MISSING MY BROTHER LOREN....... He left this earthly world to be with his heavenly Father in September. He was diagnosed with lymphoma just 6 or 8 weeks earlier. You know, I wouldn't wish it any different for him, but I sure wasn't ready to say goodbye to him. Not being able to just pick up the phone and hearing his voice is tough for me. If he wasn't so doggone nice and loveable, it may not be quite so hard. :) I was able to fly to Houston and be there with Dar and the boys when he died. I am so thankful for that time! I flew back home, got airline tickets for all of us and 3 days later, we flew to Oklahoma for his funeral. And what a good time our family had together there. I was so surprised and comforted by all the family that came/flew from Ohio!!! That was the best part for me I think, having time with 30 or more cousins, aunts, & uncles.... Loren would've enjoyed so much, having all them at his house to entertain, tell stories with, and laugh together!!!
"GO REST HIGH ON THAT MOUNTAIN...... SON YOUR WORK ON EARTH IS DONE....."

You are surely missed, my brother!

I should have taken a picture with my phone of John in the hospital bed, but didn't..... PLEASE PRAY FOR JOHN, as he broke/fractured his tailbone this week. He was in severe pain, that is, until he got some prescriptions that are really helping with that. A boy in school (actually his best friend, who never meant to hurt him), came up behind him and "knee'd" him in the butt.... hitting him just right/wrong, and yes, BROKE the tailbone. He hopes to return to school Monday, and this year's soccer season is over just before the first game. :(

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL !!!

We took a group from our church to Columbus, OH

for the Mennonite Church Convention. Speakers were great and the worship time with 5,000 other youth was really awesome. There were 19 of us in all, counting a couple not on this picture that were serving as volunteer staff with the children's classes and as "hotel bouncer" :) We did a lot of walking this 5 days, as our hotel was 7 blocks from the Arena and Convention Center. Several miles a day is not stretching it, but it was good for us.

Our small group meeting after one of the sessions.

We went into the city of Columbus for our Servant Project and painted a house for some elderly people. This was our rest time.... you will see that the color we painted this house was blue, as everybody was wearing the color blue by the time we were finished.

PIZZA TIME

We got to have time with Jason & Maria....that was a treat! They had just gotten back from a fishing trip to Canada with her family.

Me and my girl Olivia in the food court. What a treat to get time with 2 of my sisters!

Jeanette & Donna.... and the youngest on the right. Heh.

DUMPSTER-DIVING AT CONVENTION???

Y'all need to leave Delaware habits in DE...

They did dumpster-dive but for a purpose...!

Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) had a new event this year:

A TRASH FASHION SHOW...

We were instructed to come up with an outfit made out of trash or recycled materials.

Wow.... this one is way out of order... :)

but here is Jordan, John, Justin, Ricky, & DJ

hanging out in the convention hall

Our youth transformed Katie into the CVS Gladiator.

What wonderful creativity they had working together.

They did bring all the trash back to the hotel and wash it first, you will be glad to know.

Our finished model got to walk in the Saturday night fashion show.

They needed additional models, and Julianna and Olivia were on hand to volunteer, and were very very happy to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Julianna's dress was made out of chicken wire and ribbon, and old Christmas decorations.

Olivia's was made of newspaper.

Our three models after they did the runway thing, and it was all over. What fun!

John was in the court of honor for Stephanie Benavides' Quincinera......

So this is the beginnings of our 2009 garden... we have had sooooo much rain and it has grown a lot since then. I will send an update soon. This is TJ's therapy patch.

"And all things good grow on TJ's farm......"

Front part is my creation of lots of flowers with Olivia helping me with the marble pathway.

HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY TO OLIVIA!!

We had a "California Sun" theme - Olivia is in the orange.

A couple weeks ago, Julianna had a flat tire on her car. The boys showed her how to put the donut on and she took it to meet Michael to go to a wedding together.... The donut blew and she pulled off the road. She let it beside the road for us to come pick the tire up and get it repaired. We got home from a fundraiser kinda late and let it set overnite.... well, at 1:00 am some kids decided to have a little fun and doused it with gasoline and probably sat some distance away to watch it blow up. So no more little white LeBaron convertible. :( She is so very sad. When I went to look at it, I was immediately grateful..... grateful that she wasn't in it. I thanked the Lord and just couldn't imagine being a parent looking at this sight, knowing your child was in it. We are very grateful.

Michael & Julianna

Jr./Sr. Banquet 2009

John was a "safari server"

"HAKUNA MATATA"

....the theme of the Jr./Sr. Banquet

The Junior class transformed the school gym into a jungle atmosphere.

We made about 40 palm trees that were 12 and 15 feet tall.

We had lots of bamboo and made bamboo canopies over every table.

The waterfall in the corner was Julianna and my creation

after one of the men built us a frame,

and others decorated it with greenery & flowers.

Sketching "pride rock" Me & Julianna

"Hakuna Matata" = No worries now that it's all over :)