TALL GRASS PRAIRIE

The Flint Hills area in mid-north Kansas has the largest acreage of prairie in the U.S. Five million acres of prairie is still present in the rocky, limestone area called the Flint Hills. Liz and Howard Beikmann live right in the middle of this area, and right outside of Manhattan, we stopped at a historical scenic spot to take a few pictures. This area is beautiful now in spring with all the greenery.

FLOWERS ARE IN ABUNDANCE (WITH MANY MORE KINDS TO BLOOM)!

AND ONE HUMBLE GRASSHOPPER

My pictures hardly do justice to the vastness of the Flint Hills area. When standing on the Beikmann hill, a power plant 30 miles distant was very easy to see.

BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL

I've got a bit of time, so maybe I'll see if I can post something interesting. A video or two, a great picture, or.......I'm still in Manhattan, KS, at our annual face to face ISM, Inc. board meeting. Today we clarified strategy and tomorrow we will get into business. We are thankful for all of your prayers.

The flowering crab trees were beautiful this year. Last year the blossoms froze.

The flowering crab apples line our driveway.

It was hard for me to comprehend that the flowers simply covered the branches.

Is there any room for the leaves to come in?

CLICK HERE to watch Nathan and Jason play a game that I brought back from central China. The large wooden top got a large split after I brought it back - from the dry air. But, thankfully, it still worked. And is it fun? Judge for yourself.

Even the tulips outdid themselves this spring.

From May 14 to 21, I facilitated the In-Depth Bible Seminar, an annual event to which we invite Christian and "serious seeker" international students. This year, we had 18 participants from China, Ethiopia, Iran, Madagascar, and Taiwan. What a week of blessing it turned out to be.

CLICK HERE to watch and listen as Lee and Ashkan join together to play

 and sing "Bless the Lord, My Soul."

The week ended with an evening around a campfire. Each person received a special Scripture verse and a blessing, and then each small group was bathed in prayer. It was touching and meaningful.

The teaching staff at the May 14-21 In-Depth Bible Seminar. (l - r) Still recognize me?, Hannah McCulloh (Ames, IA), Xiaohua (Chinese participant), Lee Meyer (Tempe, AZ), and Paul Hoemann (College Station, TX)

LIFE AS IT IS TODAY...

I'm here in Manhattan, KS, for the annual two-day face to face ISM, Inc.board meeting. We'll be returning home late Friday night.

So let me post a few "odds and ends" just to let you know that I'm still alive.

I visited Poy Sippi not too long ago and saw the whole David Baker family (soon to leave for mission work in Mongolia). Pastor Tom Feiertag of Concordia, Mequon, (formerly missionary in the Philippines) stopped by with his motorcycle.

CLICK HERE to see Daniel driving and Esther riding.

Our annual Memorial Day pre-meal fire at Lake Jacqueline, only seven miles from our home. I think that Rob just either ate a sour grape or crunched on a stone.

Megan enjoying her s'more.

The kids loved the new paddle boat, a gift from Dave Reit.

Creeping phlox

The fern flowerbed on the east side of our home.

Lilac

Trillium

Virginia bluebells

Rhododendron

Azelia

Two beautiful women

Looking toward our pond.

CLICK HERE to see another garden tour (upper garden). It's growing.

MOTHERS

Thank you, God, for the blessing of mothers. Such a gift that resembles your giving and unselfishness. A testimony of care and concern not only when we were small, but also as we grew and developed. We are blessed! Amen.

Karol and Isaac. Karol continues her "mother" gift as she shares with our grandchildren.

PORTAGE COUNTY CULTURAL FESTIVAL (PCCF)

This annual event draws approximately 10,000 people to the Stevens Point High School where a vast number of cultures share their history and climate. The 21st annual festival seemed to be no different. Today even in the cold and biting wind with occasional sleet, people flocked to enjoy the presentations, kids activities, and displays from a variety of cultures. I believe it speaks something really good about our central Wisconsin community.

CLICK HERE to enjoy the beat of the drums.

Children love all of the activities that help them stretch their cultural expertise.

CLICK HERE to see one of the entertainers who was performing on the children's stage.

Japanese flower arrangements brought back memories of when I studied "ikebana" while in Japan.

Food sales from many countries tempt visitors. The man on the right is trying to fill his "passport" with stamps from the booths. There's a prize for filled passports.

Karol and Nancy are not planning an escape (ladder). They're just friends who are chatting about the food that is being served in the Senegalese booth where Nancy is volunteering. Her daughter and son-in-law served as Wycliffe Bible translators in Senegal for many years.

Native dress is customary at this cultural event. It is the best event each year in Stevens Point to show the diversity that exists in our community.

Ribs and fried chicken bones litter the plates of these two hungry gentlemen. The food IS good!

Pam and Jose Murillo. Jose is from Costa Rico. Pam is a Spanish language teacher at one of our junior high schools. We've gotten to know them and their two children through their volunteering at Peace Campus Center.

 CLICK HERE to see one of the most common types of music in central Wisconsin.

The Kenyan table sold beautiful jewelry.

Are Germans always into little houses covered by snow?

The largest new culture group in Stevens Point are the Hmong. They have made a significant dent in our community, especially in the area of agriculture. Over half of the vendors at the farmer's market on the square are Hmong.

HERE AND THERE..........

Since we returned from our big trip to Georgia, life has been plumb full of all kinds of things. Garden planting, yard clean-up, Karol working at her computer, a five day visit to Matthew and family in Pittsburgh, Nathan and Andrew and families at our home, and other things like counting the large brown bats that live under our eves on the west side of the house (46).

CLICK HERE to pray with Isaac [2 1/2] as he prepares to eat his meal.

For these blessings, for these blessings,

Thanks and praise, thanks and praise,

Joyous celebration, joyous celebration,

For these days, for these days.

Since coming home, we have been enjoying the flowers that seemingly rise from the dead - always reminding us of our Lord Jesus who rose from death, a beautiful new Creation. Enjoy a few of those flowers.

The snowdrops are usually the first flowers we see in our perennial bed. They always give us hope!

The daffodil and narcissus grace many central Wisconsin yards at this time of year.

These daffodils are a part of a large "natural" planting between our house and the pond.

Rob and Penny like to plant masses of bulbs giving a very strong message of color.

The star-bright magnolia also has a wonderful sweet smell.

CLICK HERE to tour the lower vegetable garden (it's not much yet)

CLICK HERE to take a tour of the bigger upper vegetable garden.

Down in the lowland beyond the pond, the marsh marigolds are just beginning to show their beautiful yellow color. Since we planted the first clumps of flowers, they have spread like a river back into the cedar swamp.

ALL THE WHILE, THE GRANDCHILDREN HAVE THE TIME OF THEIR LIFE!

Megan loves to ride this little toy. All the power for the four wheeler comes from her little feet.

Joshua loves the hot cycles - and he makes them "hum" around our circle blacktop circle.

Luke likes to climb trees. By the way, his helmet is for bike riding, not tree climbing.

Today, Rachel and Katlyn are driving the battery powered jeeps.

My fun is in the garden. Here I'm planting onion plants.

CLICK HERE to watch Karol feed bread to the bluegills in our little pond.