Happy Fourth of July!

It has been over a month since I posted pictures. Today, Bradley and the four oldest girls are at Camp Impact for camp planning/counselor training and work. The girls will come back early next week. Bradley and my parents will drive back this evening so that Bradley can preach in the morning. I am at home catching up on laundry and since our laundry room doubles as Bradley's study, I will try to keep an eye on the computer and work on updating the blog a little today. :) I am going to keep it all in one post (if possible) with the most recent happenings at the top. The pictures from our family reunion (which we left for the next morning) will follow another time. The Musical Mission Team was here on Wednesday evening, June 24th. The Lord gave a good turn-out of people with whom we had had no earlier contact. We are thankful for the good concert and the opportunity for these guests to hear the Gospel. Fellowship with team members Danae gets a turn to hold Hannah Precious baby Dalene and Danae land in Hanover on June 23rd: What a joyful reunion! Naenae and Dani reading together The Sand Bakery and Bakers Wedding Cakes All of us (and of the church) went out at various times to stuff the 10 000 invitations we had for the MMT concert this year. Danielle was her daddy's partner for awhile. A birthday date with Doreen Doreen turns 12! Our lovely Doreen With all that is going on we combined Edwin's and Doreen's birthdays. Edwin turned 10 on the 9th. Händel's Birthhouse The Old Instrument Museum The same Psalm text as our German Song book title Doreen enjoying Hannah at our house Devon reading with the kids during a fellowship time Our guests, The Highländlers, home schoolers from Georgia supporting home schooling in Germany this summer, showed us some of the traditional German and Scottish dances they have learned. The Woodcutters The Swordsmen Scottish Tunes Always Light-footed Dustin enjoyed his turn as a swordsman. Danika as a lady from the Highlands June 9th-11th: Donia worked down at Camp Impact again. Painting and getting the kitchen walls ready for the new-to-Camp-Impact kitchen was one of her projects. June 10th was our last day of school with Mr. Rich. We are thankful for the year he invested in the lives of our three youngest children. He brought each of his students a sweet treat of Raffaelos as a good bye gift. Danielle, too, got to have "school" when Mr. Rich would read with her, or play "I Spy" with our books. So she joined us when we went out to eat together in our local German restaurant. That evening we went to visit Hannah Rosalind King in the hospital when she was two days old. Dustin and Hannah. Danika and Hannah Donovan and Hannah Danielle and Hannah The kids camped out on the floor for a few days. On that Sunday they received some glow sticks for memory work and they had lots of fun with them. Bradley and Danielle on our deck enjoying some quiet time. They were listening to the sounds around them, in particular the birds. Everyday life: doing dishes with Doreen Ready to sleep: Danika We enjoyed supper and the evening with our friends from college, Rick and Joy Fox, and their daughter Kara. Kara spent time with "I Spy" with the Danika and Danielle. Chutes and Ladders was also part of the fun. Devon practicing tricks on the trampoline one evening Over the Pentecost week-end Derek, Devon, and Donia went down to Camp Impact. On Sunday afternoon the group went on a walk. Here Devon with one of the little boys of Marc. Derek enjoyed climbing. The whole group in front of the dam located just a short drive from Camp Impact in the valley below.

Pentecost Monday

In good German tradition all the "high" church holidays (Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost) have not only the main holiday, but also the next day off. For Easter and Pentecost there is an Easter Monday and Pentecost Monday. Bradley enjoyed a sweet visit from Danielle and Danika while he was studying out on our deck. We took the opportunity for our favorite walk between the fields to the east of our village late that afternoon. "There are lots of fun tricks I can do!" Father and son having soccer fun! Puddles and Rocks seem to go hand-in-hand! Or were puddles made to jump over? At the bridge overlooking our tiny little brook: The Schrote Getting their feet wet in the cold water Pretty as a picture Sharing her flowers with Daddy My Sweetheart His flowers from Danielle Another way to have "puddle fun"! A particularly "pretty" train passing by This is the day Donovan learned how to ride his bike! Good job, Dono!!! Some new home owner dumped all the dirt that was removed to pour the foundation right at the edge of our development. The kids happily climbed to the top. Enjoying a warm rock on the edge of a pretty new garden along the way. Riding backwards works, too, especially when you don't have to pedal!

Pentecost Sunday

Late Sunday afternoon we took a walk down to the playground near our house. Richard joined us, and he and the kids visited the hide out behind the playground. The clover covered the area and looked beautiful. We only have five kids at home right now. The boys and Donia were at Camp Impact helping for the week-end. Derek stayed on for the week. The other two returned with the Matthia family on Monday. In the evening we had a real thunderstorm which Doreen enjoyed taking pictures of. The view out our front door in the middle of the rainstorm Beautiful skies after the storm

Bradley and Dr. Michael visited Leipzig

The night before Bradley and Dr. Michael drove to Leipzig, Dr. Michael treated us to a delicious supper and good fellowship. In Leipzig Goth festival days happened to be taking place while they were there. The Goths celebrate death, and morbid and scary things. In addition to the planned concert in the evening, the men got to enjoy a concert in the Thomaskirche by the Thomaner Boys' Choir.

Music Festival 2009

48 singers and 9 children attended the music festival this year. The time was spent in rehearsing, attending workshops, and enjoying time under the Word of God. Bradley took the following pictures, the latter of which were taken at the end of the week, and during the recording sessions for a camp CD, as well as a CD that will eventually be sold. Kevin leading a devotional time. Daddy, faithfully tending his camp store which is always well-loved and much-used! This year a complete canatata had been prepared for sale. Catching some sunshine and fresh air Moving the piano for the recording sessions Two days of recording Concentrated effort A little bit of humor goes a long way: Dr. Michael Sebastian and Natascha, whom we miss sorely here in Magdeburg, were able to attend the Music Festival again. This was taken on the last day during the good-byes.

My Hard-working, Thoughtful, Observant Daddy

Daddy got here late Tuesday morning, and since we had Ladies Meeting that afternoon, I left soon after dinner. Bradley had a discipleship meeting with Olaf (Michael joined him) and the boys were gone playing soccer. When I came home Daddy had been busy outside the whole time,and his final project was resetting the fence post, so the gate would close. Danielle was there with him, and Devon, who came back with me, helped him finish up.

Pictures from my Daddy

Daddy came over for the music camp and let me download his pictures from the last month. I picked out a few for the blog: Here a nice shot of the girls and Bradley. Bradley got both of our mothers beautiful roses for Mother's Day. Erik flew over with Daddy the day before camp started. Daddy--keeping in touch with home. The special lounge they get to wait in (it was a 10 hour wait!), because they came stand-by with Kirk's airline, Continental.

Best friends

Danika got to visit Helene on May 16th. That was Helene's 8th birthday. The girls always have a great time together, and at Helene's they get to explore the farm! (As always, Danika enjoyed getting some good shots while she was there!) Kay (whose birthday was earlier that week) and the new family dog, Kaya. Jesse, 5, on top of a haystack The resident ducks--Mama duck is sitting on 8 eggs, which hatched three days later.

Danielle's Birthday Date with Daddy

This long awaited day was a special time for Bradley and Danielle. Danielle turned three while Bradley was in the States, and often referred to the coming date with her daddy by saying, "When Daddy comes home...." McD's is the definite favorite for a little 3 year-old, both for the food and the playground.

Sand Delivery

We ordered some sand to refill our sandbox, and it was delivered to our driveway yesterday afternoon. The kids played in it a little while first. They then had fun helping to move it around the house. Eddie and Dustin were having fun playing soldiers. The newly filled sandbox was a great attraction! :)

Greenville Glimpses: Graduation and Mother's Day

The Dining Room Overflow Table The Kiddie Table The Graduate and Cake Baker A Special Party for a Special Graduate Yearbook Discoveries Slidepresentation on the refrigerator The Audience Last car in the parking lot after church Sunday morning Mother's Day dinner with Bradley's mother Dalene and Danae

Welcome Home, Daddy!

Today was the long awaited arrival day of Bradley. The four youngest kids and I left at 6:30 a.m. to head for Berlin. For some reason Bradley's flight was bused to the other end of the airport, and I was given wrong directions twice by airline personnel, the Lord allowed us to find each other just before Bradley was going to go into an elevator as we were coming down the steps. The kids sighted him first, :), and we had a grand reunion!!! Our trip home stretched out, too, due to the famous German "Stau". (traffic jam) A three lane highway was brought down to one lane, while the street markings were being repainted. But we can't complain. The other side was completely blocked by a serious truck accident which must have happened not long after we passed through on our way to Berlin. We thank the Lord for His safety, once again. Our welcome home sign Great to be back together again! At home Bradley unpacked and spread around his gifts for various ones. Danielle wanted to show Daddy where her "hands" were. We made the sign for Bradley two years ago, when he was gone at camp for three weeks in a row. We painted everyone's hands and printed them. The banner was perfect for this occasion, too. :)

Mother's Day in Germany

One gift was given to me yesterday...a spaded garden plot. Dustin worked hard and raked it to give it a nice finished look! I had a wonderful day with 8 of my 10 children, and the girls wrote sweet cards and letters. A delicious breakfast and later dinner, as well. Some sweet gifts (To eat and to enjoy :)) Derek was gone Friday-Saturday helping at Camp Impact, so he slipped away to the flower store around the corner after church. :) We combined the flowers and got a picture outside. A yummy red velvet cake that Donia made. :) My youngest "D-light", Danielle. The kids wanted to sing "Happy Mother's Day" to me, but Danielle couldn't figure that out. :) She stopped everyone, "No, it's Happy Birthday!" So she sang it that way for me. (The free advertisement for peanuts at the end was given by Devon. I have been advocating peanuts as a healthy snack for the last year or so. :))

Greenville Glimpse: Around Graduation

Stephanie came back to graduate. She had been in Dalene's room 2007-2008. Stephanie graduated in December, and spent the spring months in an orphanage in the Philippines. After the Commencement Concert last night Bradley and his parents Danae and Bradley The girls and my parents with Bradley Dalene, Stephanie, and Danae

82nd Commencement at BJU: We got to watch around our desk in Germany!!!!

Hot off the press today! What a blessing modern technology is. We had enjoyed nightly services from the Bible Conference in March and found out a few days ago, that they were going to be livestreaming the graduation ceremony! It was great to "be" there and hear all the testimonies, and most special of all, to see my hubby/our daddy receive his master's degree. We know how hard he worked over the years, and are proud of him and thankful to the Lord!!!! (I left most of these pictures as screen shots, with one exception :)!) The full FMA-Dalene and Danae had isle seats right where Bradley walked in and out! The graduates and faculty coming in Dr. Stephen welcoming everyone Dr. Bob III's address to the graduates The kids enjoyed recognizing students as they filed by. Here Samuel Arnold gave his testimony. We got to know Dr. Michael Moore last summer when he came over and ministered in our first German music camp. The Highlight for us: Lots of cheering going on at this time! Three more days and we will get to pick him up! We love you!