Chiolis meets Africa

Time has come and gone and now I am trying to catch up and post about some really great things that have happened in the last couple of weeks. We had the awesome opportunity to host the Matsiko Choir from Uganda for a few days and it was a truly beautiful experience. The day before they came we were notified that we didn't have enough host families and we were saddened that we were going to miss out. But God laid it all in our hands and I got on the phone and homes for all 25 kiddos were found. There was some reluctancy with busy schedules and conflicts, but I know I can say that all who participated wouldn't have given it up for anything.

We had the honor of being with three sweet girls, who in the few short days taught us soo much about their culture, but also opened our hearts and eyes to the beauty they possess and their positive look on life despite their circumstances of the past. We were told right away that none of the children are up for adoption....that they came from places without hope, but they have hope now.....that they get to go to school...that they WILL go on to the university....that they will become teachers and doctors and mechanics and lawyers. They look only to the future.
They're amazing!!

The first night the girls insisted on cooking for us--they made flatbread "Chipate"and we cooked chicken on the grill as well as beans and rice. They weren't real excited about our American food, although one likes pizza and the other two french fries. :0)

This morning we had three more friends come to hang out before choir practice--Dic and I decided we could have hosted all of them--they are all soo precious.

They had never seen an apple tree before and even though the apples were not ripe they "dug in". They said they have lots of mangos and plantenes, but no apples. We went through 2 huge bags during their 3-day stay! :0)

They performed at Mount Rushmore and it was a sight to see/hear. With smiles on their faces they danced their little hearts out. What an emotional experience--one little girl shared her life story that spoke for all of them. My tears were flowing.

This is our youngest, Belinda. Is she cute or what???

Anita (12), Sherome(12), and Belinda(8).
America and Africa coming together!

Our car-ride home was a blast! I think exhaustion was beginning to set in for all of us, but the girls joined in with stories and giggles. On the way home we stopped at McDonalds for french fries, Little Caesar's for Belinda's pizza (she ate all but two pieces herself--and those we made her keep for lunch the next day), and some fried chicken. We went by my sister's to see some relatives and the girls were asked to sing for everyone......they danced and sang a whole song from their program----sooo awesome! I felt pride, even though they don't "belong" to me!

Anita and Cole having some quiet time our last morning together.

~~~OUR FAMILY~~~

Cole and Anita became very close in a short time. She wrote him a letter that said he is the best brother she could ever ask for. He has a little hole in his heart and says he is saving his money so he can go to Africa. We are hoping to keep in touch with the girls.

All of our children--they so fit our family. They will be missed, but we will continue to think about them, pray for them, and support them. We offered to take this all on again next year and want them to stay longer so we can raise some money for their cause. Most of these kids will not be returning, but there will be a whole other group to love on. We can't wait!! God brought them for a reason.
My eyes are open.

quiet days reserved.......

Life is so fragile and these are the times to embrace....peace and tranquility. More to come in the week ahead--we have the incredible chance to host a few children from Uganda who are coming here to sing on tour. We are blessed and it makes me wonder.....oh, it makes me wonder....is God trying to tell me something? I think of it daily with theses opportunities He is giving. I will keep my eyes and ears open.

Togetherness

We had a really great weekend with LOTS of friends and FUN!!!
We met up with some friends from high school--they were having their 20th year reunion and invited us to the festivities.

gett'n a little crazy!!
A little singing & playing
(Nathan & I sang together way back when)

Me & Amy--it's been sooo long since we got to hang out!
Jamie & Niki, Brian & Dar, Me & Dic


We spent the rest of the weekend at the Hills Alive Festival and even got to watch our friends play in their band (forgot my camera-dang!)
Luke & buddy Wilam
Everyone!!
It had been a sweet, but long day (see hair).
Holly & Jon
Big Jon & Mimi

Cole & Zach found the perfect spot to jam out!

randomness with a downward swirl

Feeling like there's soo much I still wanna do and the summer is almost over. I can't seem to keep a handle on the house and laundry, just so I can get to the pool and park and Reptile Gardens with the kids. We haven't taken any big bike rides yet or even hiked any trails. And lots of friends that we have promised time with and haven't gotten there. Okay, so that's Miss Negativity talking.

• Positive Notes

Our yard is beginning to look oh-so-fabulous, but still much more to do AND we took off after church yesterday to go to the Angustora Lake with some friends. Now THAT was fun--thanks Tanya & Kyle! :0) We also had my little nephew, Jace, for the day last Friday and my sis came over with Shayna to play in the pool. I'm soo grateful for that (even with screaming, tired kids).

I am trying to get just a little more caught up with the laundry and then a possible trip to the pool with some other friends today. We'll see......I told my mom today that if one more person calls and asks us to do something for them I think my head will spin! Not my normal reaction when my peeps need help...usually I'm offering, but I'm overwhelmed again...so is Dic. He was asked to coach Zach's baseball team in a tournament this coming weekend. He said he would do it, but couldn't commit to having practices. After much decision-making Zach and a few of the other boys went to play with another team. And they have had practice several days in a row. I know Dic is feeling torn because he feels like he should help, but he also put in his couple of months as coach and dropped everything in the meantime. He can't be leaving work early anymore, especially during his busy time and it would be nice if he could just come home at night and enjoy his family (how could you not LOVE being with US). Plus he has a church board meeting and an out-of-towner this week on top of eveything else. Anyway, those games are scheduled from Tuesday to Saturday...and this is also the weekend for Hills Alive, which we love love love. So how do we fit it all in in.......with a happy face....with a happy heart? In the meantime we are looking for an open day to get sod for the chicken coop so we can take lots of chickens off of our friends' hands. Not looking good. My mom needs me to come mow her lawn......not really feel'n like it. My MIL wants me to come babysit the dead donkey until Bear Country gets here (a whole different story!)......don't have the stomach for it. And my favs. girlfriend wants us to do the pool today, which my boys would love!!! OKAY--so I know it will all be here when get back---that's my problem!! It's always here...there's always soo much to do and never enough time. Guess I'll take the first step and get my butt out the door to get the poor, hungry dog some food and the real skinny lizards some crickets. And I'll take that run tomorrow......tomorrow I'll get my exercise regime started. Ha!!

Independence Day 2009

This was our Fourth of July---it went on for days!!

This day is always fun, but also my big brother's Birthday.....just a good reason to make a cake!

Dic was inducted into the Post 22 Hall of Fame this weekend. He pitched from 1982-1985 and this is the 1984 team that went to the World Series in New Orleans together. Such a special honor.

The infamous Thompson/4th of July picture. This is the only time of year we can get everyone together, especially since oldest nephew Jacob lives in Arkansas. :0)

My 3-day jello we (I) couldn't bare to cut into! :0) It was just decoration for a couple of days, but eventually it was a delicious treat! Oh, and my cute nephew, Brody, think'n he's gonna get in on the action! :0) Not today, Brode!

The Chiolis, Washburn, and DeWitt boys (& girl) watching the fireworks from our deck. We think we have the best seat in the city for firework watching. We can see them from Arrowhead Golf course, Memorial Park, Elks Golf course, the racetrack and everywhere else they can be shot. The sky lights up and we love it all!!
Good times!

Clearing Out!!

The calendar is clearing...only 2 more full weeks of baseball and I'm soooo ready. It's been fun, but also chaotic. Now we have many projects started in the yard. We have yet to finish our back walkway that we started 2 summers ago, but last year Dic put in a new porch (which is also unfinished), and now he's working on the garden he's always wanted. We decided to only put in half this year since it's late in the season. Sooooo we were going to go camping for Father's Day weekend, but decided the fence must be finished around the garden so we can actually plant some veggies. It's on the outside of the yard so the horses, donkeys, and goats have full access if they want....which we DON'T want!! I have purchased more flowers this year than I think I ever have and I'm having a blast planting and moving foliage where needed. Pretty soon our yard will be one big garden!! :0) I have several things I'd like to do (like put a railing on the back deck and add pergalas to all three porches), but the one I know I am getting done is the chicken coop. We are going to add several inches of top soil and seed the nasty, muddy mess so I don't have to deal with that every time it rains or snows. We are down to 3 grown chickens so now's the time to do it! We have 3 turkeys and 6 chicks who are teens and are waiting to be added to the coop. And we just bought another 7 chicks to be added later. This is something we WILL get done. Maybe it's good that we're staying home this weekend. Oh so much to do!! I'll post picts of my pretty yard later--it's coming along! :0)

13 YEARS

It has been the hardest and best
13 years of my life and I am sooo grateful!

Dic and I were married June 8, 1996....
13 really long, wonderful years ago.

We met when I had just graduated from high school at age 17 at the city softball fields. He was a stalker...I was sure of that! I had been visiting with my dad and after I left Dic came up to him and asked who the girl with the nice a** was. You can imagine what my dad's response was....not so sure of the words, I just know that Dic got a really hard elbow to the gut. My parents knew him because of Post 22 Legion baseball, which it seems we went to watch every summer for most of my childhood. I never thought I would ever hook up with one of those studs who were oh-so-cute, but soo much older than me. I tell people Dic was pitching for Post 22 and I was swinging on the monkey bars! Five years was a BIG difference back then. Anyway, back to my story.......Dic followed me home at some point and asked me out. I was still seeing a guy from high school and so I declined, as flattered as I was. But he kept at it throughout the summer....asking my brother and sister when I was gonna drop the loser I was dating. But that was the end of that for awhile. That next winter I was attending BHSU and he came to Spearfish for a basketball game, as he was going to SDSM&T. I was lifting weights to prepare for a body-building competition and he saw me so we talked for awhile. That next summer I was determined to hunt him down at the softball fields and that I did. He asked me out, just as planned, :0) we were engaged a year after, and married 5 years to the day.

Marriage is never what it's expected to be, and you never really "get it" when people tell you it will be difficult. It's one of those things that has to be experienced to truly understand, and some just never get it right.

We have had soo very many ups and downs that sometimes I thought we would never make it......but every day has made us stronger. He has turned into a more loving, caring, spiritual husband than I ever thought he was capable of, and I know I have changed enormously since we came together. We're even different than 5 years ago......2 years ago. We talk more, we listen more, we definitely challenge each other more and respond to each other's needs. Things are good and peaceful and I think we both cherish every day more than the last.

13 years of love, laughter, tears, and growth........
and I am grateful.

I love you, Dic.
Every day, I love you.
Kendra

1st Camping Trip of the Season

We normally don't do Memorial weekend due to rain, but thought we'd try it......yep, it rained! Lots of wet shoes, wet socks, wet pants up to the knees. But yet time together away from worries and stress.

We got this hike in, in-between showers.


Dic and Cole having some father-son time--
love the trail through the trees.



Zachie decided after a short time to go back and get his bike---
he had a blast bounc'n 'round on the trail.


AAHHH!!
We found them hiding here.



LOVE this picture!
Luke was forever bringing me flowers throughout the weekend.
Look at those dirty little fingers.


This is something new for Phoebe. I'm pretty sure she never got to leave her old house. When we first got her, we would let her out of the car and she would run in all directions...and not come back!

Pretty sure she hadn't even taken car rides and I know she had never been on a leash at 2 years old. She is lov'n life now. She had a great time running and playing with the kids and Smoke.

Isn't she cute?

Stinker!

Luke was in charge of the camera---
me and Phoebes


I know I look REAL happy--
after many pictures!

Heading back after a fun hike. Everyone was very tired...dogs included.

The sign shows our favorite campground--

Beautiful, green scenery everywhere--

fog and mist were with us all weekend.

The entrance to our "happy place".

Look how green the grass is--

that won't last long.

I wanna go back!

Cousin Haley and Zach on our last, stormy night. Good night for hot chocolate and popcorn...and whatever else we could find! The newly- renovated camper got lots of action. I am soooo grateful!

Racing....

My life is running pretty fast-paced right now--just like this song.....makes me feel like I'm on a merry-go-round and can't get my feet down to stop.

I have been taking on way more than I have been capable of in the years passed and if you would have asked me to volunteer (which, believe me, I was) my first reaction would have been to jump on board.....then I would jump ship. I couldn't handle it. My mind was always spinning and I didn't know how to make it stop. I have learned that when my body is healthy, so is my mind. And that's all about nutrition, for one, but also sleep and a little pampering here and there....and then there's the biggest thing---I have God in my life. I always thought I had that, but I didn't really "get it". I know what it feels like now. I stumble...He picks me up. I loose it for a while...He puts me back on track. He gave me so many friends to lean on and share with who believe in Him with all their hearts. What a blessing! And then there is the change in my husband and my kids. We are all in it together and it's amazing how much more smoothly our lives run. We give it all up to God and he truly does take care of everything. So now I know that I have gifts from above and He guides me through it all. The three baseball teams and the stress that creates, giving my time at our church and how overwhelming that can be, my beautiful boys and all of that sassiness (yes, boys have it too ;0). And my husband has such a faith that I didn't know he was capable of. You wouldn't recognize him from two years ago (oh, and there's the 50 lbs lost and longer hair--that can really throw you off !). Life is good....better than it's ever been. I've learned to look at my calendar and take one day at a time, instead of seeing a full week and feel like throwing up. I just couldn't handle more than one thing at a time before, and even then my body was so unhealthy that it wouldn't allow it. I have been a tired, un-energetic person for most of my life I am realizing. And I get a hard time from others who don't understand why we have an early bedtime for our kids and try as hard as we can to keep them from junk food. It makes a HUGE difference in how we perceive life and that beautiful life can just pass us right on by. I wish I knew then what I know now---I wasted so much time being tired and not enjoying what was right in front of me.

So bring on the baseball games, and pictures and practices and concession stand duty. Bring on the trips to-and-from school for so many different reasons. Bring on the community and church volunteering and the preparation for long camping trips. And bring on the mounds of yard work and projects (seriously, though, you can have the cleaning and cooking).

I AM READY!

I can't wait to take the rest of it in and say that I got

"all of THIS accomplished"!!

WANNA RACE?

OH Lord, PLEASE HELP ME!!

We Will never Know........

Today my heart is breaking for friends near and far. These friends have taken such a big, important step in the lives of children they have never met before. They have chosen to do what God is leading them to and yet there are road-blocks. It isn't fair that they are the chosen parents of these babies from across the world and they are "stuck" where they cannot be united. Lots of tears and struggles and money already passed between hands. Their stories have allowed me to feel compassion for people all over the world....to understand their hardships and burdens like it were my own. And it gives me the desire to do what my friends are doing---making these kids a part of their families. These are children who have lost one or both parents, who were born under horrible circumstances and have no one left to care for them, or possibly those who were given up because they knew they were not capable of taking on a child. And we can be judgemental from afar, but we will never know their pain. We will never understand what it's like to care for a child when we are starving ourselves. We will never know. Please pray for my friends from near and from far. These are not the only stories. There are children waiting all over the world for their new families who will care for them. Please pray that their babies will come home to them soon. Please pray that these little ones will feel the embrace of their sweet brothers and sisters in the land of plenty. Because even though America is feeling hard times right now, we will never know what it's like half-way across the world until we experience it for ourselves. We will never know what it's like to walk miles upon miles without shoes to retrieve water that is infected with animal feces. We will never know what it's like to have a disease that cannot be cured. We will never know what it's like to die of starvation. Please pray for these children of Christ who deserve these necessities as much as we do. And pray for their parents who can and will care for them as if they were their own. Pray for them....I beg you with my hurting heart.

My Sweets is Six!!

Lukey had a pirate party......

so many fun things for this theme--we went all out!


The pirate crew--May 2nd is also Dic's Birthday
.....correction from my last post--he is only 42!! Whoops!


These are five of Luke's best friends
--Jevon, Caleb,Trey,Gabbie, and Wilam.



And the whole darn crew
--cousins and all.


Oh yes, and then there is the cake---it was going to be a very easy cake. I got an idea in my head and I really thought it would take less time then my others, but with exhaustion setting in from a couple of very busy weeks, I couldn't handle it when the first "ship" broke in two. Yes, I cried......a lot! And I can usually handle cake disasters, but I drew a blank and all I could do was cry. So I baked yet another cake and the ship became a boat and the pirate crew became a one-man team. I think it turned out okay, just not what I envisioned. But Luke assured me he would love it "no matter how bad it turns out". :0)



I love this sweet baby! Another year has gone by that means that next year he will be in Kindergarten and more importantly in his mind......he will get to be part of Kids Club at daddy's work (we keep trying to tell him he IS ALREADY part of Kids Club, but he has his mind set). Five years seems to be the end of baby-hood, but I don't think the chubby cheeks will ever go away. Yeah! The past year has been a really good/challenging year with this inquisitive, strong-willed, free-spirited little boy. The boy who wants to be called Jesus (he is still saying that when he's an adult he's changing his name--and he really has cried when I tell him that's not the way it works), this child of mine who uses demands and sarcasm in just about every sentence, the little man who loves God like he's seen Him in person. When I was kissing him goodnight, he said,
"Mom this was the best Birthday I've ever had!!
Happy Birthday, my Lukey!!

A couple of short stories from the Lukester:

As we drove in the car this morning he said, "Mom how will I find your house when I'm a grown up?

&

We took his friend, Wilam, to lunch with us today. In the car ride home the boys were talking about Heaven. Luke said, "God is up in the sky". So Wil said, "Yea, and Jesus is down there", which Luke quickly corrected and told him that Jesus is with God in Heaven. Luke added, "Yes, remember how Jesus is dead? He died with nails in His hands and feet." There was a pause and Wil responds, "Well, that's sad". I laughed out loud. Love how they see things.