A Fun Week at VBS...

Ben helped in the pre-school department!...





Josh had fun with his buddies...

Weekend celebrations...

Celebrating Father's Day...

...at our favorite restaurant where the waiters and waitresses do line dancing

...CHEERS!!!.. to the best Dad in the world!

Happy Birthday!!


... a birthday present from MK buddies in Ukraine - Just the start of birthday celebrations for our now 12 year old! ...stay tuned...

What Ukraine Is To Me...

PEOPLE!!... Natasha, Larissa, Galyna, Nadia, Lyba, Annya, Oksanna, Alona, Prokopchuks, Talbot/KTS students, faculty and staff, Vova - his family and church, Cvet Evangeli, Elya and his family, Holly, Heidi, Hue Chon, Sheri, McDonnells, Woodens, Burketts, Sharon, Lois, Jones', SEND colleagues... I (we) just returned from a full 10 days of bliss visiting w/ all of these dear friends in Ukraine. It was bliss for me. Ben and I felt the loss of Ukraine more than ever on this visit. Ben misses the atmosphere and wholesomeness of other MKs - they really understand each other.... our trip... a slice of Heaven.

On the way back, we spent 3 days in Paris...



If you don't mind second-hand smoke, exhaust, and noise... Paris is the cultural center for you...



For me... outside of Paris - Giverny - the home of Monet's Garden... my place... and if all our friends from Ukraine were there with us and from America... it would have been absolutely heavenly. God was there in all His splendor of shapes, colors and scents.
Yes, a trip with a glimpse of Heaven.

Spring is here...

The end of basketball season...


"Husky's" Most Inspirational


"Highlander's" Best Sportsmanship


Fun at 'Family Jam'...

never too old for an Easter egg hunt

...shooting hoops.


Time to plant tomatoes...











...harvest the last of the mandarins,

...and wash windows.

Gran Fondo, "Little Italy", San Diego, Ca

Apparently in Italy, every Saturday around the country, there are 'Gran Fondo' bike races going on. This year "Little Italy", San Diego, CA started their first annual 'Gran Fondo' bike race. Guess who we were cheering for?


"Go Dad go!!!"



... 45 miles (60 kilometers) later!

You're the greatest!...

I have two great kids...
Yesterday, they scrubbed our kitchen floor, did all the laundry, shopped for dinner groceries and Ben (his idea) made us dinner! I'm not sick - just not supposed to lift heavy things yet. By the end of the day, I told them that I would treat them to a movie in the theatre - it hardly seems like an even payback - thanks guys - you're the greatest!

During...
After...

Favorite Pastimes...

Reunions with fellow missionary friends...


...a reunion with Shirley (standing far left) - from Germany. In our pre-marraige days, we all were part of a young adult group.


...tea with Esther (now in Kazakstan), Josie (now in Kiev), and Julie (now in Odessa). We were all once teammates in Kiev together.


...our special friends from Czech Republic - the Dagens



Basket- ball...
...playing for the Highland- ers


...playing for the Hawks


...watching and routing for the Lakers!