vacation pictures!

Dave & Matthew in the "three foot water of the big pool."

Vacation in Virginia

Well, I don't have any pictures to post because my camera is on the fritz. Bummer. But, I am having a wonderful vacation with Dave and Matt and Dan here in the blue ridge mountains of Virginia. We miss Jon. He's at DeerFoot for two weeks.

The first day we arrived we made a schedule of everything we wanted to do for the week. We did it all the first two days. Ha! Our favorite activity was the garden maze. It was a blast trying to find our way through eight foot tall hedges. At one point we ended up in the middle of the maze looking at a beautiful fountain. All along the maze there were misting areas to keep us cool and even a cave to walk through before we found the exit. It was so much fun Dave and Daniel went through again. Matthew and I.... we shopped! Of course everyone knows shopping is not nearly as tiring.

Now that we've conquered all the activites we're having fun swimming at the four pools and playing ping pong (Dave always wins!) and walking and resting and eating fresh fruit from the local market and .... it's wonderful.

I am so thankful for this wonderful vacation. God supplied it free to us and we can't thank Him and those who helped Him enough. Blessings to all of you! We plan on returning home refreshed and tanned-well burned maybe. But happy!

Daniel's courtyard recital

This is Daniel's fourth grade orchestra in the school courtyard. He's in the backrow on the left, blue shirt, blonde hair! Cuteness written all over him!

One of the songs required the players to shuffle their feet loudly to the rythm. It was very effective as a group. Don't you just love all their concentration!

family fun night!

We had a great time on Friday night at the Wagners house. We ate awesome food, and hung out together. I love our church family! Here's a few of them eating and talking...
Baby Micah and Sarah are the cutest!

Mud! should we! Yes!

My son Matthew had a blast bouncing and squirting people with his water gun. Thanks Jackie for letting him get you wet!

A perfect day (Arlington Beach 2008)

The seagulls fly
Hundreds of them
Wheeling, diving, and soaring.
“Scree, Scree,” they cry.

Waves crash on shore
Bringing a feast
Crawdads, minnows and seaweed
Enough for all

The wind, so wild
No one but me
Walking, watching, and laughing
My arms flung wide


Old guard chair stands
Beach sentinel
Guarding, staying, and aging
A welcome seat

The gulls and I
Lift our voices
Calling, singing, rejoicing
A perfect day

Copyright: Joleen Steel 2008

Ten things that bring me joy!

1. My husband shaving off his goatee
2. Nylons that don't roll down around my hips
3. laughing so hard I snort
4. A whole day in my pajamas
5. Riding in a van with five teenage boys who need a shower (Only because it's so bad it makes me laugh)
6. The Mega Pack of Prisma colored pencils
7. Those socks that have an indiviual place for each toe! I don't have any but I know they'd bring me joy
8. Getting the hiccups and the burps at the same time. (does that only happen to me? It's very funny)
9. Not burning dinner again!
10. A Venti Carmel Machiato whole milk, whipped cream.(I especially like ordering this just after some one in front of me smugly ordered a non-fat grande Latte.)