16th Anniversary

Mike and I are getting ready to leave town to celebrate our 16th Wedding Anniversary. Someone kindly asked me the other day if we were 12 when we married. . . The same day I was called blonde. Now that's funny!

We are headed down to LA and then we're taking a 4 day cruise to Mexico. I was about to say, "Just the two of us!" but the truth is we will be joined by Mike's folks. Okay, now it may sound odd to say that we are celebrating our wedding anniversary with our in-laws (I'm a therapist- I know how it sounds) but the truth is we do enjoy traveling with others and they offered to join us. I made sure we had separate rooms and we pledged to give each other lots of space. I figure Betty and I can go shopping if Mike and his Dad decide they need to do something manly. Like shop for golf supplies. Or shop for shoes. Or shop. (Mike's dad is a biiiigggg shopper!)

Many friends and family members have come together to make this possible for us. Finding someone to keep 5 kids for a week can be quite a challenge. I even bought trip insurance just in case. . . I am so grateful to Katie, Donna, Stacie, Amanda, and my emergency back-up Randi! If ever I heard a good reason for small families it's this: Getting out of town if tough with more than 2.5 kids.

16 years, I must say, is something to be proud of. I am proud to say we have fought long and hard to develop a strong marriage- one with it's ups and downs, with it's strengths and weaknesses, with it's dignity and depravity. Celebrating at this point feels well earned, after a year of lots of transitions and hard questions. I don't suppose we're celebrating the fact that now we'll never have hard moments again as much as we are celebrating the fact that all meaningful relationships are made up of hard moments and of a willingness to enter into hard moments rather than flee or deny the difficulties.

With that said, I plan on fleeing for at least 4 days on a cruise ship bound to Mexico!

Armed Forces Day

We took the kids out to Ft. Lewis today for an Armed Forces Day Celebration. It was great to see the families show up and all of the great memorabilia from the past. As a homeschool mother, I was awfully proud that my 10 year old could identify the Allies in WWII! How many adults you know can even do that! (For that matter- I heard that a majority of Americans cannot identify our Vice President today- a majority!)

It was super to be there, but also an odd blast from the past. Mike and I met when he was a soldier at Ft. Lewis and so some of our old dating stomping grounds are on base and in Tacoma where the base is located. Before that even, my best friend when I was in high school and I spent too much time on and near base with a handful of friends who were either active duty or people who still hung out with active duty soldiers. ( We really weren't those kinds of girls!)

And then, there were two years I spent on base in Great Britain, one year in England and one in Scotland. My base in England, High Wycombe at Bushy Hall is closing for good this week. My school is shutting down and it's a sad thing to know the place I graduated is now standing vacant. Alas, the American presence in Post World War II Europe is diminshing as we establish presence in the Middle East.

I am forever grateful for my time in and around the US Military. It was a stable source for my life in the midst of certain instability and chaos. I am more deeply grateful for the servicemen and women of present and past who honor us with their service and commitment. My ex-Ranger husband makes me proud, my Reserve Coast Guard brother-in-law makes me proud; all of you who have put time into service make me proud. Thank you for your service.

Phoebe Jane

This beautiful baby girl is Phoebe-Jane Elizabeth Allred. A big name for a teeny-tiny, itsty-bitsy girl.

My sister Randi, 4 Boy Mama as she is otherwise known, gave birth to this delightful pink bundle of feminine characteristics May 14th at 4:44 am. Barely 6 pounds, 18 inches long, she came out howling and woke up her startled brothers.

They were startled not only to be awoken at 4:44am, but more specifically to be awoken by a GIRL! They were all pulling for boy number 5, but they quickly got over the shock and welcomed Phoebe Jane.

Now if only Chad could get over the shock!

Welcome sweet baby! You help us all remember what this life is all about: Children, family, siblings, the beauty and miralle of God's created order that just keeps on creating. Praise His name for this beautiful addition to our family. (We're up to 10 now between Randi and I! Add Cousin Stacie and we make 14! We need a bus. And to win the lottery.)

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Daffodil Season!

This time of year in Washington is wet and windy, with a few, random day of glorious sunshine and warm breezes.

One thing you need to know about living in Seattle: Take advantage of the nice days. They don't come often in the spring and if you don't get out and play on the dry days, you just might grow mold spots.

The rain, however, gives birth to some glorious scenery. Right now, the daffodils are beginning to bloom in my yard, and the tulips are also pushing their way up. This time of year always makes me think of my first job as a teenager when I worked in the daffodil fields in Puyallup.

It seemed like such a romantic job! Picking flowers in the spring sunshine! What a perfect job for after school and on weekends!

Little did I know what back breaking work it was. They were days filled with standing in mud puddles up to my shins, rain running down my plastic raincoat filling my rubber boots with water. The rows of daffodils seemed endless and the breaks spent in a dripping shack on the side of the fields were not much of an improvement.

The girls all worked in a rows next to each other, competing to see who could finish first. The trick was, if you worked too fast, everyone was angry with you, but if you worked too slow, others had to help finish up your work. A lose lose situation. I figured since I was fast with my hands, I may as well be one of the workers who helped the others finish up, and at least gain the gratitude of those I helped, along with the recognition of those in charge. This resulted in me being hired to come back for tulip season (a little less rainy) and then iris season (getting warm!) and then bulb cleaning at the end of the summer (awfully hot, dusty, and dirty). Eventually I was offered a job working in the packing barns, loading and sorting the flowers to be shipped around the world. This was a definite step up, as we could listen to the radio and the owners occasionally brought Big Mac's for everyone at the end of a shift. The part I liked best about this was watching the others girls head out to the fields: I was not gloating, mind you, I was just truly grateful not to be joining them!

I'm glad I had this job. I like the stories that grow out of it and I still have some fun memories of working in the fields with the other girls on nice days. I love tulips and daffodils to this day, although at the time I thought I'd be happy to neve see another flower!

What I like most about it, though, is that I had to work hard. I had to use my hands and my body to get something done that others just decided was too much effort. I learned to enjoy the challenge of it and to be proud that I could do it well. I don't know that my girls will be working at 15, and definately not to provide the basics that my parents would not, but I want them to have something like this in their adolescence. Something that they think they cannot do, but discover that the can. Something that is not fun, easy, or entertaining, yet something that gives them a sense of self, and a sense of pride in their ability to work.

Binge and Purge

Snow in Seattle

Santa Chloe

You may noticed that I blog in fits and starts. . . When I have the time I try to catch up on everything that is going on in our lives, and then I get swallowed up in busy-ness again!

We spent Christmas in So. Cal. with Mike's folks and had a great time! Well, the kids and Mike hade a great time: I had over 2000 pages of assignments to read and grade in the two weeks between classes. I came home with my work completed and a serious sore neck. Everyone else come home with a suntan after spending every spare minute at the beach.

In January, Mike's mom, Betty came up to stay with the kids for a week while Mike and I went to the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. We had an amazing time, working this year as International Hosts. We welcomed and registered particpants at the event from all over the world. 160 nations were represented and I think Mike personally met them each. Twice.

The whole family went to an Alpha Course Retreat a few weeks ago. A friend of ours runs the Alpha program at Westminster Church in Bellevue. He knew we weren't doing an Alpha Course at our church this semester, so he invited us to join his. It is a great opportunity to meet new people, have great conversation, a ready made meal and free babysitting! What else could you ask for! The retreat was a great chance to get away and connect with people who are seeking God and seeking more of God. If you've never been to an Alpha Course or if your church doesn't offer one, check it out online because it's a trememdous resource both for those with questions about Christianity as well as for those who've been in church for a long time but who are looking for a chance to be invovled in a great outreach ministry.

We got back to the homeschool gring and then all the kids got hit by the flu two weeks ago. Just when I'd think we we're out of the woods, another kids would spike a fever in the middle of the night! Every once in a while I begin to wonder if the world outside to my doors actually exists or has it all disappeared in the two weeks I've been inside? Cabin-fever, you think?

Mike is officially on the job hunt. He's decided not to seek the Senior Pastor position at our current church, and so it seems the time has come to move on. Any leads would be welcome!

I have enough of my mother in me that the thought of galavanting across the country sounds fun- but enough of my own galavanting experience in childhood to long for a permanent place to settle down and grow some roots. We're hoping God will open up something in the area that we can truly be passionate about.

Well, that's the update! I hope all of you are enjoying your spring, crazy weather and all. Summer is coming soon- the best time to visit the Northwest!

Mike and Dena sitting in a tree. . . .

(okay, clearly I don't know how to download pictures. . . I did not mean to get all these duplicates, but I can't seem to get rid of them either! Bear with me.)

We had family photos taken recently. 5 kids and photo shoots do not go well together. And yet, we have the most amazing photographer (www.corbinphotography.com) and he makes even 5 wild kids and two crazed parents look good!

We make fun of my sister Amanda and her husband Ben because they always take these "glamor shots" of themselves. Wherever they are, Bothell, Spokane, Rome, or Venice, all their pictures look the same: intense, staring deeply into each others eyes, alone in a crowd and all that mumbo jumbo.

So, we could not resist the opportunity to mock them. Just a little. We told our photographer, "Hey, let's do a Ben and Amanda shot!" and this is what we came up with. Howerver, no matter how you slice it, we're just not as cool as they are. It might have something to do with the 10 years difference, but even when we were 25 we were not as cool as they are. That's okay, they'll never be as encumbered by debt and surrounded by kids as we are! Ha ha! Just let them try and catch up!

I have a handsome husband and the most beautiful kids you've ever seen (except your own, of course). I count myself lucky, vain, but lucky.

www.teamlanghans.blogspot.com to see more of the Amazing Amanda and the Beneficent Ben

Halloween/Harvest/Fall Celebration

Well, I don't care what you call it, our family really enjoys it. We started out 10 years ago with the attitude of "Oh no! Not the evils of Halloween!" Well, we soon got over it and started down the slippery slope of moral demise.

Sasha, pictured here, was aiming for "Mexican." I told her that was not politically correct and so she revised it to "South American Peasant Woman." I think she looks more like Cher.

Gabriel is my cabellero. Sasha did his make-up and I'm darned impressed.

Lily is an amazing pirate. The Dred Pirate Roberts be warned!
Chloe is a clown. 'Nough said.

Isaac refused to dress up, but that did not keep him from getting handfuls of candy when we went trick-or-treating. I think his "4 year old boy" costume was appreciated by all.

We went trick-or-treating in Seatac (the town, not the airport) and our group of 13 (!) made quite a parade. Randi and Chad, Mike and I, and all 9 kids certainly stopped traffic.

The kids all had a slight cold so we skipped the AWANA Harvest party, which was a good thing after all, since they only allow the kids to dress up as Bible characters. We worked long and hard to figure out whether any pirates, clowns, cowboys, or Mexicans showed up in the Bible. We tried, really we did.

Instead we had a party over at Randi's house and it turned out great. The kids all got really creative and planned games, contests, and even prizes. They played "Pin the wing on the airplane", "Fishing" (a clothespin attached to a string and stick) and bobbed for apples. Micah, who just turned 12, said it was the best Halloween ever. You just know you've done something right when the 12 year old enjoys his younger siblings and cousins enough to say that! Good job, Randi and Chad.

So, whether you celebrate Harvest of Halloween, we hope your holiday was as blessed as ours was. I've come to believe that God can handle Halloween, and just might enjoy the costumes as much as I do!

All About Me

Well, I have tons to say about the kids, as always, but I wanted to add some thoughts of my own this time.

First, the news: I had laser eye surgery two weeks ago and I love it! I have been wearing glasses for about 15 years full-time now, and it is incredible to not need them anymore! I probably don't look smart now, but I'm willing to risk being thought dumb and cute.

I am supposed to be grading the 126 papers sitting on my desk right now, but instead I am checking email, writing old friends, and blogging. A homeschooling mother of five's work is never done!

So here is what's on my mind: Forgiveness is a beautiful thing. I have group of friends (family acutally) who get together a couple times a month to share our lives and what Jesus is doing in our hearts. Somehow the topic of forgiveness came up. (Actually, I know how the topic came up but it's not relevant to the story. And it's none of your business.) But the point is, I shared how I had recently experienced forgiveness for something that has been on my heart for over 15 years. I've been ashamed and embarassed about something I said and did to someone I cared about, and for all this time I've felt sick everytime I've thought of it. 15 years is a long time to still get yucky butterflies in your stomach when you think of something.

I guess what surprised me about this experience, besides the surprise of getting in touch with a long lost friend, is how utterly giddy and light-hearted I have felt ever since. I am truly wondering if I have ever experienced forgiveness before, because this feeling is new.

I know that I have certainly needed and received God's forgiveness, and my husband extends his forgiveness daily it sometimes seems. But to hold onto something for that long, to feel sorrow and shame and all around stupidity for something and not have it go away, and then suddenly, to have it lift- this really is a taste of eternity. This is God's goodness, this is his touch. He lifts shame, not through denial but through being seen. He extends grace, not in response to our hard work to set things right, but randomly, out of the blue, and with no strings attached.

So, in addition to seeing more clearly, I also see more clearly. (Get it? Laser eye surgery, new understanding of forgiveness. . . )

Pumpkin Carving. . .With Deranged, Knife Yielding Husband

An average night at the Johnson household. . . Lily sitting on counters, Mike making strange faces, pumpkin guts EVERYWHERE, and an argument over why we can't put blood (ketchup, she suggested) on the pumpkins to make them look scary. Never a dull moment around here!

5 Johnson Kids

We went to have pictures taken with our good friends Melody and Corbin and I snapped this digiital picture of the kids. For the great pictures done by professionals, see www.corbinphotography.com

When we get the pics back I'll post some of the "professional" pictures. Corbin does some wonderful work, his photos are creative and original. Yo should definitely call him and give him your business!

Sasha is almost 10, Lily is almost 8, Chloe is almost 5, Isaac is 4, Gabriel is 3. Mike is 36 and Dena is 29. Again.

And Another Tooth!

Two teeth in two days! Wow, is that a new record? I think she's in it for the money. . . the Tooth Fairy at the Johnson house is known to be generous. Not to mention that her older two sisters are lavishing gifts upon her to celebrate this event. Sasha keeps hiding things under Chloe's pillow at night and telling her not to look. I think she peeks.

Chloe Lost Her First Tooth!

Chloe lost her first tooth tonight! She pulled it herself, which is the kind of thing Chloe would do. She turns 5 in October, so this is quite a busy month. She and Sasha both lost their first tooth a little before their 5th birthday. It turns out it runs in the family. . . :)

Pointe Shoes

This was an exciting day for Sasha (and Mama)! After 7 years of ballet, Sasha was invited to go on pointe this year. We went to the dance shop with all of the other girls who started pointe this year and spent over an hour trying on pointe shoes for just the right shoe. Her teachers were there to help out and make sure the girls learned the proper way to put on shoes and what materials to use for padding.

As it turns out, Sasha has the same shape feet as her Mama does: wide and long! Her first pointe shoes are the same brand and make as my first pointe shoes. We thought that was pretty special.

Now that Sasha has earned her first blister from pointe shoes, she's officially a ballerina!

Playing Catch Up

This is a crazy time of year, as any mom will tell you. It's super to get back on a schedule and have some sanity after summer. . . but now I remember why we look forward to summer!

We're keeping busy with 4 of out 5 kids are dancing this year and 4 out of 5 enrolled in AWANA. Sasha is a fourth grader and doing a lot more work this year and a lot more independent studies. Lily is doing 3rd grade and loving it. Chloe is starting some preschool work with me and is just learning so quickly! I'm still trying to figure out what to do with those two boys while I'm doing class time with the girls. Mostly they play outside and make a huge mess in their room! When the rain starts we're doomed.

These photos are from a camping trip we took to Friday Harbor, an island in the Puget Sound. We took a ferry and then camped overnight. The island is beautiful and we had perfect weather!

I'm back to work a few days a week as a Teaching Assistant at Mars Hill Graduate School, the seminary where I did my counseling degree. I attend and grade all the assignments for two classes with a total of about 120 students. Mike jokes that I'm finally getting paid to go to school after all those years of paying! I really enjoy this opportunity and it fits well with my part-time counseling practice. I am continually challenged and refreshed through the course work and then I get to apply it directly to my therapy work.

If it weren't for the most amazing husband on the planet, I don't think I'd ever get my teeth brushed in the morning. He really is a wonderfully supportive and encouraging guy who makes it possible for me to do all sorts of amazing things. I'm a lucky girl.

50th Anniversary

These fine people are the Dunns. We went to Astoria, Oregon to celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary last week. On the drive down, Sasha says, "Wow. They are sure lucky to be married so long." Luck, huh?

I tried to explain to Sasha the same thing I try to explain to my married clients. 50 years of marriage is not due to luck or smooth sailing. 50 years of marriage is due to a willingness to suffer on behalf of another, a knowledge that no one can hurt you or bless you like your spouse, and a belief that your spouse and your spouse alone can uniquely shape you and redeem you as part of God's plan.

Well, okay, so that's not exactly what I said to Sasha. I told her that Leroy and Muriel have worked very hard for many years to have a good marriage. That when they fought, they loved each other enough to stick it out, that when bad things happened (they lost their only daughter) they turned to each other for comfort, and that they loved Jesus more than they loved themselves and so they followed his plans for marriage. She nodded wisely and went back to the "alphabet game" on the drive down.

Leroy was my school bus driver in elementray school and their oldest son, Dennis, was my 5th grade Sunday school teacher. Dennis brought Randi and I to church every week for what seemed like years (although we moved so often it couldn't have been more than 9 or 10 months.) When my mother remarried, the Dunns kept Randi and I for several weeks. I remember that time as one of the greatest vacations I ever had! Dennis drove us to his parents restaurant every morning, where Muriel would cook us anything we wanted for breakfast. She then made us each a lunch and let us choose a candy bar from by the cash register to add to it. Leroy then came by in the school bus and picked us up on his way to school. We thought we had died and gone to heaven!

This family is so instrumental in my faith experience. Dennis brought us to church each week and he used to bribe us to read our Bibles. In exchange for a certain number of chapters read, he would take us to the movies, roller skating, and one time all the way to Portland for ice skating! I remember spending lunch hour in the library reading a Bible so I could catch up on chapters. This is when I discovered the Psalms. . .

They lived out their faith for us little girls in such a simple way. They just loved us.

Over the years the Dunns have been more or less involved in our lives, depending on where we lived. But they were present at my wedding 15 years ago and my mother's funeral 3 years ago. To be able to join in the celebration of their anniversary was such an honor and a pleasure.

My kids now know them as Grandma and Grandpa Dunn. I love this. Their family was my spiritual home as a child and the influence of their love has touched my children's lives today.

Quick Update

Here's some info for those of my loyal friends who notice when I fail to keep my blog current!

Great News!

Lyndsey and Michael Martin are expecting a baby! This is truly a God thing, as those of you who know their story are aware.

And, my sister Amanda and her husband Ben are on their way from Boston back to Seattle. We cannot wait to see them again and have them nearby for babysitting. (Just joking, it's your friendship we treasure not your childcare!)

My contract as a Teaching Assistant at Mars Hill Graduate School was renewed with an increase in hours and an increase in pay. I'll be the personal TA for Dr. Roy Barsness, who I really enjoy and learn a lot from.

Good News!
I'm headed out of town to Astoria, Oregon with my sister Randi and all 9 kids to visit my father and brothers. We've been invited to the 50th Anniversary celebration of a dear couple Randi and I have known since we were little girls. So we are taking a road trip without the guys (Chad is in Connecticut with the Coast Guard Academy and Mike works Sundays!).

Sasha and I had a better day at math yesterday. We're taking the weekend off and looking forward to better days ahead. I' m learning all about incentive (versus threats) and things are looking brighter today.

Thanks for tuning in!

Homeschool Woes

We are doing our first round of "Summer School" at the Johnson house. Sasha did not-so-hot in math and standardized math testing this year, and so we agreed to do math summer school.

Sounded like a good idea at the time.

I am now considering Military School.

As much as I believe in what we're doing, as much as I believe the options in our area are limited, as much as I believe in the social/educational/spiritual benefits of homeschooling. . . I'm fed up with 9 year old attitude and tears over subtraction. And addition. And multiplication. And division. Well, you get the point.

This is just a chance for me to lament. Any pity would be appreciated and taken in exactly the right spirit.

Ballet Recital '06 and The Jungle Book

Chloe's First Ballet Recital: Red Rose in the Emperor and the Nightingale.
Sasha as a Spanish Dancer in Swan Lake with Lily

This time of year comes around more and more quickly, it seems. With three girls dancing recitals are a family affair that essentially eat up most of June. But I'm not complaining! Some of my best memories from childhood involve dancing, and I hope that my girls will have great experiences to remember.

Sasha finished her (gulp) 7th year of Ballet and her second year of Jazz. Lily took a year off of dance to try out gymnastics and did just great. Chloe is in her first year of dance, taking a combination ballet/tap class. Isaac says he wants to take tap next year, and I guess I'll have to arm wrestle Mike about that one. As broad-minded as he is about things, I'm not sure he's ready to have a son in dance lessons.

Sasha danced Swan Lake this year as a Spanish Dancer. Her class of girls are all on the verge of going on to pointe shoes next year, which is a BIG deal for those of you non-dancer types. She is a really beautiful dancer and it's such a shock to see this little kid get up on stage and reveal a completely unique and independent personality. When she dances she is bold and self-assured. And all of this is completley outside of me. It's all her. I think I'm okay with this.

Chloe, I must say, is probably more of a football player than a ballerina. She's built for soccer, or swimming, or rugby. The girl is sooo strong. But she is also beautiful and danced with so much personality. She loved tap more than ballet, which makes sense because it's noisy. As is Chloe.

The two bigs girls, Sasha and Lily, auditioned and were accepted into a children's theatre production of the Jungle Book! Missoula Children's Theatre travels around the country in the summer and does these one week workshops and then productions. Sasha was a Wolf Pup with a speaking part (!) and Lily was a monkey. They both worked really hard all week and then did a singing/dancing production that was great fun. I ordered the DVD so I'm sure to bore you all with the show when you visit!

Sun in Seattle and Swim Lessons

The sun is shining in Seattle! It's a beautiful first day of summer, with temperatures expected to reach the 80's! For my dear friends in Texas, I understand this is a cool spring day for you all (oops sorry, for ya'll) , but this is the height of hot sunny days for us! I've read posts from Gina and Arlene about the heat and I wilt just thinking about it! Remember you all have a cool place to visit whenever the heat gets too hot.

We're a week into swimming lessons for the three girls. They all love the water and can really swim like little tadpoles. Sasha was slow to catch on, but is now swimming the length of the pool and can do a variety of strokes. Lily just jumped in and hasn't stopped paddling since. Chloe, who is 4 now, is really a riot in the pool. She's fairly plump, which makes for a super swimmer. She truly does float!

Like most things Chloe does, she swims with passion. She puts her face in the water, starts kicking her feet, and just keeps going. She has to be reminded to come up for air! Her swim teacher talks to her as she goes down the pool lane and you can hear her saying "Breathe, Chloe! Breathe!" So she pops her face up for about 1/2 a second, gulps in some air, and goes back to it.

I like this about her. I like her determined personality and her persistent drive. Someone I live with may say that she's a lot like me. . . and I'd take it as a compliment if he did! She is a stubborn little thing. She wants her own way and works hard to get it. If you resist her she fights or cries, or both. (I'm pretty sure I'm talking about Chloe here. . .) But then she offers up the most incredible kisses and hugs, and has a longing for "snuggles" that surpasses even her longing to get her own way. If Chloe doesn't get her one on one holding, snuggling, talking time she really is a mess. You'd think being one of five that it may be hard for her to get that one on one time, but she certainly makes sure she does not get overlooked or left out. Her middle child personality has not left her "invisible" as some middle kids are called. Rather she has claimed her place and reminds us all pretty consistently that she is here to be adored. And she is.

Lemonade Stand

Do any of you remember the days before kids when you envisioned parenting as idyllic days of lemonade stands and children with general good will to all mankind? So perhaps I read too much as a child. Stories like The Little Princess and The Secret Garden left me discontent, even as a child, for what childhood could have been. Should have been.

And now I parent 5 kids, and I really do believe in the innocence of childhood. What I've come to discover, however, is that innocence does not equal goodness or mild manneredness or inherent other-centeredness. In some ways, innocence just means that my children think they are the first ones to do the thing (good or bad) that they are about to do!

Sasha and Lily bugged me and bugged me until I finally gave in and let them have a lemonade stand. I tried to put it off until Papa got home with the excuse that they needed him to carry the little table down the driveway. Oh me of little faith! 3 minutes later the girls had mixed lemonade, found cups, got a money cup, and pulled the table down the drive. They made name-tags for themselves and a sign asking 10 cents a cup. Good deal if you ask me!

What made this moment cute beyond words and heart-touching in a way worth blogging is this: Sasha and Lily had a second money cup set out with these words written on it: Fore Pore pepole. (Okay, now is not the time to comment on my teaching abilities.) They had decided to give part of their proceeds to a charity organization. Needless to say, everyone who stopped gave over and above the requested 10 cents.

When a customer asked who they money was going to, Sasha decided that Children's Hospital was a worthy recipient of their efforts. Our nephew was recently in Children's for a surgery and ever since then the hospital has taken on mythic proportions in our home. They ALL want to go now! It's like the Madeline story, "Boo hoo! We want our appendix out too!"

I have great kids. They have tender hearts and loving spirits. Their creativity and love of life inspires me to put down the vacuum and enjoy the lemonade!