It’s’ official, we have a house of bike riders! Eliza did not have her training wheels on for long, she was determined to learn how to ride a bike. We started her on a two wheel scooter to learn to balance, then within a couple of days, Nathan had her riding on her own. Look at her go!
This weekend we also celebrated Mother’s Day. I am so thankful that God chose me to be a mom. Our children are special gifts, and they and Nathan were so sweet to celebrate me with breakfast, flowers, and sweet cards.
Church had a nice Mother’s Day sermon and gave us sunflower seeds and a sweet poem as a gift.
Benjamin had his spring strings concert, and he has enjoyed learning to play the viola this year. We are grateful for the classes he got to take twice a week in school, and proud of Benjamin’s dedication to learning a new instrument. The orchestra came a long way since the beginning of the year. Enjoy the show. Benjamin is right in the middle in the white shirt and khaki pants.
Benjamin also received his 5th grade graduation yard sign that day, and was excited to find the perfect place for it in the front yard. The year is coming to an end soon!
We are excited to celebrate Caleb’s decision to be baptized and have a new life in Christ. Caleb has been considering this decision for some time, and we praise God for the commitment he has made to walk in Christ.
We are thankful that Mark and Betty could be here to celebrate his special day.
His siblings were excited Caleb’s important day too.
The baptism was held in the beginning of the church service. We got there early to meet with Pastor Todd. He became the campus pastor when we were living overseas, and our church is blessed to have him leading the congregation.
Caleb and Pastor Todd.
Caleb did a great job reading his testimony, and my family watched online.
Here are some pictures and a video of his baptism that the church sent us
Buried with Christ
Raised to walk in newness of life!
When the church documented his baptism date, they told us that is was 12 years and 1 day later since he was dedicated at McLean Bible as a baby!
Caleb, we praise God for this most important decision you have made. We pray for your continued growth in wisdom as you begin your walk, and to know that you are never alone, and that God is always with you.
The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face to shine on you and be gracious to you;
The Lord turn his face toward you, and give you peace.
We had an exciting and full weekend, starting with celebrating my 45th and my mom’s 77th birthday on Friday - this year we turn 122 years old! It is special to share this day with my mom. It worked and had a normal day, then we ordered Thai food for take out, Nathan got my favorite cupcakes, and I received some sweet cards and gifts. That evening Mark and Betty arrived to spend the weekend with us to be here for Caleb’s baptism on Sunday - that will be another post :).
On Saturday morning our family participated in the Alvey 5k color run at Benjamin and Eliza’s school. The school had a running club for 8 weeks leading up to the race for 3-5 graders, and Benjamin enjoyed training for the race with his friends through the club, and he got lots of extra running in between soccer and runs with me. Here we are on race day morning.
3 cool kids ready to run! The glasses were part of the race packet. It was a cool and overcast morning, perfect running conditions.
Getting ready for the race to begin. Nathan walk/ran with Eliza, Caleb and I ran together, and Benjamin ran with his friends.
Eliza found a couple friends from class and walk/ran with them the whole race. Nathan said she did a great job and had a lot of fun with her friends.
Getting colored chalk thrown on them throughout the race was a highlight for the kids!
Video of Nathan and Eliza finishing strong.
Benjamin’s goal was to win the race, and that’s what he did! He was the first running Sunray to cross the finish line (a high schooler came in just ahead of him). We are proud of Benjamin for his hard work and commitment to train for this race. He had a great time, and was happy the race finished so he could go to his soccer game right afterward.
It was fun for Caleb and I to train and run together for this race. He could easily outrun me, but he likes running with me, despite my encouraging him to run ahead, which he finally did at the finish line. I’m proud of him for his commitment to train and glad he had fun at the race.
It was a lot of fun, and we will look forward to running this race hopefully each year!
After the race, we all went to Benjamin’s rainy soccer game, then Nathan and his parents took Caleb to the first day of his springboard diving class. More about that in another post. It was a fun and very active day - I think we all crashed by 8pm!
This year the schools starting giving holidays for the prominent Jewish and Muslim holidays, and this holiday was for the first Eid, which is a celebration at the end of Ramadan. Nathan took off work and had a fun couple of days with the kids. One day Caleb had a friend sleep over and Nathan took them all on a 4 mile hike and out for ice cream
They got some new flowers for the back yard.
Benjamin wanted a new haircut for his debut on Alvey in the AM, where he will be on camera with two other students for the morning school announcements. He tried out for the position in the beginning of the year, and was selected to do the announcements between the beginning of April until the end of the school year. He looks handsome with his new haircut.
Another evening we celebrated all 3 kids getting A/B honor roll for the 3rd semester at our favorite ice cream place, Swirlies.
Another weekend while Benjamin was at soccer practice, we took Caleb and Eliza on the 4 mile hike, at a nature preserve close to where we used to live in Haymarket. It’s been beautiful weather and we are enjoying being outside and active.
On April 8th, we got to observe the solar eclipse, and we had 88% eclipse of the sun. The kids wanted to stay at school for the eclipse viewing festivities, and Nathan and I were at home to watch the progression.
Caleb came home at the peak and watched for the rest of the eclipse with us. The schools passed out glasses and gave the kids a safety lesson. The middle school took the kids out to the football field and they laid in the grass to watch. Benjamin’s class went out multiple times during the eclipse for observations, and Eliza’s class went out to observe around dismissal.
It was neat to watch the coverage get more and more prominent and for the sky to get gradually dimmer. Benjamin and Eliza got home towards the end.
We all enjoyed the eclipse, and will look forward to the next one one in August 2044!
