Matt's Birthday

We celebrated Matt's birthday today. Food was great and good to be with everybody! We played games like we would play at a kid's party. Everyone made a paper airplane and flew it down the hall, dropping clothespins in bottles (or vases), putting a small puzzle together trying to be first done, bingo, and the most entertaining....tied a balloon to left leg and then the battle to pop the other balloons while protecting your own---all the long legs highstepping around the room were hilarious! Matt got a start on his motorcycle fund. He wants to get one next spring so he has cheaper transportation. Gram said she wasn't going to give him any money cuz she doesn't want him to have a cycle. She remembers the days when John had one and she'd lay awake at night waiting to hear him come home and she said sometimes he didn't come home (as she glared at me) ;)

Engaged!

Tyler and Jami are engaged! Here's the story: Tyler enlisted the help of Tessa and Matt. He told Jami to get in the vehicle and then blindfolded her and drove her up to Garvin Heights lookout. He had the pathway lit with candles and guided her to the point. The blindfold came off and as she's looking out over the lakes, he asks her where she would go to fish. She looks to KMart ;) and he says to look the other direction. There on the lake he has laid out lights to spell "Marry Me". He got down on his knee and proposed and Jami cried a lot! The ring he had made special for her and it's lovely. They are a good couple and complement each other well and we are happy to have Jami in the family! My kids are growing up!

Party

Last night we had a party with our old Life Group. We usually get together for Christmas and the highlight is exchanging white elephant gifts. This group of people has been so much fun over the years and when we're together, you're guaranteed a sore stomach and face from laughing. I actually woke up this morning feeling like I had a hangover from all the food and fun!

Circle quilt

There's no one home to hold up my new quilt for a picture so the clothes line held it. The windmill shadows are not part of the quilt. The boys thot it was stunning when I turned it so they could see the front! This is my second attempt at machine quilting--I'm getting better, but my machine likes to act up and the tension gets messed up and there is a lot of ripping out and re-sewing. I really like this quilt and don't know if I'll be able to part with it.

God's Provision

Yesterday after the church service we all walked across the road to see what will be our new church building. It was a fitness center and after going out of business, it was offered to us at a Big price, but it was decided that we would build on to our exsisting building instead. I think it was offered to us 3 separate times--each time the price dropped. Someone said to come back when it was free. God had a plan and as so often happens, it wasn't what we expected. When the plans were all drawn up for the new addition, the man who bought the fitness center in a pkg. deal with other properties, asked if we'd like to have the property for free! So it was a clear leading from God. The place is HUGE so we will have a much bigger space for maybe less money than the original plan. We got to write on the walls afterwards. Remodeling starts soon. It's an exciting God adventure!

Jane's 90th

John's mom turned 90 on the 14th and we had a party for her on Saturday. She came out wearing a blouse that matched her cake--she has always been fashionable! I think she enjoyed the social event.

This is John's sister, Audrey, who is avoiding the camera at all times--got her. She lives in Ohio and comes to visit twice a year.

Thanksgiving

John called me out to see what he uncovered on a piece of wood he was going to split.

Thanksgiving dinner was held at Grandma's. Everyone had assigned food to bring and did we have FOOD! Tessa and Jami planned it and did a great job. It was nice not to be in charge and just show up with what I was told. John's sister and her husband are here too so it was a good family time.

And Pucca was all spiffed up and wearing fashionable fall colors. She wouldn't hold still for a proper photo and this was the end of the day when her up-do was starting to fall.