She's Four Folks!

The ladies in our church go on visitation each week to visit the shut ins. They take them something personal that they may need or want and just visit with them, trying to encourage them and lift them up spiritually.

Mander always takes Carissa. Carissa will sing for the shut ins and they just love it. We miss visitation for school, but I'm looking forward to it this summer.

Anyway, the ladies that go on this visitation absolutely love Carissa and they planned a birthday party for her Monday, which Mander invited Hannah and I to attend. It was so fun.


I thought her cake was sweet...pun intended...since she sings to the shut ins, it said Happy Birthday Our Little Song Bird. :D


The birthday party was a surprise for Carissa. We didn't want to yell surprise and scare her, so we gently sang Happy Birthday to her. She was so shocked at first. And then the sweetest little smile crossed her face.

Mander kissed her and put her at ease and she had a GREAT time at her party.

Mrs. Gail made sure the Birthday Princess had everything she needed. Her sash, lighted birthday button, wand, and tiara.

Isn't that precious?

The Birthday Princess.

The princess giving her paw paw a hug. So sweet!

And of course she gave Hannah love too. :D

She was so funny. Everytime someone called her name, she would pose for their camera. It was really cute.

Her daddy said grace over the food and then it was time to dig in.

Me and the Princess...

The princess with her grandparents. Don't they look great in their party hats?

The ladies prepared a hot dog lunch with all the fixins. They did a fabulous job.

And Carissa ate like there was no tomorrow.

Mrs. Gail lit the candle on Carissa's cake. She did it with such ease too. ha haaaaaaaa

Mmmm....cake!

After birthday cake it was time to open presents. She got a new bicycle from her mom and dad!!

She jumped right on it and took off!

She was very happy!!

Then she opened gifts from the ladies. She loved everything she received. So sweet.

We bought her a Disney Princess basket for her bicycle. It came with handlebar tassles and a bell.

I love this picture of Mander. She always looks at her kids like this....ok, not always...but most of the time! :D

I moved behind Carissa to get a special shot of her, but I got so tickled at the ladies standing around watching her open gifts. I loved that so many of them had their party hats on. Isn't that sweet?

Mander, Chris, and Carissa. I hate Celine couldn't be there, but she had school.

And then we just had to get some special pictures. She was so cute. She loved having her picture taken and chose a lot of the poses herself. So funny!!

Love this one. It's my favorite. :D

But then this one is good too. LOL They were all good of her.

We had a great time at her party. I'm so glad we were able to make it.

Happy Birthday, Carissa. We love you!!

Patch Quiz Bowl

Each year our Patch the Pirate program has a quiz bowl and awards dinner for the fourth through sixth grade Patch class.

Brother Johnathan, his wife Mrs. Jennifer, and Mrs. Kim do a wonderful job teaching this class. Harrison has BLOOMED in their class! Pun intended for the picture.

:D

The Quiz Bowl is set up so that the parents go head to head with their children in answering questions from the Patch year. This year the children were taught some New Testament survey and it was hard. LOL

Our wonderful Pastor.....:D

After prayer we ate a dinner that the children chose of rolls, corn on the cob, chicken tenders, and macaroni and cheese.

Behind Harrison you'll see his picture and something above it. The children were asked to write a verse and what that verse meant to them. Harrison chose and wrote:

Psalm 118:1, "O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good. His mercy endureth forever." We need to give thanks because no matter what we go through, His mercy will be with us forever.

Brother John O' the ninth gave us our devotional for the night. I'm excited about this summer because he will be doing his internship at our church, helping with the youth from, I believe, second grade all the way to teens. I may be wrong about that, but that was my understanding. Anyway, I know he'll do a fantastic job!

For the Quiz Bowl, our distinguished *giggle* panel of judges were Brother RJ, Brother Johnny, and Brother John.

In the first round, we were given multiple choice questions and had to write our answers on a marker board. The kids beat us (the parents) pretty bad in the first round.

In the second round, we had to use the bells. The kids beat us pretty bad in that round too.

In the third round, the four kids that would be leaving this Patch class and moving up to SIGMA went against adults they chose from the room, which were Pastor Goodman, Mrs. Ava, Brother Howell (missionary to New Zealand), Brother Jeff, and Mrs. Janet (who pretty much gave up as soon as the question was asked. LOL)

Brother Johnathan asked them to name the months on the Jewish calender. Uhhh...yeah. BUT! Thankfully, the parents side had Brother John and Pastor and did quite well. However, we still got beat pretty bad.

Needless to say, the parents lost and the children won.....again......as usual.

GREAT JOB, KIDDOS! But we're taking you down next year!!!

Next came the presentation of awards. All of the children did a great job this year. Harrison won the trophy for saying the most memory verses. Brother Johnathan couldn't remember if it was 130 or 140.

Harrison also received the trophy for second place and the highest point scorer for the boys. Deborah won for the girls and was also in first place for the class. Way to go, Harrison and Deborah!

Each child received a certificate of completion.

And the Fishermen were the winning team. They received medals. Congratulations, Madison, Coby, Kaylyn, Deborah, and Harrison. Y'all did great!

My Patch the Pirate kid with his booty. hahahaha

Harrison with Brother Johnathan, Mrs. Jennifer, and Mrs. Kim.

Harrison with Bruce and me. :D

After the Quiz Bowl, Bruce took Harrison to Wal Mart to purchase anything he wanted. We've always awarded the kids if they work hard and do exceptionally well in their Patch and Sigma classes. Harrison did exceptionally well this year and has overcome so much! He struggles with his reading (not near as much as he used to) and so it took a lot of effort for him to make it to the top like he did. I am so proud of him!!

Way to go, Harry!

Where Is Your Father?

Mom and I went to see daddy yesterday, who, by the way, was doing great, especially after they gave him a roast beef sandwich at 7:30 PM after not having anything all day. Before going up to his room we decided to use the public restroom there in the hospital lobby.

A woman and her two small children came in and the conversation that took place between them cracked me up.

Child #1: Mommy, can I touch the toilet?
Mommy: No, you can't touch the toilet. But you can sit on it. (how that isn't touching it, I'll never know. Anyway...)
A few minutes later...
Child #1: Mommy, did you say I can touch the toilet?
Mommy: No, I said you can not touch the toilet.
Child #1: Mommy?
Mommy: Yes?
Child #1: I touched the toilet.
Mommy: Well don't touch it again. We'll wash your hands when you're finished.
Child #1: Mommy, my shoe fell off.
Mommy: Well put it back on.
Child #1: I can't reach it.
Mommy: Why not?
Child #1: Because I'm on the toilet.
Mommy: Then put it on when you get off.
Child #1: Will my foot get dirty?
Mommy: *sigh* Don't worry about your foot. We can wash it too.
Child #2: Mommy, I can't reach the sink.
Mommy: Well, here, I'll help you.
Child #2: Am I gonna sit on the counter?
Mommy: Yes, you are going to sit on the counter. You can reach the sink better that way.
Child #2: Mommy, what's that do?
(lights go off...pitch black in the bathroom)
Mommy: Turn the light back on!
Child #1: MOMMY! IT'S DARK
Child #2: *giggle*
Mommy: TURN THE LIGHT BACK ON!
Child #2: Ok
(lights back on)
(lights back off)
Mommy: Stop that! Turn it back on!
(lights back on)
(lights back off)
Mommy: I am not telling you again! Turn on that light!!
(lights back on)
Child #2: You're not fun.
Child #1: Mommy, I need to wash my hands because I touched the toilet.
Mommy: Where is your FATHER??

Moving To Charlotte

Daddy's blood work showed that he'd had a heart attack. Which would explain the symptoms he had been having Monday night. I'm guessing he had the heart attack Monday night since his night was so bad.

Anyway, they decided to move him to Charlotte so his heart doctors from Sanger clinic will be taking care of him.

When he calls mom to let her know he's leaving she'll pick me up and we'll meet him over there.

He has mentioned that he is tired and is considering coming off dialysis. Of course we all know what that would mean and so we don't want that to happen, but ultimately it is his decision.

That's all the update I have for now. Thank you for continued prayers!

Happy Birthday, Hannah

We celebrated my baby girl's 15th birthday yesterday. Here she is at age 1. She was playing and happy and having a good time and decided to cheese it up for the camera. I love this picture of her. She was so cute!


Wow. I know, right? I look like I'm having a great time, don't I? Gotta love how a camera will grab that very moment in time you wish it hadn't. Thanks, Bruce!


But then you can always make it capture a moment you want to remember.


Hannah got this gorgeous purse from her Grandmother last night. I have to say that I love it and am feeling a wee bit jealous over it. But you know....maybe Hannah will share it with me sometime.

And she got this hot pink flute too. She was online one day and found it and had a fit over it. So Bruce told her he would buy it for her if that's what she wanted. Mom and dad wanted to go in on it too. So we ordered it and it came, but she never knew it came. We just acted as though she wasn't going to get it by her birthday. She was a happy little girl when it was time to open presents.

Big daddy....little Hannah....hot pink flute

When everyone left, I took Hannah to see her grandpa in the hospital and we snuck him a very small piece of Hannah's birthday cake. See the hope I don't get caught all over his face??

Oh yes, I haven't told you yet, have I? Daddy was taken yesterday by ambulance to the hosptial for congestive heart failure. When we went to see him last night he was sitting up in bed in his jeans and henley shirt, talking with some friends of his. He was in very good spirits, laughing and cutting up. Giving them some words of encouragement about a situation they're going through. Just being daddy. Today they are doing his dialysis at the hospital and are talking of giving him a stress test today. I really don't want them doing that today since this is his dialysis day. I'm praying they'll change their minds and do it tomorrow. We'll see.

On the way to the hosptial we were flooded by rain. It was coming down in buckets, it seemed like to me. But once the rain stopped we looked up and saw this beautiful rainbow. It reminded me of all the promises God has made and that He has never once failed to keep those promises. He is good, all the time!

Banquets and More Banquets!

Justin went to Megan's Junior Senior Banquet at her Christian school this weekend. They looked so nice!

Then Saturday night was his last SIGMA banquet. It was a fun night, but a little depressing for me, knowing he was leaving the youth group already. I just don't know about this growing up stuff!!

Justin was awarded the Pastor's Award, which is given by our Pastor, to the teenager that exhibits leadership to the youth group. It is such a beautiful award. I think this year is the first year they've given an eagle. Just gorgeous!

And he was third in the top ten. So we were proud of him for that.

Way to go, to all the youth that were awarded a certificate and/or trophy Saturday night. You did a great job this year!!

Home School Graduation

As much as I enjoyed the graduation at CCC, our home school graduation was my favorite. LOL I said last night that when we started home schooling, Justin became my first student and thirteen years later, he has become my first graduate. Praise the Lord!

Everything was personal and God honoring. We would have never made it through these home school years without the help of the Lord.

And now I am excited to see what the Lord has in store for Justin. I know it's gonna be good!

Enjoy this video of Justin and Bruce playing Rejoice in the Lord. Justin is playing the mandolin Bruce made. It has such a beautiful sound. I couldn't help but cry while they played. We have so much to rejoice in the Lord over.

Justin's Graduation from CCC

We had a good time watching Justin walk to receive his diploma Wednesday night. He was very excited and there were several other people we knew graduating also. To each of them we send our congratulations.

Almost Time!!

So Justin's diploma cover came in the mail today. It's very nice and his diploma is sitting in it and ready to be handed to him Thursday night. Can't wait!!

I'd show a picture of it, but you know...he might see it.

;0)

Tomorrow night he will graduate from CCC. Thursday is his high school graduation and then Friday he has a Junior Senior Banquet with his friend Megan. We'll be following him down to SC to meet her parents and get some pictures. And then Saturday will be his last SIGMA banquet.

:(

I'm a little sad about that. I feel like he just moved up to the youth group and now his time has come to move up to the College and Career. *sigh* I find myself asking where the time has gone more and more often these days. I can't believe he's finishing up so much at one time. But he's worked hard and I'm proud of him.

Love Thy Who?

So here I am at 2:30 in the morning and my neighbors are making so much noise I can't sleep. HUGE work trucks, bright lights, loud talking. What in the world are they doing down there at 2:30 in the morning anyway??? I would go see, but they're strange like that. A little more redneck than myself. So, you know, I think I'll just lay low for now. LOL

My mom came for a short visit today. We ate oranges and talked for a little bit. Then Bruce got up and we went to cut his mom's grass and visit with her for a while. That was fun. I tried showing her some things on facebook. Maybe she'll enjoy it. I hope so.

Lots of stuff to do tomorrow. Think I'll try going back to sleep. Goodnight!

...love thy neighbor....love thy neighbor...love thy neighbor...love thy neighbor...love thy neighbor.......

Mother's Day Give Away!

Hey, Hey!!! Homestead Momma is having a Mother's Day Giveaway!!! Go take a peek and enter for your chance to win. :)

YAY!!!! Love giveaways. Don't you????

Click here to visit Homestead Momma

And We're Off!

The last thing I needed to do before Justin can receive his diploma from CCC is turn in his transcripts. I finished that this morning, complete with photograph. I searched all over looking for Transcript records and this was the only one that had a place for a photograph. Thought that was interesting. lol

Anyway, all I have to do is turn it in and I'll do that as soon as Justin gets back from the college. Wish I had had it completed yesterday. He could have dropped it off at Student Services this morning. Oh well....

So here is his schedule for next week:

Tuesday: Practice @ the church for Home School graduation
Wednesday: Graduation from CCC
Thursday: Graduation from Deuteronomy 6:7 Home School
Friday: Jr/Sr Banquet at Mountain View Christian Academy with Megan
Saturday: Last SIGMA Awards Banquet :(

It's going to be a very full week next week!! But that's ok...I LOVE IT! Although, here lately I've been having a lot of stomach problems and I'm thinking it's my nerves. Hopefully, come next week, I'll be so busy I won't have time for an upset stomach!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Daddy is doing great. He is recooperating wonderfully with the loving care of my mother. She's so good to him. I must give her a SHOUT OUT. She's a wonderful wife and caretaker!!!

Love you, mommy!

Mother Daughter Banquet

We had our Mother Daughter banquet at church this past Friday. It was a lot of fun and we thoroughly enjoyed hearing Mrs. Anna Parris on things to say and not to say to your children. She is just wonderful and I love her so much.

Thank you, Mrs. Anna, for your words of wisdom Friday night, and for being such a sweet friend in my life.

I was able to sit with my daughter and my mother. Two other beautiful people in my life. I don't know what I would do without them. They are both such blessings to me. I enjoyed the time and fellowship together.

The decorations were gorgeous, thanks to Mrs. Ava and my buddy, Dana. They did a fabulous job!! It made me want to sing the song from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Spring, Spring, Spring.

We had another man saved at church this morning. I'm telling ya, the Lord is doing some work in the hearts and lives of people everywhere!! It is so exciting!!

Things are going to be very busy the next couple of weeks, so I'll see ya when I can! :)