countdown to summer

We are seriously on the countdown to summer now. I am actually not dreading tomorrow (dreading is really not the word considering I do actually like my job and my coworkers and I know that everyone can't say the same) but I am so ready for summer. We have so much planned but also have 4 weeks or so with no travels or commitments and that will be fabulous too.
May 30 we leave for a 7 day trip to South Dakota- More specifically, the Lakota Indian Reservation. A group from our church will be spending the week working on different projects there. The kids are going with us, so I am really looking forward to us all discovering that area of the county together. We will be able to see a lot of really fabulous and beautiful outdoor areas all while hopefully helping the people there with whatever we have to offer. I hope that it will be a trip that Ansley will remember. Of course, Stephen will not but it will still be a great time for us to be together.

Our 2nd mission trip is to Ukraine (most people say "the Ukraine" but Luke says that the people there do not like you to refer to their country as "the Ukraine", but rather just "Ukraine") Anyway - Jamey and I leave June 25 and will spend a week working in an orphanage outside Kiev. We are then flying to London to spend a few days sightseeing before heading home. I am so excited to be able to have this oppurtunity with a great group of people from church. But I am also struggling with the thought of leaving my kids for that long. They will be absolutely fine and happy staying with Jamey's parents, but my heart will be with them the whole time. I am already praying that God will give me a peace while I am away from them. Some very kind and generous people have helped us to be able to make this trip financially. I hope that I can do as much good inthe Ukraine as I possibly can to make me worthy of the prayers and financial donations of friends and family.

Here are a few pictures - Ancley spent the last few days of swim lessons learning to dive. She really does love to swim.

Stephen spent the time at swim lessons throwing the dive toys into the pool. I asked, "don't you want to swim with Ansley?" He replies, "No, that pool too wet."Here are the kids eating supper outside. We like to eat outside when we can - before the swarms of misquitos show up, along with the blazing hot weather. This night we all ate juicy peaches and laughed as we tried to catch the juice before is dripped all over us.


One night last week we went to see Disney on Ice. I think this picture showing Ansley's and her BFF Carson's expression says it all. They loved it! Makes me crave a trip to Disney...Jamey and I keep telling ourselves we need to wait, but it is getting harder and harder to hold off on a trip to Disney!