Restoring Honor

photo courtesy of AP News.

Well, we did it. We ended Summer with an amazing trip to Washington D.C. for the Restoring Honor Rally at the Lincoln Memorial with Glenn Beck. We learned about this event months ago and had thought that we'd join one of the local Patriot groups on a bus. As the day approached, however, we changed our plan to allow more flexibility. So, early Friday morning we piled into the van with lunches packed and water bottles full and drove 2 1/2 hours to Silver Spring, Maryland to catch the Metro into D.C.

We and hundreds of others who were also headed for the rally squeezed into the train, (we actually had to wait for a second train before we could board!). Easily recognizable by the folding chairs, patriot t-shirts, and friendly faces, those headed for the rally carried with them an air of excitement. Once we reached our stop in the city, the way to the Mall and the Lincoln Memorial was easily found- we merely had to jump into the flow of the crowd. It was so exciting, not only to be in Washington for such an event, but to be there with the whole family.

We arrived before 8 am, and there were already crowds numbering in the thousands filling the area in front of the Lincoln Memorial and around the reflecting pool. As we walked from the Washington Memorial, around the WWII Memorial and toward the reflecting pool there was so much to see, so many people, it was difficult to take it all in. Sarah Palin later said what was beginning to dawn on us, that, "we are not alone". Many thousands of people had traveled to Washington D.C. for a common purpose; we shared a common bond. We don't want to see our Nation "fundamentally transformed", we want our Nation to be restored to the Honor and ideals of our Founders, (which, no, do not include slavery and reversing women's rights).

Working our way around the pool to the left-hand side, (facing the Lincoln Memorial) we walked forward until we found a patch of grass big enough to accommodate our family. Many people had brought chairs, but we had not, since we didn't want to be hauling the extra weight all around the city and on the Metro afterwards, (traveling light!). By the time we settled in there was still an hour and a half to go before the beginning of the rally, so Nathaniel, Kate and Isaac went for a walkabout to see what they could see. They rejoined us before the event began and just in time for the flyover. Behind us we heard the crowd applauding and shouting, and as we turned to look we saw a formation of geese flying right down the center of the crowd over the reflecting pool! What a cool sight!

There were several "jumbotron" video screens around the area so that we could see what was happening way over on the steps where Glenn Beck and his guests would be speaking. The first face we saw, after a beautiful slide show, was a Boy Scout, who led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance. When I saw that I almost cried. The next three and a half hours were filled with speeches by Glenn, Sarah Palin, and Dr. Alveda King. Glenn introduced us to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, an organization which provides full scholarship grants and educational and family counseling to the surviving children of special operations personnel who die in operational or training missions. Sarah Palin presented three heroes from our Armed Services who endured great sacrifices in the service of our Country. Glenn then presented three medals of merit along his theme of "Faith, Hope, and Charity" to three men who embody those principles in America today. Dr. Alveda King, MLK's niece, encouraged us to seek the Lord and remember the essence of her uncle's message in judging others not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character- which I not only strive to do already, but request of others concerning their judgment of me as well.

Through all of the speeches and presentations ran a thread of humility, service to others, and hope for our future, all undergirded by the idea that we must turn back to God. Not collectively, but as individuals and families. Now, when Glenn goes beyond the basic ideas and treads into theological territory, we disagree with his interpretation of Scripture, and the astute listener on Saturday would have picked up the Mormon hints that he dropped periodically as he spoke. But we do agree on his basic premise: that we stand before God as individuals, and before the future of our Nation can be secured for our children, we must repent of our sins and serve God openly and honestly. We must pray with and for our children, and they must see us praying and see that our faith makes a difference in our lives. We must be changed before we can affect any lasting and true restoration in America.

Near the end of the rally we shared such a beautifully moving experience. Accompanied by bagpipes, the crowd sang together the timeless hymn, Amazing Grace. I know I cried as we sang.

Once the Restoring Honor rally was finished we sat in the shade and waited for some of the initial dispersing of the crowds to clear so that we could walk together to the Jefferson Memorial. We had neglected to bring a map of the area, but Nathaniel's handy-dandy iphone with its GPS app led the way. There was an area closed off due to the construction of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and we had to find our way past a fence and across a field, where, coincidentally, another rally was setting up... Neither Jim nor I have ever seen the Jefferson Memorial, and it was worth the hike to see. Once we finished there we took a moment to purchase some cool beverages for the kids before heading back to the Mall area to see other Memorials.

Figuring that the way we came was actually more direct, we re-traced our steps and stumbled right back into the other rally area as people began to flood in through the narrow fenced-off walkway. This was, as it turned out, a rally organized by the Reverend Al Sharpton to remember Martin Luther King Jr. on the 47th anniversary of his "I have a dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, yet situated next to the future monument to the Civil Rights leader. As we swam like salmon fighting upstream against the flow of people flooding into the area through the narrow pathway, we held onto one another so that we didn't get separated. Glenn Beck had urged those coming to his rally not to bring signs. These folks had signs. Those we saw were not friendly signs. And here is where I find my heart troubled.

In the past couple of days I have read a few of the blogs and opinion pieces written about the rally. The majority of them seem to be in the same vein and tone of the signs and t-shirts that we read in that crowd, and reflect a foundational misunderstanding of why we were there and what we believe. I've been thinking a lot lately about being misunderstood, and here it was displayed before me, as clear as day. When I protest- and let's be clear, the Restoring Honor rally was NOT a protest march- but when I protest a policy being championed by our President, I am disagreeing with an idea, a plan, or a law which I feel will do damage to our Nation. I am not, nor have I ever, protested because of the skin color of the man who holds the office of President. I disagree entirely with everything promoted by Nancy Pelosi- and her skin is the same color as mine.

Glenn's message on Saturday was that we need to "pray, be honest, and serve others", delivered with humility. The clips that I saw on the News of Al Sharpton's comments were "fight, fight, fight", delivered with anger. I'll take him at face value, please take me at mine. An open exchange of ideas without hurling invectives or twisting one another's messages is the only way to be understood. Is the gulf so very wide between us that honest debate is impossible? Perhaps. I am no good when it comes to such conversations anyway, but please don't tell me what I'm "really saying" when you won't listen to me in the first place.

Moving right along, we visited the Korean War Memorial and had the opportunity to thank a couple of Veterans for their service, which was a moment that I won't soon forget. I pray my children remember. We then went to the Lincoln Memorial and took a good long while soaking in the words of the addresses which are etched into the walls. After this we walked to the Vietnam War Memorial where we slowly took in the many, many names and the offerings left for fallen loved ones, memorials in their own right. Time was quickly passing and we were moving slower by the minute, but there was at least one museum which we might be able to reach before it closed.

We managed to arrive at the National Archives with a few minutes to spare before they closed the line down. It seemed fitting, somehow, to finish our visit to our Nation's Capitol by seeing the documents written by our Founders. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, together with the Bill of Rights, were on display in the low lighting and cool interior of the building and were captivating to all of us. The kids, I'm afraid, were more familiar with these documents because of the movie National Treasure than because of what they have learned in History class at school. But we have been watching Glenn Beck's "Founders' Friday" programs, and have been filling in their educational gaps at home. Too quickly we were told that the Museum was closing and we needed to leave.

Our exhausted crew made it back to the Metro station, onto the train, and back to Silver Spring. Hungry, we stopped into a Mexican food place that made the best- and biggest- burritos we have ever been served, with delicious tacos for me and a Mexican take on Gumbo for Bekah. The drive home was a snooze-fest for the kids as I tried and failed to stay awake so that I could keep Jim company as he drove.

We are now a couple of days removed from the day in D.C., and trying still to process all that we saw and heard. Pray, be honest, and serve others. Nothing new to those of us who listen in church and read our Bibles. Refreshing to join a sea of others who believe the same thing. May God have mercy on our Land.

Empty House

What a blessing to have Nathaniel fly home last week for a whole month of post-deployment leave! Now that his unit has left Iraq behind for good, they are all allowed an entire month to get away. Nathaniel arrived on Tuesday morning, having flown from Hawaii the day before, and with the exception of a nap or two, hit the ground running. With the end of Summer quickly approaching, the weeks have filled up with more and more activities.

After a bit of recovery on Tuesday, most of the family joined me for a run on the Thune trail. I forget now exactly how that came about, but in the end it was a demonstration of the route we would be running for the Thirsty Thursday race, and convinced Isaac and Jim to join us two days later, along with 400 of our closest friends, for the 5K!

Thursday evening Erin, Nathaniel, Jim, Isaac and I donned our racing numbers at Trooper Thorn's and took off with the pack. I was so proud of Isaac, who has only recently begun running with the Middle School cross country team. Since this race is so very crowded on a narrow trail, I had him stay right with me until the crowd thinned out and he had gotten the hang of it. Right before the half-way point he looked at me, said, "I'm passing!", and took off ahead. Passing people at this point was difficult since there were now folks running in both directions and we didn't have the whole trail. I saw him after he'd turned around, and caught glimpses of him ahead of me on the straight-aways later, but he was running his own race. What fun for us to have been able to complete that together. Erin and Isaac each came in third in their age groups, the rest of us were thrilled to finish. I was still behind my first time, though I suspect that my starting position had something to do with it, since this time my running felt alright.

Saturday we all piled into the van to go to cousin Ginger's for a Birthday/ Graduation/ Eagle Scout/ going away to join the Navy party for Kyle Nelson, (not a relative, but might as well be). Nathaniel was able to meet and be met by this branch of the family at last, and we enjoyed a relaxing evening visiting with Ginger, Gladys, Brent, the Nelsons, and the gang. We had planned to leave around 6-ish; 7:30 arrived and we said we needed to go; at 9:15 we were finally back into the van and pulling away... Good times.

Yesterday was a blessed Sabbath of worship with our church family, lunch then rest at home, and prayer meeting at the Sallade's in the evening. In between, the kids were all busy packing. Nathaniel, after all, had plans, which were a mystery. All week he had been dangling this mystery over their heads, tormenting them with clues and non-clues. All they knew was that they were going away for several days and they needed to pack for a water activity, a theme park, and a tourist destination.

This morning, bright and early at 5 am they left for Busch Gardens, Water Park USA, and Colonial Williamsburg, all in Virginia! At some point in the first couple of hours of driving he told them where they were going. What a treat! With his military discounts the park tickets are very reasonable and the hotel rates within easy reach. Their first stop is Ft. Eustis, where Nathaniel trained for his job in the Army, to pick up the tickets. So they even get to see a bit of his personal history which we'd only heard about from him before now. But the most special aspect of it all for me is the love that these kids share with one another, that they would so enjoy going away together like this. They are going to build a lifetime's worth of memories in the next few days, and they are will need to work together and get along even when they are tired or wanting to go in different directions.

Once they get back our lives swing into high-gear with one last day-trip for all of us, school beginning for Erin and Isaac, and Kate leaving for Lancaster to begin at the Pennsylvania College of Art and Design. But for now they have this time together, just the five of them, for fun and memory-building.

What Beauty, Language

Ever since I can remember, I have loved words. I can't recall the exact moment when the shapes on the page began to make sense to me and became decipherable language, but I clearly remember sitting in my reading group in first grade at the Episcopal Day School, waiting impatiently for the slower readers to stumble over their portion of our text, (Dick and Jane, of course); reading ahead to pass the time until my turn arrived. Books were wonderfully magical, and I devoured them as fast as I could. Through these portals I was able to visit far lands and different times. From a sweltering courtroom in Maycomb County, Alabama, to flying across the finish line on the back of the wild Black Stallion, the adventures possible through books were limited only by the time available to read them.

Certain books still stand out to me. One Sunday morning when I was a child in Wichita Falls, TX, where the "Blue Laws" were still in effect so most stores were closed one day of the weekend and Treasure City (think Kmart- but sorta dumpy) was the only place to pick up a garden hose since they closed their doors on Saturday in order to serve the Daddies in town who hadn't realized until Sunday morning that the garden hose at home was inoperable, I lingered in Books as Dad found what he need in Lawn and Garden. (Somewhere in downtown Reading there's a chop-shop that could cut that sentence down and sell it for parts...) I convinced Dad to buy The Golden Stallion, a large format, illustrated, chapter book about- yup- a boy and his horse, (horses were my thing). I may have started reading it on the way home, and once there I do remember spending the day physically on my bed, as my imagination spent the day way out West on a horse ranch with a wild Palomino. Dad looked in on me a couple of times, I think, and by day's end I had finished the entire book.

The Swiss Family Robinson, Smokey the Cow Horse, and Heidi I first read at age ten, when I spent the Summer with my name-sake and her family, the Hicks, in Cocoa Beach, FL. Yes, swimming at the beach was very memorable; Barbaranne took me to see the new movie everyone was talking about, namely, Star Wars; and I spent so much time in their pool that I developed a case of swimmer's ear. Yet she also took me to the library where I chose a stack of books.

The Summer of 1979, I lived with my Mom and brother in an apartment complex as our home in Wichita Falls was being rebuilt after the tornado that destroyed our town on April 10th. The gang of folks who socialized around the pool each evening and weekend had a book swap and I acquired my copy of Watership Down.

All of this reading widened my vocabulary and my Dad believes that it's responsible for erasing my Texas accent almost entirely. The magic of a well-written story which fires the imagination is replicated nowhere else. Though the movie screen may fill in some details, those created by the mind are far more enduring. I went through a Stephen King phase as a teenager, and I'll tell you that his book caused me to be wary of Saint Bernard dogs far more thoroughly than the movie Cujo ever could. Ideas are expressed in words which then rattle around the intellect, get sorted through in the heart and mind, and help to shape what we believe, and therefore, who we are.

And yet, written words are just that, scribbles on a page from a human imagination. Until one opens the Bible. In the Holy Scriptures we find words which not only produce images and ideas, but Words of Life which can save the soul. The words of Scripture express spiritual realities; eternal, non-subjective truths; and cosmic mysteries. But even more than that, it is a mystery that the same words which can be read by all and intellectually apprehended, when accompanied by the grace of Christ, will actually transform the heart and mind of the reader. This is why we read in the book of John that, though Jesus' crowd of followers departed in droves after a particularly difficult teaching, his chosen twelve remained.

So Jesus said to the Twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?" Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,..." (John 6:67-68)

As Jesus prayed for his disciples, and for us, on the night of his betrayal, he distilled his requests of the Father down to what he, in his infinite and loving wisdom, knew to be most important.

"Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." (John 17:17)

The writer of Hebrews would later explore the mystery of the transforming power of God's Word.

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

There is no question in my mind or heart that the Word of God is to be given the highest place, therefore, in our home and the church. When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness he did not destroy his arguments with the brilliance of logic or attempt to reason with him. He answered him with the Word of God, against which the deceiver had no defense. If the Omnipotent One relies so on the Word of the Father, how much more must I? In our day and age, those who insist on objective truth are ridiculed and suspected of haughty pride. And yet to embrace the truth of Scripture is to acknowledge that I am nothing outside of Christ. I have no wisdom, power, or gifts of my own; all to Christ I owe.

I therefore defer to Scripture, to the Words of life, which will build a foundation of rock upon which God is preparing me to weather any storm which, in His providence, may threaten to sweep me away.

Beautiful Morning

Saturday mornings of late have been refreshingly busy for Erin and me. She runs with the Cross Country team in Nolde Forest on Saturdays, and I've been running on the Thun trail with a group from A Running Start. This morning, however, was a bit different.

Earlier this week I stopped by a house on our street to ask the folks who live there permission to photograph their flower gardens in the early morning hours. I have been running past this house on occasion, and their home is almost swallowed by the vibrant plant life growing all around. Trees, flower beds, and a vegetable garden all attest to a love for beauty and growing things, yet the wild state they are in also speaks to a lack of ability to quite keep up with it all. Scattered all through the beds are morning glories, phlox, tomatoes, cucumbers, and regally waving above them all; sunflowers galore.

Every morning since I received permission to photograph to my heart's delight, the days have dawned to overcast skies and drizzling rain. Now, I am thrilled to have the rain- and so is my poor, parched yard. But these were not the conditions in which I wanted to shoot photos in a flower bed. This morning brought the return of the sun, and my plans to run were shifted as the flowers took priority.

I dropped Erin off at Nolde and drove to the garden. I have a Minolta film camera that was generously given to me by a friend, as well as my digital SLR. Still testing the Minolta, I was planning to duplicate my shots on identical settings with both cameras. Wandering around the flower beds as the sun slowly rose gave me many more things to shoot than I originally planned, and the film was soon finished. There are numerous gadgets and gizmos fashioned by the elderly couple who lovingly tend this garden intending to keep the birds and varmits away from their veggies. Whimsically scattered among the plants, these became some of my favorite shots.

As the sun crested the row of pine trees to the East of the property, there was a magical 60 seconds or so when everything first caught the direct rays of light and I shot as fast as I could, moving gingerly through the garden. Even the cucumber vines took on an endearing quality in this light.

At some point I realized that I was finished and went back to the car. Picked Erin up after her run, got home, loaded the photos onto the computer and took an initial look. These decisions won't be easy- there are a lot of neat shots mixed in with a lot of mediocre and poorly lit shots as well.

Since the morning isn't as blazingly hot as we've recently experienced, I went for my run, stream-of-consciousness pondering of the photos and their possibilities gave my mind something to do other than list the roll-call of physical complaints as I pounded down the road. I ran my normal, relatively flat, three miles and grabbed few sips from my water bottle which I'd left on the bench in front of our house. Erin had put my energy-chewy-thingies next to the water, so I popped one of those and continued back on the road in the other direction.

The hills are this way.

Down the one severe drop I ran the way Erin had learned in training, opening my stride up and letting myself fly down the hill. It was a bit scary as gravity took over and I knew that the wrong placement of a foot here would end in disaster, but there was an exhilaration as well. One and a half miles later I turned around and headed back home, walking on that one severe incline, and finished strong.

Six miles.

I have finally run six miles! I don't know, since the uphill walk broke it up slightly, if I experienced the five-mile thing where it doesn't hurt anymore- a theory one of the Saturday morning marathoners shared with me. But I am euphoric over getting that distance under my belt! Good, long stretching with my kitty Emmi, refreshing shower, and I'm ready for the rest of my day.

I think tomatoes may be involved...

Extreme Good

We've had a unique bit of excitement here this week. A local family was chosen for the show Extreme Makeover, Home Edition. On Monday I took the kids on out to the site and we enjoyed seeing the progress on the home and meeting some of the cast and crew. (You can view our photos of the experience here.) We've watched the show occasionally over the years and have found it to be one of the few reliably "safe" programs for family viewing. I've also found it to reliably be a tear-jerker, and must have a box of Kleenex nearby. Over the seasons they have progressed from merely doing a fabulous remodel of the homes to completely demolishing the old house and building an entirely new one in it's place.

The woman for whom the crew is building this new home, Tricia Urban, lost her husband to a heart attack the very day of their daughter's birth, nine hours before their baby was born. Having gone through labor and childbirth five times myself, I cannot imagine what it would have been like without the strong presence of my husband. The thought of going through it with the fresh knowledge that he had only just died and would never be there as our child grew up is simply inconceivable.

As with all of the families featured in the show, Tricia and her daughter have been sent away for the week. They are in Orlando at the Disney parks, and she has a personal assistant assigned to her whose job, among other things, is to keep her away from the internet to insure that she will be completely surprised when she returns to her new home. So, not only are they having a whole new house built for them, but they are having the vacation of a lifetime as well. This is a good deed on a massive scale.

One of the reasons that we have enjoyed watching this show is that it is so refreshing to see the selflessness and desire to help others that is demonstrated in each episode. The cast and crew choose from an avalanche of appeals for help, and they provide something which the families in question might never otherwise have the opportunity to have. The families range in tragic stories from having lost loved ones, to suffering from birth defects, debilitating disease, or accidents. There are always children involved, oftentimes many children. Their stories never fail to pull at our hearts and it is such a blessing to watch someone with the skill, talent, and the means reach out to help them.

However...

Scripture clearly tells us that our greatest need, above all others, is our need of Christ.

As creatures who wear God's image we share, in a shattered and fallen aspect, and to a far lesser degree, some of His qualities. The desire to help others and do good for the downtrodden is certainly an image-bearing quality which ought to be encouraged and emulated. There is a good reason why so many people are drawn to this television show. Seeing the good done for these families in need, when so often we don't know how, or we don't possess the means to do it ourselves, is magnetically attractive. Doesn't Scripture encourage us to help those around us? Most assuredly, it does.

"Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it" -Proverbs 3:27

"And we urge you brothers,... encourage the fainthearted, help the weak,... always seek to do good to one another and to everyone." -1 Thessalonians 5:14-15

"And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful" -Titus 3:14

"If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also, faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." -James 2:15-17

And yet, in a few days the cameras and crew will be gone, the excitement of the vacation will subside, and that dear, poor, lonely Mother will still be facing the days and nights ahead without her husband. There are needs that can be met by money, skill, and effort, but no amount of sponsor-financed altruism can replace Tricia's husband. From what I have seen, those on the cast of Extreme Makeover realize this. They are seeking not to replace an irreplaceable loss, but to bring a bit of heaven on earth to ease the life of a hurting family. This is common grace, and though it may come immediately from the hands of unbelievers, it ultimately comes from the decree of the Eternal God. In his teaching on the Providence of God, John Calvin writes:

"...we (teach) God the ruler and governor of all things, who in accordance with his wisdom has from the farthest limit of eternity decreed what he was going to do, and now by his might carries out what he has decreed. From this we declare that not only heaven and earth and the inanimate creatures, but also the plans and intentions of men, are so governed by his providence that they are borne by it straight to their appointed end." -Institutes, (I: XVI. 8)

So what has been accomplished in the construction of this magnificent home for Tricia and her daughter has been decreed by God himself. The cast and crew are carrying out God's work on behalf of a poor and hurting family. All good deeds are tainted in some way by our own sin, yet in the humanly-weighed balance, this deed is very, very good. Returning to our ultimate need however; the most comfortable house with the latest of updates and technology will not fill the hole in our lives for which only Christ is suitable. And on the other side of this coin, building such a house for one in need will not gain us Christ. The Bible teaches that only one who lives a perfectly righteous and sinless life will inherit the kingdom of God. The bad news is that it clearly teaches that we cannot live that kind of life; no amount of good deeds will weigh in God's balance if we have a single sin to our name.

"For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it." -James 2:10

"We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment." -Isaiah 64:6

"None is righteous, no, not one..." -Romans 3:10

But there is one man who did live a perfect life, one hope given to us by God's rich mercy; our Savior, Jesus Christ, who obeyed the law perfectly and died the death of a criminal on behalf of those who would believe.

"But when the goodness and kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not by works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life." -Titus 3:4-7

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." -Ephesians 2:8-10

So the best and brightest hope for Tricia and her daughter, freely offered and eternally brilliant, is Christ. The beautiful home provided for them is still a gift from the hand of God. Those building it have not earned themselves a single rung on the ladder to heaven, but salvation awaits those who will believe in Christ alone. And we applaud these good gifts given by our Father above, looking to Him alone for grace and mercy in our own times of need.

Up and Down

This past couple of weeks have been up and down and mostly calm. For myself, I reached a new goal in running, then promptly became sick and wasn't able to run at all for the balance of the week. On Tuesday last I ran 5 miles, the first three being on a new, difficult, and hilly stretch, the final two familiar and flatter. Then I woke up Wednesday with "that feeling" in the back of my throat and head, and ended up spending the next two days on the couch with fever and yuck. I contacted Sorita to ask how soon I should resume running, and she suggested that with the heat as high as it has been, I should wait until I am really all better.

I did get a lot of reading done on a book that I had anticipated would take me far longer to read. A Patriot's History of the United States has turned out to be easy reading for such a thick book. Recommended by Glenn Beck, we ordered it months ago, but I've only recently had the time to pick it up. I won't summarize it here, but I do recommend it - good clear history of our nation.

The big news for our family- the Up for the past weeks, is that Nathaniel has redeployed from Iraq back to Hawaii! No more war zone for him; Praise God! We get regular updates and phone calls now with the news of his return to "stateside" life. Hawaii is still dreadfully far away, and we were not able to be there for his arrival, but his Commander's wife arranged a special surprise for him.

Several weeks ago- before we left for Michigan, we received a letter from this dear woman with a request that we send her some special things and a new set of sheets for our returning soldier. She recognized that a number of the men had families who would greet them with special homecomings, but the single soldiers would be returning to empty barracks rooms. We gladly packed up some framed photos, a book or two, and a couple of other things with a new set of sheets for our soldier. I also tucked his cell phone and charger into the box, so he could call us right away. An email exchange with the organizer of this surprise confirmed that she had gotten the items safely and had set his room up. The phone she kept and charged herself. Nathaniel called us from a buddy's phone as he reached the various stops on his flights from Iraq to Ireland, Alaska, and finally Hawaii. But when he arrived at the base in Hawaii I received another- more surprised call from his own cell phone! The Commander's wife had called him over after the Welcoming Ceremony and handed him his phone and told him to call his Mom- now!

What a blessing to participate in some small way in his return, even though a trip to Hawaii to greet him was impossible. If he'd been anywhere that my car could reach we would have made it there, one way or another. But a flight to Hawaii is out of the question. Phone calls, facebook, and email do make the world smaller, but being there for our son's return - second return- from the war has never been possible and we can't recover that. He'll be coming home for a month visit in a couple of weeks, yet to welcome him returning with his comrades isn't meant to be.

So, I guess that it was an up, and a down.

Now we count the days for his arrival here- Praise the Lord!

Great Expectations

In my mind, I am a stronger runner. I go farther and with less effort in my imagination. As I am lacing up my shoes and planning where I'm going, I expect to do much better than I normally- lately- end up doing.

If, however, I expected it to be as hard as it turns out to be, or harder yet, I might leave the shoes under the bed and check out what's on TV instead.

This morning I joined the Saturday morning group from A Running Start for their weekly run. Dropping Erin off to run with the Cross Country girls and Coach in Nolde Forest, I then got to the Brentwood Trailhead a few minutes early for the 7:15 start time. The others who showed up were all either long-time members of the group, or already long distance runners. As they reviewed how far each expected to run, I suddenly felt very conscious of the shorter distance that I was hoping to run. One lady was only going 8 miles, another 12, and yet another 20. The lone guy in the group, Jim, was going the distance with whoever would run the farthest. With his fancy GPS watch, and telling stories of the marathons and ultra-marathon relays he's run, he still projected a friendly, humble attitude, enthusiastic about running and everyone who gives it a try.

When it came to my turn I told them that I simply had to be back at the car by 8 o'clock so I could drive back to Nolde to pick Erin up from her trail run. Sorita took a look at her watch and said that that meant we would run 22 minutes out and back, so they could drop me back off in my time frame, and then they'd continue on for the rest of their respective distances.

And I was beginning to fear that I would be running alone.

Instead of going down the Thune Trail, with which I'm now pretty familiar, we branched off onto the Angelica Creek Trail, well marked and mostly following the creek, with more turns and little hills than the Thun. These folks like to talk and visit while they run, and Sorita and I caught up on the past few weeks as we ran. I soon needed to simply listen though, and gradually fell in with the second, and then the third rank of runners. Before long I was bringing up the rear, and assuming that I'd be running alone. They rounded another bend and were out of sight.

Then I saw Jim running back to keep me company and we gradually came back within sight of the others. Wow, was it ever getting warm,... and steamy humid. One after another, as I fell behind, these super-duper runners came alongside to keep me going with encouragement and even a squirt from a water bottle and some kind of chewy electrolyte... thing. We arrived at the turnaround point and learned that we'd run 2.3 miles already. Sorita declared it to be a fine warm-up, and we were off again.

In the end, I made it. The most significant hill on this portion of trail is right where we began, and thus, right at the end. Jim talked me through it and encouraged me to finish strong, giving me the finish point to aim for. Giving everyone the Victory sign and finishing to their cheers, I gratefully made it back to the car and my own water bottle. Driving back to Nolde to get Erin I was completely drained. I stretched once I arrived, since the girls weren't finished yet. (Without the stretching I would end up atrophying into the shape of the couch later...)

Home, green protein smoothie, shower, giving my feet some extra TLC... I am exhausted. If I had realized how very difficult it would be, I may not have gone. The heat of the morning is beginning to be really oppressive, the unexpected hills, the sauna of the humidity, all combined to wipe me out. Besides that, I'm now going far enough that I will have to invest in one of those belts to carry water, and maybe some of those chewy electrolyte... things. Frankly, squirting a bottle of water over my head would have been fabulous.

But it's a great feeling. I finished. I am glad that I went.

Another Thirsty Thursday

Last night was my second opportunity to run the local Thirsty Thursday 5K, and I was blessed to be joined by a friend from church, April. She and I ran together when we went camping over Memorial Day and I had told her then about this race series. Having run on her own for a couple of years now, I was thrilled that she could come out for the race. Not that we are running to "win" anything, but having a specific goal in view and participating in an event makes the running more fun. And at least for me, it keeps me feeling accountable when I'd rather not lace on my shoes and head out the door. And, there's a t-shirt. Proof.

So we met at 6 to register for the race. April's husband Bill was there and I brought Erin to root for us, run the camera, and hold stuff for me. After we'd finished the paperwork and I showed April how to pin her number on we spotted another friend, Steve, whose wife goes to church with us and both of whom camp with the group on Memorial Day weekend. Steve is a real outdoorsy adventure seeker, having climbed mountains that the rest of us read about, so we didn't expect to see him until after the race was over.

Last night was far warmer than last month's race, and only about half the people turned out than before. This made for a less crowded start, which was a lot easier. Once we were off I pushed myself harder at the beginning than I had before and was feeling good for about the first mile. But, even in the shade, the heat was getting to me. I haven't been training as I should, and right before the half-way turn around point I slowed to walk for a brief interval. When I felt April's encouraging pat on the back it was all I needed to pick up the pace and run again.

I walked a second time for a bit, until April caught up, and then we ran the rest of the way together. At the very end I pushed it a bit again, running on the strength of my arms, focusing on them and not my tired legs or screaming lungs, and finished in 32:41, one second slower than my first 5K in April.

April came in right behind me and we found our cheering team. A towel for my dripping face, some water to cool me down, beer and a pretzel to fortify myself, and it was time to go. I don't know if I'll run the August race if the heat is still so high, but I'll definitely aim for the September run. Meanwhile I need to bump my training up if I'm going to improve my distances. Walking on the days that I don't run may help, and gradually lengthening my run distances certainly will. Erin is running hills once a week for strength with the team, and I certainly have plenty of those to choose from here.

I just came in from a brisk walk this morning and stretched just as I do when I run. Time to jump into the rest of my day.

Her Emminess

In March I received a beautiful gift; a quilt made by my Dear Auntie in San Antonio. Our Emmi also received a gift, the box in which the quilt had been mailed. Emmi loved her box and we didn't have the heart to throw it away. So, for all these months, the box has belonged under the coffee table in the family room, where Her Emminess could cuddle up whenever she wanted.

Over the past couple of weeks, however, we have noticed that she has been avoiding cuddling in her nest. Emmi is funny in that she prefers clean, flat places to take her feline snoozes. Milo will find anything cozy- blanket, pillow, lap- for his naps. Emmi likes paper, the floor, the windowsill. Her box, evidently, was no longer as clean and spare as she liked.

A recent order from Amazon has provided us not only with the book that we ordered for Bekah, but a new box for the Emmster. Tonight as we watched the News we found that she was once again contentedly curled up in her box.

Ahh... New Box Smell.... Gotta love it.

Pure Michigan...

Since we had driven all the way to Grand Rapids for the Wedding Of the Year, we might as well take a few days off in the area. The "Pure Michigan" commercials had been working on us, and we explored their website for ideas. Knowing that the weekend of the 4th would be filled to the brim with activity and excitement, I was looking for a quiet hammock in the shade, water fun to include beach and fishing, and photographic opportunities not available to me in the hills of Pennsylvania. We found just what we wanted in Presque Isle, Michigan. In fact, two of the lighthouses were featured in this lovely ad. Watch for the boy running up the interior stairs of the Old Presque Isle lighthouse, and the next one they show as well; we saw them both.

We drove the several hours from bustling Grand Rapids to the quiet of Presque Isle, (pronounced, Presk eel) and a simpler lifestyle. Folks in Michigan "talk with their hands", so I'll describe our location in the same terms. Since Michigan looks like a mitten, the approximate location of Presque Isle would be near the tip of the index finger. Right on Lake Huron, with Grand Lake mostly separating it from the "mainland" the area gets its name from the fact that it is "almost an island"- which in French is Presque Isle. Not so much a tourist mecca, this is where people come to unwind.

Our host at the Presque Isle Lodge, Robin, gave us a tour as soon as we piled out of the van. Across the road from the lodge there was access to Grand Lake, with a pier and a canoe for our use. The main lodge was charming and rustic, having been built in 1920. The original owner even made most of the furniture in the building, with sturdy log construction that has lasted through the years. Just up the road, about three miles, was a small grocery, the Portage store, where, according to Robin, the kiddie-size ice cream cones were still more generous than he could eat. Across the street from the store is a pizza shop and a restaurant right on the harbor. Beyond that by another mile or so are the lighthouses. The old lighthouse had been built too short and in the wrong location to be seen clearly by the ships on that portion of the lake, and had to be replaced by the new lighthouse further out on the tip of the "isle".

Our first evening we got a pizza and some ice cream and kept it simple. Jim and Isaac bought bait for a morning fishing trip, and when Isaac and Bekah went to the pier to throw a line into Grand Lake they discovered that there were only 1 of the promised dozen worms to be found in the box. I was reading and Jim was visiting with Robin in the lodge when Isaac told us about it, and Jim left to go back and get replacement bait. I then overheard as Robin went into the office and made a call to the store. He told them what had happened and that Jim was on his way. "I told him you'd take care of it" he said. Then, "...and could you send along a quart of orange juice with him? I just checked and we're running low. I'll be by to pay for it in the morning. Thanks."

We have entered Small Town America, and we're going to love it here!

Each morning began with breakfast made by Robin, who joined us the first two mornings since we were the only guests. (Note to self- booking a B&B for the days immediately following a big holiday weekend may insure a quiet visit...) The first morning Erin and I woke up early and went for a 4 mile run on the lovely and flat road that runs in front of the lodge. Jim and Isaac, however, had woken even earlier and were out in the canoe on Grand Lake by the time Erin and I hit the pavement.

At breakfast we decided where to go and what to see. Our first day we borrowed bicycles from the Portage Store to ride to the lighthouses. You read that right- borrowed the bikes. Yup. We enjoyed the slower pace and had a lot of fun. Many, many photos were taken, and many, many stones were skipped or simply tossed into Lake Huron. The afternoon found us at the bit of sand beach in Presque Isle Bay.

The next morning we took a hike to find another vantage point from which to photograph the old lighthouse, and we found the stones on the beach and the scenery in general to be fascinating and beautiful even though it was overcast and hazy. That afternoon we went into Alpena to see the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary's Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center, where we learned a lot about the Great Lakes and the shipping industries- and hazards- over the past couple of centuries. We then explored Alpena and found some cute shops in which to browse.

The third day we went into Rogers City to visit the Great Lakes Lore Maritime Museum. Since it was rainy an indoor activity was just the thing for us. This museum is dedicated to preserving the memories of three particular shipwrecks on the Great Lakes that involved men local to the area. All having occurred within living memory, we were shown photos and relics by a former sailor who had sailed on one of the ships before the wreckage, and another gentleman, who was one of two survivors of one of the wrecks, told us the stories of the actual wrecks. We began to realize how profoundly this area has been affected by the Lakes. One wreck left more than 90 children without fathers and over 30 women were widowed. This is a community of people who count on one another and carry each others' burdens with love and concern.

After lunch the sun came out and a beautiful blue sky spread above us. Perfect for seeing another lighthouse and beach. We went to 40 Mile Point Lighthouse, which features the remains of a shipwreck on the beach. The day was lovely and warm and we enjoyed every moment out there. From there we went to Ocqueoc Falls, (pronounced ok-ee-ok). We weren't the only ones thinking of the Falls on that warm afternoon, and there were lots of folks cooling off in the refreshingly lovely water. We regretted leaving our bathing suits at the lodge!

Each evening we went to a beach overlooking a Westward view of Lake Huron, in hopes of seeing (and photographing) a sunset. The first three nights had been duds, really, and we now had one last chance. After dinner we wound down at the lodge for a little bit before gathering ourselves for the beach one more time. And what a marvelous light show we found. Slowly, but surely, as the sun sank toward the horizon, the colors spread across the sky in a magnificent display. Isaac skipped stones, Kate and Jim found some interesting angles for some shots, and we all enjoyed the view. For more photos, you may view the album here.

A perfect ending for a perfect week.

Fourth of July, Family Style.

The annual Carlton and Family July 4th bash was moved to Michigan this year. Guy and Angie arranged for their wedding to coincide with the annual party in order to allow the "two birds with one stone" effect. As long as everyone is traveling long distances for a wedding, it might as well overlap with the 4th too.

We spent our first 4th of July with the family last year when Guy proposed to Angie. This year we all, including Jim, were looking forward to the gathering in Michigan. And what a perfect day it was for an outdoor party! Sunny and warm, not a cloud in the sky. We arrived while the food was still being prepared in the kitchen and on the grill.

Erin and I had not had a chance for a run on Saturday, so we brought our running clothes and asked Angie what the route was in her neighborhood. I had mentioned this to her in the morning at breakfast, so she was ready, but surprised that we were still planning to run in the mid-day heat. She gave us the turns to take and we were off for two laps around the loop. Nice and flat, we enjoyed the different route from home, and I even saw a pair of red-tailed hawks.

Erin, naturally, paced ahead, and after a few turns I lost sight of her. When I was finished I knew right where to find her- in Angie's pool! I went straight there, saw my daughter enjoying the lovely water, removed my shoes and socks and jumped right in! Hands down, the very best run ending thus far for me! So refreshing! We floated around until it was time to gather for the blessing of the meal, wrapped up in towels, and met everyone in the garage.

And what a meal- feast, really! Angie's Cuban family contributed roast pork, black beans and rice, arroz con pollo, and other wonderful treats. The Carlton gang contributed approximately 700 deviled eggs, potato salad, bean salad, and hot dogs and burgers. So many wonderful smells and tastes! Angie's brother-in-law gave the blessing and we began the feast.

The rest of the day was filled with fun. Volleyball, corn hole, pool, croquet, visiting, and more eating were available. We tried a bit of each. Our kids blended right in with the rest of the gang- no more awkwardness in sight. Isaac was running around with the Nelson boys, Rebekah and Erin were hanging out and playing with the Appel girls, and Kate visited with Stephanie and Jessica. But there was such an ebb and flow that really, they were all everywhere! Kate and I traded off the camera to capture a lot of memories, which you can see here. By the end of the day when the crowd had thinned and the fireworks were lit off in the back yard, we were all pleasantly filled with the warmth of a day well enjoyed.

Next year we hope to return for July 4th again. But first there will be New Year's at Gingers!

A Wedding In Michigan

Last year for July 4^th the kids and I went to spend the day with the cousins at Ginger's in Felton, PA. This was an annual tradition and we were blessed to be enfolded into the family upon our re-connection with them. Jim couldn't join us, unfortunately, since he was still in Dubai. At the end of the day, once the fireworks had been set off in the driveway and nobody had been maimed or killed, we prepared to hit the road. Cousin Guy asked us to wait a minute, as he had some fireworks of his own. He then asked his Sweetheart, Angie, to marry him, right there in front of his whole family! She said yes- which brings us a year later to our vacation in Michigan.

Angie's home is in the Grand Rapids area, and she and Guy set their wedding date for July 3^rd, with the annual 4^th of July party at her, (now their) home. As the proposal suggested, they have been very family oriented with the entire course of the wedding plans- so to Michigan we have come for the party of the year.

Shortly after last July 4^th Angie and I became friends on facebook and have chit-chatted back and forth as the year progressed. At some point she asked me to bring my camera to the wedding reception, which not only thrilled me no end, but was such a tremendous compliment. Jim and I talked it over and decided that a few more days in Michigan for a family vacation would not only make sense, since we were already going to be there, but it would be a lovely area of the country, new to us both, and therefore an adventure. And don't you know, Michigan began running these lovely "Pure Michigan" ads on TV, luring visitors to their beautiful state. We were hooked.

So plans were made, time marched on, and the day came for us to pack up the van and hit the road for Grand Rapids, Michigan! As we prepared to pack our van the day before departure, we discovered a huge fluid leak- our van would not be making the trip. After a brief pow-wow session and prayerful panic, (oxymoron, I know) we called our friends Mike and Amanda, who have one child and a 7 seat van, to ask them if we could swap our 5-seat Pacifica for their Sienna for the week. They agreed! Oh, praise God!

So again, it was time to hit the road! We left insanely early on the morning of Friday, July 2; the kids falling back to sleep as Jim and I took turns driving. Though it was a VERY long drive, we managed to get to our hotel in Grand Rapids just before 3 in the afternoon, giving us time to nap a bit before going out to look for dinner. Before going to eat, however, Erin and I were feeling the need to really stretch our legs after that drive, so we found a local park on a lake for a run. Everyone came along. Bekah brought a book, Jim and Isaac fished, and Kate joined us to run. As virtuous as it sounds, I do not recommend running any distance after an 11 hour car ride. Erin even pooped out, a cramp in her side like none she'd ever experienced. We got back to the room, ordered pizza, spent some time in their indoor pool, and called it a night.

The next morning at breakfast we found cousins! Ginger, Gladys, Brent and his family, as well as the Nelsons- practically family- were there. What a treat to begin catching up with them then. The wedding wouldn't be until mid-afternoon, so there was no rush. Before long the bride arrived, with bags in tow. Angie would be getting ready at the hotel since it was much closer to the church than her home. She said her hellos and went on upstairs. Soon Ginger got a call from her- she was in need of a hair dryer- the hotel dryers didn't work with the diffuser attachment! I had brought my own dryer, so Ginger and I went upstairs to deliver it to Angie and her hairdresser.

Now that breakfast was over we had several hours before going to the church, and Angie had sent us a suggestion via facebook which had interested us all. The Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park was right down the road from the hotel and looked rather fascinating on the website, so we gathered ourselves together and went to see what we could see. The special exhibit featured at the Gardens and Sculpture Park this season is Chihuly Glass. Glass sculptures in colors and on a scale which were simply amazing. Indoors and out, tucked into existing gardens or set apart in exhibits of their own, everywhere we turned in the Sculpture Park and gardens there were more Chihuly sculptures. Not to mention the permanent exhibits owned by the Meijer Gardens. The American Horse, for instance, is a must see; standing three stories tall and dominating his own area of the park, we were entranced. This was no boring museum tour that the parents were dragging the kids along into. Each of the kids was excited about what they were seeing and what was coming up next. Isaac especially was enjoying the gardens and sculptures; most especially the carnivorous plants room! We didn't dream that we would use up all of our free time there, but soon enough we had to start dragging ourselves away and back to the van to get to the hotel for wedding dressing. The photos we took can be seen here.

Back to the hotel, change of clothes, beautifying of the girls, and we were ready for the main event. Dressed in our best, we headed for the quaint little Hispanic church which Angie had chosen, in honor of her Cuban family and roots. The groom, Jim's cousin Guy, has made a lifelong career of the Navy, so he was resplendent in his uniform. A nephew, Ben, and a friend, Steve, also in uniform, would provide the arch of swords for the couple to walk through at the end of the ceremony. Guy and Angie's desire to honor Christ and embrace their family led to a dear, intimate ceremony which reflected the love which they have for one another and our Lord. I had my camera and fired off a few shots, but was touched to see Isaac also shooting away during the wedding. Our children were all actively engaged with the proceedings, which was such a blessing to see. They have not grown up with this branch of the family, and have rarely,… no, never, had family gatherings the way the Carlton branch does. Only newly introduced to, and immediately embraced by, the Carlton gang, there has been an intangible resistance on my children's part to fully commit, (or admit) to the family. This weekend would change that once and for all.

After the ceremony was done we were ushered outside for the traditional passing under the arch of the newlyweds. Grabbing a strategic spot from which to photograph the moment, with Kate and the other camera nearby at a different angle, we watched for them to emerge from the church. Standing tall and erect in their Navy dress whites, Ben and Steve looked the very definition of valor and discipline. At the precisely right moment they raised their swords, and Angie and Guy walked through, beaming from ear to ear. What happened next must not have been anticipated by our dear Bride. With a twinkle in his valiant eyes, Ben raised his sword higher, took aim, acquired the target, and with the flat of the blade- and a shout of "Go Navy!" gave Angie a swat on her behind that almost lifted her off her feet! Evidently this particular aspect of the tradition had not been explained in full to the now shocked bride of Master Chief Petty Officer Guy Carlton. (and I caught it all!)

The drive to the wedding reception wasn't long at all, and we soon gathered at a lovely Country Club to spend the rest of the evening. Appetizers and beverages were being served when we arrived, and the atmosphere was calm and refined. Being wine lovers, (connoisseurs?) Angie and Guy had chosen a marvelous selection of wines for the reception. With a camera in my hand, juggling a glass of wine and a plate of appetizers was nearly impossible, but I managed a few tastes. We were soon able to enter the dining room and found our seats. The newlyweds arrived before long and the celebration began. In lieu of gifts, the Carltons requested that donations be made to two hospice care centers which had cared for loved ones in the recent past. The DJ announced that for every $10 donation the groom would kiss his lovely bride. The donations began rolling in, and soon Isaac declared that Guy's lips were likely to fall off! Before dinner was served I went to a couple of tables to take photos of some of the couples. Dinner was marvelous, interrupted by donations and kisses, and we were warming to the party mood.

Looking around we realized that the photographer from the ceremony who had shot Guy and Angie entering the reception had disappeared. Angie then came over to let me know that not only was the cake cutting taking place soon, but there would be a second cake- a surprise to Guy- that she wanted me to be sure to catch. I had my orders! Given free reign with the camera I enjoyed going to everyone for photos candid and posed. Isaac was even running around with the second camera taking photos. We both shot the cutting of the cake, and Guy's Master Chief cake. Soon after dessert the dancing began. Not as easy to photograph, it sure was fun to watch! You can check out the album of photos here.

This is one family that enjoys one another and knows how to have a good time. It didn't take long for the dance floor to be full. Not many slow dances for this crowd; the beat was fast and the atmosphere electric. At one point I looked up and Bekah was out there dancing with Alexis, her second cousin twice removed. Jim, Isaac, Kate and Erin were outside on the deck having conversations with other cousins and I pulled them inside to join in the fun. I thought Isaac would be too cautious to hit the floor, but our little Boy Scout showed us he can bust a move! (Is there a badge for that?) Dancing and singing along to just about every song, Isaac had a blast. Kate and Erin soon joined the fun, and before long Jim and I were also dancing. Then it happened. The DJ announced a special request, and the first notes of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody floated through the air.

Oh, my, word.

Every guy in the reception, and a couple of girls too, struck a Freddie Mercury pose and sang- acted out- every word of the song! What a jaw-dropping, hilarious event to watch! And how sweet too; here's cousin Brent teaching his darling daughter just when to bang her head for the guitar solo… All of the boys with Mommas present serenaded them at the right parts in the song, urging them to, "Carry on, carry on…" Never have we imagined such a unifying activity to draw our kids into the crowd of cousins. Their familiarity with the gang was sealed with the playing of Journey's Don't Stop Believing. The reception ended with Angie and Guy's selection of We are Family, with all of the men and women lined up opposite one another to dance down the middle, a pair at a time. Isaac was my partner for this closing act and we boogied on down the line.

A perfect ending for a perfect day.

Kate is 21...

Kate has turned 21 years old,... how the years have flown. Since she has already lived in Europe on two occasions for several months at a time, she has been looking forward to the day when she can once again enjoy a glass of wine legally. That day having arrived, she chose to have a gourmet meal, straight out of Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking, with wines appropriate to each course, naturally.

We first had a quiet little gathering of the family to open presents, and then the boys where shooed away so the girlie time could begin!

Kate had been planning and preparing for this meal all week, and she began slicing and dicing, simmering and sauteing early in the afternoon.

Rachel arrived early to lend a hand, and was wearing the very same boots that Kate has! She had borrowed Kate's favorite footwear for a wedding a few months ago, and loved them so much that she ordered her own pair online! So comfy!

Aren't they cute?

The marvelously buttered chicken is roasting deliciously in the oven... oh, butter.

Rachel brought her own cookbook along as well. Every kitchen should have one of these!

Far be it for our chef to miss this feast preparation. Today Bekah assisted Kate, not the other way around. A gift, from her to her sister.

Christine arrives dressed to the nines! Isn't she beautiful?

Mmmmm....

Appetizers.

Rachel makes Hollandaise sauce. Yum.

Sweet Sarah.

Good things are happening in the kitchen!

Served in courses, the meal progresses beautifully.

The delicious and- literally- flamboyant main dish, Poulet au Porto,
(page 245 in Mastering the Art of French Cooking).

Rachel made the chocolate mousse at home... scrumptious!

Make a wish!

Kara, recently home from a visit to see her sister in Ukraine.
We're so glad she could join us tonight.

Erin has also lent a lot of support behind the scenes today.

Well done girls! Happy Birthday Dear Kate!