Pretty Purple Petunias

I captured this moments before a scattered thundershower hit the deck

Today,,, we are getting ready for Edward's graduation open house on Sunday. We've actually been getting ready all week and I realized I have taken virtually no pictures. so I stepped out this morning to photograph the petunias on our deck.

We will be welcoming a contingent from Celeryville this afternoon which is always exciting. Yes, the Queen Mother will be among them.

A Very Big Flash Back Friday (72)

I thought it was Wednesday yesterdayday, so I didn't post. Here are all the first days,,,

The Sky was Really Blue That Night

After the ceremony, we were all very excited to be photographed with our new graduate.






And the girls were maybe the proudest of all.

Netherlands Nuesday 30

Sign in Bedum

Happy Memorial Day

Waiting for the parade (actually 4th of July last year)

The Graduate

Finally, I am posting the moment for which we have all been waiting!

Class verse: "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 30:32

The speaker, Rev. Galen Meyer, described hope as the intertwining of the tiny little thread of our will with the large steel cable of God's will throughout our life, and I thought this was good, because what is hope without God?

Processional

So this past Thursday night, we headed over to graduation - the Queen Mother, Opa, Edward & I in the car. John left earlier with the girls since Maria was playing in the orchestra and we were to meet John's mother there. Mom and I were riding in the back and broke out in a doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo, to the tune of Pomp & Circumstance. We were really getting into it when Edward joined in with the cello part. It was a priceless moment indeed.

I later learned from Maria that they played through this 2-3 minute piece exactly 11 times - she counted. Each time includes 2 times through the melody. It must have been about the 10th time when Edward finally came in the procession and I was so excited. Tomorrow I will continue the story.

Flash Back Friday 71

The Graduate, 1991

Pomp in Our Circumstances

Still enjoying the Dogwood tree...

So this evening we will be going to see Edward graduate from South Christian High School. The Queen Mother has announced that she and her consort will be arriving this afternoon for the ceremony. I'm sitting here looking at the fixture which she has christened the "cuss and clean" and wondering if she might be up for a cleaning project later on...

Getting Ready for the Pomp & Circumstance

Gather round while I pack the last lunch. Ever.

So yesterday was Edward's last day of school and I was aware that I was packing a lunch for the last time. It felt good. I am not a morning person, so this has been a rather startling aspect to my morning. But I have 2 younger daughters, you say? They have taken on their own lunch packing duties with a gusto, but I never had the heart to make Edward do it. So there you have it.

Netherlands Nuesday 29

Queen Mother with Bouquet 2

Quote for a Graduate

Until you spread your wings, little birdie, you'll have no idea how far you can fly.

A friend of mine who has a cottage up north on the Pere Marquette river sent me this picture of a bald eagle who is building a nest nearby. I needed to blog it of course.

A Royal Birthday

The Queen Mother with her new baby Beatrix

Today, I wondered what could possibly follow on the heels of yesterday's post, but then I realized the date - set in stone forever - it's my mom's birthday!

Happy Birthday dear mother from afar! Hope you're having fun.

Edward's Last Mile

Official time: 4:59.8

Last evening, Edward ran the mile (1600m) for South Christian in the Regional Track Meet downtown at Houseman Field against 15 other schools. His goal was to get under 5 minutes and he had quite a cheering section there when he did it. It was pretty sweet!

I think he's also in serious competition now with the girls for the high drama award. You know how when the crowd cheers in the stadium, kind of a low yay sound? I remember actually going up about an octave when he crossed the finish line.

Flash Back Friday 70

Edward, "Bunnies", April 1990

American Idol Funnies by John

This quote was from John while he was discussing with the girls next week's show-down between the Davids:

"Why archuletting me make a prediction about who's cooking up a big win next week?

A Little Bit of Drama

Bridget tried out for a part last week in the Master Arts Theater production of Cinderella and found out she would be playing the part of one of the Cinderellas! She also has a part as one of the stepsisters in a scene. They'll be getting ready for it in a 2 week camp and then they'll do 10 performances so it should be an exciting July for her!

Last week she performed with her middle school orchestra and looked over at me quite dramatically several times. See below.

Netherlands Nuesday 28

Mom, Flower arrangement in Bedum, September 2007

Mother's Day Rocks!

Yesterday, we had some friends over for Mother's Day and John, bless his heart, orchestrated the dinner preparation with the kids. My friend Cathy & I could hang out, play ping pong and have fun for awhile. Hope you all had a happy Mother's Day too!


Me & Cathy Flinstone, John doing dishes in the background :)

Running by the River

Yesterday, I got up at O'dark-thirty with John to go down to the annual Fifth Third Riverbank Run to watch him run in the 25K with 16,000 runners. I saw him at the start and again at the finish line and saw many people I knew in between. You can see him too if you look carefully at the white arrows below:



I caught up with the great runner at the end and got him to pose in front of La Grand Vitesse and the giant water bottle.


John, May 2008, after running 25K

Go Eddie, Go!

May 2008

Edward ran the mile, or the 1600m rather, in the Conference meet yesterday. His time? 5:02! He didn't break 5 as he wanted to, but oh well. We were talking to a friend of his who graduated a few years ago and he told us of his same struggle in a series of his last high school races that ranged between 5:02 and 5:05, and he was finally able to break 5 in college.

He came home from the meet at about 8:45pm, ate supper, put on a tuxedo, and left for the prom. He stopped long enough for me to take his picture though.



All this running around, but now it's Mother's Day weekend. I'm getting up at o'dark-thirty Saturday morning (today) to go watch John at the Riverbank Run 25K. I know a lot of people running, so it should be fun.

Flash Back Friday 69

Edward, pre-school, 1994

Dogwood

Here in Michigan, we're in that precious window of time when the dogwoods and other flowering trees are in bloom, and tomorrow we will be that last precious window of time when Edward runs the mile in a high school track meet. I'm enjoying every minute of it.

Phantom of the Opera

The following is a very dramatic orchestral rendition of the Phantom of the Opera with some very dramatic close-ups of Edward and Maria.


South Christian High School Symphonic Orchestra, May 2008

Netherlands Nuesday 27

Amsterdamcool, Dad, Will & John, Sept. 2007

Brother & Sister Strings

Last evening, Edward & Maria played in their laaaast orchestra concert together, so I lined them up for the pose. The orchestra played 3 pieces and then the symphonic orchestra played 2 more. One of these was an arrangement of music from Phantom of the Opera and the grand finale of Edward's high school orchestra career? Russian Sailor Dance. It was actually a cool piece which contained an outstanding cello part! I took this nice photo of Edward and his cello buddies Liz & Marie looking at their conductor.

At the end, the symphonic orchestra got a standing O. I asked Edward and Maria how that felt. Maria said, "Don't they always do that?" and Edward said he didn't notice.

Masterpieces of Nature

Maria & Friends, photo by Trudy

Tulips and Track

This morning, John & I drove up north to see Edward run the mile in 5:03 at an Invitational. We would love to see him break the 5 minute mark by the end of track season next week!

On the way home, we stopped by Calvin College to see the senior engineering design projects. We talked to all the "Edwards" there about their inventions - that was cool.

Calvin, remaining true to its Dutch heritage, also does tulips very well. I quickly took these photos outside of John's office, but wish I could have spent more time at it as the tulips are gone so fast.

Flash Back Friday 68

Mom & I by Robert Frost's grave, Bennington, Vermont, 1996

Happy Belated B-day to the Queen!

Yesterday at Calvin College

John e-mailed me late yesterday afternoon that he went to a Koninginnedag celebration at Calvin College where they were flying the Dutch flag. They had Dutch pastries and sang Het Wilhelmus, the Dutch National Anthem. The Dutch people celebrate the Queen's birthday on April 30 which was actually Queen Julianna's birthday. When Beatrix became the queen, she wanted to keep it the same day because her birthday is January 31 - not a great day for street celebrations - and to honor her mother.

Het Wilhelmus
Opa would be proud to know that when I played this song, Edward knew what it was since he learned it in 3rd grade.