Summertime Thursdays

We've been going to River Run apartments in Elkhart with LifeLine & FBC to cook out, play with the kids, and develop relationships with the residents. 97% of the residents are single parent households and it's subsidised. Several churches have been participating and I've been taking pictures at each event.

I've been printing out 4x6 prints and taking them to the kids. They get such a kick out of that! Last week, one of the pastors asked if I had posted pictures somewhere online so that they could show their congregation. I've been so busy, I hadn't even really thought about it so the other night, I created a Shutterfly share site. If you want to see some really sweet, funny kids take a look here.

Here is Joey with a new friend!(That's Moe-Moe)...

Joey Jump Rope for Heart

Joey jump roped for the American Heart Association during gym the other day. Obviously we need to work on this. It's pretty funny.

Korean Culture Festival

I have a friend that adopted 2 Korean children. Their names are Jon & Caty. She also has a little boy named Andy from Hong Kong. They are all such special, fantastic kids.
Jon, Andy & Jane (Mom) have been taking Korean language classes up in Kalamazoo. She invited us to a Korean Culture Festival that they were having at the SDA Korean church. Of course, Joey didn't want to go up. He (a)doesn't like Korean food (or rice, he's not my child!), and (b)doesn't like anything Korean? After we had told him that the Knisely's were going to be there, he agreed to go with us (like he had any choice).
Anyway, what a wonderful & blessed time had by all. There were some Korean War veterans that were recognized by the Pastor of the church. It's amazing how emotional they still get when thanking the American soldiers for playing such a huge part in helping the Korean people in the war. For the beginning presentation, they had dancers and a Tae Kwon Do exhibition. Also, a delightful young lady played Arirung (sp?) on the flute. There were tables set up all around the hall with Korean games, food demonstrations, traditional clothing to try on (for photo ops) and some gentlemen that wrote your name on paper in Korean. Lastly, there was a mountain of traditional Korean food. Of course, I ate my weight in kimbop & chopchae. The only disappointment was it looked like the kimchee had been washed and was not hot? I think they did it for all of the people that weren't accustomed to kimchee. I say, BRING IT ON!

Here is Jon Knisely giving his speech. Good job, Jon!




I posted some pictures here.

pictures from the Florida trip

Warning, there are a bunch of pictures here so make sure you have enough time to see them all. I'm pretty sure that everyone that I sent it to has broadband. Enjoy!
Christmas 2008

Joey"isms"

This is as good place as any to jot these down.

Last P/T conference, Joey's teacher said that she wanted to tell me something. Of course, I'm like, "OH NO, what did he do now?". Turns out they had a really bad day with the kids being really rowdy. She called a class meeting and asked them what they should do about it. Joey raised his hand and said, "we should pray". She said she was really taken aback and told him that "for those of us that pray, that's a really good idea!". Then he said that all the kids should learn the fruit of the spirit and proceeded to recite Galations 5:22. She told him that those were all good things and that they were life skills that they were learning in class. Go figure, my little Moses.

Last week, Joe was grilling Joey on what to do if someone offered him drugs (you know how Joe is) or if a bully should pick on him. Joey told him that bullies aren't allowed at their school. They have a No Bully policy. Then he told us that they EXECUTE bullies at Jefferson. When we started laughing, he stopped and said that it was something like that. I said, "You mean, EXPELLED?" He said, "Yeh, whatever". I guess executed sounded better. I want to send the principal an email that his bully policy was a little "harsh".

Finally, Sunday night after church, we were asking Joey what his lesson had been about in Sunday school. We got the, "I dunno". Then a couple minutes later, he said, "I remember now. It was about Guidion. And how he defeated the MENNONITES. Once again, I couldn't help myself and busted out laughing. Joe asked him if maybe it was the Isrealites? Joey said no, he was sure it was the mennonites.

Man, I just hate it that he's growning up.....

2008 Florida trip

Another trip to Florida. I wasn't crazy about going and really don't know what has gotten into Joe. This is totally not like him. Anyway, God smiled on us and the weather was gorgeous. I learned that you can get a sunburn in December in Florida!

We had a week's pass to Universal so we went every evening except for Saturday & the Tuesday before we left. We had a really good time. Best of all was the movie that Joe got to be in here (make sure you look real close at the first group of people in the subway car):

Anyway, as soon as I have the pics up on Shutterfly, I'll post here.

On another note, our Big Boy Isaiah is walking now! You can see him here.