Prayer

Lord, make me a steward of your earth.
Let me sow crops where there is hunger,
Purify waters where they are undrinkable,
Restore seas where they are spoiled,
Cleanse air where it is fouled,
Replenish life where it is forsaken, And, overcome thirst for possessions which leave me
weakened and unquenched.

Divine Creator, grant that I may not seek to
build where your creation justly pushes me away,
live where harmony can not be sustained,
destroy that which is blessed, or
take beyond my humble needs.

For, all of Sister Mother Earth and Brother Sky are built with God’s hands,
entrusted to all of God’s children, even to those yet born, and
for all of divine creation.

When we live holy as God intends, we discover
life where there is void,
joy where there is suffering
balance where there is chaos
blessings where there is offense, and
immeasurable prosperity for all,
forever, until the end of time. Amen



Dan Grotewohl
D.O.V.E. Initiative

Adventure Race

Aaron is back in the game, and he is bringing our friends and children along with him.

We enjoyed an Adventure Race in KC this weekend.




They biked...



They ran....



They got VERY muddy...





and Abby flashed gang symbols....WHAT? REALLY? WHERE DID SHE LEARN THAT?



We were welcomed home with THIS (thanks to our biggest fans, who are going to compete with us next year!)

Spring Performances

We had a lovely May with the kids showing what they have learned this semester. Abby cried when she finished her piece, because she thought she would play they entire recital.

Andy's first time to Camp Mennoscah

Oh, the labor pains still come back periodically.....he had a wonderful time, admitted to feeling homesick and got help, and I breathed through the weekend.

Colorado Fever

Our family had a wonderful time going to Colorado. We stopped by the Bixel Cabin in Westcliffe and showed the kids around, checking in on Horn Peak and the Macey. Then we continued on to Creede, where our friends have a very cool cabin. It was "wilderness heaven." Lovely time. Thank you to friends and relations who are willing to house us in the mountains. We fell in love with it all!

something to think about...

"To find a life we can live with, to do more than earn a living and spend it, we must above all discover the good that is within us which is love, a good manifest as compassionate love for one another and as resolute determination to meet the full range of our human obligations. No one else can find that for us, because it is in the seeking that we find it. Only by rising above our fear and our pain do we recognize who we are."

Catherine M. Wallace

The perfect Mother's Day (except for missing my mother)

Sleeping in until 10:00 A.M. with Andy.
(really, this has not happened for more than a decade)

Breakfast scramble with strong coffee, accompanied by lavendar and poetry. Homeade gifts.



Practicing with all three kids....cheerfully!



An amazing picnic of salads, fried rice, and fruit.









The best Mother's Day present ever....including a terrific game of kickball on the prairie.



A glorious concert of Bach, Mozart, and Fasch.

Aaron's russian pancakes with local rhubard, sour cream, and brown sugar.

Checking in on the garden.

Cuddling with the kids.

Now, to bed with Sleepytime tea and Northern Exposure. Tonight Adam and Eve are getting married.

Thank you, Aaron, Lydia, Andy, and Abby. It was more than I could have wished for...

Newton Storm Strikers

We had Andy's last soccer game this weekend. Aaron has been coaching these 8 boys all year long, and it has been so much fun to cheer for them and celebrate with them. Aaron is a phenomenal coach, and has made a huge difference in these boys game as well as making a connection with each of them. The best part is the end when the whole team gives all the spectators a high five....no matter what the outcome!

The Graduate

We have been a family with a preschooler for 8 years, and tonight said goodbye....I wept at this first graduation of many!

Inch by Inch

I am not often inspired by public education these days, but today was different. And the timing was perfect. Just when we thought we were really losing Andy in the world of irritibility, anger, frustration, and sensory-sensitivity, his wonderful teacher invited us in for the "parent appreciation program."

He sang "inch by inch," he recited love poems to us, he THANKED US, he danced the chicken dance with his Dad, he wrote stories about us, drew pictures of us, and he laughed and laughed.

Thank you, Mrs. Dietz. Thank you for showing us this part of his life.

Bookbinders

Inspired by Mothering Magazine and "100 Books for Girls to Grow on," Lydia and I started a mother-daughter bookclub. We are called the Bookbinders, and we have thoroughly enjoyed our time together. I am hoping we start a group blog soon to share some of the books we have been reading and the activities and discussions we have enjoyed. Our most recent book, chosen by Lydia was "From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankwiler." It was one of my favorites in the fourth grade. We decided to take the group to the Wichita Art Museum for our meeting, and had a wonderful time. Lydia and I read to each other and on our own, and we have enjoyed quality conversations about all kinds of important issues related to the books we have read.....for all you Moms and Daughters out there, I really reccommend it!