THE BIG DAY HAS ARRIVED!

I'm sure, if you think of her, Jess would really appreciate your thoughts and prayers today and the next few weeks as she begins her training time with her new position at Accenture. I'm sure she'll be meeting alot of new people, too. Our prayer is that she will have strength and wisdom for this new job. Also, that she will pace herself as she settles in to life in Virginia, that she'll take time to be involved in church activities, but also take time for time with herself and to rest as well. May she also let the Lord's love shine through her life.

Blessings to you, Jess. Have a wonderful first day of work in your "real job." You'll do just great!! :)

STRAWBERRIES!

Our first strawberries of the season. We bought a flat and these

are the final 2 1/2 quarts we had left to clean and hull.

My helper, and cleaner-upper, Keith! He's the BEST helper, ever!

(Rewards: strawberry jam, strawberry shortcake, strawberries with ice cream!!)

and...the finished product! YUM!!!

Hopefully, this will last for a few months. :)

Jessica's New Home Sweet Home....

These pictures were taken the first time Jessica drove to Virginia. Of course, she got bored after driving the long trip, and stopped along the way to enjoy the view.
Someone took her picture at this scenic view.
Her new home sweet room in Virginia, which Jess will be arriving shortly tonight to settle in. Her long drive will be behind her, and all she has to look forward to will be settling into her new life with new friends, new church, and her new job, beginning on Monday, June 23.

Note to Jess: We wish you the very best as you begin your new life in Virginia. May the Lord continue to bless you as you start your new career on Monday. We love you so very much! Our prayers are with you as you begin your new job. :) Many blessings to you as you begin your life in the big scarey world. Just always live your life to "Honor God in all you do."

Love,

Mom & Dad

Thanking the Lord for His Protection....

How many times are we away from our kids and the Lord keeps them safe when we don't even realize they may be in or near trouble?

We are thanking the Lord today for keeping Jessica and her friend safe in the car yesterday as they were driving to a wedding near Louisville, Kentucky. They had attended one wedding in Upland, Indiana early in the day and had planned to drive to this other wedding afterward just two hours away. She had called us for a street address for the church they were going to so she could enter it into her GPS Unit for directions. (Keith and I were just leaving the house for a graduation open house at this first call.) On our way home, Jess called her Dad's cell phone and said they weren't going to be able to get to the wedding. The authorities had closed all the main highways around Indianapolis because of all flooding they had around there. If she had been going through that area earlier or at a different time, she could have been right in the middle of it all.

Thank you, Lord, for keeping Jessica safe in your hands and taking care of her while she is away from us.

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. :)