It was no small logistical task to coordinate our trip to Orlando for Cru new staff training. Jim and I preferred not to be away from the kids for that long, so they joined us for a portion of the time. After squaring away Molly for the weekend (she spent a couple days with her old friend Nora), we made our way to the airport. This was Ruth’s first trip on an airplane since she was a baby, so she was quite excited.

Jim instructed her on what it takes to get a plane ready to fly, and she was an eager learner. Once on the plane, she repeated to me what was taking place. Just like her father, what kept her busy durning the flight was looking at the flight plan.

Once in Orlando, our training got underway immediately. Meanwhile, the kids rode roller coasters at Sea World and took advantage of the hotel’s miniature golf course. Jim and I found them during one of our breaks:

Sunday was Mother’s Day. We were given the evening off, so Jim had bought tickets to see the comedian, Tim Hawkins, perform at a local church. We laughed much.

Then on Tuesday morning, we brought the kids to the airport so they could fly home and get back to school.

It was sad to see them go, but we knew that we would not have seen much of them for the rest of the week anyway, as our training went from morning until late at night.

Our new staff group toured Cru headquarters one day, and one thing that really got me excited was the Jesus Film part of the ministry. Just last year, millions of people made a commitment to follow Jesus after watching this movie, which has been translated into over 1600 different languages! You can watch it online, or download the app.

Meanwhile, back at home, my mom was coordinating homeschool, baseball, and Cornermouse jobs. I knew they were in good hands! She and Derek shuttled kids to game…

after game…

after game.

Cornermouse had two substantial jobs that needed coordination. Mom went above and beyond by delivering one order into Chicago!

At the end of our ten days, Jim and I were officially commissioned as missionaries with Cru.

We are thankful to be part of such a solid organization that upholds Scripture and aims to reach the ends of the earth with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We also were encouraged to meet a bunch of great like-minded people from all over the country. Jim and I were among the oldest, as many of the new staff were newly graduated or newly married. Because we had rented a car for the week, we were the airport shuttle for a bunch of people early Sunday morning. Double buckle!

Our time in training helped fuel our excitement over what God has called us to do.

We have learned since starting Cornermouse Catering that jobs tend to come in spurts. Months will pass with no orders, then all of a sudden, there will be three or four that come in at one time.

This was the case last week, when three orders came in, two of which were with a short turnaround time. The Cornermouse crew came over one morning to bake cupcakes and sugar cookies for a graduation reception. The next day, Peter frosted and iced.

On the heels of that big job, there was request for cake pops.

Ruth was brought in as an apprentice.

She helped with the sprinkles.

The final product was a cake pop bouquet. Beautiful…and tasty!

They’ll have a few days of rest, then back into the kitchen for two more jobs!

Whereas some people like to post their accomplishments on social media,

Ruth prefers the old-fashioned chalk on the sidewalk method of communication. When I returned with Molly from our run the other day, this is what I saw before walking into the house.

She has started a routine each morning of running two laps on the WA track across the street, and on this particular day I could congratulate her with a “good job” upon entering the house!

You know the gentlemen’s rule in nature of “take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints”? Our family has a hard time following this rule.

After we moved one year ago and declared the backyard a whiffle ball field, it wasn’t long before two big patches were worn away on the lawn: one for home plate and one for the pitcher’s mound.

The boys suggested to Jim that it would be cool to have each covered with turf. Within hours, Jim got to work making this suggestion a reality. Not one to do something halfway, he dug and installed two batter’s boxes: one for rightys and one for leftys.

He had some help from the neighbors.

The pitcher’s mound turf is temporary, to be rolled up and set aside when not in use. Before long, it was time for the ceremonial first pitch.

Batter up!

The hardest part was taking turns.

No more bare patch of dirt at home plate! And because Jim dug to fit the turf down into the lawn, the boys can just mow right over it with the lawnmower.

Our photo storage program generates photos from “this day in…”. The other day, this popped up from 2005:

Each sibling has a unique relationship with another, and these two are no exception. Ever since Peter was born, Derek has taken him under his wing and gladly borne the responsibility of big brother.

Aside from their size, things haven’t changed much in 13 years…

We endured the long winter and have prevailed! It is now officially time to bring out the whiffle balls for good.

Molly takes her seat in the stands.

The competition begins with Jim, a.k.a. Papa, with the emphasis on the last “pa”.

He has a wicked pitch that the boys have a hard time hitting. When Papa isn’t around, they do their best to emulate his pitching, and then attempt to hit off of one another.

Last weekend, Judi and Dave brought Aiden over to swing the bat a few times.

It was fun to have the little guy around.

Ahhh, spring…