GPA Jr./Sr. Prom - 2009

Katherine, going to the prom...how can it be? First she wants to drive, and now this! It's a big step for a parent to take, I'm telling you.  Here are a few pictures of the evening. I thought Katherine was beautiful. We went all out -- hair, nails, limo. So much for her college fund. 

I love this one of the four amigos:

Erinn, Katherine, Erica, Jessica

The event was held at Mira Vista Country Club. I volunteered to go early 

and help decorate. Hey, that's probably my only 

chance of seeing the inside of that place. 

The theme the seniors had chosen was "Puttin' on the Ritz." 

The banquet/dance part of the evening ended at 11:00 p.m.. Then, they enjoyed an after party at Alley Cats in Arlington, which lasted until 4:00 a.m. Jeff and I flipped a coin to see who would go get her at 4:00 in the morning. We both agreed that no way were we doing that, so we sent her home with Erinn to sleep the day away. And she did.

Annual Easter Egg Dyeing

Our traditional egg dyeing day was on Saturday afternoon. (Does the word "dyeing" look strange to you? Because it does to me. I do know it's not "dying", so I'm going with it.) I hope the girls will want to keep doing this for a few more years. We all enjoy the activity, and everyone seems to create new masterpieces year after year.  

Tools of the Trade

Gotta have the Paas Easter Kit

(What kind of name is Paas anyway?)

Four dozen perfectly boiled eggs, minus one

that Abigail and I had to quality check for doneness.

Another essential of Easter -- Peeps!

A few of my masterpieces 

Ah, the messy creativity -- I love it!

Thanks to Abigail for the use of her wonderful photographs. 

I Had a Little Turtle

I had a little turtle, who lived in a box. He swam in the water and climbed on the rocks.  Sorry, returning to childhood...  Actually I did have a pet turtle when I was younger. "His" name was Myrtle. I know. Original.

Jeff found this little guy crossing the golf course on Saturday. He knew the girls would love him, so he brought him home in a cup.  Rebecca and Abigail spent an hour arguing over his name, and I believe we ended up with Bogey (Abigail's) and Fairway (Rebecca's).  "Call him what you want!" I yelled. Well, I had to yell over them. I wasn't frustrated because they were fighting over the name of a turtle! Not at all. Nope.

We set him up in an abandoned fish bowl with some pretty rocks and water. Oh, and a lamp, because turtles "must have 2-3 hours per day of basking," says Google.  We've tried various food items for him to eat:  lettuce, grapes, piece of banana, bloodworms from our fish food. He doesn't seem to be interested in much of anything, although I believe he ate a moth that Katherine captured last night.  

Isn't he cute?

I'm not sure if we will keep Bogey Fairway Turtle. He would probably be happier "in the wild."  I guess if we could be sure he was actually eating something, we might.  And, really...do I need to add one more thing to my daily question:  "Abigail, have you fed the dog, rabbits, fish, hermit crab, turtle?"

This Post Brought to You By...

Easter 2001... What sweet girls.  Long gone are the days of picking out cute Easter dresses and hats.  And enjoying warm, sunshiny weather.  Hey, even I don't buy a new dress to wear on Easter anymore. The weather is always too cold.  Should I say something about global warming here? Because winter is lasting longer, and Easter tends to have cold rain or snow. (Sorry, too much of a digression.)  Just wanted to enjoy these pictures of Katherine - nine years, Abigail - three years, and Rebecca - six years.

In our recent Easter musical at church we sang a wonderful song entitled, "I've Seen Jesus." Sharing some of the words with you today in the hopes that Jesus is alive in your heart and you are praising Him for His willingness to die in your place. Have a blessed Easter and remember:  He is Risen! He is risen indeed!

Tell the grieving to rejoice!

Tell the lost to lift their voice!

There is hope for every soul He came to save.

Every tongue will praise His name!

Every nation now proclaim, 

That the Lord of Life has overcome the grave!

I've seen Jesus! I've seen Jesus!

Like a blind man, He opened up my eyes.

I've seen Jesus! I've seen Jesus!

I've seen Jesus and Jesus is alive!

I'm Tired

That's all. I'm just tired. How about you?

Red Envelope Day

If you read this post on March 31, I urge you to do this simple thing today.

Buy a red envelope. Address it to President Obama and write the following message on the back:

This envelope represents one child who died because of an abortion. It is empty because the life that was taken is now unable to be part of our world.

For more information, go to www.RedEnvelopeDay.com.  

Thanks.

Do You Really Think I Wanted to Know That?

So, Jeff and I are driving home the other night and he says, "Do you realize that in about 13 months Katherine will be about to graduate from high school? And, that in 20 months she could be leaving home? for good? And within the next 5-7 years she could be married and we could be grandparents?"

Sure, I've been sitting around, just thinking about the fact that I will be a grandmother in 6 years. NOT! 

Thanks. Thanks alot. Now I feel panicked, and old.

(A Day) and Night of the Arts

We started off last Saturday morning with a lovely piano recital at Ridglea Presbyterian Church. Abigail played "Sonatina in C" Opus 36 No. 1 by Muzio Clementi. And, according to her, "I messed up three times."  She played very well in our opinion.  It's always a delight to watch and hear her play, those little fingers moving so rapidly over the keys. She likes fast songs and this sonatina certainly qualifies.

On Saturday evening, we went to Grace Prep to attend "Night of the Arts," presented by the high school students. Several dramas were performed and the art students had their works displayed.  Coffee and desserts were served and it was a really enjoyable evening.

Katherine with her buddies

Her art display

Next weekend Katherine travels to Austin for the TAPPS State Contest. Hope to have more good news to report, as in....Katherine wins big, gets a scholarship, PAYS FOR COLLEGE!!!! Hey, I can dream, can't I?

The Jungle Ain't What It Used to Be

Used to be, you could send someone on a mission trip to the jungles of Peru and you wouldn't hear from them for days on end. You wondered, worried, fretted about their safety and would be so relieved when they returned to civilization and could call you. Not so anymore. Technology has come to Pebas, Peru. Jeff used his iPhone to call us from a village in the Amazon. Six years ago, on his first trip, this would have been an impossibility.  Of course, the conversation went something like, "Hey, you won't believe it! I'm calling from Pebas. There's a cell tower here. I have no idea how much this is going to cost. Bye!"

Here we are welcoming the team home. 

It was great to see them walk 

through that turnstyle at DFW.

I had a special interest in this trip, other than the fact that Jeff was going. Our children's choir, Wild Worship, had raised money to send 100 shirts to the Yagua children. The back of the shirts had John 3:16 printed in Spanish.  I couldn't wait to see pictures of the kids who received them.

The team on the rapido, heading to the villages.

The first picture shows a little boy wearing a shirt we sent in January 2008. It was formerly black with a turquoise and pink logo. On the right he is wearing a new Peru Pals shirt in yellow.


More happy faces. While it was great to send the shirts, Jeff said they could have handed out many more. So, I'm pondering the possibility of trying to raise enough money or donations to send more shirts on the next trip that will be in June.  I've already thought of a name for the fundraiser: No Yagua Child Left Behind -- A T-Shirt for Everyone!  (hee, hee)

After traveling to the villages, the team spent 4 days in Iquitos helping the seminary to build a wall for their classroom.  It was a profitable time, as well as an encouragement to the hard-working Peruvians.

Just loved the beautiful colors of this photo of the Amazon River

As usual, Jeff came home bearing many exciting gifts and wonderful stories of the way that God is working in the Amazon Basin.  Remember:  the next trip will leave in June. So, start sending me those t-shirt monies now!  There's still time and, if you call now, I'll throw in a free Yagua jungle bracelet with every donation. ; )

A Dios sea la gloria!

Oh, The Places We Went

Sure, we could have jetted off to Hawaii, like some of our friends did. We could have flown away to Florida or some other beach destination.  But, there were so many interesting things to do right at home for Spring Break.  Jeff spent 10 days in Peru on a mission trip, so the girls were left on their own to enjoy the break from school.  Here's a recap.

1. Total of books read:  16

2.  Some of the exotic locales to which we ventured:  Venus, World Market, The Beer Gut Club, Maypearl, Texas Roundup

3. Fine dining experiences:  The Purple Cow, Red Hot & Blue, Whataburger, Sonic (lots), Amy's Donuts

4. Chores completed: crape myrtles trimmed, Jeff's truck cleaned, two closets organized, 6 bags of leaves, shower grout removal started, weeds removed from lawn

5.  Other things we did:  

a.  Abigail began teaching herself to play the guitar.

b. Genny realized how much she STILL hates yardwork and next year will call a lawn service.

c.  Katherine painted several pictures.

d.  Rebecca was a beast at Star Wars Lego on the Wii.

 e.  Enjoyed a lovely day of shopping with Grandmother

So, next year, don't plan a family trip to San Antonio, or even Hawaii. Give us a call and we can set you up with a local Fort Worth itinerary that will just blow you away.  No one should miss a visit to the Beer Gut Club in Venus.

 

 Enjoy some random pics, compliments of Katherine.