Photos from Don on Mission Trip

Ok, I said I would post next week, but the pictures have been tugging at my heart this week. Don said it has been an eye opener for the "little white girls in his group". He also let me know that he was able to lead a 14 year old boy to Christ on Tuesday. Sarah's group worked at a food bank yesterday. She was sorting food and was overwhelmed at the bugs in the pantry. Not quite like home is it??

Makes me again realize how blessed my family is and how we take our simple everyday life for granted. Continue to pray for all of the teams to have energy and joy as they serve God for the rest of the week.

Happy Birthday to Me......(yesterday)!

Yesterday was my 43rd birthday. Wow, how can that be? My Mom was remembering the 40th anniversary of the moon landing on July 20, 1969. She says I was sitting in a rocking chair watching with her on t.v. The same chair is still in her house and both of my babies have rocked in it.

I somewhat had a 3 day celebration. Don and Sarah left for Mission Trip on Sunday morning, so they weren't here with me on Monday for the official day. Friday night, Don and I enjoyed a brief date out. Saturday I did laundry and packing while he and Sarah attended a last training day. That night my Mom and her friend (and mine) Mary Ann came over for dinner. We went to Pei Wei. We had some cheesecake and presents when we got home, and then more packing. Sunday morning I took Sarah and Don to church at 6:30 a.m., then came back home to get ready for church. The Merge students that I help lead on Sunday mornings honored me and 2 other July birthdays with a song! When I got up Monday, Katie gave me the sweetest letter and then led me on a scavenger hunt for another present. We had lunch at Panda Express, took a nap, went to Hobby Lobby, WalMart, and then dinner at Chili's! I enjoyed my day with Katie.

Don got me a new cell phone which I had told him I didn't need, but now love it! It has a full keyboard for easier texting (important with a teenage daughter) and also internet access for my emails. The girls gave me a picture frame, a notepad and pen with my initial "K" on it.

All in all it was a good weekend. I missed Don and Sarah on Monday, but they are doing far greater work in an area that needs them more than I do. I've posted some pictures on Facebook that Don has sent by his phone. Take a look or wait for next week when they get back and I'll update here about their trip.


Yummy cheesecake. The best part was a big cake was not left behind for me to be tempted by all week!!!

It only took Don 3 times to figure out how the camera timer works...worth the wait!

Katie and I at Chili's. This was taken with my new phone.

Katie was so excited when we got free birthday dessert. She says we're going back there for her birthday! See knows a deal when she tastes it!

Hanging out at the lake

We like to go out to Lake Grapevine even though we don't have a boat or any or those fun water toys. The girls just like to get wet and the dogs love to swim too. We have had many fun times on Sunday afternoons just being together as a family. Here are a few pics of our visit to the lake last week.


The car ride to the lake is long!!!! Dixie knows where we're going and she makes the most pitiful whining, barking noises as if trying to tell Don to hurry up. Ranger is just oblivious and lays down in the back. The ride back home is quieter since she's tired!



Katie and Dixie.


Katie, Sarah, and Ranger having fun.

Kids Kamp : June 30-July 3, 2009

I think I have finally recovered enough from Kids Kamp to post some pictures. Heat, hard twin bed, Katie sleeping in the bed with me the last night, long days, little sleep, GREAT girls, wonderful worship, fun games, LOTS of laughs, 2 kids praying to receive Christ as their Savior, priceless memories.........

This was my second year to go to our church's camp, and I so enjoyed the girls and was truly blessed to hang out with them.

Katie and the girls I shared a cabin with. There were 2 other adult women in there with me. Only 2 showers!!! I don't think I ever got my feet completely clean. I forgot my tennis shoes, so I did a lot of walking in my sandals.

The only time Katie let me take a picture with her. I tried not to embarrass her, but drove her to tears one day. I think she was just tired.....sorry Katie for speaking before thinking!


Katie on the rock climbing wall.


Katie was first in line for the "Screamer". They were pulled up to the top and then let go of the rope and went swinging! Scared me, but my little adventurer loved it!

Shaving cream fight! Great fun since they had to get out of the pond when a snake was spotted!

Nerd Party on the last night. So funny to see how all the kids dressed up.

Katie as a nerd! She would walk up to people, snort, and say "I like dinosaurs, do you?". Where does she get this from?


Do you recognize this nerdy church staff member?

More nerdy adults.....thanks "Miss Lisa" for all you do for the kids!!!!! By the way, I just went as myself.

This "nerd" is in charge of Missions at church!

Doggie Fun by Katie

Katie was bored one day and decided to follow the dogs around taking pictures. I won't bore you with the MANY that she took. But here are a couple of cute ones and a rather scary one - you be the judge on that!


Ranger taking a nap.......zzzzzzzzz

Dixie and Ranger playing tug!

Dixie in her cool shades.

Ranger being humiliated by Katie once again.

Sweet Dixie. I think with that face she deserves a treat :)

This one creeps me out! Katie snapped the picture as Ranger was jumping on her. Now Katie thinks it's funny to scare me with it. I walked in the bathroom today and nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw a large printout of this on the mirror.....ha, ha! So what do you think? Funny or Creepy?