Spring Creek

Spring Creek is where Renn will be going to school next August. The school had an open house last Tuesday where the parents and kids could come and check things out. Kevin took Renn ( I had another obligation) and walked around. From what Kevin said and what I read from the info they brought home it's going to be a good transition from elementary to jr high. The first part of August they have a few days where the students can come and participate in activities, get to know where the lockers are, meet the teachers, etc. They also have after school clubs that the sixth graders can join. One thing Renn realized is he will have to get up much earlier since school starts about 7:20am. Huge different from elementary! Plus side, he gets out way before his brother!

http://www.se-polk.k12.ia.us/SpringCreek/index.html

Do I Have To Eat My Vegetables?

A cook position came open at Zayvn's school for next year. I asked him if I decided to bid for the job would he be okay with me working there. He looks at me and with a straight face asks me "Do I have to eat my vegetables?" I asked if any of the other cooks make him eat his veggies and he said no. I just chuckled and left the conversation at that. On Friday I got a call from my bosses' boss asking if I was interested in the cook position still. I said of course. So, I will finish my last day at the high school on Tuesday and then next August I will be at Zayvn's school. I'm really excited to be able to work there while he is going to Four Mile. Renn was a little disappointed but I told him that I could stay at Four Mile for three years. After three years he would be at the high school and then we can pray that a position comes open and I can try and get a position at the high school. He looked at me and said "that would be great mom!" We'll see in three years if he still feels like that!! :)
On a side note: just writing about him going into high school in three years just brings tears to my eyes. I know it will come fast and I'm sure going to make the most of these years with him.

Family Free Bowling All Summer

Fun. Active. Social. Local.

AMF's Summer Unplugged is this summer's best bowling deal!


Zip, Zero, Zilch for Kids 16 and Under

•At select AMF centers, two free games of bowling per day for kids 16 and under. (Shoe rental not included, but they’re worth paying for.)
•Time: open until 8:00PM, 7 days a week.
•Dates: Monday, May 30 (Memorial Day) through Monday, September 5 (Labor Day).

•Parents go to http://bit.ly/AMFfree to select a participating center (over 200 locations) and complete a simple registration form.
•Free game coupons emailed every Sunday starting May 29 for the following week – it’s that simple!
GREAT DEAL FOR EVERYONE OVER 17

•Share the fun and save!
•For families of registered kids, a one-time payment of $27.95 buys 2 games per day for 4 people all summer long – it’s the AMF Summer 17 Plus Pass. (Same dates and times as above.)
•Less than $7 per person for 2 games everyday all summer.
•Available online at http://bit.ly/AMFfree.
THE EXTRAS

•Kids combo meals all summer for $2.99.
•Pin decorating contest:
◦Most votes on Facebook in each of 4 age divisions wins a $2500 scholarship prize
◦AMF donates 25 cents per vote up to $10,000 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure®
•Schedule of learn-to-bowl and fun competitive sessions.

Don't Fret the Sweat

5th Grader No More

Well, for another 6 days he is but 5th grade graduation was last Wednesday. I can't believe Renn is going into middle school next year. Just doesn't seem possible. He's grown so much and I'm so proud of him. God has got some incredible things in store for him. As I sat in the gym and looked around me I realized that, if all these parents stay within the SE Polk school district the next six years, we will be doing the same thing. Sitting in a place watching our kids graduation from high school. The feeling was just so surreal. I'm going to enjoy these next years with Renn as much as I can. I know it can go by fast and I don't want to look back and say how did I miss that?

Four Mile Olympics

Kev and I went to the olympics that are held each year at the school. What a great time watching the boys. Renn participated in the gunny sack race (getting 2nd), 100 yard dash (1st place) and relay race (2nd place). Zayvn participated in the gunny sack race, wheelbarrow race and 100 yard dash. Way to go boys!!

Where Bitterness Ends

My grandma is 95 years old. Up until last week she has lived on her own in an independent assisted living facility. Recently she fell down which has is becoming more and more common. She also has not been eating and its hard for her to get up and out of bed. So, because of these circumstances the facility has asked that she be moved, which is understandble. My grandma is not perfect. For that matter no one is. We all have things that we have done and not been proud of. My grandma is no different. She has made choices that probably was not the best thing. Things have happened in the past. Unfortunately there are those in my family who can not forget the past and move on. Bitterness has intertwined through them so much that that bitterness is choking all the healthiness out of their lives. Unless they can let that bitterness go their lives will never be happy. I know my grandma is not going to be here too much longer. This saddens me. What saddens me even more is that my family can't get along and let the bitterness go. The only way for the family to move on and be healthy is to end the bitterness. My prayer for my family, first and foremost is that they would come to a personal relationship with Jesus. Then, maybe the bitterness that they have lived with so many years can be given to Jesus and He can do the healing work in their hearts that they need.

Mother's Day

I am blessed to be the mom to two wonderful boys. Renn Daniel Umphress, born in April weighing in at 6lbs, 5oz. Zayvn Samuel, born in July, weighing in at 8lbs, 7oz. They have brought me much joy, tears, heartache, laughter, patience, happiness, excitement, scared to death moments and sorrow. I would not change it. God chose me to be their momma and for that I will be eternally grateful. God could have chosen any woman, any where, yet He chose me! It is not something I take lightly. It is something I take very serious. It is a gift that was given not only by God but by two very special women who gave something up knowing it would bring them much heartache and sorrow. Not one single Mother's Day has gone by in the past 11 years that I have not silently thanked those two women for their sacrificial gift. I know what it feels like to yearn to be a mom however I think of this day and wonder what they must be feeling like, giving up the very child they gave birth too. I know it was not an easy choice but one they felt they needed to make to give them a life they could not give them. Thank you Lord for your gift. Thank you Lord for these two women. I pray for them and ask your blessings to be on them not just today but every day.

Kids Choir

Here's some pictures of Zayvn in the Spring Kid's Choir at church Acorns to Oaks.

Renn Pitching

Graduations

Today is the day. The first of many graduation parties we will go to and will last the whole month (into June if we were in OR). We have many to go to this year. Most of the kids that were in our kids church when we were here the first time around are graduating. Kev and I were talking how about how we had the time to minister to them and now they are moving into adulthood and we get to see that. We are blessed to be a part of their lives. They are not even my own but as I attend each one of these parties my mind will travel backwards. To kids camp, VBS, kids church, Missionette outings and Royal Ranger outings. I will see them as they play games in kids church young and full of joy and laughter. My mind will travel to the day we left. The tears and sorrow of those kids that we had for so long in kid's church. Then my mind will travel to when we came back the 2nd time. Walking through the foyer and looking at faces and recognizing but yet not recognizing them as many of them had grown up. No longer in kids church but moved onto youth. Older, wiser and still loving and serving the Lord with their whole heart. I will feel a sense of pride as I go to each party. Looking over their pictures and awards they have won. I will get teary eyed because each one that came through Kid's church was not just some random kid but one that we took as our own, to grow, nurture, teach and love them in the Lord. Whether they were in our kid's church or from back in OR I am proud of each one of them and their accomplishments they have done. So Cameron, Kourtni, Stephanie, Kyle, Joshua, Jeremiah, Natalie, Ryan, Jake, Breanna and Josiah PK and I love you all so much and we are proud of you. May the Lord bless you as you follow His calling in your life.