Someone joined the "anta" club

That's right! My dear husband joined the "anta club" in June. If you're still lost on what I am talking about it means that he turned the BIG 4-0! And every decade until 100 he will acquire a new level of "anta", in Italian of course (quarANTA, cinquANTA, sessANTA etc.)

My dreamer

I have had the joy of celebrating 22 of Jonathan's birthdays with him and each year I am more amazed by the gift that this man is in my life. I grow to respect and love him more each day. He is confident of who he is in Christ and he has a love for God's word and a desire that all know God's truth and love. I am so blessed to be married to a man that seeks God with all his heart. He loves his family well and we love him! Thankful for a year of good health and that we got to celebrate Jonathan's life together as a family. It was the final week of school and so it was a typical day for you with a visit to the coffee shop in the morning, then choir practice at night in which you took a chocolate cake for others to enjoy and celebrate with you.

forty reasons why we love you!

a gift of leather...he could have sat there all night like this

Living with food allergies and intolerances is not easy. He doesn't often complain about the loss of giving up dining out or missing out on foods he once enjoyed, but believe me it is much be harder than he lets on. For his birthday dinner it was his favorite meal of breakfast with lots of bacon and not a single item he had to avoid! 

Chestnut apple cake

He is a guinea pig lover and just had to bring Lakota in to help blow candles out 

I love you, Jonathan more than words could ever express...and since words are your forté and not mine, I hope you felt all my love on your special day (and every day)! May this be your best decade yet!

Chess Tournament

After a year off of playing in a chess club mainly due to distance and logistical issues, we were thrilled to learn that a club in Caselle opened this past fall in which Luca could participate. For most of the year he has been the oldest kid in the club but that didn't discourage his participation. He has done well to encourage younger players and just learn to love the game more. His instructor, Pasquale  has really taught him a lot as he is a regional champion and has played on an interanational level. On the occassions in which Luca has beat him, it is rather a big deal.

Luca's club hosted their first chess tournament for U14 on June 1. There were 18 kids in total from Caselle and surrounding cities. I brought my knitting and thought hey, I'll get a lot done in the 3 hours of game playing. Nope. I get too distracted and nervous watching games end anywhere from 1 minute to 30 minutes. Luca has grown so much in his outlook and perspective. Years ago, it was all about winning a trophy and when that didn't happen it was so hard and discouraging for him. The two tournaments he played in this year have been so much more relaxed and carefree. If I win, great; if not, it's still good.

Well, Luca finally won a tournament trophy! He placed 2nd in the middle school category and 4th overall, with a record of 3-2.

Congratulations Luca!

Article in the local newspaper
Second column, line two...Luca Kleis