Ry lost some teeth.

Ryan sporting a summer smile at the beach.

Molly found some patience, fractional mind you, but patience none the less.

Molly tending to her new cousin Max.

Claire found courage.

CJ "hanging" out on the neighbor's play set.

Leah lost her willingness to give up her “thumb” after nap-time.

Leah with her "taggie" on the diaper table in her nursery.

Peter found peace during his time as a canoe leader for a wilderness week Up North. He didn’t loose any of his paddlers.

Pete carrying water at his pre-trip camp site.

I lost my cool and then found it, then completely lost it again, then figured I didn’t need ‘my cool’ because frazzled is the new look for Fall.

Molly, Me, Leah, Ryan in front of the fire pit.

What’s in your lost and found box?

Love,

Jess

In honor of my husband’s special day, I enlisted the help of some folks to tell Pete how great he is. (Which happens to tie in nicely with my  Proverbs 31 hands on learning  series.)

Proverbs 31:23

²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

Okay here it goes…

First, I admire how generous Pete is with his time – everyone comes to Pete with computer questions eventually, and he always has time to help. Second, after attending Bible Study with Pete I have come to respect his unique and well thought-out insights as well as his desire to learn and grow. Pete is a faithful friend.

-Jay (Bible Study Leader)

I have friends who are smarter than me, and brotha, you’re one of them. You are a valuable friend for your insights.  Thanks Pete!

-Jeremy (Friend)

Pete is a pretty special guy in my book. Not only has he been one of the best employees I’ve ever had the honor to have work for me, but I also consider him a good friend.

He’s one of the smartest guys I know, and I think he could pretty much figure out almost any problem he puts his mind to. He has a way of seeing things before others do that is particularly impressive. I know he doesn’t give himself credit for how bright he actually is, but he really is an extraordinary person.

I feel blessed to know him, work with him, and call him my friend.

-Erich (Employer)

It’s hard to believe that when we first met Peter was just 18 years old. We were so blessed when just a few years later he met with us privately to tell us he was going to ask Jessica to marry him. We could never have asked for a better son-in-law.

He is industrious, energetic and loving. He is a godly husband and father who has made such a difference in our daughter’s and in our lives. We wish him a very happy 30th birthday and we hope many more. May God continue to bless him always.

-Dennis and Lucy (The Inlaws)

The thing that has stood out most, in my relatively short time in knowing Pete, is his ability to be slow to react, quick to stay cool, and his ability to view situations or people in a positive light.  There have been many times that I have been quick to judge something and Pete presented his view and completely changed my outlook on it.  He certainly seems wise in that way.

-Josh (Co-Worker)

I agree with all the statements above and then some! I am so proud to have a guy like Pete. {happy birthday, you elder, you!}

Love,

Jess

There is something really great about buying and eating locally grown food. Certainly I will still eat my imported grapes from Peru! But there is something nice to go to Sever’s market for corn on the cob in late Summer or go to Apple Jack’s Orchard for some awesome Honey Crisp apples in the Fall. I will be going strawberry picking again next year for sure.

After church services we went to Prior Lake to celebrate with my folks Dennis and Lucy Kender and part of Pete’s family, Phil (dad) and John (brother) McWilliams. We ate Davanni’s pizza lunch followed by games at the beach topped off with make your own sundaes/cones.

We gave my Dad a keg of Virgil’s Root-beer so some of us had root-beer floats. It was sweet to have my Dad, Father-in-law and my baby Daddy all in the same place to celebrate their lives and thank them for all that they do to contribute in my life and the life of my kids.

Tonight was such a night.

The four of us went to Culver’s for my birthday dinner at my request. After our meal together we stopped at Kelley Park in Apple Valley. The park has pretty fountains, walking paths and fun equipment. Ryan loved bouncing around on the bouncy play-turf ground covering and braved the fireman pole. Molly went down slide after slide. She taught herself to lean back to go faster and put her shoes down on the slide to go slower.

The weather was an ideal mixture of coolness from breeze and warmness from sun. I felt happy that such a simple birthday evening could be so satisfying.