Week #2

The kids have lunches and backpacks packed and are ready for Dave to bring them to school. So far everyone is still excited to go :)

Everyone has a little bit of the grumpies this morning. Not sure if it's because it's Monday or if they are a little nervous today. This will be their first full week of school. They all have GREAT teachers which I'm so thankful for. Josie's First grade teacher even came up to me Sunday with tears in her eyes because she felt bad about moving Josie to Kindergarten. We're totally fine with it. We need to start her out with a good foundation.

This week should be beautiful! I'm thinking of canning the rest of my tomatoes today and freezing green pepper. First time canning by myself. We'll see if I'm brave enough to attempt it.

The girls are going horseback riding this morning. We brought home another trail horse named Honey from the stables. She's old and safe for the kids. I love seeing them ride together. Vertigo has been doing really well trail riding.

Olivia babysits this afternoon. The girls start play practice Tuesday night for the Wizard of OZ. I think they'll have a great time.

Dave got an old barn board with hooks put up on on the back porch. That really helps with coats and backpacks. Love the look. Still need to keep organizing. I got another laundry basket of Good Will things to drop off. (although kids keep pulling things out of it!)

Dave's been working on the swingset/fort. It will be great when it gets done. Seems like weekend fly by and not much gets accomplished though.

Tomorrow is the BIG Day...

Tomorrow will be the very first day of school-school for my 5 of our kids. It's exciting and a little bitter sweet. (mostly a relief right now!) Things will change and we'll see where God leads. One day at a time. A lot to do today to get ready...backpacks to check, school supplies to write names on, need to get organized, do Josie's hair, get groceries...

I finally got on Face Book. It's kind of strange for me. I think I'm getting it. It's hard for me to change sometimes.

We had a fun, busy weekend with friends over every night, hay rack rides and campfires. It's almost fall!

The BIG One (for Beth)

This is Beth. She's a very funny, honest, tell-it-like-it-is person and we love her.
She HAD to catch a fish (even though she won't touch them)
Thanks for the fun time!!!

Pictures from "The Dock"

We all loved the Ozarks. It's been our annual vacation for several years now. Especially fun this year with some other friends down there.

After Vacation Breakfast...

We are down to almost nothing in our refrigerator after our trip. I dread the grocery store right now. We have no oatmeal (the kids were happy about that one!) No eggs, bread, bananas, very little milk. It's not pretty. I was pretty certain I was out of coffee. The Lord blessed me and I found a bag that Chad had brought me from Brazil. It will be a GOOD morning :)

Breakfast today:
One bowl of Malt-O-Meal (I squeezed 3 Tbl. out of the box)
1 packet instant oatmeal (not sure how old it is)
A few lucky ones got milk with their cereal

I thought about thawing out some hamburger buns if we're desperate.

Josie and Carsen were out in the garden picking raspberries this morning. Smart kiddos.

I'll be heading to the store soon armed with a long list....or at least heading to the store. My head isn't ready to make lists yet.

Lord, I do just thank you that we have food. Even if we didn't we could jump in the car and go buy some. So many, many others have nothing this morning...or the morning after...or after that. God bless those that have nothing this morning. Fill them up and move us to help them. To know we have much...and others nothing...and not do anything about it is sin. Move us from complacency to helping and loving others with our wealth.

Vacation and Headaches...

We've been enjoying our week in the Ozarks. It's almost over which is sad. The kids have had a great time tubing, boating, knee-boarding and hanging with some other families we know that are down here vacationing too. Tomorrow is adult out-to-dinner night :) I think there will be about 45 kids and young adults left back at the vacation house. Seriously.

I've read 2 books and had a relaxing time. I had to read House at Sugar Beach again--it was still as good as the first time I read it. Really makes me look at our Liberian kids and am so thankful they didn't go through most of that. It's a book I'd like to pass on to them when they're older. It has alot of good history about Liberia.

My mom is out of the hospital which is great news! There were alot of people praying for her. Still don't have any reason why it happened but ruled out alot of other things which is good. Hopefully it was just a passing migraine thing and won't happen again. Our thoughts and prayers were certainly with them this week too.