The Family

I'm a little behind on family updates...... Sis is a Senior and will be graduating soon (unbelievable); she is all ready for college classes to start this summer. Bub just got his driver's license but was also an escort for Homecoming and one of the Courtwarming attendants this school year; he just finished another season on the high school basketball team. I am very proud of both of them and don't give them enough praise.

Tonight is Prom.......Bub had to be in the picture, too :)

Courtwarming..........

Senior pictures.........

Homecoming........

Happy Birthday, Amber!!

It seems like this picture was just taken yesterday...

Now you are all grown up - unbelievable.

I have 5 nieces, ranging from 3 years to (as of today) 19 years. My oldest niece, Amber, is celebrating her last "teen" birthday today. I have seen her grow up into a beautiful young woman - she started out as the first grandchild on both sides of her family but now has 2 brothers and a couple cousins thrown into the mix. She's a hard worker, has a gorgeous smile, and doesn't let her daddy or papa get away with anything (which is another reason why I love her so much - we've got to be in this together.) I'm very much looking forward to what is ahead of her, but no need to rush - I'm feeling old enough as it is.

I pray you have a great birthday - love you, sweetie - have fun and be good!

I Am So Thankful...

It has been a great Thanksgiving week - I am very thankful for so much. I first want to say "Happy Birthday" to my incredible niece. She is going to be 11 years old tomorrow - unbelievable! She is so smart and very beautiful; full of fun, questions, and laughter. Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl - looking forward to our upcoming weekend together!

Next, I want to say I am so thankful for my family. We had the greatest holiday weekend together...good food, a lot of laughs, a lot of football, and we even got in a couple games of Monopoly. We spent a lot of time together and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I love my kids and my husband - you are so much fun to be with - I love you so much!

Going...Going...Gone...CRASH

Well, it was just 30 days ago and a few posts back that our beautiful daughter got her driver's license. I have been so scared - horrible thoughts racing through my mind if she doesn't call as soon as I think she should; we have her call everytime she gets somewhere. She has driven nearly every day, whether small errands for mom, school activities, or hanging out with friends. We hadn't bought her a car yet, because with only so much money, we had to make sure it was reliable and a very good deal for us. I probably also thought, that by not buying her a car, I had a little more control of her going all of the time.

Praise God she is ok - and I do have to keep telling myself that - she was hanging out with some friends, going a little too fast, hit some gravel, lost control, and hit a tree. All 3 of them seem to be fine and left the accident with their families - thank You, thank You, thank You, Lord. Coming up on the scene was quite overwhelming - there was a couple of ambulances, Fire & Rescue, a few highway patrol or sheriff vehicles - all with their lights flashing.

Right now, yes, we are thankful, but we are also very disappointed - not in the accident, they happen - it is just a car. Our daughter is a good girl and I don't want to give any impression that she is not - we are extremely proud of her; however, she was not exactly where she was supposed to be or with whom she was supposed to be with. She knows we like to know where she is and who she is with - we also don't just let her drive around without a specific cause since she is such a new driver. Don't get me wrong, I think we let her have fun - she will pick up a friend and they will go grab a bite to eat - but it is to there and back. Last night, because she wanted to do some hanging out and honestly didn't think we would let her - it was a church night, dark - she left out some of the details of her evening.

We need prayer please - that everyone is truly ok, no future repercussions (at least no negative ones), finances, insurance, edifying discipline, quick claim processing. I really don't know what all to ask for - I have never been in an accident that was my fault so I really don't know how this whole process is going to work with other people involved - and property (she also hit a fence).

I know this could have been much worse - I treasure my daughter - and it is not right a "suddenly" can change your whole life just like that.

A License to ... DRIVE!!!!

Well, she did it...she is so proud!!

She couldn't wait to take off.

Going...



Going...

Gone!!

Happy Birthday, Princess Ky!

Oh my gosh, she is absolutely precious! I can not believe my baby girl is 16 today! SIXTEEN! Unbelievable! I remember after I had her just holding her and being in complete amazement! I am still amazed everyday - she is growing up to be an incredible young lady. She does very well in school - thank You, Lord. She is smart, beautiful, funny - she is truly a good girl, loves the Lord, and has really cool friends - real, true friends. Wow! I just can't believe how fast it flew by. Now I (we) need your prayers because she will be on the road very soon - she can't wait and I can't get the knot out of my stomach. She has so blessed me - keeps me on my toes - makes me laugh every day (probably makes me scream every day, too). She is so like me which causes some friction but she is also my world - I love you, Baby - Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday, Grandma

On August 31, my grandmother turned 90 - WOW! She is still as spry as ever, full of wit and Irish fervor. We had a party for her with dinner, cake, and a gorilla stripper (yeah, you read right) - it was a lot of fun. We hired a guy to dress in a gorilla costume and strip the clothes off that were on over the costume - he danced to "I'm Too Sexy For My Shirt" - I think she got a little embarrassed. Love you Grandma - I hope you had a great time.

School Days Are Here Again

I can not believe school has already started - this summer just flew by. I am so proud of my kids, they both do very well in school which is an answer to prayer - we have prayed ever since they were little to retain the knowledge. Both are in honors classes, our daughter is in high school and part of the A+ program; our son is in junior high. Sis is on the golf team - much to her father's delight and Bub is anxiously awaiting school basketball to start (so is Mom). This year is going to be quite nerve-wracking for me since Sis will have her license in just a few short weeks; that is if I let her. LOL. (She doesn't find that funny.) I am very blessed to have two amazing kids and am witnessing them grow into awesome young adults - they are alot of fun and make me laugh every day. (They get their wit from Mom - all the good traits come from Mom - LOL)

Things are still crazy around here as usual...work has been very busy, not to mention trying to get back in routine with school starting, golf practice every day, basketball practice still 1-2 times a week, we have had Awana training all month at church, our women's ministry is planning a women's retreat for the first weekend in October, the mission trip coming up way too fast, and my husband is now on vacation replacement at work so he rebids his job every week - I have to keep my schedule open for the kids' activities since we don't know from week to week what his schedule will be. We also have 4 major birthdays this month - our cousin's precious little girl from China turned 4 on the 18th, one of my beautiful nieces turned 6 on the 11th, my father-n-law turns 60 on the 26th, and my amazing grandmother - who I only wish I had half of her strength and determination - is turning 90 on the 31st. Oh, please don't think I am complaining, (although I may be a little - sorry) busy is good, I actually think I thrive better under stress - although, maybe not since I think I just wrote all of that to make me feel better for not having anything done (and it kind of worked - for a while). On that note, I had better wrap up and try to accomplish something domestic - like laundry. (Can you really accomplish that?)

Catching Up

Well, it has been awhile...our daughter made it back from Denver and is now getting ready for a youth church camp next week. Our son just got back from Columbia last weekend in which his basketball team took second (silver) in the Sho-Me State games. Both of them keep us very busy and school is just around the corner - I can not believe it. I like them home but they are eager to hook up with all of their friends again.

I leave for China 6 weeks from today - I am in panic zone about everything - trying to keep work caught up, the house caught up, and just preparing for it all - and not just preparing me but my husband who is going to be dealing with everything while I am gone. I am not too worried about him, both of our parents are close by and he is really great friends with Alan (his wife, Wendy is leading out our team) so I am sure they can help each other out. Poor Alan will be taking care of 4 children while we are away. I can't wait to hear all of the kids' stories after we get home.

I just finished up the last busy month for the season - yeah! The next couple of weeks will be kind of busy but nothing like it has been and then it will just die when school starts so hopefully I will take full advantage of these few weeks and get everything done I need to...

...like thank you cards for all of my supporters.

I have been very blessed and am very thankful to everyone that is supporting me in prayer and finances. It is very strange - I have heard people say before when they go on mission trips that the people supporting them are going with them - I honestly thought it was just a saying and a nice thing to say but, I truly feel that and feel it deep. I am praying for each of you and I am constantly reminded of your generosity and care for me that is even making this incredible dream a reality for me - Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. I know you will not be with me physically but please know that someone in China will be thinking of you, praying for you, and blessed by you.

New Outlet?

I must say, I am absolutely loving this whole blogging thing - my family still thinks I'm crazy. My husband actually read it last night - he wouldn't post anything. He says this is good for me though, I need a new outlet so maybe I won't talk so much - lol; I really doubt that changes.

On Mission

So much is going on - I need to figure out how to get pictures uploaded on this thing. Our daughter is now in Denver, CO on a youth mission trip. I am missing her like crazy but fortunately, our youth pastor is updating his blog and keeping anxious parents like myself posted. His blog is listed in the margin as In the Mix. There is a picture of the whole group - our precious daughter is in the midst of the bunch; there is also a picture of her on our church website under the student ministry (that link is also in the margin).

I am so proud of her - this is her third trip to Denver; they mainly do servant evangelism - washing cars, passing out breakfast, cleaning out garages, shoveling rock, etc. Please pray for her safety/health and for all of the team to represent Christ and His love for all people. She was more nervous on this trip for some reason and I am having a tougher time with it also than usual. Ten days is a long time - I can not wait for her to be safely home but I am also anticipating the great things God is doing in her life and in her character - she is so much stronger than I was at her age.

I am also preparing to go on a mission trip to China in September - wow, it is coming up so fast. We have a team blog set up (When Love Takes Flight) and another one of our team members has a family blog (The Love of Family) - both listed in the margin. I am anxious, excited, scared - a whole lot of emotions wrapped up inside tightly. I am not an avid traveller, by any means, flying (really crashing) scares me to death so flying to China is really taking me out of my comfort zone. Sometimes, I am so elated with "Oh, wow, Lord, You are sending me to China! This is incredible!" to sheer terror, "Oh, wow, Lord, You are sending me to China? Really? Are You sure?" Of course, I know He is sure and I know He is going before me and will be with me. I want to truly take in every moment of this trip and grow in a much deeper, greater knowledge of who He is - for, really, I am going on mission with Him - the God of all Creation, who for whatever reason looked at that incredible land with its many people that He loves so much and then spun the globe around and looked down on me and my small team and said, "I want you to go" Wow. That is very humbling.

Welcome

The kids think I am crazy for setting this up but I think it is a great way for friends and family to keep in touch with what is going on in our hectic lives. I am hoping we will all get on board, but my husband is the most skeptical of all so we will have to see.