Summer Snapshot 3: Arizona in June

After all the hard work put in for Breakthrough's Hunger Walk and Grand Opening Celebration, Scott needed a vacation (me too, for I helped with the events also...on a much smaller scale though)! So we packed our bags and took a plane to AZ (this trip was planned ahead of time, of course). :-)

I got to blog a little while I was there, but this post includes some photo documentation. As I mentioned in that earlier post, I had a great time with the Ruth's - I really do enjoy my in-laws. We had a wonderful time conversing, playing in their pool, seeing "WALL-E," eating, and just enjoying one another's presence. We hadn't all been together (Scott, Lisa, Scotty, Amanda, me and Micah) since May 2007 at Amanda's graduation (and Micah was in my womb then)!

A cake celebrating Scott's and my 2 year anniversary (July 1st) and Amanda's 24th birthday (July 12th). Notice that it says "2th" instead of "2nd." Ha - the baker made a mistake:
Micah LOVED his time in the pool!

Micah and I also enjoyed watching the others play pool volleyball.


After pool time, Grandpa had to help Micah stay warm until mom could change him into dry clothes. :-)

At the theater, just before "WALL-E" started (Micah took a nice nap on Auntie Amanda's lap).

Chilling out in our P.J.'s - hey, it's vacation!!

We had to get at least one family photo in before our trip was done!

Summer Snapshot 2: Breakthrough in June

Breakthrough had two huge summer events that required a lot of prep work and prayers, but they ended up being GREAT! First came the Hunger Walk on June 14th. Breakthrough had walkers who had raised money that will go towards Breakthrough's account at the Greater Chicago Food Depository(GCFD). GCFD is where we get much of the food for the guests who are currently living at Breakthrough - only $0.07 per lb of food! We had a great turn out, and a lot of fun too! Even Micah did the whole 2.5 miles - being pushed in a stroller by daddy. :-)

Then on June 21st, Breakthrough had a huge block party celebrating the grand opening of the Breakthrough Ministry Center (see previous post). There was a ton of food, live entertainment, a couple bounce houses, neighbors, volunteers, awards, games, balloons, a ribbon cutting ceremony (Alderman Burnett himself came out for that part). It was such a great celebration, reminding us of God's goodness in having this building to provide services to people in the community, as well as the 30 male guests that live there. God brought together so many donors, volunteers, construction workers and prayers over the past 4 years to bring this about.

Summer Snapshot 1: CA in May/June

All right folks, I've promised more than once to write some posts recapping the summer adventures of the Ruth family. Whether or not you're interested in reading about our many travels, I want to get it out in journal format so I can look back on it years down the road and remember all the wonderful things in Micah's first summer!

After a nice trip from G'pa and G'ma Ruth (Scotty's parents) in May, Micah and I caught a plane to CA to go to Auntie Diana's high school graduation. Wow, my "baby sister" is well on her way to adulthood.

I hadn't been out to CA since our Christmas trip, so it was nice to be on west coast soil again. I saw familiar sites, and was able to meet with some dearly missed friends and family (a bridal shower, a walk to the grocery store with Micah's great grandma, a get together here and there, Diana's graduation)...God was so very good to allow me this trip out to my hometown. Here are some snapshots of just a few people I love!

Good friend Heather Whelan (wrote secret admirer notes to my crush in Jr. High, went to Romania together in High School, good memories):
Beth and Jennifer (homeschooled together, we were "The 3 Musketeers," love these girls):
Diana got her license (I was glad to be one of the first to know):
Greg and Biz (ate a delicious meal made by my one and only brother-in-law, incredible strawberry syrup):
Marianne Dudley, now Cota (went to WHBC youth group together, so glad to celebrate her upcoming marriage with her):
Diana (playing piano at her graduation):
Mike and Lynda Gunderson (dear to my heart - they are so loving and such servants):
Grandma Lois, mom, me, Micah (4 generations photo):
Megan Dods (good college friend of Scott's and mine from Moody Bible Institute):
Lena Hernandez (a dear friend to me from WHBC, like another grandma):
Amber Cummings (a good friend of mine from Moody):
The cousins Anne and Micah (who had a GREAT time together all week long):

Auntie 'Manda

Scott's sister, Amanda, was in town this past week, and it was so great to see her. She just made a huge transition moving from Vermont to Michigan, so needless to say, there was a lot to catch up on. Amanda and I enjoyed playing cards when we could, chatting, crying, laughing, eating apples (see previous two posts)...and she was kind enough to baby-sit Micah on more than one occasion so Scott and I could get a date! Here's Micah with his one and only Midwest auntie.

Apple this and apple that...

After yesterday's family adventure at the Apple Holler in WI, Scott and I had our work cut out for us trying to cook/use all these apples in something! After much recipe finding, apple washing and peeling, ingredient buying, we began cooking...


The end product? Apple Butter, Apple Pie and Apple Crisp. Scott honestly did most of it - and he did an incredible job. He peeled nearly all the apples we used, and made the Apple Pie and Apple Butter all on his own. As for me? I took pictures to document, whipped up the easiest recipe (Apple Crisp), and enjoyed the wonderful aroma that filled our home! After using up nearly 30 apples, we still have about 50 more...1/2 a bushel is a lot...anybody want some?

Apple Holler

Yesterday Scott, Micah and I loaded up in our 4-door sedan to go to an apple orchard. But first, Scott had to fix a loose wheel on Micah's stroller.

Yes, that is Micah on the left side of the car.

Micah had his morning nap in the car as we drove north to Wisconsin.

We arrived at a very busy Apple Holler 1 hour and 20 minutes later, and began to pick apples in the orchard!



Along the way, we had to sample the apples before we picked a ton of 'em, so we knew whether or not we liked them. Micah really enjoyed that part.



After apple pickin' and apple tastin' to our hearts content, we hit a Cracker Barrel on the way home and had a tasty meal. Micah enjoyed sitting on a little rocking chair on their porch.

We hit the road again, heading home to Chicago. Micah had his afternoon nap on the way.

After I guided Scott to take a wrong fork on the highway, we drove through O'Hare Airport, and then made it safely home - Scott, Micah, me and 1/2 a bushel of apples!

Tap-dancing, hollering, farmer boy...

My son just cracks me up sometimes...