Another Year Older!

As always, the kids (and now grandkids!) blessed me with a super special birthday celebration!

Unfortunately, I didn't get many photos of the extended weekend celebration, but here are a few! 

 The gift above is from Brielle.  :-) But all of the younger kids drew me pictures, too! 

And I also received lots of cards in person and through the mail!  Wow!  So blessed!

Caroline blessed us all with homemade pumpkin-blueberry scones for breakfast! They were soooo delicious!  I sure wish I captured their amazingness with a picture! But they disappeared in a flash! 

Ted came home from Bible study with a latte in one hand and a small glass vase of flowers in the other hand!  And also had a very nice card prepared.  So sweet! 

A few minutes later, Lydia and Marilyn came over also bearing gifts!  

 In addition to one of these packages being a gingerbread house kit for Grandma to do with Marilyn, they blessed me with this "Grandma's Toolbox!" 

(Totally love how they taped flowers on to the scissors, pens, etc. so that I could stake more of a claim on them being MINE, and hopefully they would be easier to keep track of, and spot easier if they do "walk off!" :-) 

Then, after a wonderful visit with Lydia and Marilyn, we headed out to town for home-school football.  On our way home, Tim bought me a pumpkin spice latter from Starbucks!!! Yum!  

And when we returned home, Caroline had made delicious homemade pizzas and Valerie made a delicious chocolate cake AND an apple crisp!  

Again, I should've gotten pictures of all of this amazingness!  

We had a very special time with John and Valerie and a friend of Caroline's joining us for dinner.  

After dinner, we played Reverse Charades, Quiddler and a couple other games while sitting around the living room called "Wink, Wink Murder" and "Family."  It was so fun!

Then, on Saturday morning, look who showed up!!!! 

 We had such a very fun day of just relaxing around the house, and then Richie and Lydia and Marilyn came over for dinner in the late afternoon.  We also got some Christmas family photos! :-) 

  A few other amazing gifts I was blessed with: 

(Not pictured:  a wonderful, big bag of trail mix that has been devoured already! :-) 

I also was blessed by a couple very encouraging FB posts/messages and many sweet comments! 

Thank you all for making my day sooooo special!!!!! 

Pumpkin Porch Pictures!

Couldn't resist getting the grand-pumpkin in our annual, traditional pumpkin porch pictures! 

A Few Early October and Fall Pictures

The days that Marilyn comes to Grandma-sit are my favorite! :-) 

(The stuffed dog in the photo was mine when I was a little girl! And the butterfly wings came out of a box from the garage dating back to the first set of kiddos.  The book she has in her lap is one in the Bear Snores On series.  We have to read these every time she is here!)

 Sunday, we attended our annual Community Worship Service held at a local high school. 

Our beloved Pastor Dean was the preacher this year, so it was an especially special service this year! :-)  This beautiful tree is just outside of the high school, and we had a few minutes to kill as we showed up a half an hour early! 

 Charlotte wanted to wear her "Laura Ingalls" dress and bonnet! :-) 

 Last campfire (and warm evening) of the year??? 

Possibilities Fundraiser ~ 2019

Caroline did an amazing job helping to plan the Possibilities fundraiser again this year as their development director. 

We enjoyed attending the mid-day show and participating in the raffle prize fun. We actually won two of the items we put tickets in for:  an incredible basket of goodies (truffles, jams, homemade dog treats, fudge, etc) all made by a friend of ours, and a very special handmade bird house, that was crafted by Amber's father. (Amber is the Director at Possibilities) 

 Caroline also did a fantastic job at both show times, presenting a lot of things about the work and ministry of Possibilities. 

 John and Valerie lookin' fabulous as they manned the registration table for both shows. 

Tim's Birthday Bash!

Tim was very blessed to have six young men join him for a little birthday celebration! 

He decided that he would enjoy an air-soft battle with these friends and some other outdoor fun, like football, ultimate tag, etc. 

 They started down in our woods that involved a little shuttle service . . . 

 Kicking off the battle right . . . with prayer for safety and that the lives of these young men would be  preparing more importantly for the spiritual battles they will face as Christians. 

 First battle - team two. 

 Team one.

 I didn't get very many photos of the battles, as it was kinda dangerous territory for a photographer!

 Lunch break!

 Re-organizing for a battle back at the main property. 

 A few pics of the other outdoor play . . .