Beach Party!!

These are some of the pictures Sarah Boyd took of the kids at Jordan Valley Park. This is our annual "Cousins Picture". This year we chose the beach theme.

These are absolutely the cutest, most amazing grandchildren in the whole world. We are blessed beyond measure. I love you Lucas, Bailey, Gavin, Micah, Ruth Ann, Jadon, Haven, Jude and Cael!

One proud Mema,

Random August Pictures

Update......yet another creature of the night....our little 'possum friend.

Pappy and the boys.....

Diaper changin' time.....

The boys love to play with Todd and Matt's Star Wars toys from the 1970's....

Seven of the cousins sleep over.........Boys in the living room..

Girls in the bedroom............


So much fun on the Gator.........



Bailey just loves the babies......


I love my life..........

Donna

A Glimpse of Glory

We said good-bye last week to our friend and Doug's father, Larry Bischoff.
Actually, we said our good-byes a couple of weeks ago when Larry found out he just had a few days left on this earth, he called us to come and see him. We felt honored to be among the ones he wanted to speak to before he went Home.

Doug and Wendy and kids had left on August 5th from vacation here to go home. They got to spend some good times with Larry that week. However, he got pretty sick over the next weekend and had to be hospitilized. That's when he received the news that the cancer had spread so much that he didn't have too much longer. So Doug and Wendy and the kids drove back here on Wednesday, the 12th and stayed until the 19th. They spent most of the time sitting with Larry and Carlene, talking, reminiscing, cherishing the moments with him. They would tell us of how much he wanted to go Home. He was so ready to see Jesus! He was getting a glimpse of Glory!

Since Larry seemed to be holding his own, and the kids would start their new school on Monday the 24th and they were to meet the teachers on Friday, the 21st, Doug and Wendy made the tough decision to drive back to Houston, knowing that they would leave their bags packed and be ready to come back at a moment's notice. Well, they got to meet the teachers and they got to go to school on Monday and Tuesday. But on Tuesday evening, Larry went Home. So on Wednesday morning they all flew into Springfield and were here in time to help Carlene make arrangements. The funeral was Friday at Hamlin Memorial Baptist Church where he had grown up, married Carlene, raised their children, was a Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, and more. He would have been pleased at the wonderful service and how beautifully his daughter Gina sang "There's Just Something About That Name" and how sweetly Doug spoke about how much he loved and respected his dad. So many emotions on that day...... sadness that Larry won't be with his family, wrestling with the grandsons, doting on the grandaughters......but glad that he has a perfect body now, free of pain, and enjoying living in a way we "Can Only Imagine".

Now, Carlene has the difficult task of adjusting to this life without the man she has shared life with for almost 45 years. Doug, Wendy and the kids will fly home today. Oh, Father, help Carlene through the lonely times. Fill that emptiness and void in her heart with Your love and Your goodness. Be her strength in times of weakness and her shield from those who would try to take advantage of her. Be with Gina and Doug as they adjust to life without their Dad. Thank you that they can call on You, their Heavenly Father, to be their strength and their comfort...

Doug and Wendy and kids went to church and lunch with Carlene on Sunday morning. We had Matt's birthday supper Sunday evening so they came over and ate with us and let all the cousins play together before they head back to Houston today.

This life is such a roller coaster ride............

Donna

41 and Counting

August 10th was our 41st anniversary! I know what you are thinking. They must have been teenagers when they got married! Ha!Ha! Well, technically, we were. I was 18, Gary was 19.

We weren't real sure what we would do for our anniversary this year. We're still waiting for the big Alaskan or Hawaiian cruise that we will have to win in a contest. But, hey, there's always Branson. Why would we want to go anywhere else when this tourist mecca is right in our back yard?

So on Sunday afternoon we drove to Branson, got a room at the Stonegate Castle Inn (formerly Settle Inn) and went to a show. It was the Legends show at the American Bandstand Theater and was really good.

The next morning we drove around. Gary had worked there a couple of summers in high school with his dad doing high line construction. They climbed those big poles and built lines there before the theaters, stores, restaurants were there. There was just downtown Branson. He said they saw so many "For Sale" signs on property all around and his dad talked about that he should buy some...but never did. Oops! Missed opportunity! We ended up at the Landing for a little shoplooking, ate lunch at the Outback Restaurant, went to the Wax Museum, then to the Pierce Arrow show, then came home.

I didn't take many pictures, but couldn't resist taking this picture of Gary dressed up as a pirate...........

...oh, wait, that's Johnny Depp as Capt. Jack Sparrow at the Wax Museum.

Ahoy Mateys,

Donna

The Rest of August

That title is a bit conflicting. August was anything but a month of "rest." I went to the Ozark Empire Fair on Saturday night with Todd, Heather and family and had a really fun time.

I'm not sure what Haven and I are looking at....some kind of baby animals

It's a pot-bellied pig, Jude!

Must be something interesting,

What fun to ride the ponies.........


At the Conservation Department building.......Smokey Bear was talking and moving....






Haven wasn't sure about him....

The kids got to ride a few rides......

The Ferris Wheel.....the BIG Ferris Wheel!

The Dragon Roller Coaster....

And, what else, the train.....

Of course, we had our corn dogs and root beer and loved every minute of it.

The fair always holds a special place in my heart. That was the first job I ever held. It was the summer after I graduated from high school, 1967. I was 17. My daddy's cousin, Carolyn Owen, was the secretary for the General Manager of the fair, Lewis Miller, and hired me to work in the office all summer. I worked and watched as this annual event was pieced together with vendors, carnival rides, livestock exhibitors, 4-H exhibitors and all the other necessary parts of a fair. We received entries and logged them in the books (by hand, no computers), counted out ribbons, answered phone calls, etc.....then it was Fair week! Such a busy week, but such a fun week. That was absolutely the most magical summer for me!

Thanks for taking this walk down memory lane with me....

Donna

Creatures of the Night

As if racoons aren't enough, look what is scavenging the bird seed now!

He apparently was oblivious to the fact that I had opened the door and was taking his picture, because I didn't get sprayed.......whew!

What's next? An armadillo?? A bear??

Living in the forest,

Donna

Denver Missions '09

I just realized that I didn't really post any pictures of the mission teams from the Denver trip like I did in St. Louis. We lodge at First Baptist Church, Aurora, Colorado and we just love this church and their Pastor, Bro. Rico, and one of their deacons who has been especially supportive of us, as well, Bro. Abraham.

Here's the food line in the fellowship hall at FBCA.

Our wonderful head cooks, Randy & Rosie Bumgarner from Lone Star Baptist Church and Ron & Vicky Elkins from Brookline Baptist Church. They have been at this church all four years and we appreciate them so much.

We had incredible students and leaders in both cities......

With incredible worship teams and speakers in both cities

Heather http://wallaces5.blogspot.com has posted some great pictures on her blog, as well.

Next year will be one big week in St. Louis. We're praying for 110 teams to blitz the cities of St. Louis, Missouri and East St. Louis, Illinois for a week with the gospel of Jesus Christ! Can't wait to see what God is going to do!

He's the God of this city!!

Donna

July continued.....

Well, I see that according to my last post, I am in Denver. Just to let you know, I did come home. We left Denver on Friday, July 24 about 5 pm and arrived home at 7:00 am Saturday.

I kissed Gary hello, then headed straight for the bed and slept until 12:30 pm.

I got up and started unpacking my luggage, washing clothes, and making a grocery list. Karla followed me into town to take back the rental car, then we got groceries. Gary was working on the guest bathroom he has been remodeling. Actually remodeling is not quite the word for it. He gutted the room...took out the shower, vanity and toilet. Took some of the sheetrock off the walls, took the flooring up. Basically started over with that bathroom. He knew he wouldn't get it all done before Wendy's family arrived, but he at least wanted to get the shower, sink and stool in and usable. He did get a new floor down, too, and it looks great.

Anyway, I had nursery duty Sunday morning. Doug and Wendy and the kids were driving in sometime Sunday afternoon and having supper with Doug's parents then coming over to our house. We were so happy to see them and just had such a good time all week.

Monday we had Jadon, Haven and Jude so the kids played and played. Here are the girls trying on Wendy's prom dresses.

Tuesday we met Lindsay, Cael, Gavin, Heather, Jadon, Haven and Jude and Sarah Boyd at Jordan Valley Park for our annual "cousins" picture. I can't wait to see them. They should be up this week sometime. Sarah does such a good job. This is our crew having a picnic lunch after they played in the fountains.

It looks kinda like we have a daycare.

Thursday we went to the Discovery Center. I bought a ticket for this bike because I thought Lucas might want to ride, but since he didn't, guess who had to use it.........

Friday night we went to Silver Dollar City. Several of us tried on this viking helmet......

Ruthie's feeling the Viking power.....

I think Bailey's singing opera....

What a fun dad!

Saturday was Gavin's 8th birthday and his "Snake" party was at Matt & Lindsay's house.
He had lots of friends and cousins there.....and several snakes.

He and Lucas are inspecting a rattlesnake's rattle...

Just what he always wanted....wolverine claws..

Sunday morning we went to church together at Springhill, then home for lunch with everybody together one more time before Christmas. The Bischoffs loaded up and left out about 1:30 pm. They stopped in Texarkana for the night then drove on home Monday morning.

What a wonderful week....in fact the whole summer has been great...too short...but great! Once June starts, we are finalizing summer mission trip plans, then VBS, then St. Louis, then Denver, then Bischoff vacation....and here we are...it's August.

Next thing.....our anniversary next Monday, the 10th......41 years. What shall we do, what shall we do? Branson? Unknown destination? Anything is fine with me...just some alone time with my husband will make me happy. I guess we'll find out next week.

'Til next time.......

Donna