A break

Today is the first day of a almost two week vacation. Cindy and I are off to Montana with NO kids and me with no electronics. I am taking a break from the blackberry and the pc for this period. It is going to be very interesting. I welcome the time away from work but am wondering who I am without the virtual world, of electronics. This should be a great experience.

Ethan had a fun time yesterday, Cindy bought this 3D sidewalk chalk. I thought how could that work, but it does. You wear these special glasses and the combination of the colors and these glasses, make the images rise and create the 3D effect.

Here is the man with these cool glasses

He loved the glasses so much that he wanted to wear them all the time. I am wondering what he was seeing with no side walk chalk to look at?

Ehtan and the JD gator, he has plenty of fun with this. But I think he spends more time trying to take it apart vs. driving it.

And yes Olivia was there too, she is of course wearing her grandpa's favorite onsee - Pioneer logo!

It was a fun day, short but fun.

Tyler's High School Graduation

Jaimie and Mindy Reetz came to the graduation, it was great seeing so many freinds. Mindy wanted to attend the graduation and seemed to have a great time.


Grandma Baker went to the graduation as well, and was able to stay with us for a few days surrounding the graduation.

The happy parents and Tyler.

They tried something new this year. Each student was given a rose and told to present it to a person that influenced them during these 4 years. Good move Ty, presenting to your mom was correct and a correct move.

This one was taken just before the potatoe party the day before graduation. It was a perfect weather day, and honestly the weekend in general turned out very well. As always there is a lot of prep and I want to thank Cindy for doing most of it. I was along for the ride and it was a nice time seeing old friends and just remembering old times. Thank you to all of you that were able to make it so special for Tyler.

A Noticeable Difference

I know that it has been far too long from my last post and I have probably lost any followers that I may have had, but I felt compelled to try again and this is the devotion that spoke to me this morning.

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus." Acts 4:13

There is no mistaking a life transformed by God! The disciples had been vain and fearful when Jesus enlisted them. James and John sought to outmaneuver their fellow disciples in order to gain the places of greatest honor next to Jesus (Mark 10:37). Over and over the disciples' actions showed that they did not truly undertand who Jesus was (John 6:6-9); Mark 6:49). Even after three years with Jesus, Peter was afraid to confess Christ before a young servant girl (Matt. 26:69-75). Anyone who knew these men would soon realize they were not the kind of people on which you build a worldwide kingdom. Yet something happened to them as they were with Jesus. The Holy Spirit transformed them, giving them new boldness and wisdom. Now they could perform miracles and preach fearlessly and persuasively to multitudes. Even their enemies noticed in their changed lives the same power they had witnessed in Jesus.

Sometimes we desperately want others to believe that we have changed, don't we, that we are more godly, more devoted, more like Jesus? It is not necessary, however, for those who have been truly transformed by Christ to convince others ot the difference; the change will be obvious. If you have to prove to someone that God has really changed you, He has not! Those around you will surely notice when your life has been transformed by your relationship with Jesus and how you look and act with our relationship with everyone else.

The Des Moines playhouse sponsored a luncheon with Bill Bryson, author of "The Thunderbolt Kid" a few weeks ago. It was a nice time to meet Mr. Bryson and spark interest in the upcoming world stage play premier of this great book. Book your tickets now for the show in June it will be great! By the way, I did get an autographed place mat as well.

Olivia

As reminded by my daughter, Jamie, I forgot the Olivia pictures. She was there too, but this is her natural pose at this point in her life.

Grandpa visit

Ethan in his tunnel taking aim at Grandpa

Prior to the hunting spree, he was in a good mood and I had no idea I WAS going to be the HUNTED ONE!

Ethan and his thinking FACE

Ethan's monkey face - seemed like the thing to do

Short video of GRANDPA getting gunned down in the tunnel!

It was a great morning and thank you Bethany for letting the old man hang out!