Ready to go!

Here we were at the first day of the local two-day Diocesan Summer Institute in Peoria at Notre Dame High School. Steven was vending for Bridegroom Press, our family business. Amidst keeping up with my Three, I noticed Steven interested a bookstore with his products. They gave him three videos (including "Chariots of Fire"!) in exchange for reviewing his items.

There was Mass and later breakfast--food for the soul, as well as the body :-) One reading was on how we are earthen vessels and the other was on how even looking at a woman lustful is adultery. I see a link in that we can choose what we fill ourselves with and He hopes it is life-giving and sets us going toward Him, not off track. That got me ready to go.

Here the children are full of energy and moving about, ready to go out for a walk! They reminded me the body needs exercise and made tracks out the door!This is all part of my vocation, living it out on step at a time, literally. ;-)

"Step"ping out!

We were at a conference for catechists. The children all received free backpacks. I was so grateful for a practical gift! Katherine was thrilled, as well, and got talking ("we are home educated"), and got smiles!

The other picture shows the backpacks sideways a bit--they are huge compared to David--but he jumps in of course to do what he sees them do! And they have gotten used to that (not that they always like it).

These are the fun "staircase years" when the children's height is in noticeable "steps." I'm so proud they stopped for moment for a photo... then off we went for a walk outdoors. It has finally gotten summer-hot and we explored around shaded trees for a while.

Fun in the Sun!

I set up a little "beach" in the backyard for them and Gregory Michael was really having fun! (Steven, he's got that look you did when we were dancing at our wedding reception. In that photo you like of yourself.)

My author/speaker husband, Steve

Today our calendars of indulgences for next year came in and show gorgeous shots of the church in this photo! Check them out at www.bridegroompress.com and let others know :-) about our family business.

Here, on Easter, Steven is with the children after the Mass.

Bread Machine for our Cooking Class

One of my great garage sale finds this summer was a bread machine. It wasn't even a "find" but rather an "offer." The person holding the garage sale asked if I'd be interested in it! I didn't know if this "toy" would be ignored after an initial bit of novelty, but I got it as a homeschooling aid for "Kellmeyer Cooking Class."


I have had a great time making bread. I made my first loaf when my father was in Peoria at the end of May. The house has smelled wonderful and slowly I try new variations. The children are getting good at measuring cupfuls of flour and teaspoonfuls of yeast. With the machine, they'll be making bread themselves some months from now :-)

David and David!

After the Mass at the church where Steven and I were introduced by David eight years ago, David and Rosie invited us to have some ice cream.

We got a chance to talk before heading over to the BBQ that some of David's friends had arranged so David and Rosie could see a lot of their old friends while in Champaign over the weekend.

Here I took a moment to get the two Davids' picture together!

Such pride and joy -- and my boy!

David and Rosie are expecting their first child around the end of October. I had not seen them since their wedding in El Paso January 1st, 2005.

We saw them this weekend on the 5th of June up here in Illinois. They were in Champaign-Urbana (where David and I both met our respective spouses) for the wedding of a friend. It was really good to see them and talk about life, living out what we believe.

This is the home of the BBQing friends :-)