Always the Fashion Diva

Olivia loves all things girly. Here is her latest joy...a present from her early birthday party.

We are still here...

Well I see me last post was in February...talk about an epic fail as a blogger! My only real excuse is full time employment. I went from being a stay at home mom to full time teacher in January. The transition was not exactly easy. I missed my kids terribly. But I loved my job. So I let my blog take a hiatus while I adjusted to working mom life.


Here are some pics from the last few months... March brought soccer season for Alex. I think soccer is by far his favorite sport. It helps that he is a really good player.

Most every game began like this. Alex and his best bud with the kick off.

He shoots...

and he SCORES !!!After his friend made a great goal, Alex celebrated with him...

March also brought Spring Break which I used to paint most of house...not my best idea. I have painted 2 of our previous homes, top to bottom. It was fun and really quite easy. I have aged since then. This time the house nearly won the battle. I finished what I had set out to paint and it looks great. At some point I will post before and after pics of that. I have the before pics but not the after and right now my house is not picture perfect, so to speak :)

April came and went and I can't seem to find any pics from that month. So on to May we go...

May meant the end of the school year. My schedule was hectic and nearly chaotic. My kids were busy finishing as well. Alex finished 8th grade with great grades. He will be in high school next year...where did the time go? It was only yesterday that he stepped into Kindergarten as I cried in the hallway.

Olivia finished 1st grade and pronounced herself a real 2nd grader. The twins finished preschool. Their program was a circus.

Isn't this the most precious lion you have ever seen?

My Lion and my Strong Man

May was also the month the boys turned 6. They wanted their birthday at the church in the sand. So we had a party with sand, slip n slides, sprinklers and balloon artists.
Olivia was turned into a fairy with the help of our fabulous balloon artists.

Olivia and her friend Piper.

Olivia also became the proud owner of a balloon rocking horse.

After school was out, our focus turned to a big June event. David's parents were to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. We were planning a big reception to mark the big day. With the help of a talented friend at church I was able to put together the decorations and food. David's brother, Beesh as we know him :) and I collaborated on a watermelon sculpture. I did the sticky, messy work of taking out the melon part and zig zagging the top. He did all the parts that required talent...the carving.
It was a beautiful day and they really enjoyed it.

So that is a look at the missing months :) Our summer has been busy so far and much more fun is still to come. Hopefully I will make more frequent visits to my blog world.

There are those nights...

There are those times when you are honored and blessed beyond measure. Friday night was one of those times. We had been invited to the home of our good friends M and J. In fact our entire ministerial staff and their spouses were invited. We were expecting a nice dinner (J is an AMAZING cook) and good good company. We got that plus so much more.

M and J, hosts extraordinaireThe first course of our gourmet dinnerThe fabulous J and her incedible assistant and prayer buddy, D

Our wait staff, yes they served us at our tables and yes that is a cumberbun and bow tie

Our tables....set with fine dinnerware and crystal glassesEven dinner music from a talented trioSome of the ladies...

Some of the gentlemenThe Kim, Karen, Kim sandwich :)

No night is complete without primping together in the bathroom.

At our table we shared stories of how we met and married. Just at our table there were over 156 years of marriage represented, pretty cool, huh?

K and R...

Their romance began when R was substitute teaching.

L and D...

I don't know their complete story but I am so thrilled it brought them here!

D and S...

I don't know the specifics but I do know their story began very near the holy land

( East TN not Israel :)

K and S...

They are our newest blessings at church so we are still learning their story.

We are so happy they are hear!

K and J...

Their story began at a college fair where they were representing different universities. As I remember, he was a gentleman and offered to carry her materials for her.

K and G...

Their story began on a church bus when she was 15.

L and B...

Their story began in high school....56 yrs of marriage looks great on them, doesn't it?

R and A...

Their story began in Puerto Rico where she sang and he played the trombone

M and D...

Their story began on a Truth tour bus...It was not love at first sight but it was a love that has lasted nearly 30 yrs.

Well, you know these 2....our story began on a college campus and has taken us

on an amazing journey.

You know, if you look at all of our stories it is nothing short of miraculous that we are all here at this time. Only God could have orchestrated the lives of so many people in order that those lives intersect in just this way. We are blessed to be here, a part of such an amzing church staff.

So that was our Friday night. Thanks to all those who planned and cooked and served and entertained and loved us enough to honor all of us in such a special way.