Yea!!! The “spring funnel” is almost done! As Lloyd says, only a Monday board meeting, and final project for individual practicum (with hopes to finish by end of next week before we leave for Hamilton) left! Life is gonna be a breeze for awhile now:)

Today was a major milestone. We are relieved it’s over, yet even so, the process was exciting and enjoyable. We drove to UST in Minneapolis this AM, with noon arrival for Lloyd’s oral comprehensives. (The written exam was a week ago today). The oral exam took about 1 hour, and involved the review of Lloyd’s written exam, with clarification questions. Shortly after the hour, Lloyd was informed that he had passed. Yea!!!!!! Three years of coursework done. “Only ” dissertation to go:) On the way home from Minneapolis this afternoon, we stopped for a celebration supper at the TimberLodge in Owattana. Mmmmmmmmmm….it was so good. Now we’re home and back to our usual Larry King Live/read/check e-mail mode. We are ready to start the weekend now, and VERY thankful for this UST opportunity and God’s blessing we have felt over the past three years. It’s great to be almost through “the funnel”. Life is wierd though, cuz as soon as one funnel is over, there’s another. Staying faithful to the process is the main thing:)

Oops. Just realized I missed the “l” in Eden “Skylar”. So sorry. Totally a typo. You can tell I am new at writing her name. Eden Skylar VanderKwaak. There, that’s better.

Two best things about this past weekend are: #We got to meet our new grand-daughter, Eden Skyar Vanderkwaak, who was born May 3rd to Reuben and Heidi in Hamilton, Ontario, and #Kristin and I ran the Cincinnati Flying Pig marathon together. Both events were so very rich and meaningful and totally worth the 1, 803 miles we put on the car this weekend! Also, since Cincinnati is so close to Dayton, Salome as able to spend some time with us on Saturday as well. We had a great time with her at THE WAFFLE HOUSE before Kristin, Curt, Emma and Claire arrived to Cincinnati.

As for Eden, she is absolutely precious! Although we have a week long visit to Hamilton planned for later this month, we just couldn’t resist taking the long way home from the marathon (Hamilton is 7 1/2 hours from Cincinnati in the opposite direction of Des Moines). After running THE PIG with Kristin, and saying good-byes to Kristin, Curt, Emma and Claire, as they left for Grand Rapids, we headed East. We arrived to Reuben and Heidi’s at 9PM, eve of the marathon, to meet and hold Eden for the first time. Seeing her and holding her was totally worth the mileage! We left Hamilton yesterday AM, and arrived back to Des Moines late last night. We love being grand-parents. Three grand-daughters now……Eden, Emma and Claire.

Running THE PIG with Kristin was defenitely memorable, a great delight. This was her first marathon, and my last (I thought it was 13th, but just did a count and it was actually 14th) . We ran steady and strong together the whole way. Kristin is AMAZING. I can’t believe she did this after having a baby only 10 months ago. It was really neat to run with her. She has already posted details, so I’ll share some pictures here, that will hopefully tell more than words. Curt and Lloyd did a great job with Emma and Claire while we ran. From now on, when I hear a runner say, “Let’s coast it in”, I’ll think of Kristin:)

We love you, Eden!

Curt and Emma near the finish line

Lloyd and Claire near the finish line

Kristin and I crossing the FINISH SWINE together:)

It’s done!

Mission Accomplished

Emma and Claire wearing our medals:)