a quick photo hodge podge

This is what I find when Belle awakes from her naps (and yes, she is fully dressed when she goes down).
July 5th - Fireworks on Rankin Hill Josh, Owen, & Belle awaiting their ice cream.
No matter how far you travel or how long you are gone...Some things never change.
ejk

whirlwind

Our whirlwind ride through July is nearly complete; after unpacking tommorrow yet another time this month, we will settle into a somewhat normal schedule - for at least another month or so. Its been crazy...but we wouldn't have had it any other way!

Saturday Nite Revolution fair-style went so good...hopefully we'll have a video up for you soon. I have to tell on my husband for a moment, though. So we're on our way to the fair and Aron looks over at me as serious as he can be and says, "Hun, I have to be honest...I'm diggin the mini-van. I mean, its the epitome of luxury (pause...silence) I mean, look at all these cup-holders!"

I don't know if that translates as funny as it was to me at that moment, but to see my rockin 24 year old husband coveting the mini-van ride...yeah, I never saw that one coming. But he was right...lots of cup holders, and I believe we used every one!

Hope you all have had a great week. Can't wait to catch up!

ejk

Saturday Night Revolution @ the Adams County Fair

We're heading down to Ohio tomorrow afternoon. I'm speaking/playing music at the Adams County Fair on Saturday night. The music group "Tri-Blessed" is kickin' the shin-dig off and then I'm going to speak on The Dirty Rag Revolution. If you don't know what that is, come on out and see. It's just pretty much the greatest thing ever. Then I'm going to play a few a few songs with my ole' band-mates Clint Berry and Tyler Truesdell. We're getting started at about 8pm. There's going to be iPod give-away's and all kinds of craziness. The place to be in Adams County on a Saturday night, or so I hear.

APK

L-O-V-E

God has been so good to us. So good. Beyond words. The way He pursues, the way he grasps us in His hand. The beauty He creates. Wow.

I am so thankful for the way He chooses to love us - not only in sunsets and laughter and lattes and intimate moments in His presence...but also through His children. For example, after posting that my camera broke & asking for advice of which kind to buy, Bernadette Caullie sent an email and offered us one of her extra cameras (a very nice one, I might add). Bernie didn't have to do that, but she knew we are trying to be very diligent with our money so that we can pay off all of our student loans. So she offered what she had. We were floored!

And then later in the week we posted our need for a bigger vehicle to travel home this weekend now that two bubbly tires would have to accompany us on our trip, and within 24 hrs Becky Jo & Bernie enter the scene to save the day. Both offered to allow us to use their vehicle! I mean, that kind of generosity is unheard outside the body of Christ.

Once again, we are not worthy of the love shown us...the love God pours out on us moment by moment, the love of our family lavishes so freely, the love of our brothers and sisters in Christ so generously offered. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Goodnight all.
ejk

This is a long shot...

...and it would require a bit of trust... but I'll throw it out there anyway!

So here's the scoop. On our trip home from Ohio, we discovered that 2 of the Tiburon's high performance tires (we which we purchased last summer at quite a high price)...had huge bubbles sticking out of the side. Thank the Lord they didn't blow while driving 75 miles/hr up I-75. Aron got the tires replaced today...We have the warranty & reciept, but the only way to cash in our warranty & get our money back is to return them where we bought them in Ohio.

We're going home this weekend because Aron is speaking/playing music at a youth event, but there's no way we can pack two tires, Aron's guitar/amp/musical equipment...and the baby plus luggage into our sweet little two-door tib (or the Civic for that matter).

So if any of our MI friends have a larger vehicle that they won't need from Thurs July 17 - Mon 21...we would be most appreciative. The payoff, you ask? Well, I offer you our eternal gratitude, plus a weekend with a pretty sweet sports car (as long as you can drive a stick).

Otherwise Belle & I will be holding tires on the way home (250.00 is worth it to us since aron & I are both tight & going home anyway!!)

So there's my long shot...

lots of love friends

ejk

short & sweet

So much to sum up...so little time!

We had an amazing vacation at home the past week. Aron commented last night how refreshed and loved he felt...and I would second that!

We layed poolside & relaxed, spent time with old friends and precious loved ones, and enjoyed the beauty & serenity of "the shire".

My camera broke on our trip, so I can't share any photos until I upload them onto a cd at walmart. I'm in the market for a new one...any suggestions?

And just a heads up: Aron will be speaking/playing a few of his songs at The Revolution Saturday night of the Adams County Fair...more details to come!

I work the next two days, but Aron's off, so...more to come!
ejk

We're back...

Hey everyone! We're back to our cozy abode, and we'll be sure to post soon! lots of love
ejk

and away we go

Well, we're headed south today for a week of va-ca-ti-on & time with family & friends in the homeland. We will most certainly miss you...

but don't be too sad, cause we'll probably post a few blogs while we're gone!

The 4th of July is a pretty big deal to our family.

We are most looking foward to fireworks on Rankin Hill Saturday night. A whole bunch of family (& now friends are coming too) gathers on beautiful Rankin Hill overlooking the Ohio River for a magical evening. Different family members make homemade ice cream (banana, pinapple, vanilla, cookie-dough, blackberry, mango...you name it!) & we watch the sun dip into the river & the fireflies dance with the children.

Aron & I are both very, very sentimental...so this tradition has become very dear to us. Last year, Aron told me, "I think fireworks on the hill...the magic of the whole evening...is what heaven must be like." Here's a few photos from the years:

erica & rae (aron's 1st cousin)

brian, jackie, aron, jean, & dp

alyssa & brian (aron's sis)
erica & sage (she's so little here!)

And of course, being the saps that we are, we decided that the only place to celebrate our marriage was this wonderful spot that had become so special to us. So we also had our wedding reception on this very grass.

Needless to say, we are a little excited about this weekend...now maybe you'll understand a little better why. We love you all very much!

ejk

PS...for our non-ohio friends:

The Rankin House was owned by John Rankin, a minister & abolishonist, who opened his home as the first stop on the underground railroad. Slaves would cross the Ohio River from Slave Territory (Kentucky) to Freedom Land (Ohio) and head directly up the steep hill to Rev. Rankin's safe abode. He & his many sons would guard the house with shotguns should any slave catchers attempt to climb up the hill.

Pretty cool place to celebrate our freedom and remember those who have sacrificed greatly so that we may live free.

Take One For the Team (40 days of Focus)

I've been doing pretty good with my 40 days of Focus routine. The other night, though, Erica came home with Birthday Cake ice cream. It's one of my fav's. Then she dipped a large bowl for her and Belle to share and brought it into our bedroom. I was working on the computer and Belle didn't want any ice cream, so Erica put the bowl on the bed while she went out to the living room to put a Dora DVD in for Belle.

So there we were. Just me and the ice cream. I thought, "I'll just take a bite..." So I did. But Erica took awhile. I ate the entire bowl in about 30 seconds flat. I was drinking the melted residue when I heard Erica yell from the living room, "Don't eat my ice cream!" to the crescendo of the Dora theme song: "Swiper no swiping!" Appropriate.

So I failed in the whole "eating healthy" area, but hey, I saved Erica from eating that fattening ice cream so I guess I excelled in the "loving my wife better" category. Sometimes you just gotta take one for the team.

We are not worthy!

Isabelle spent the day with Miss Bernadette yesterday while mommy worked. When I walked through the door last night, Belle grabbed her box and came running to show me her treasure. Bernadette and her lovely daughters, Hannah & Bridgette, took Belle to the mall yesterday. There's a massive "Build-a-Bear" store that Belle cannot resist. Apparantly, she went running in the store, went straight to this "kitty-tat", and held on to it the entire time. Hannah said she had to get it for her (so sweet!)

Not only this, but Bernadette sent Aron home with enough leftovers of their supper last night to feed us both & then some...what a huge blessing after working 12 hrs to come home to a yummy meal!

So this post is a HUGE thank you to Bernie, Hannah, & Bridgette for loving on us yesterday and for being so good to our daughter. Words are not enough, ladies!
ejk