She has the best laugh...

He's off to college...oh my heart...

He's off to college...

study hard...

Remember who you are in Christ...

reach high... With Him, you'll go far...

I love you Jon...

Summer memories

This is my younger brother and his wonderful family...

We're blessed... My brother, Doug, and his bride Dora have a lovely daughter, EliseClaire, that is just the same age as Hope. Although we live in different states, we've always tried to get the cousins together...Jon and Livie too!

Elise had fun showing her cousins her town...and the incredible Monterey Bay Aquarium.

I know Anna at Sweetnest has "enjoyed" one of these rides... MacGyver and I had to do all the work as Grandma had no pedals and the ladies were in the front basket...what a workout! At least we didn't go over a river:)

The best part is they have always loved being together...now that's a blessing.

Jon's always been a good sport...lots and lots of little girls around.

This year the hugs were as tight as ever.

I'm glad MacGyver and Doug like each other...

There was a silver anniversary to celebrate...congratulations... happy times...

Had to make our annual pilgrimage to Macaroni Grill...mmmmmm....

Grandma and her girls... I love this picture...

even more loving to go around...

Grandma just loves this...

delight... until next time...

Girlfriends and answered prayer...

Hope and E...

I remember very specifically praying for Hope to have wonderful girlfriends...

friends that will be there perhaps for a lifetime to share, laugh and encourage...friends that will share their faith in Christ and go shoulder to shoulder into their generation as sisters in Christ. We pray this for all our kids... (I'll have to show you my life-time girlfriends sometime...)

Katrina & Linnea... friends of the heart.

We miss our daily girlfriend times with Linnea... but the love is there.

New church friends! ...middle school, aaa...adventure!

Sydney & Hope...ready for adventure...

girlfriends can be cousins too! Elise and Hope...Livie hugging...

a night of 5th grade graduation craziness... These are the girls you want to celebrate with. Thanks for a great celebration...Kat, Melody, Julia...we love you.

Below are their prayer journals made for the new middle school adventure.

sisters can be the best of friends...

Friends and time...

Do you have those friends? You know the ones...the people you just love and just love to be with but you live miles and miles away? We are blessed with many of these...

We got a call to join our Rubys in Black Butte.

It always feels like the conversation never ended, yet we realize how much life of our friends we've missed. It was good, really good to be together again.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for sharing with us.

...a bonus! We got to go to the Sisters' Quilt Show!

Over so soon?

I think I'd better get some of the summertime photos posted before any more time slips away...Yikes! We had a great summer with a "less is more" and "see what comes along" attitude.

It began, of course, with a wonderful graduation celebration for Jon and his friends. MacGyver strung hundreds of twinkle lights and paper lanterns. He's so good...

A quick word to the wise...start your party a bit later in June. Many missed our lights with the lovely, late sun. But we still had a great time...many dear friends helped us celebrate.

Jon and his friend and soon-to-be college roommate, C.J. We like C.J.

Did I mention they're going to college??? Oh my heart...

changes...

Do you see it? She's already grown out of this violin...it's the second time in a year. In two days we go to buy her her first full sized violin.

She's wanted to play since she was 3, placing chop sticks under her chin.

Now we hear the strains of "Amazing Grace" and we are amazed.

Is is possible? A year ago, she hadn't had a lesson...

Mommy, can we sew?

Concentration, creativity...perseverance.

She cut, sewed, learned with a willing heart.

She did a huge part of the work herself...and the design is all Livie.

And now, she sleeps with her own, special blankie... Lovely work, sweet daughter.