Lydia Graduates High School from Black Forest Academy

Here she is with her classmates before the ceremony...

And after commencement with her diploma...

Lydia graduated with High Honors and a 4.3 GPA!  We are grateful and happy for her accomplishments. 

She is getting ready to further her studies at Taylor University in the fall. 

Here she is with some of her graduating friends (and family)....

We were so grateful to be able to make the trip and be in attendance with Johanna. 

Congratulations Lydia!

Black Forest Castle Hike with Johanna

We took a hike on Sunday after church and Lydia's graduation to a castle ruins near where we stayed.

Johanna greets her Chapel Hill grade school and current classmates of Josiah, whose principal is encouraging them to post their pictures of getting out into nature this summer.  

Germany Arrival for Lydia's Graduation

It's been about a year and half since Renee and I were able to visit our daughter's boarding school. 

So yesterday's arrival at their dorm was meaningful!

Today we will all 3 be all be able to see Lydia graduate in person.

We're so pleased to be here to mark this important achievement in learning and life. 

Thanking God for Lydia!

Josiah Turning Nine

Happy Birthday Josiah!

Here's the family party...

And here he is with friends from school...

And with his dinosaur piñata!

He's growing up good. 

Black Forest Academy Palm Dorm Fun

Lydia is coming to the last few days of her time in high school in Germany.

Here she is making memories at a swiss chocolate factory on a dorm outing.

And outside in the beauty of a Western Europe spring day. 

 

Like Heaven Indoors...

Meeting up at Opryland Resort with old friends like the Lains who served with us in Mongolia for years.

Underneath the indoor waterfall inside Opryland's Cascade Atrium.

Meeting the parents of our friend who serves in Mongolia and stuck it out through COVID.

Meeting with two friends who came from Washington state...one is going overseas with the Alliance soon. 

With our family and friends the Lees, who we serve with in Ulaanbaatar.

Inside the Opryland Hotel Atrium at night, they light it up like Old Glory.

God bless America, and let the nations be glad!

Music City Meeting!

General Council of the C&MA happens every other year, this time in Nashville, TN!

We had hottest tickets in town for the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday night.

We got dinner at the food truck out front.

And rushed in presenting our tickets to the taker: "I'm sorry those are for last night." Ugh!

But fortunately we got back to our nice room in time to catch the show on TV.

Can you name this 30 year old singer with a string of #1 hits on the radio these days?

Mothers of Preschoolers Mongolia

Renee helping lead MOPS for Cornerstone Church of All Nations virtually via Zoom.  

They had their last meeting in May,  and our hoping to reunite in person in the fall.

Mongolia in Running for Olympic 3 on 3 Basketball!

Pretty cool to see Mongolians holding their own against European and World Olympic Teams:

https://www.facebook.com/FIBA3x3/videos/304626534455446/ 

Awards Season at End of School Year

Clara and Josiah received major awards at the end of their school year.

Josiah got the "David award for Christian Lifestyle" 

and the Art Award for outstanding effort and performance in 3rd grade.

Clara was voted by her 7th grade peers in Bible class to receive this special character award based on 

1 Tim 4:12:

"Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity."

Boarding School Not Boring

Lydia and Johanna got to go to the ropes course again recently in the Black Forest!

Lydia meets and eats with dorm sisters...

These scenes are a silver lining to all the shut downs and remote learning they had to do this year.  Missing senior trip to Rome was a particular downer for Lydia, but so glad she got to complete her senior year with her friends and will be graduating soon!

Weekly Update

Connecting with Lydia and Johanna in Germany on Saturday via video.

Playing train board game on Sunday after church.

Morning mist over nearby pond.

Another May birthday, this one for Aunt Kristin!

Maggie Home from First Year of College!

We were so excited to welcome her home...

after her freshman year at Wheaton.  She's now a sophomore!

Happy Birthday to Renee

At her folks' home in Ohio...

Fun for the whole family...

God bless you!

Cuyahoga River Gorge Cave Hike

Yesterday, Renee had the idea to take a hike.  So on our way to pick up Clara from a birthday party in Cuyahoga Falls, we visited this cool park, with a trail that leads this historic cave. 

The view from the cave looks out at the falls, barely visible through thee trees on the left.

This plaque marks some of Ohio's earliest history of settlers and tells the story of contact with Native Americans.  

Here's a closer look at the falls coming out of the reservoir created by the gorge.

It was about 80 degrees, a beautiful day for a great hike!

Cousin Judah Birthday

Being back from Mongolia means unexpected blessings of being here for family gatherings.

With parents at Grandpa and Grandma's house...

11 years ago we were also here for his original day of birth.

Happy Birthday Judah!

Dorm Work Day

Lydia and Johanna participated (semi-willingly) in a work day around the dorm last weekend.

Looks like they got some rewards for their labors in the process.

Yard work; fun when you're done.