

Did you guys get the message that you can get a free shutterfly book? I got one, and I checked Nicole's account, and she got one. All you have to pay is postage. Hope you all get one too!

GOOD LUCK SETH!

After 5 weeks of 10 hours/day, 6days/week, my guess is that you will pass with flying colors. I'll be thinking about you all day!

Sushi Cooking Class

We had a ward social and Leolina fixed divine sushi. She is moving to Spain so we had to have an emergency class at my house.
Leolina claimed it was "sooo easy" but let me tell you, my head is spinning and I highly doubt that I will ever make it again....well maybe, but only because it is so delicious.

Father's Day

We had the Packers for my birthday, Steve's graduation and Father's Day!

Colie updated with pictures

Well, the song isn't really the one I would have liked, but oh well, it talks a lot about glory and hallelujah and has some great banjo music. "To a land where joy will never end" and "God's celestial shore"....just pretend it's about dying to this earthly vanity and finding the joy in missionary work! Gotta work with me here.
These are of course from the MTC. When she sends me the ones from the field I'll do another update. It's really nice that she can write all of us with one email, and I know that you all are keeping in touch with her, so you all get a good mark!

He graduated!

So there was no pulling him from the line to say he wasn't graduating. AND inside of his folder there is an actual diploma. Funny, when we went through the 'reception line' after graduation, Steve hugged me and said, "I think you are more relieved than I am!" I think he is right. Now I can just transfer my worries to college. A much more expensive proposition! He got to carry in the Belgian flag because he was born here, and although Elizabeth McVicker was also born here, he was the only one to go to BAS from K-12. It was a very personal, individual operation. The principal said something about each student. As did the Valedictorian. You can pull that off when there is only 20 graduating! Oh, the Salutorian was from Albania! Now that should make them pretty humble! It was a nice event, being in the town hall on the Grand Place. I'm glad everyone had the opportunity to go to BAS....even Dan and Natalie now admit it wasn't as bad as they once thought. Steve had a pretty cool class...they are in sunny Spain as I type this. Having a grand time I'm sure.
Boy, my blogs will get pretty boring when it's just Tom and I. You'll all have to be very patient with me!

Hold onto your seats....

This is unbelievable. It was 1975 we think...you have all seen the movie footage, but Tom just received by email a digitalized copy of a recording of Devil's Track. Granted, it was someone who stuck a microphone up to the band, and it was in poor condition, but one of the band members actually got it digitalized. Tom really doesn't want this on the blog, but hey, if Noel can share Natalie's prom dates, I can share my husband's rock and roll band days, right??? So here is one of the songs, sung by Tom/Dad/Pop....it's a real recording of Devil's track!

Senior Prom...Steve & Emily

They had a great time! Didn't come home until 4am!

Sad News

I hope this is appropriate for the blog. Could I ask all of you girls to pass this information to your husbands?
I just got an email from Joe Jensen. His dear wife, Cheryl passed away today. She had been battling cancer for 2 and 1/2 years.
They were the great couple who bailed Jake and Mel out of their scrape in NY when they discovered their apartment contract was a hoax. As far as I know, Jake and Mel are the only ones to visit them in NY!
Cheryl served as RS pres when Tom was Bishop. She has a heart of gold. I loved her down to earth personality. My kind of person.
We all know we only have a short time on this earth. It still doesn't make it easier to say good-bye to a friend, does it?

Senior Dance ...it's that time of year

Again, it is Senior Dance time of year. This HAS to be the last one. I enjoyed working with the kids, they were a great bunch. Footloose has a great message for Seniors. They are soooo done with school. I know they realize this is only the beginning of more studying, but do they really know it...of course not! Only in the experience do they know what is involved in becoming independent and employable!
So for all BAS kids that I helped with their Senior dance. The era has ended. Someone else will have to take the reins...
Of course my favorite years were when I had my own child in the dance. I loved getting acquainted with the kids of their respective grades in a different arena of life. I mean, how fun is it to see Age dance? Or Jerry? JT? Shauvan? All of Natalie's class in their prom dresses and doing it again on their Senior trip?
Well, lots of good memories anyway.