Easter 2009

Here's the family. Also, Stephen's first Easter and Easter basket. Isn't he cute? Just look at all that candy for mommy and daddy!

Swimming after boating

I mentioned that we went boating with our friends the Van Vurens. After we returned we all headed over to the pool at their complex for swimming. Here are a few shots of this joy filled event.

Stephen's first boat ride

Last Saturday we had our annual boat ride with our dear friends the Van Vurens. Stephen is 9.5 mos. old. He did not like wearing the life vest and fussed over it for a long time. But he eventually got used to it. He even took a nap while we were driving along. We anchored down by Shell Point and started to fish. That is where Caleb caught his first blowfish. Here Stephen is touching a sheephead that David caught and was quite interested in it. He is such a blessing!!

Something Else Happened On Tuesday

When the crew of children and I returned home from soccer practice last night we were blessed by a wonderful dinner prepared by Beth. It was enjoyed by all, and soon after it was over the phone rang. My sister, Lois, was on the other end. She informed me that our father had died just a few moments earlier. He had lived a long, full life. He had been declining for some time, but when he went into the hospital last Friday, the end came quickly. I had been to see him and my Mom just over a week ago. At that time I knew he was declining, and Lois had been keeping tabs on his health, so we knew his time was not long. It's just always a shock when it actually comes. It was providential that my brother and sister, Steve and Priscilla, were able to travel from the West Coast yesterday and arrive to see him just an hour before he died. They both were able to say good-bye to him in the final moments of his life here on earth. Our hope in the resurrection is that we will see him again someday in a better place, and in the presence of his and our Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ.

I have been privileged to be the son of Paul Philip Blikstad, and appreciate all the wonderful life lessons he has taught me. Blessed be his memory!

A Depressing Tuesday

Today seems to have a lot of troubles in it. We found out that our best car is being totalled by insurance because of the extensive damages to it after Joel was rearended by a school bus. That is a hassle and we are trying to figure out the best way to go. Our usb port is not working so I can't unload pictures from our camera. I need to get to the computer store for a new one. My detergent bottle fell off the washer while it was on the spin cycle, spilling about a half gallon of detergent on the carpet in the garage and destroying the laundry basket it initially landed in. I don't know why the cap came off, but if it had stayed on it would have prevented a whole lot of work. Caleb and Zach had to move a ton of stuff to try to remove the carpet piece. They hung it over the swing set and Caleb began to hose it off. He is about knee deep in suds right now. Then there are the daily needs that never seem to have an end. I just keep praying in my heart that God will meet every need. I know that I can trust that whatever He is doing, it is for the best for us. Though we will sorely miss our Rodeo, God must have a plan in all this for us. Just wish we had not put new tires on it two months ago! I can't post any photos today. But, if I get the new usb port then we can post about our wonderful boat trip and swimming on Saturday. BTW, my spring cleaning list is still not finished. Maybe after school is done, or soccer, or graduation, or our vacation, . . .

Spring Cleaning

I look out my windows and can hardly see glass, thanks to Caleb's great window washing effort. He spent about 5 hours today cleaning them. The screens are still drying, but they will soon be reinstalled and the widows finished for Joel's graduation. We have this week off school, even though the kiddos still have piano lessons, soccer practice, trips to the chiropractor after they were rearended last Friday, etc. I made a massive list of all the things that should be cleaned or fixed up before Joel's grad party May 17th. Today the walls were finished being washed by Caleb, Zach and David. Katie cleaned my computer and the desk area (I love how clean the keyboard keys feel) today. Yesterday we tackled the pantry. I reorganized and decluttered and she wiped off everything and every shelf. It sure looks nice. We also got our flower beds in front all weeded, new flowers planted and mulch layed. Caleb has been watering the dry grass too in hopes of getting it green again. I don't know how much more we will get done in the next two days of break. The little girls are looking forward to coloring Easter eggs Saturday. Dad comes home from Minnesota that day too. He left today so we are going to work as hard as we can to get it all done, or at least as much as possible. Wish it would stay this way until the party, but at least all of it will not get dirty, like the fans. How much dust can accumulate in 5.5 weeks? Caleb and Katie did those Monday and the glass on them just sparkles. I love a clean house!

LCHS Soccer game 1~by Beth

No sooner did we finish with basketball (though the boys will be practicing through out the year) then we formed a new soccer team with another Christian school league. We had scrimmaged Cape Coral Christian School in basketball the past two years with our varsity players, which led to forming a jv team with our middle school age boys. We were then invited to form a soccer team and play in this same league. So, we now have a girls team and a boys team. We played our first game last week. It was an eye opener to the boys, many of whom had not played before. We lost the game but gained a lot of knowledge about how to play the game. We have some amazing raw talent. Our Zach and David,seen above, are the most experienced and showed their abilities during the game. Next time we should do better. Jon is in the background of the photo. It was also the day that Stephen had his first graham cracker, so that is pictured too. I am looking forward to our next games.

We won a game at state!~by Beth

We went to state nearly 4 weeks ago and for the first time in Ambassador history we actually won, not one but two games. Our first opponent was from Zephyr Hills. We went up undefeated so had a bye for the first game. Zephyr Hills had beaten Gunnery Road Baptist and was scheduled to play us. We had a little shuffling around though since Zephyr Hills had an ineligible player in for their first game and so the league had them play a rematch. Poor Gunnery lost twice that day. We came in fresh and did beat Zephyr Hills, but our schedule was late because of the rematch. Made for a late dinner. Then, the next day we played New Testament Baptist. We lost that game. The final game was for third place against Emmanuel Baptist, whom we had beaten twice during the season. We prevailed again and took third place at state. It was a great time with all our wonderful players and families. We all took loads of pictures. Joel had an ankle injury two weeks before state so it was still sore and swollen, but he played and played well. He received the MVP award for our team. He was the lead scorer for the season with 159 points total.