A Few More Graduation Pictures...

Some of Jess' professors

It's official! She's now joined many others as Taylor Alumni!

Jess' view at Commencement

Jess and Jill (TUFB fans and house mates at the Ritz for two years)

Jessica's New Home...

Yesterday, Jessica drove a 14 foot U-haul truck from Columbus, Ohio, to Virginia, where she will now live after she begins her new job on June 23. Today, she is getting her room settled. After driving most of the day, she arrived around 5:00 pm and her new house mates helped her unload the truck. They had it finished in about 45 minutes, and she was able to return the truck as well. Her cousin, Katie, and her kids brought dinner over and they ate a little picnic dinner on the back of the truck outside her townhouse. Thank you, Katie for that wonderful dinner you prepared!

Today, Jess will be settling into her room and preparing for her return flight tomorrow afternoon back to Michigan. :) We'll get to see her for a few more days before she returns to Upland to work her "in-between job" until she starts her "real job" in Virginia.

May God bless you, Jess, as you settle into your new community and find and make new friends, at your work and church. We are so happy the Lord has given you this great opportunity to work at Accenture.

Graduation Weekend at Taylor University

Friday Evening:
My parents and the three of us attended the Senior Buffet in the Dining Commons. Following the Senior Buffet, we all went to the Senior Program in Rediger Auditorium/Chapel. There we experienced a worship service with a time of worship songs, a senior video, testimonies from a couple of seniors, and then President and Mrs. Habecker shared their hearts with the seniors. This was over around 10:00 pm. Since we all had a long day, we headed to the hotel to get some much needed rest.

Saturday:
First thing in the morning, Keith and my dad went to pick up the U-Haul truck that Jessica would be taking to Virginia this week. Then, they came back to the hotel and finished getting ready for Commencement, which started at 10:00 am. Because of forecasted rain, a decision was made Thursday to hold it indoors, which meant some relatives would have to view Commencement in the Rediger Auditorium via closed circuit television. Keith went to the Odle Arena to save some seats for us, as we would arrive a later. My brother, Mark, and his fiance', Denise, arrived at our hotel, just in time so we all drove to campus together. Since they were viewing it from the auditorium, he dropped us off at the arena and then parked. It worked out really well for the parking arrangement, as he came back to the arena before Commencement finished and told us where he had parked. I was so very thankful to the Lord that I actually made it on time!

Commencement was awesome; the speaker was awesome. He was from the Salvation Army. As I sat listening to his charge to the graduates, I felt they couldn't have gotten a better speaker. Then, Keith's phone beeped. He checked his phone and he had an incoming text message from my sister, Lori, in North Carolina! (They couldn't attend Taylor Commencement, as their daughter, Jennifer, will be graduating on Saturday, from Elon University in NC.) She said she was "sitting here bawling, listening to Commencement..." on her computer via livestream online. I'm glad we purchased a DVD of it so we can watch her actually getting her diploma. To be honest, I don't even remember seeing her actually get it! (I know she did, though!) Taylor graduates along with their diplomas receive a towel that represents servanthood. This is to remind the graduates no matter where they go they are to continue to serve the Lord in their new life.

Jessica after Commencement

Following Commencement, our family, along with 25 other friends of the Habecker's, were invited to the President's Luncheon in the Alspaugh Room of the dining commons. It was a very special time as we met several people that Jess had been involved in the University Advancement Office with, as well as the Provost and his wife and President Eugene Habecker and his wife, MaryLou.

Keith, Dad, Mark, Marsha, Denise, Mom, and Jess
Grandpa, Jess, Grandma Keith, Jess, Me Uncle Mark, Aunt (to-be :-) Denise, Jess

After the President's Luncheon, we all went to Jess' house to decide on a plan for the packing. After taking us back to the hotel, Mark and Denise headed back to Grand Ledge. Keith, Dad, and Jess headed to Muncie to pick up packing materials; Mom and I headed to the hotel room to chill out before we started the packing. They didn't get back from Muncie until about 6:45 pm. We ate some dinner and then went over to Jess' house to begin packing. We worked until about 10:00 pm and then headed back to the hotel for the night.

Sunday:

Mom and Dad decided to head down the road toward North Carolina, to Lori and Rich's for Jennifer's graduation celebration next weekend. Keith and I went to Jess' house and worked a few hours packing her truck. We took a break for some lunch at Ivanhoe's and returned to the house to do more packing. About 5:00, we had done most of all we could do. Keith took Jess out for a test drive in the truck. She did great. Jess commented to me, "It's not going to be fun, but I'll get the job done." :) Then, Keith and I got in the cars and headed home tandem driving. We didn't get home until 9:00-ish pm. We were completely exhausted.

On the way back to Grand Rapids, I praised the Lord for my family and the awesome daughter he has blessed us with. I was so grateful to even attend the graduation, and having the strenght to attend all the other things we took part in. It was truly a blessed weekend, and one I will remember for the rest of my life. :)

The Moms in Our Life...Happy Mother's Day!

Keith's mom

Marsha's mom

Today as we celebrate Mother's Day 2008, I wish to give a tribute to our moms. They have sure sacrificed and provided a loving home and family life for us. We appreciate and are so thankful to the Lord for giving us such loving moms. Thanks, Moms! We love you so very much. Happy Mother's Day!

So Many Things to Think About....

Last week was doctor appointment week. I met with both doctors on separate days. In a short review, things are going pretty good. We just have to figure out how to get my symptoms to get under control with my medicines. My regular GI said, "If you give me a call in two months and say you're doing GREAT, then I'll consider taking you off one of your medications. Otherwise, I'll consider it in 3 months." He also said that I need to be careful of what I eat so I don't end up with a bowel obstruction again. So, no fresh veggies or fruit or popcorn or foods like that for me. :(

This coming week is a weekend we have been anticipating for quite some time; Commencement for the Class of 2008 at Taylor University! I can't believe it's here already! When Jessica started college almost 4 years ago, she told us she wanted to make sure the money that she invests in her college education is well spent, and therefore, she wanted to major in International Business/Systems instead of something that she was good at like a Business/Spanish major. She wanted to make sure that she learned something out of her "comfort zone." (Of course, it wasn't all easy as pie for her. She would give credit to friends who helped her through some of her classes. Thank you, to Jess' friends who helped her achieve her goal!) Don't most college students take the easy way out and major in something they excel at? Not Jess. She wanted to learn something she could take with her and would make her better qualified for a future job. Congratulations Jess on all your hard work! The end has finally arrived and you will soon be starting on a wonderful new adventure in your life. We are so proud of you and your accomplishments! :)

Items to pray for:

• Pray for a nice sunny day and not rain, so all the family members can attend the graduation with us.
• Pray for nice driving weather there and back for us and there and on to my sister's house for my parents, who will be attending my niece's graduation from Elon University the following weekend in North Carolina.
• Pray for good health for Marsha and her mom as well.
• Pray for safety on the road for Marsha's brother and fiance'
• Pray the Lord's name would be glorified through the Commencement ceremonies.
• Pray for us as we help pack a U-haul truck/van with Jess' belongings. She will be leaving Upland on Monday, May 19, to head to Virginia. After she gets settled in her townhouse, she will then fly home on Thursday where she will be home for about a week and a half, before she heads back to Upland to work for the University Relations Office for two weeks before she starts her job in Virginia on June 23.
• Pray for safety for Jess as she travels to and from Virginia and back to Upland and back to Virginia. She'll be covering alot of miles in a months time.

Thank you, friends and family for your continued prayers on our behalf. Many of you have been so faithful in praying for us and it has really been appreciated. May the Lord bless each of you in a special way!