It is still summer!

I'm trying to remember that it is still summer even though school has started! In between rains this afternoon, I took the boys swimming. Our hot weather has finally come and we need to enjoy it because before we know it, it will be cold!

We had some friends from college stop by for a short visit this week. They live in Boston and were driving home from Chicago. We hadn't seen each other in almost 10 years. It was so fun catching up and sharing our ministry lives (they too are in full-time pastoral ministry). The kids had a ball playing together as if they had known each other forever.

I love how kids make friends so easily!

Above are the moms and dads and below are the handful of kids, minus my two oldest.
Can you believe they have 5 boys also but one GIRL in the middle. When I told the boys who was coming Owen said, "Oh man...they beat us!" I didn't know we were in a competition!

I was able to capture this dragonfly with my little camera. Not bad!

We've been busy picking green beans from our garden out back. So far I've canned 3 quarts and frozen 6. Plus we have eaten them at several meals. For the size of the garden, I'd say that's pretty good. And we have more coming!

And They're Off!

Our first morning went well, as expected. I'm sure it will wear off sometime soon! I think they were awake before their alarm clock went off. I am praying for a great first day!

I'm Back!

When we were in Minnesota our computer crashed and so we have been without a personal computer for a couple of weeks. I had Scott's laptop in the evenings to check e-mail but didn't really want to save pictures on it...therefore, I have not taken many

and have not posted in a while!

The last 2 weeks we have basically tried to enjoy the rest of our summer as much as possible! We have decided to send Reis and Hudson to our Christian school this next year and they begin tomorrow! It has come so fast and I am not ready to hand them over! I feel like there is so much work to be done on their hearts and although they will be attending an incredible school that really focuses on their character, I do not look forward to only being with them for a few short hours each day. On the other hand, I do look forward to spending more quality time with Chapman and Owen, teaching them each day and of course Davis learning right beside them:) Ultimately God is in control and we trust him with each of their lives!

My sister Karla came for a visit last week. I think it was the longest visit ever but Jack did the best ever! We were able to snap a picture, which is really hard to pin him down:)

Here are 6 of the 8 grand boys on the Craiger side.