Dalayna Received Her First Book Award in Awana!!

I am so proud of Dalayna. She received her Awana book in September and finished it tonight to receive her 1st book award. She studied her verses constantly, over and over again. Her goal was to finish it by her last night in Awana at our church. She accomplished it!! She has a true hunger for God's Word right now and my prayer is that it will continue even though she reached her goal. Great job, sweetheart!!

Pictures of the rental home

See picture below for information. Here are some pictures of the house we will be leasing. I will take more once we are settled in. This gives you an idea what it looks like. I am packing steadily .

This will be our living room/family room, complete with a mini-fridge. The lady you see is the realty lady who helped us find this house.

The other side of the sitting room. See picture below for the other half.

This is the sitting room, which for now will sit empty.

If you can see it, this is the dining room.

This is the "breakfast nook" with a beautiful view.

This is the rec. room at one end of the house. It will be our schoolroom.

Anniversary Fun Fact

Just thought it would be fun to post that Terry and I went on our very 1st date 18 years ago today. I had a picture of us from "way back then", but I accidentally packed it. So this one will have to do. I am so thankful for my husband and that 1st date, and that 18 years later here we are.

Improved 4th Bedroom

This post is really for my mother, so she can see how good this room looks after Terry painted it last week. It was an ugly light blue in the painters grade paint, which picks up every scuff mark possible. We decided on a soft cream color. This is also a reminder to our friends and family that we will again have a spare bedroom in the house we will be leasing and a comfortable bed to sleep in too.

Pray for the Sale of our Home

Just wanted to ask everyone to be praying about the sale of our home. We had a showing yesterday, this morning, will have one this evening, and 2 showings tomorrow. It is a good thing, yet it is also disruptive when you are trying to pack up your life to move. I am also a person who does not like my schedule to be interrupted. Yes, I am selfish when it comes to that, but this is teaching me I have no choice. We are hoping that one of these showing will bring us an offer on our house. I will keep everyone up to date when I am home to do so!! I cannot thank everyone enough for their prayers during this time in our lives!!

Move Update

Terry is set to sign the papers to lease the big house on Monday. We decided it suited our needs more, not to mention there are no critters and it is so nice. We will have to be intentional about keeping the electricity and gas costs low, though we found out some of their costs came from running their pool filter, etc. and their hot tub. We won't be using those. So there is some money saved right away!! At this point we will move at the end of the month. I am busy packing and practically begging my children to get rid of some things!! Thank you for praying for us, but don't stop yet!!

Colby the Cook

I have not mentioned that Colby loves to cook. He loves to experiment with putting seasonings in foods, frying bacon and eggs, hamburgers, etc. He constantly thinks of new ways to cook things. He is much braver than me!! So, tonight he cooked for me. I requested a type of stir fry with what was available in the refrigerator. I didn't have to do a thing. He even chopped the peppers, onions and everything!! Wasn't that a nice treat for mom!! Thanks, Colby!!

Colby wanted me to let you know what he put in it: 1 red pepper, 1 yellow pepper, chunks of ham, pineapple and a bit of pineapple juice, butter and a bit of seasoning pepper, and onion. I ate all but 2 ham chunks. It was delicious!!

Last Pics from St. Louis-Finally!!

My children also got top spend some time with their Uncle Marty and Aunt Angie. Marty and Angie were kind enough to treat all of us to Imo's. It was soooooo good. I miss Imo's pizza!!

Colby and Dalayna with cousin Kayla. It is hard to believe she is a senior in high school already!!

More reading books before bedtime.

This is the last picture I took on the morning we left. Colby and Dalayna are blessed to have so many wonderful grandpas.

Update on Our Move

I just wanted to update everyone on the situation we have with our relocation. In the area we are moving to it is extremely hard to find properties to lease. The properties available are very expensive and we are working with a budget here!! We also have pets, which some people don't want, and I completely understand. We also need a garage for them to stay in since I don't allow them to roam through the house with my asthma and allergies. I do love my dogs, though!! We have been looking since June because we knew there was a good chance, if God allowed, that we would be moving. We finally found 2 properties to look at. The first was a modular home with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. It also came with 2 completely fenced acres. Yeah for the kids and the dogs to play outside!! However, no garage for the dogs!!
The other home is currently on the market, but the people are kind enough to consider us to take care of it for them during the winter months. They will put it back on the market in the spring, then if it sells, we will have to move. This is of course a negative if our house has not sold. The positive is that it is around 3400 square feet, 4 bedroom and 2.5 baths(same beds and baths we have here). It is huge, plus a garage and unfinished basement. It comes with 3 wooded acres. Needless to say it is a very nice home with beautiful views.
We went to see them and the modular was not in good condition. The other home is wonderful, but tends to have large electric and gas bills. I am a penny pincher, so I am sure we could find ways to save money on those bills!! So please pray for us that God will give us wisdom to know what to do. I am not too good to live in a modular home, but their was lots of evidence of critters living there, more than one I'm sure!! We will let you know our final decision soon!! We hope to move at the end of October if everything goes according to plan. Thank you for all of your prayer support!!

Day 3-St. Louis

Dalayna has her own apartment. Yes, at 5 years old, she has proclaimed she has her own apartment. It is located on the 2nd floor of her Grandma Jo and PaPa Dick's house. Grandpa gave his grandkids quite a gift this time, without knowing how much it would mean to them. He took one of the bedrooms upstairs, put twin beds in them and set it all up for when Colby and Dalayna come to visit.(I guess other guests too!!) Dalayna was so excited and started calling it her apartment. She spent a lot of time playing up there and slept very soundly too. Here she is doing a very good job of pretending to sleep in her "apartment". Colby was appreciative too, just a bit quieter about it!!

Colby's bed in the "apartment".

For whatever grandparent is around, reading books with Dalayna becomes a must. She and Grandma read 9 books with Dalayna helping to read half.

T.G. getting a little R&R.

God always seems to know when I need to see a rainbow....at the times in life when there is uncertainty and trials. I know God forms rainbows, so He will remember His promise never to flood the earth, but I can never help but feel like He sends them for me!! As we prepare to move once again, we have wondered why, even though we have no right. All we need to remember is that God will never fail us. The promises He has made in His Word never change. The rainbow is a sign of those promises for me. It was one of the most beautiful rainbows I have ever seen, and for the first time ever, I saw where it started or ended, whichever you prefer!!

The front end of the table......Everytime we go home, we gather at a local restaurant to be able to visit with family and friends. There's nothing like visiting good friends over a good meal!!

The far end of the table........

Have I ever mentioned that my daughter loves to make people laugh? She is the entertainer in our house. She decided to play a game where Aunt Ina wasn't supposed to laugh at her silly faces. So I was laughing instead!!

Dalayna is always full of energy. Before we left the restaurant she decided she wanted to hang between 2 chairs. She is also very strong!!

First Frost-October 1st

What a way to welcome October first, with the first frost of the fall season. I was in doubt that it would get that cold, but it did. So, since I like weather, thought I would blog about it. It has been quite chilly, but who would think it would frost so early in the season? I turned the furnace on days ago, so I guess I should not be surprised. Happy October everyone!!!

Day 2-afternoon downtown

The afternoon of Day 2 was spent with my brother. We were able to visit his office downtown and see all the things the city added for the All-Star game. We thoroughly enjoyed our day and God blessed us with beautiful weather. This is one of the spectacular views from my brother's office. This view looks out over the city of St. Louis. One of the things I miss about my house in St. Louis was the wonderful view I had of the city skyline on clear days. I was able to see the Arch and everything. I never got tired of it.

More of the view. This is looking east and south across the Mississippi and over into Illinois.

You have seen many of Colby's faces. This is his executive, sitting behind a desk face. He looks good doesn't he? This is actually his Uncle Kenny's desk.

I can't tell you how good it was to see my brother!!

This is the view of Busch Stadium from my brother's office downtown. The Mighty Mississippi is behind that. I still remember how to spell Mississippi!! Mind you, my brother has no time to sit and watch the game, but he has a great view!! If you don't believe me, visit his office and see the stacks and stacks of b0xes and papers!!

I am no photographer, but I thought this picture was important: Three men in my life, walking together, enjoying one another's company, catching up on life. Don't know who the lady is and didn't even notice her until after I took the picture!!

I was hoping for a Christmas card picture, but Colby's eyes are closed!! Kiener Plaza is in the background too. It has fountains and things. Many rallies for Rams and Cardinals fans are held here.

Wasn't it a beautiful day? The true beauty of the day was getting to spend time with my brother!! There is nothing like a picture in downtown St. Louis with the Arch in the background.

There have to be pictures with Grandma Judy and Papa Ray!! Thanks to my mom for arranging this fun afternoon!!

These miniature "arches" are so cool. I couldn't resist taking the kids picture in front of them. My brother said they put them in for the All-Star game. My kids had their choice of another baseball team logo, but of course, they are faithful Cardinals fans!!

It worked out wonderfully that we were able to come to St. Louis around the time of Grandpa's birthday. I can't begin to put into words how precious Grandpa is to all of us. Terry labeled him "Grandpa Fix-It" many years ago and it's so true. He has a solution for so many things. More importantly, he has been a godly example my whole life. We love you so much Grandpa!!

St. Louis-Day 1

Last week we took a few days to go "home" to St. Louis. Grandma and Grandpa welcomed us with a feast as usual. We were also glad to visit with Aunt Debbie and Uncle Terry. I thought it would be great to put her on here because she faithfully reads my blog!!! So this one's for you Deb!!

It was very obvious Colby has grown since our trip in June. He is almost as tall as his great-grandma. St. Louis-day 2 coming soon!!

Miscellaneous Pics

Here are a few more pics of Grandma and Grandpa's visit. Terry and Dalayna decided to take on Colby and my dad in a game of football. I think Terry and Dalayna won. Dalayna was worn out afterward, but can never pass up the chance to chase and tackle her big brother!!

Terry and Dalayna forming a game plan.

A game of Clue. My mom and Colby teamed up to win the game.

Colby had to make a volcano of clay(we used playdough) for science since we are studying volcanoes. The black lines are supposed to be cooled lava. I was wondering if we would have to mix up plaster and such, but instead it was very simple. Does he look like a volcanologist? he is the young man of many faces!!

This volcano had more eruptions than a real volcano. Colby used at least one-fourth a box of baking soda and half a bottle of vinegar. Terry was hoping for the kind like Peter Brady had on "The Brady Bunch", but that wasn't quite what our science book called for. We were also missing food coloring, so there was no red lava. We enjoyed it anyway!!

Grandma's Pictures from the Fair

My parents have the same camera as we do so I thought it would be neat to see the pictures my mom took too. Some of the pictures we took are similar, but with a different angle, because no 2 people see one event from the same perspective, right? This is another picture of Tim on the ladder.

Dalayna did so well on this she barely needed help.

I think this was one of my favorite cars in the parade. Must have been one of my mom's too!!

I told Dalayna to bring a jacket, but she didn't think she would need one. She was so cold we decided to wrap her in the chair cover. She is so tiny she fit into it like a sleeping bag and kept warm!!