Hello Everyone,
Summer is just around the corner and I'm sure that you, like us, are making Summer plans, dusting off your swim suits and outdoor grills, and are beginning to run the A/C.
Some of our Summer plans MAY involve buying a small r/v and traveling across the midwest. We would even like to go back east and see the Hill Cumorah pageant. This is in the very beginning planning stages. Also, after winning some free tickets to King's Island Amusement Park in Ohio, we'll be making a trip out there to have some fun!
We recently bought the kids a trampoline for the backyard to keep them entertained after school lets out. Keep your fingers crossed with us that no one kills themselves . . .
If I were to sum up these last few weeks with just five words they'd be: Cicadas, thunderstorms, parties, Taekwondo, Soccer, weight-loss (does that count as one word?), and gigs.
I think anyone who lives in the midwest needs no explanation when it comes to either cicadas or thunderstorms. But for the rest of you, a cicada (I'm not even sure I have the spelling right), is a bug which looks like a cross between a large wasp, a horsefly, and a butterfly. They get as big as 3' long and are NOISY!!! The last time anyone saw a cicada was 17 years ago; then they were dormant until the end of May 2004! We were the lucky winners to experience the infestation of billions of bugs! They crawled out of the ground and flew into the trees where they buzz (a male mating call), and live for about three weeks then die. There are still billions of cicadas everywhere, but we are beginning so see lots of dead ones on the ground. They don't really hurt anything or bite or sting. Their only annoyance is their noise and their poor flying skills. They will fly right into you or land right on you. Picnics are a real pain-there's always several uninvited 'guests'.
As far as thunderstorms go, May is usually the big storm month out here. Once again we were lucky to be missed by the ten or so tornados that came through Indiana last Sunday. The sirens went off, but all we got was a few flashes of lightening and a lot of rain. I love the storms, but I admit to getting a little nervous when the tornado sirens go off.
Camilla just celebrated her fourth birthday! For the first time, we actually planned a fairly large party for her. She requested a Dora, The Explorer party along with a long list of friends to invite. Everything went very well and Camilla felt super special for a day. Besides turning four, Camilla has been taking dancing and gymnastics classes. She is one of the most cheerful and friendly little girls I know.
Wesley is our Taekwondo man! On June 11, he'll be testing for his yellow belt, a big accomplishment! Another big accomplishment is getting baptized. His scheduled baptism is on June 20 which is also Father's Day. Grandpa and Grandma Clark will be able to attend that special event. Although Wesley already turned eight on June 4, he'll be celebrating his birthday on Saturday, June 12, with a Harry Potter theme. And yes, we've already seen the movie!
Nathan, after four years, has decided to turn in the piano for a saxophone. Although Tom has not objected to teaching Nathan the saxophone, he'd like Nathan to continue with the piano. He thinks it will make Nathan a better musician. Nathan really, really, really likes jazz! He also really, really, really likes basketball-so much so that he wants to grow out his hair and wear it in corn rows like all the cool professional players such as Jermaine O'Neil. Nathan's other love is soccer. He usually scores at least one goal each game.
Tom had such a busy gig week last week that he was out every night except Saturday. The money is always nice, but it's also nice to see his face. 'Tis the season . . . Tom and the word 'busy' are usually said together in the same sentence. He stays 'busy' in his ward calling. He stays 'busy' with his gigs. And he stays 'busy' with his full-time job. He still manages to find time for his family and hobbies. And staying true to Tom's nature, everything that he does, he does well!
Just as 'Tom' and 'busy' are usually heard in the same sentence, my name and 'weight-loss' are found in the same sentence. And not always because I've been so successful at it. It's usually because I'm still working at it. I often wonder what I'll have to think about or talk about or even work on after the resurrection! If I already have a perfect body . . . Then what??? There's just got to be other important things to work on that fill my thoughts wouldn't you agree? Some other things I really do think about or are doing are: reading (I've been a thirsty reader lately), working at the YMCA, ward/stake callings, taekwondo, scrapbooking, home remodeling, singing, and wondering what I'm going to be when I grow up. Well that about covers it for now.
We hope all is going well for you and hope to hear from you soon. You continue to be in our thoughts and prayers and are most grateful for our relationship with you.
God bless you, Tom, Michelle, Nathan, Wesley, and Camilla
