Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Right before and Right after!












Clayton in the office right before and


Clayton in the office right after!

So today was the day!!!
Clayton, just shy of 18 months, got his braces off today. We thought it might take 2 to 2 1/2 years but it was far less.
I'll try to find a pic from right before he got them on in February of 2008.

Good times!

Congratulatins Clayton!!!

Clayton's big day!

Here is Clayton just starting to have his brackets removed-his braces are coming off today! It has been a wonderful experience with Dr. Reitz and his crew!

Friday, June 19, 2009

Gazette Article About Koinonia

Koinonia singers begin 10-day tour

By KATHLEEN FOODY ( Contact ) Friday, June 19, 2009
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PhotoVideo


Members of the Milton Koinonia choir rehearsed in the basement of the Seventh Day Baptist church.  The youth group is embarking on a week-long tour of the state starting on Friday.

Members of the Milton Koinonia choir rehearsed in the basement of the Seventh Day Baptist church. The youth group is embarking on a week-long tour of the state starting on Friday.

— People share faith in many ways. For 24 area teens, a 10-day tour filled with songs and skits is the best way they know how.

The students are all part of the Koinonia (that’s Koy-nah-knee-ah) singers through Rock Valley Youth for Christ. They will perform for 11 churches in Wisconsin and Illinois beginning Friday at Bethel Baptist in Janesville.

The shows are open admission but donations are accepted.

Larry Schultz has directed the show for about 35 years and said the entire performance has changed since the first tour.

“In that first year, they all wore jeans and white T-shirts, sang a few songs and read from the Bible,” he said. “Now we’ve got choreography and skits and costumes.”

The tour is themed “I see the light,” based on a verse from 2 Corinthians focused on God’s ability to bring light out of darkness, Schultz said.

“It’s really about allowing the eyes of the heart to see who God and Jesus is and come to know the lord and beauty of it all,” he said.

The choir travels between shows on a school bus, an experience that only brings the performers and their adult chaperones closer, said 15-year-old Julia Wasemiller of Milton. With two years of experience, Wasemiller said the trip is “extremely fun and incredibly random.”

“We’ll be driving down the road and see something interesting or a lake and just stop and get out,” she said. “There’s so much support and love in this group, like a big family.”

Sarah Caghey, 16, of Milton, said being able to show how much love she has for God and bringing other people to him is the best part of the experience.

“Once you start performing, he joins you in it,” Caghey said.

The choir members often stay with members of the churches they visit. The families feed the performers and give them a place to clean up. Getting to know their hosts and share their faith is the best part of the visits, Wasemiller said.

Being part of the choir can change even the quietest kid into a performer, Schultz said.

“It’s an opportunity for them to really grow,” he said.

KOINONIA SINGERS CONCERT SCHEDULE

Friday—7 p.m., Bethel Baptist, Janesville.

Sunday—10 a.m., Rock Grove United Methodist, Dakota, Ill.

Sunday—7 p.m., Hope Lutheran Church, Milton.

Tuesday—7 p.m., Faith Community Church, Racine.

Wednesday—7 p.m., Medford United Methodist Church, Medford.

Thursday—7 p.m., North Ridge Church, Abbotsford.

June 26—7 p.m., Parkview United Methodist Church, Turtle Lake.

June 27—11 a.m., New Auburn Seventh Day Baptist, New Auburn.

June 27—7:30 p.m., Richland Center Fellowship, Richland Center.

June 28—9 a.m., Lone Rock Congregational Church, Lone Rock.

June 28—6:30 p.m., Seventh Day Baptist Church, Milton.

Information: Rock Valley Youth for Christ office, (608) 758-3610.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Koinonia '09 ! ! ! ! ! ! !

OH MY GOSH!

WE have never gotten a preview before and the Lyke Family (someone correct me if I'm wrong) was kind enough to catch a picture of the group BEFORE they begin their performances tomorrow night!

Look for son David and Clayton and their cousins, Jayson and Joel. Also, frequent floodzone appearer, Seth!

And-
We've been following the amazing adventures of Natalie in Spain on her blog (must go and see her outstanding photos!) and in the picture is her youngest sister, Sara-just about to start an amazing adventure for the first time herself-that is, Koinonia!!!!

So here's a couple of pics of this amazingly fantastic group of young people:








And just a little wacky:



There will be local performances


Janesville: Friday June 19, 7:00PM, Bethel Baptist Church,
3300 Mt. Zion Ave.

 Milton: Sunday, June 21, 7:00PM, Hope Lutheran Church,
335 Dairyland Drive

 Milton: Sunday, June 28, 6:30PM, Seventh Day Baptist Church,
720 E. Madison Avenue (this is the last one, with the bestest personal stories from each of the participants that will be enjoyed by family and friends)

The rest of the performances are scattered between mostly Wisconsin and some Illinois places.

We would love to see you there!

Monday, June 15, 2009

No more "inside voices"!!


We SOOOOO needed some place for the kids on Sunday mornings that they didn't have to use their "inside voices". It's just no fun having to tell kids that--it's so stifling.
And outside is nice...but you know -it's Wisconsin, there are bugs
AND
We needed a way to keep the smaller ones confined and not running away
So
THANK YOU KATHY!!!!!!

Kathy found a great deal at CampMor and ordered this tent.
It will be doing double duty here and at Kathy's Tuesday gatherings with the ladies to keep them bug free in the pleasant summer evenings




Marlie, Evan, Lief, Anna and Luke on Anna's lap.