Happy Birthday Sarah!

Sarah Grace turned 12! What happened to my baby?


Her birthday was actually a couple of weeks ago. But since her older sibs were gone this past weekend at a youth retreat and she got left behind, we decided to have some of her friends over for the weekend and had her party then. So we lost three and gained three. Sometimes I think my house has a revolving door - it seems I'm never quite sure which kids I have :)

I decided to post some pictures that Bethany took of her over the year. I can't believe how much she has matured this year!
















Totally Sarah !

Happy Birthday Gracie!!!

We love you so much!!!

Excitement Mounting

Bethany gets home from Uganda tomorrow! Can not wait!!! I imagine she'll have just a little bit to talk about :)

Banquets and Missions

Friday our homeschool support group had their Senior Banquet at the Summit Club in downtown Tulsa. All the kids seemed to really enjoy it. I'm glad Bethany and Jacob have such a good group of kids to graduate with.

Then on Monday, it was off to Dallas to put Bethany on a plane to Uganda. She was so excited to be able to go with the team from "Simplicity"to minister to the precious orphans down there. It almost didn't happen, due to funds being low. But at the last minute, the Lord moved that mountain and she's on her way! I'm pretty sure her mom was more nervous than she was! Lots of prayers going up these days!

Here's the team at the airport. Such a sweet group of ladies! Although I'm excited to see what the Lord has planned for her, it sure is going to be quiet around here for the next two weeks!

Happy Birthday!

My eldest daughter turned 17 yesterday!
One more year and she'll be an adult.
I am so not ready for that!


Since she decided to graduate a year early, she's been doubling up on schoolwork. Now she's planning to go to Uganda next month with the team from "Simplicity", so she's doing even more schoolwork to be able to take that time off. Along with church activities, senior activities, piano competitions, helping around the house, tutoring "little" brother in Algebra (since Mom is ...umm, mathematically challenged), she is one busy gal!





She decided to bless us on her birthday by making dinner for everyone.
Homemade chicken enchiladas-YUM!




I think she kind of liked her present-a new lens for her camera.



Of course she spent the rest of the evening trying it out :)






I just don't know where these years have gone. But I love watching her mature and becoming the young lady God created her to be.





Happy Birthday Bethany!

We love you!

Hypothetical Question

So what would happen if someone (lets say a teenaged son) looked under his bed, saw a pair of jeans that he wore 5 or 6 weeks ago, and decided that they probably needed to be washed?

He might just happen to find his "lost" wallet!

Just saying.

Drivers License Blues

Thursday 2/17 - Go to bank to cash a check. Informed that drivers license is expired.
Like, since December expired. OOPS

Friday 2/18 - Go to tag agency for new license. Informed that since license is more than
30 days past expiration, must have certified copy of birth certificate in order to get new license. NICE

Go home and spend much time looking for certified copy of birth certificate.
( I know I had one to get my marriage license. Oh wait, that was almost 20 years ago.)

Saturday 2/19- Call Mother to ask if perchance she might have certified copy of birth certificate.
Yes! In the safety deposit box.

Favorite mother goes to bank to get birth certificate.
Dear husband drives into town to pick up birth certificate.

Monday 2/21- Have every intention of going to tag agency and getting drivers license.
Uh, hello! It's a national holiday - all tag agencies are closed. ARGH

Call and cancel girls' piano lessons for the day.
Remember that all kids have plans for the evening. Call husband.

Dear husband takes off early from work. Drives 45 minutes to pick up family. Drives 30 minutes to take youngest daughter and Mom (that would be me ) to basketball game. Drives 30 minutes in the opposite direction to take older kids bowling. Sits in the car for 2 hours while older kids bowl. Drives 30 minutes to pick up youngest daughter and Mom from basketball game. Drives 30 minutes to get home and collapses into bed so he can get up early and go to work. THANKS HONEY!!!

Tuesday 2/22 - Stay home!

Wednesday 2/23 -Drive 30 minutes to tag agency. Wait, did I put birth certificate in my purse?
Yes. WHEW

Walk into agency hoping that they won't ask how I got there. Since drivers license expired 8 weeks ago! They don't. (Thanks Lord!)

A few minutes later and a little bit poorer, walk out with precious license in hand.
Drive home with deep sense of relief that I'm once again legal.


Moral of the story? CHECK YOUR DRIVERS LICENSE!!!

I mentioned in my last post that someone moved my house to Wisconsin.

I was wrong.

I woke up this morning in Alaska!

As I type, the temp outside is -19!

At least by Wednesday it's supposed to be back up to 68.

I am so ready! Maybe I can leave my house by then.

On another note, we've sent off an application to put our daughter on a plane and send her half way around the world with people we have never met. Did I just say that?

Yep, Bethany is going to Uganda with Linny and Emma from http://aplacecalledsimplicitly.blogspot.com/

She is so excited! She can't wait to get her hands on some of those precious children.

Two years ago the Lord started speaking to me that one day Bethany would go overseas and work with orphans. I guess He knew it would take that long to prepare my heart to let her go. It's exciting to see His word coming true.

Lots of fundraising coming up!

Okay, I'm off to find some hot chocolate and try to thaw out!