Look at me!

The highlight of the day a few weeks ago, July 19th to be exact, was learning to ride with only TWO wheels! Ryan had "wobbly" training wheels and we were noticing him be able to balance with them off the ground a little. So Thursday morning I said... let's take them off! The video below shows him after just about 45 minutes. He is much more stable a week later, of course, and starting and making turns with lots of confidence. And he thinks he's hot stuff now! So do we, if you can't tell! By the way... his "bye" at the end is in his "baby talk" that he thinks he has to do everytime the camera is on. He watched some old videos of himself and thinks it's funny to try to duplicate how he sounded at 18 months!

I hope the video works for you. Just double click on the play button. We're just experimenting thanks to a friend's blog... I'm copying:)! We'll have to try more of these if it works!



And here's some advice from the expert, too :)!

Blessings

I received the following email from a friend (Thanks, Lori!) and it was just at the right time last week. I was "crying over spilled milk" in many situations that week. This was a great reminder to focus on the innumerable blessings in my life and the different shapes and forms in which they come and to never forget God is always with me....

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The man whispered, "God, speak to me" and a meadowlark sang.

But, the man did not hear.

So the man yelled, "God, speak to me" and the thunder rolled across the sky.
But, the man did not listen.

The man looked around and said, "God let me see you." And a star shined brightly.
But the man did not see.

And, the man shouted, "God show me a miracle." And a life was born.
But, the man did not notice.

So, the man cried out in despair, "Touch me God, and let me know you are here."

Where upon, God reached down and touched the man.
But, the man brushed the butterfly away, and walked on.

I found this to be a great reminder that God is always around us in the little and simple things that we take for granted ... Even in our electronic age. So I would like to add one more:

The man cried, "God, I need your help!" And an e-mail arrived reaching out with good news and encouragement.But, the man deleted it and continued crying.

Don't miss out on a blessing because it isn't packaged the way that you expect.

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So whether it's a beautiful sunrise on a cold Minnesota morning or ...

a beautiful sunset in balmy Jamaica,

Either way it's packaged, I'm going to work at praising God for all the wonderful blessings He's provided and forgetting about the milk that's spilled... actually, I'll be thankful that I have milk to spill!

10 years ago...

On a Friday evening, 10 years ago tonight (July 18, 1997) Steve and I met in person for the very first time.... only God knew the "rest of the story"!... On Lake Webster in northern Indiana....brother Jim, the Perkins and Webb families there for moral support... which Steve probably needs more now after ten years than he did that day!!! And did you really know what you were getting us into, Cyn and Becky? :) Thanks for your persistence and thanks to God for His guiding hand.

And what made tonight even more special...Steve was the one to "remember" :) and I probably let him down for not ! What a loser I was today... so here's my attempt to "make up" for my lack of sentiment!

I love you, Steve!! Here's to many more decades together!

No worries, "mon"!

but no pictures either... I give up. I've tried for a week to post some pics from our trip the first week of July. Fabulous time just being together and relaxing! And as much as we love our little Ry-guy, it was good to just have some "peaceful" time alone :) Thanks McCarty's for giving Ryan a fun week... he didn't miss us at all he says!

So... here's what I did get to upload! Exciting, huh?

The view from our balcony in the morning...gorgeous and sooo peaceful.

Some wonderfully displayed food and a handsome guy that can't keep his eyes open with a flash :)!

I'll keep trying to post some others?