School Days

I didn't participate in Joyce's Wednesday Hodgepodge yesterday, but one of her questions was about back to school traditions. It was very timely for me, since yesterday was the actual first day of school here in our town.

The first day of school was always an exciting time. As a child, I was anxious to meet my new teacher, see all my friends, and experience the newness of the next grade level. I remember getting new school shoes, and the fun of new school supplies.

With our own children, there were some years that we had a campout out by the barn to mark the end of summer, and a couple of times we rented a cabin for a long weekend just before the start of school. It was exciting to take them for the registration day to find out who their teachers would be, and it was fun to take those school supply lists to the store to get everything they needed (not so much for for the checkbook, though!).

Of course, we always took a picture on the first day of school. Well, we tried to, anyway. I think it would be safe to say that some years it was actually a second (or third) day of school picture. Getting everyone up and showered and dressed and fed and hair combed and teeth brushed and shoes on and backpacks and lunch money with smiles on their faces in time for the school bus was, well, sometimes challenging. :)

I think this photo was probably 1994. And yes, we even matched for the first day of school. Adam was out to wave goodbye to the big kids, since preschool would not start for a couple of weeks.

I love this picture of Jamalyn's little girl Margaret taken on Tuesday. Looks like she will be just fine on her first day of kindergarten. Just as I would have predicted. Truly a classic Margaret photo.

Grandson Matthew was also ready and set for his first day of second grade at his new school.

And he even got to ride the bus home to our house yesterday. That brought back lots of memories!

When we asked him about his day, he answered, "Just a regular first day of school." Oh the wisdom of a second grader!

Wet, Wild, and Whoopie!

My friend Jill posted a recipe for Whoopie Pies that has been a tradition in her family for many years. I thought they sounded so good, but being the not-so-competent cook that I am, I was a little apprehensive about trying them. So when I found this Whoopie Pie Kit, I thought it was just what I needed!

The batter was easily mixed, dropped by teaspoonfuls onto the cookie sheet, and baked.

The icing came in a little packet that you squeezed onto each pie and spread.

Top it with another cookie, and there you have it, Whoopie Pies.
We did discuss the origin of Whoopie Pie, and we thought it was a southern thing. I learned, however, when I looked it up, that both Pennsylvania and Maine claim to be the birthplace of the Whoopie Pie. It is the official state treat of Maine. In Pennsylvania, they are said to have come from the Amish and German culture. When Amish women packed them in their husbands' lunch boxes, the farmers would shout "Whoopie!" when they found the treats.

Great-nephew, Connor, thought they made an excellent after swimming snack.

Mmmmm......

Then he took a little break in the gravel pile, and wondered why his great-aunt Susan kept taking his picture.

And speaking of swimming, the cousins from Texas enjoyed some pool time during their visit to Indiana. Ethan watches Matthew master the slide.

Connor was pushing his "Connor boat."

Ethan on the slide.

Matthew's turn again.

Darci and Haleigh watch.

Ethan tries the diving board. With hat and flippers, of course.

Matthew takes aim.

And jumps!

More jumping.

Water break.

Noelle was busy with a mermaid game.

And the boys took a little break on the rafts.

Connor is worn out from swimming. And still wondering about the crazy woman with the camera.

After a fun family dinner, the kids had fun in the gravel pile, and on the swingset.

The big kids even got in on the action. Or should I say old folks? Yes, that's Jim.

Taking a turn on the slide.

And we also enjoyed a beautiful sunset over the farm.

Thankful for family, and time shared together.

Phone Photo Friday

Another fun and busy week, including visitors from North Carolina and Texas!

Sleeping pup ~ Fun with iPod Touch ~ Heading home to NC

Lime snack ~ Rain is a good thing ~ Close enough

Cousin love ~ And more cousin love ~ Perfect summer day

Linking up with Dawn at My Home Sweet Home.

Just Married

The cake.

The punch.

The bench.

The gift.

The poster.

The happy couple, back from their wedding trip, and continuing the celebration with a reception at church.

That's our pastor, Jimmy, and his wife, Mary Beth, receiving a love gift from our congregation.

Jim did the presentation, since he's currently our Lay Leader.

We were blessed to have Mary Beth's participation in our worship service that morning.

That won't happen often, since she's a pastor in Bloomington.

In addition to a monetary gift, they were given a framed print.

It is a picture of the cathedral in Jackson Square, down in the French Quarter in New Orleans. 

It was the site of their engagement on New Year's Eve.

And then, because they're pastors, they took the opportunity to say a few words. :)

First Jimmy...

and then Mary Beth.

Of course, we can't celebrate a marriage without cake!

They even had a little help with the cutting.

And they sweetly shared cake...

and a kiss.

It was great to celebrate with our church family, enjoying the connection of community.

We are so blessed to have Jimmy and Mary Beth as part of our church family.

May we continue to grow together in community, learning from one another, 

and reaching out to bless others as we have been blessed.

In Pastor Jimmy's Wednesday Welcome this week, he said,

"I hope we will remember what a grace God has placed within our hands and hearts

in giving us the power of extending blessing."

And as he often does, he shared a bit of poetry. 

This is from a poem by Marge Piercy entitled, "The Art of Blessing  the Day."

But the discipline of blessings is to taste

each moment, the bitter, the sour, the sweet

and the salty, and be glad for what does not hurt.

Attention is love, what we must give

children, mothers, fathers, pets,

our friends, the news, the woes of others.

What we want to change we curse and then

pick up a tool. Bless whatever you can

with eyes and hands and tongue. If you

can't bless it, get ready to make it new.