Summer Adventures

Wendy made Adventure Books for each of the kids to give them before school started. She brought them to work on while they were here on vacation. She put pictures in the books and she and Doug each wrote a note for each child and put it in the book.

Here are some pictures of their Big Summer Adventure:

Lucas had a main speaking role in their Hi-Five Kids Choir musical about Joseph. He memorized all of his lines and spoke them like a pro:

Bailey wanted to get her hair cut and donate it to Locks of Love:

We went to Silver Dollar City while they were here and Micah was the only kid in our group to ride the Powder Keg!

Because she starts Kindergarten this year, Ruth Ann got to attend Kinder Camp this summer. Big step.....big girl:

I have an adventure every time I am able to be with these wonderful kids!

Indiana Mema

Cael's Crawling

It's so cute. He gets up on his hands and knees, then down on his tummy and scoots. Then back up on his hands and knees. Won't be long til he's chasing the others all around the house.

Go get 'em, Cael.

Mema

Two Black Eyes

When the Bischoff family was here on vacation, Bailey was sporting a colorful eye. She had jumped into their pool and kneed herself in the eye.

I just felt so bad for her. I knew it hurt. It went from swollen to black and purple, to purple and blue, then to purple and yellow. I felt so bad for her that I just had to experience what she was going through. So......

It went from swollen to black and purple, to purple and blue, then to purple and yellow.

Just remember....always use the wrist strap on your Wii remote... and don't sit behind someone who isn't.

Somehow Bailey's pictures are so cute and mine are just creepy scary.

Woooooooooo.

Donna

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