Family Time in Kansas

A week with the family always feels like I blink and its over. Since we are leaving soon it went ten times faster. Ten times faster than a blink. Thats fast. But in that 1/10th of a blink we did some fun things and made memories that will provide comfort... Every moment in Kansas was a blast, but a week of moments is hard to write down...so we'll just cover the favorites.

1. The Birthday Party

Since Matthew (my brother), Rachael (my sister by marriage to Mathew), and grandpa (self explanatory) all celebrate birthdays within a week and a half together, and since August seems to be the busiest month of the year for our family of educators…we had a joined birthday party for them. Grandpa turned 73, Matthew turned 26 and Rachael 25. Together, that’s 124 years. 124 years of living that has been blessed greatly and has been used to bless others greatly. 124 years that I am thankful for.

Out of those 124 years I’ve only been around for 63 of them. In that time, I have learned so much from each of them and they have been an encouragement to me in each of their own ways. I love you Matthew, Rachael, and Grandpa!

Birthday parties in the Clark home usually involve, aside from the norm (cake, ice cream, presents, and  balloons), activities...lots of activities. Whether it is jumping in the pool or trying out some new crazy game, we always have something to do. This special occasion involved a game that was taught to us by Grandma. She played it the day before with her “Hen Club.” 

What was so great about this sweet innocent game that Grandma taught us, is that the rest of us were pretty sure (like 99.9% sure) that the game she demonstrated was suppose to involve alcoholic beverages, and gulping it when points were scored. However, she had sweetly (and unintentionally) replaced the alcohol with cans of diet coke that had been filled with water.

We look back on the game and we don’t know which was more fun, actually playing it…or watching grandma explain how to play it.

I love birthday parties...I love my family. 

2. Children's Mercy NICU

So my sister, Rachael, the one with the birthday, has one of the most incredible jobs. She is a nurse at Children's Mercy Hospital of Kansas City and she serves in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Basically she helps save pre-maturely born babies that are severe cases and not too long ago would have been looked upon as "un-saveable." 

Rachael invited me to come to her work and see her unit...such a good decision. These babies, some small enough to fit in your hands are such wonderful miracles and are a beautiful example of the Lords precious and fragile gift of life. 

I don't have any pictures to share because cameras weren't allowed...Boo...but trust me when I say it is incredible.

3. The Zoo

One of the days that I spent in Kansas, Mom took me to the Zoo!!! The last time that I went to the zoo with mom, I think I was in the 2nd grade. My oh my how time flies!

Apart from the new polar bear  and the new gorilla and chimpanzee exhibits it looks about the same as it did when I was in the 2nd grade too, but it was fun nonetheless. Being with mom and Emilee anywhere makes things fun, but watching goofy animals while with mom and Emilee was a blast. Plus Mom bought Emilee and I rock candy...you can't beat rock candy. 

  

 I like squirrels, and I love to watch them live daily life because it makes me laugh. I think that if I were an animal I would be a squirrel. I also think that if a squirrel were in a bigger body it would be a monkey. So therefore by some geometry proof equation that I learned in middle school I can come to the the conclusion that I like monkeys and I love to watch them live daily life. They were my favorite to see at the zoo...

Surprisingly this monkey was just about as exhausted as dad. 

 4. Bad day to be a catfish...

Grandpa loves to fish and he also loves to take people fishing...

 

 Josh and I took him up on that offer one morning and the catfish are unhappy that we did. We had a blast! The limit for Hillsdale Lake is 5 fish per person and in about 2 hours josh and I had caught the limit for the three of us. We were super excited when I reeled in a 11.4 lb whale of a blue catfish... 

His name is Mr. Whisker

 and then shortly after, Josh caught its twin...

It was wonderful to spend time with Grandpa and to see his expertise at work. He said it best when he said "The Lord has been good to us today."

The Lord was good to me that day...The Lord was good to me for a week and a half...The Lord is good to me always. Thank you God for such a wonderful, fun, loving, and supportive family. You always do know what is best for me. You always give me what is best. My family is the best. (]I realize that is a bias statement...but I'm okay with being bias about it)