Melina's 'thank you' party

The M family have a lovely tradition when they have a senior in high school.  They celebrate friends and family by hosting a 'thank you' dinner for people who have made a difference in their lives.  We were honored to among many gathered for this special time and we sure do love the whole M family!!!

Bill, Linda, Becky, Matt, Brenda, Bonnie

Becky, Linda, Brenda, Bonnie
a lovely Mom with her lovely daughters

Bonnie and Brenda

Dear Megan was sad to miss this event (since she is in Italy) but she stayed up all night and Facetimed in to the party.  You can see her face on Jeff's phone down bottom right.  :) So she got to participate - even to see the slide show!  So neat!

A slide show of photos and even fun video from Melina's childhood!

True Men (the A Cappella group that Matthew is in)
came and sang a few songs for the occasion.  :)

Sweet Melina waiting on tables.  

Melina - our little butterfly!!  :)

Jeff, Jackson, Brianna, Jonathan

Julie, Mama, Daddy, Marvin

Brenda, Becky, Linda, Melina, Bill, Bonnie, Matt

it was held at the old Manhattan restaurant

Matthew with his Aunt Becky

Matthew with both of his wonderful aunts!
Bonnie, Matthew, and Becky

Brianna, Jackson, and Jonathan 

Melina with her dear friends
Brittany, Melina, and Makala

Ahhh... Jackson and Melina - the friend/siblings.  :)

Jackson (the lovely butterfly), Melina, Brianna, and Jonathan

Jackson, Melina, Brianna, Jonathan

2 fine men right there!!  Matt and Marvin

Melina's Senior Photos

Hard to believe that Melina is a senior in high school this year!  We love this girl and her whole family.  Last fall Jackson and Melina headed out to the lake to take her senior photos.  As we approach her graduation next month, it seems like the perfect time to share some of those photos here on the blog.

We love you and are so proud of you, dear Melina!

All photos by Jackson

Ladies trip to Pella

Last April our ladies group was traveling to Des Moines for the day when we stopped off at Pella to visit Jaarsma Bakery.  We ended up spending quite a bit of time there, and decided right then that we would return for a full day this year.  So, this was a much anticipated trip.  Our goal is to visit Pella close enough to the time of the Tulip Festival to benefit from the blooming flowers but miss the massive crowds.

Although not as many flowers were in bloom this year as last year, it was still lovely and worth the trip.  We were blessed with sunshine as we spent time visiting the unique shops around the square, oohing and aahing over the flowers, and eating lunch at a local coffee shop.

Our first group photo

Shonda struck this pose to honor Carla,
who mysteriously didn't come with us
again this year!  ha!!   :D

Although the flowers were only about ⅓ in bloom overall,
it was still lovely!  

Patty wore her Cornerstone tshirt -
so we had to get her photo in front of this
Cornerstone store.  :)

The Klokkenspel at Pella
(Glockenspiel)

I posted a few short videos of the Klokkenspel
on my flickr album (linked at bottom of post)

Beautiful!

This was our first stop!!!!   :)

Lora found this for me...
I probably should have bought it!  :D

Lunch at Smokey Row...

...with competing photographers.  :)

One highlight, for me, was visiting a store called The Work of Our Hands for a 'coffee cupping'.  This was described as the coffee equivalent of a wine tasting.  We were able to taste various free trade coffees, but were also able to compare the difference in taste between a typical brewed coffee and that same blend prepared another way (coffee cupping).  It just brings home the point (again) that I really need to be pressing my coffee... the taste is so much better that way!!

Pella is a beautiful town.

Michaela, Laura, Kathy, Mary, Patty, Karen, Kristy,
Allison, Lora, Susan, Shonda, Tiffany

The Royal Amsterdam Hotel 

Lora checking out the possibilities for
transporting all of us back next year.  ;)

Since I forgot to take my selfie stick, we had to rely on the kindness of strangers to take our group photos.  :)  The lady who took our last photo remarked that we "sure knew how to line ourselves up quickly", to which Shonda replied, "we are pretty used to it!"   :D

We can't wait to return to Pella again next year!  You can see all the photos from this day by clicking here.

My fellow Cornerstone ladies... you will have to share your funny remembrances in the comments section below!  You can choose 'anonymous' to comment, then just add your name to the body of your comment.  Help me remember the funny parts!  :D