Jim's49th

Jim turned 49 on May 25th... this is also Leah's 23rd Birthday!
After working 1/2 day at the library, we drove down to Franklin OH (s. of Dayton) for James Pretorius' graduation party on the 24th.
It was held at their church in Middletown, which we had never been to before, but were able to get there thanks to Google Map directions!
Diana and her sisters prepared a lovely feast and since we got there in the last hour of the open house we were encouraged to "eat it up!"

It was a nice celebration of his accomplishments.
James will be attending Wheaton College in Illinois (SW of Chicago) to study Business and Bible - planning to be a pastor one day! His family and friends are so proud of him and we know that his dad, Brian is smiling down from heaven and cheering him on as well!

After the party we drove to mom and dad's on the north side of Dayton for the night. Went to church at North Riverdale Lutheran the next morning where Pastor Monte announced Jim's birthday and made a "joke" about his sister EJ being 80, so that makes Jim.... ? He received many well wishes from the folks there.
Mom fixed a lovely lunch of strata and salad at home and we ended with a sweet berry pie a-la-mode! EJ & Joe joined us for lunch as well. It's nice to spend birthdays and special occasions with family.
I had planned to take jim shopping at a sports store on the way home so he could choose his own gift. We went to 3 stores, but none of them had any biking jackets, or bike gear at all! So he got a small gift - which i had bought earlier at a local bike shop- when we got home, (safety flashing light and ankle straps for visibility!) and he ordered his jacket on line...

Leah sent her dad a gift from Germany and he received it on Wednesday the 28th. It was a 'manly' european scarf and some delicious tea. He modeled the scarf with his Berlin cap! Very continental!