Days With the Duerksens

Last night, we dove right into the busy-ness that is baseball season.  We're all rookies this year - it's a new thing for us!  The fourth graders are playing kid-pitch this year - yikes!  They only had one practice to prepare for their first game, so we were a little skeptical about how things would go. Fortunately, the other team had also had just one practice - we were pretty evenly matched. Caiden started the game out by pitching - three strike-outs in a row!  The second inning didn't go quite as well, and his friend Jacob came in to pitch.  Eventually, after lots of walks and swings, Goessel won, 7-6!  Caiden said his highlights were:  an RBI in the last inning and his no-hitter in the first! It's going to be fun to watch them over the next month!

This little lady turned 8 on Memorial Day!  She has been very excited about her birthday for a VERY LONG TIME!  She reminded us every day how many more days were left - we were ALL glad when her birthday finally rolled around!  We didn't do anything big - just family over for cake and ice cream. She requested a piano cake, and in true Cambry style - a blue one!  Did you know that the public library has cake pans to check out?  I couldn't believe there was a piano cake - but that's what we used!  And, as always, Chelan did the amazing decorating job.  I think we finally figured out that his welding skills give him great hands for  decorating!! Although it was quite a simple day, she said over and over again what fun she had! We are thankful for her creative talents, her giving spirit, and her silly antics - God has blessed her with truly unique gifts, and we are excited to see how she will use them as she continues to grow! Favorite meal -...

We really don't like raccoons around here, but this cute little thing (along with 3 others) was discovered under our big Cottonwood Tree the other day.  We think they either climbed down or jumped down because they were hungry - Chelan had killed their mother a few days earlier (if we don't get them, they kill our chickens)!  Anyway, we enjoyed watching them for a little while, and then Shammi came and took care of them quickly!  Gotta love country-living!  

Caiden got his very first welding lesson from his dad the other day!  Chelan's report:  "He did great for his first time!"

The kids said good-bye to another school year way back a couple of weeks ago.  It seems like they just got on the bus for the first day and here we are, already saying hello to summer!  Next year will be Caiden's last year at the elementary school - WOW! I enjoyed lunch at school the day before the last day of school - here are some of Cambry's friends. Delaney had a field trip on her last day of pre-school, which happened to be the same day.  I went with them to the Kaufman Museum in N. Newton to see the prairie animals exhibit.  Then, they enjoyed some playtime at the park.  She can't wait to go back for a full year next fall, even though her friend, Jenna, will be in Kindergarten.  However, I am hopeful that some new friendships will develop! She loves butterflies!

My three blessings!

For the third year in a row, Caiden competed in the Hesston Youth Track Meet.  Two years ago, there were about 3 or 4 kids in each event.  Yesterday, there were 250 kids competing! Yikes!  It didn't seem to phase Caiden, however.  He did the long jump, 100 M dash, and the 4x100 M relay with his best friends:  Jacob, Timothy, and his cousin Ty.  Wouldn't you know - he got 3 first place ribbons!  I think he is just competitive enough that he will do whatever it takes to win.  Yesterday, that included coming from behind on the anchor leg of the 4x100 to win it!   We are very proud of him, and we hope that as he develops his athletic gifts, he will learn that God is the one who gave him his speedy and springy legs.  And that it's up to him to use those gifts for His glory! I videoed mainly because Chelan and Delaney couldn't be there (double ear infection and double eye infection - seriously?  it's May!  But that's a whole 'not...

In general, I don't trust my crafting skills.  I totally rely on step-by-step instructions and lots of pictures.  But yesterday I got brave!  I looked at just one picture, gathered supplies, and created!  My 13-year-old niece would be so proud!   The reason for my craftiness?  We were in need of centerpieces for our VBS staff meeting tomorrow night, so I made three little truffula trees - think "Dr. Seuss."  Our VBS theme this year is "Weird Animals," so any bright-colored, strange-looking decorations are in order!  I think we'll be able to make more for the week of VBS - what fun! Supplies : -3 wooden skewers -washi tape -styrofoam ball -feather boa (a short section) -glue (of some sort)  

Cambry's spring piano recital was last Sunday, May 4.  She played 2 pieces, but I only got one on video - not sure what happened to the camera for the first one.  She's been struggling with allergies/asthma/cold symptoms, so we weren't even sure she would be able to go for fear of a gigantic coughing fit during her performance.  We did go, however, and she made it through without even a tickle!  She has practiced those songs many times and was excited to perform them!  Enjoy "Cool Breeze Waltz!"

A couple of weeks ago, I finished reading the Bible - the WHOLE BIBLE - in 90 days!  It felt great to accomplish that goal, and now I have a much better understanding of the Bible as a story of God's people.  I am making connections between the Old and New Testament, passages are coming to mind in certain situations throughout the day, questions were raised, and I discovered that James was one of my favorite books of the Bible.  I feel richer because of this experience.  I needed that challenge of 90 days to make me do it - and knowing that a lot of people in my congregation were doing it as well was super helpful! As a celebration, our church's Board of Education threw a "Biblical Feast" for those who wanted to participate.  A lot of them worked hard to get ready for it, and I really appreciated their efforts.  The meal was fabulous!  I wish I would have taken some pictures.  The menu included foods mentioned in scripture passages - quite cleve...

When I turned 10, my grandparents took me on a special outing - they did this for each of their 4 granddaughters.  Well, now the time has come for my parents to carry on the tradition.  Last Saturday, they took Caiden and Ty to the K-State Purple/White scrimmage to celebrate their 10th birthdays (just 2 days apart from each other).  They were very excited to see some football in the spring - along with 17,000 fans! For a SPRING GAME!  I find that fact amazing. Anyway, they also got to see Weston named captain for the special teams.  What a story that is - from walk-on to captain.  We keep explaining to Caiden how hard he has worked to get to this point - that opportunities aren't always handed to you - you have to work to create them sometimes.  Weston has been a good example of that! Thanks, Mom and Dad, for an experience the boys will remember for a long time!

The treehouse is definitely taking shape!  I thought this might be another project that gets started but never finished.  I was wrong!  Caiden and Cambry have been out there with Chelan trying to get it done.  It's been good for those two to do something together.  Chelan said he even heard Caiden saying encouraging words to Cambry - that's HUGE!