Georgia finds her voice! I guess having me as her caregiver a couple days a week, this was bound to happen! See if you don't recognize some sounds in her voice!

We've been busy!! the 12th was baptism for Georgia. It was a wonderful family day, with Aunt Jodi playing the prelude, Uncle Randy singing "He Knows My Name", all our "other brothers" in attendence, and lots of aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, GREAT grandparents to vow their support of Georgia. Even our two "special nannies" Aunt Judy and Cousin Laurie were able to attend and help serve cake to our family and friends after.

This past week, we've been enjoying the weather like everyone else! Coolest July on record perhaps, and we're just OKAY with that!! It has cut down on the swim time though, as I am sure the pool temp is back to around 70! I know a couple little boys who are just chomping at the bit for a HOT day to swim at nanna's!

We immensely enjoyed the Wedding of Heather Van Kooten and Jeremy Ritzema in Oskaloosa on Saturday. The weather was perfect, and the ceremony inspiring. It was plain to see that we witnesses to the union of two people who love each other and the Lord and come from families that made that possible. I was a bit worried when the groom started crying when ushering in the grandma's, and it was all down hill from there! But a few tears only show that these familes really do care about each other! You have to stand in awe of a woman who raises 6 sons...and obviously taught them to love each other and music! All 5 brothers sang at the ceremony and were joined by their dad and a few close friends to sing the doxology at the reception. I love a reception that carries through with the theme of God First at the ceremony. This one did exactly that. I was glad to be a part of it. Best wishes to Heather and Jeremy and we look forward to more Van Kooten weddings in the future??

Yesterday, Dennis and I ventured out to the Rib America Fest at Vets. Dennis was in his glory, purchasing sampler baskets of barbequed ribs from 6 of the top vendors in the country! It was fun comparing sauce and dry rub and tenderness, until the 4th basket! Dennis broke his front tooth!! YOu know this had to be bad, cuz we LEFT the rib fest with two vendors to go!! We then spend the next 3 hours at Methodist visiting Dennis brother, only to come home and call on Dr Eric De Boef to remove the tooth! It was nice to see Eric and his family, who all came in to the Osky office on a Sunday night to take care of this problem! (Amy, always good to see you!!)

We would ask also that you keep Dennis' brother Bryce in your prayers. Bryce lives on the farm with the parents, and was painting the farm house on Thursday, when the ladder he was on slipped from the house and threw Bryce to the ground. He drove himself to the ER in Pella, where he was transferred by ambulance to Methodist. Tests have revealed that he has fractured his C2 vertebrae and is now in a brace awaiting surgery on Tuesday to repair this. Needless to say, we are so thankful that his fall wasn't worse, and we pray that the surgery will restore in to complete health and function. So far, all looks very good! The days however are long, laying in bed, not allowed to get up, in a brace that looks more like a torture device. Please pray for the surgery tomorrow!

Now, I see it's time for me to get BACK to work! Work, which now consists of caring for Georgia on Monday's and tuesday's while Val is doing clinicals at PRHC for Indian Hills. The rest of my days, well, stay "tuned" so to speak! I'm working on launching some new endeavors, and those of you who know me well, may not be too surprised at what I would like to do! And I could do it in YOUR HOUSE!!