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Showing posts from March, 2017

E2 2017 Toronto

Last week, I attended the E2 (Educator Exchange) for Microsoft in Education. It's my fourth year in a row attending, and this year it was in Toronto, Canada. It was actually going to be in Seoul, Korea, until about January when Microsoft Global Security pulled the event based on the political situation in Korea. Toronto was not as exciting for those of us in North America, but it was an easy time change and there was no language barrier, so it made for an easier trip. I arrived on Sunday and got to spend Monday morning in my hotel robe, looking out the window from a lovely armchair and desk, catching up on some last minute details. I walked the underground PATH to get some lunch. We need this in the States. It is so cool and it doesn't feel like you're underground at all. It's two stories tall, spacious and bright, and full of people shopping, eating, and walking in between businesses. In the afternoon, my boss, Kim, and I headed out with a colleague from Scotland to...

Eagles News

It was a pretty big day in the Keene house. First, second graders sang at today's Eagle Assembly. JT does not enjoy being on stage, but it's growing on him. This is the first year (in 5 performances) that I've ever seen him actually sing on stage. He was smack dab in the middle of the back row. Mrs. Drew got him to smile during practice so I got one with him kind of happy. Then, it just so happened that Haley received the Kiwanis Terrific Kid of the trimester for her class at this assembly as well. So that was very exciting! Jim got up at 1 AM to go to work, but drove home at 7 AM so he could be there for these two things. Bless him. Grandpa and Grandma Cole attended as well, so our kids got a lot of hugs after the assembly!

Women's Retreat

Over the last weekend, I had the privilege of attending a local church women's retreat with two ladies from my neighborhood and another friend from last year's Bible study group. It was at Alderbrook Resort on Hood Canal, and it was such a wonderful time. The weather was cloudy but dry during our afternoon free time, and we took a 3-mile hike together. The speaker, Peggy Johnson, was very good in delivery and content, and our table group did lots of great sharing. It was an absolute blessing to be there worshipping and learning with ladies that I see nearly every day and whose children play with mine, and to be able to get some new focus on letting God control what I wish to control. Good stuff.

Great-Grandma Hall Visits

We missed seeing Grandma Hall so much that Jim drove to Portland and brought her back to our house for the weekend so we could spend some time with her. So we started Saturday with JT's last basketball game. And then we enjoyed watching golf, reading, and taking a walk with Great Grandma Hall on Saturday afternoon. After dinner, the children went to bed and the adults enjoyed wine and Scrabble! On Sunday, we pretty much did the same things after church: sports on TV, hanging out, and a nice walk. Then we had an early dinner because JT had his basketball celebration that evening. Haley did perform some gymnastics for Great Grandma since she didn't have a sports event over the weekend for Grandma to watch. Haley even got a new top just for this performance. :) On Monday morning, the kids went to school and Jim drove Grandma back home. The weekend went by so quickly but we had a great time hosting her