Random Pics~

Emily's stage makeup

Outfit Emily bought with her own money

Caleb looking dapper!

My sweet 16 year old on job interview day!  Congrats, Jon!

As I said, Jon got a job at K-Mart 2 days after he turned 16.  Thought I better take advantage of how nice he looked for his job interview and snap a couple of pics!  He is turning out to be such a nice young man.  He enjoyed a 2 week to trip to Florida to visit his dad this summer where he got to see Dolphins, a funnel cloud, and go snorkeling.  He enjoyed a summer of being lazy, sleeping in, drinking Monster and hangin out with friends.  Back to the grindstone today, Jon.  Today he starts his JUNIOR year of high school.  Man do I feel old!  Michael starts his Junior year of college today, too.  I guess that makes me feel even older.  Wow...time goes by fast when you're raising kids, doesn't it?!

Baseball or Football?? How about both!

Caleb loves baseball.  Caleb loves football.  Caleb loves anything that involves getting to run around, fix things, etc.  He is just a hard worker.  Hard to believe my "baby" is in 4th grade!  The year has started out great so far for him.  He has befriended a little boy who is special needs in his class, and it just warms my heart.  Caleb has such a tender heart.  This little boy wears a "vest" that is snug fitting to help him feel secure, and he doesn't talk to the other kids much.  This boy felt something with Caleb, and the 2 have become friends in a way.  Caleb helps him with spelling, and other things, and he also told him his vest was "so cool dude!  It looks like a bullet proof vest!"  I am so happy Caleb has been given a tender heart.  Not all people have this, and I am happy to say my "Lub-Lub" does!  :)

Caleb got to play the All Star Team for extended baseball!

Day's of Our lives~

Well, summer is over, school is back in session, and I have missed blogging for several months.  So much ground to cover! 
Fall is starting, I can tell by the leaves falling, and the smell!  I love the smell of fall.  It is my favorite season.  A lot has gone on, I guess I've just been busy??  Lazy??  Both?? 
Emily turned 11 on the 13th of June.  Caleb finished out the baseball season, and has transitioned into football.  Emily tried out for another play, The Little Mermaid, and also took an acting and auditioning class.  Jon turned 16 on the 13th of August, and got a job at K-Mart 2 days later!  So proud of him.  Emily missed the first 3 days of school because she was sick.  Not sure what it is, but she got sick the first couple of weeks of school last year too.  Things are going well.  The kids went to the State Fair with Troy and Grandma Sandy.  We have received some sad news that Troy's dad has lung cancer.  We are praying and hoping for a positive outcome that our Heavenly Father is in control of.  Things are going as well as can be expected for him.  I love my FIL very much, and I pray for healing for both himself, and his wife.  I have found a new church, Emily is involved in the youth group there.  I thank Kirk and Lisa for this.  They have been going for some time now, and I am now a part of it.  I love the church, the people, and the opportunities for myself and my children.  In fact, I am going on a women's retreat in October with the church, which is a pretty big deal for those of you who know me.  Guess this is a very brief wrap up of life as of late, now I guess I'll post my pics, which is my favorite thing anyway...
Take care!

Beebz on her 11th birthday...

Beebz turns 11

Emily's Birthday present, Miss Sophie

what kitty doesn't love fish?!

What girl doesn't love chocolate?!

Happy 11th birthday, though delayed in my writing about it.  I love you, I am proud of you, and I pray that God will continue to lead you down a path of serving Him, and helping others.  I pray that you will continue to be the leader you seem to be, I hope you continue with the gifts God has blessed you with.  Your song, your ability to act, your desire to help others.  I hope you know how much I love you.  And I hope we never outgrow our "good night saying"....

Happy Birthday, Danny!

Back in the day, I would have called and sang Happy Birthday to you, Danny.
You would have laughed and called me a hog head.... :)
Oh how I wish I could hear you say something like that again.
I can't believe my little brother is 33 today.  I wonder what would have changed about you, would you have laugh lines around your mouth?  Smile lines by your eyes?  A big indent between your eyebrows from frowning like I have?  I wonder if you'd have another child, if you'd still love your job as a fireman.  If you'd have more tattoos, still like to cook. 
I miss you so much.  There are so many times I wish I could pick up the damn phone to call you.  To get your advice, to hear what you have to say, to hear your newest song on the piano.
Emily is going to be singing a song from Casting Crowns at her voice lessons concert.  Its a song I wrote the lyrics down to and mailed to you in November before you decided to leave.  It was in the middle of your turmoil, and I often wonder what you thought when you read the card, and all the attached lyrics.  I wonder if you wept, if you got pissed, if it touched you.  I never got the chance to ask you.  These are all things I will never know.  And I am learning that its OK to not know.  Maybe even best that I don't.
Take care my little brother.  Your hog head sister loves you so very, very much.

Come unto me all ye that labour and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Memorial Day 2012

We went to Brainerd and spent some time at the cemetery to visit Danny, and sang Happy Birthday to him on Sunday.  We spent some time at Sami's singing some Beatles tunes, petting bunnies, chasing goats, and grilling burgers.  On Monday I took the kids to the Mississippi River to feed the ducks and geese, and see the waterfall.  I also drove them through my old neighborhood, and walked down a trail leading to the Mississippi River again.  It was a quiet, peaceful day.