JADEN'S K4 CLASS HAD PARENTS' DAY THIS MORNING

Jaden's teacher gave us several invitations to attend her K4 class Parent Day, so we were there with bells on this morning! It was very impressive and lots of FUN to take a look into the K4 school day. Jaden was so glad his mommy and daddy were there, and I think it tickled him that Grandpa and Grandma were there as well. We enjoyed every minute of watching those sweet 4-year-old show us snippets of what they have learned this year. It looks like they are very well prepared for K5 come August.

Jaden's dad Brian has arrived so that is good!


Jaden turns to watch the door for his mommy to come.


She arrives and he is so excited to have both parents with him.


Letting Grandpa and Grandma know he is glad we are here, too.


Jaden's teachers are remarkable. It was a wonderful "Parent's Day" program.


Video of Jaden introducing himself to the guests at the program:

HAPPY 34th BIRTHDAY TO MY 'FAVORITE' SON-IN-LAW

Brian is a treasure. Could I have had the precious privilege of picking my daughter's husband, I would have chosen him. Brian is a man of intregity: honest and hardworking, faithful to Christ and a loving and faithful husband to our daughter and daddy to our grandchildren. Tomorrow, Wednesday ~~ November 26, is Brian's big day. Happy Birthday, Son-in-Law!!!

Amy has some special birthday doings planned for tomorrow evening before church so perhaps I will have pics to post afterwards.

We Pulled Off a SURPRISE Retirement Party for Richard!

Ps 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.














Amy told me a few weeks back that she wanted to throw a retirement party for her Dad. As we talked about it, we decided to host it at our house as this last week of school is so very busy for her. We decided to make it a surprise and led her dad to think that it was a going-away party for friends who are leaving in June. He had to be given a reason for the party for we would be making food and setting up tables to host about 20 people in our home!! I made the guest list and told Richard all of the couples who would be coming. He didn't know that Brian, Amy, and the kids would be here for the party so that is how we surprised him. (NOTE: Chip wanted to be here but of course, Sundays are his big day of ministry. At over 300 miles away, he just wasn't able to buzz on down after church. We spent 5 days with Chip right after Richard's retirement and he "feted" his dad's retirement during that time.)

After all of the guests (6 couples from church: James & Ann, Jerry & Peggy, John & Jeanette, Dan & Dorothy, John & Regina, Ed & Arda ) arrived on Sunday night after church, I called Amy to ask if I could "borrow" something and if she could bring it over. Well, she and her whole family walked in and that's when Jaden handed the invitation to Grandpa and said, "Here Grandpa, read this!"

URL of video of Richard reading the invitation AT the party that you can copy and paste into your favorite browser: http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=3b93043a744af0c259c5

We had a good meal with Chipped Ham Bar-B-Que sandwiches (Brian's mother's recipe that Amy recommended), potato chips, a veggie tray, and a mixed fruit bowl.

After we ate, we had a "Congratulations, Richard" cake with coffee or punch. Here is the URL for the video of the group singing and of Richard and the grandkids waiting to blow out the candle: http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=63c71afd2721bf306c53

Everyone gave Richard some retirement exhortations using words starting with the letters R-E-T-I-R-E-M-E-N-T and that was fun. Richard opened the cards from our friends and then it was time to wind down as ALL OF THOSE WORKING PEOPLE had to get home to bed and be ready for the Monday morning alarm. We didn't set ours. :) Here are some pics of our fun evening:

Our Daughter and Her Family On Easter Sunday

This picture was made after church, after lunch, and after the kids' endurance had run out ~~ but they graciously allowed Grandma to make their picture.

EXCITING GAME WITH A BIG WIN and FANTASTIC FANS!

See that kid in the red shirt eating popcorn? And the man in the green shirt, the blonde lady to his right, and the little red-head kid between them? (Double-click on pics to enlarge for a better view.)


The Christian school where my daughter is an elementary principal and which my 3 oldest grandchildren attend has had their best basketball season ever and are now playing in the post-season games. Last night, their team played in their first playoff game and scored their first playoff victory in school history. This event was 40 years in the making. That brings to mind this verse from God's Word: Isa 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

The Warriors won last night and advanced to the next event on their quest to take it all. Brian, Amy, and their 4 children attended the big game on Valentine's night and had a blast. In today's newspaper article online, I was looking at the pics from last night's game and found my crew in 2 of them. That was kind of neat. I have posted them here for posterity! GO WARRIORS!!!!!


Again, Brian and amy in the center of the picture right behind the PCA cheerleader. :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BRIAN

Psalm 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

Richard and I have the BEST son-in-law, and we kid Brian a lot about being our favorite son-in-law (the joke being that he is our ONLY son-in-law!)

Brian is very special for so many reasons. #1) He loves the Lord and seeks to live by His Word. #2) He loves our Amy and is a wonderful husband to her. #3) He loves his children (our GRANDchildren!) and is a Godly father. We couldn't ask for anything more, but there is something else. Brian is more friend than son-in-law. He especially enjoys Richard's friendship (he probably endures his mother-in-law more than anything else!) and we enjoy our family times with Brian in the family circle. One of my favorite things that happens every now and then is that when Amy has an evening meeting at school and prefers to stay there instead of coming home and back again, it is a particular joy of mine to prepare dinner for Brian and the kids. I just enjoy letting him know that we love him for him who he is and not just because he is Amy's husband!

Brian is 33 years old today. He is a faithful servant of the Lord Jesus Christ and is a faithful family man. Professionally, the Lord has blessed him richly~~ he is the director of advertising for the ministry here which is a HUGE job. Again, he is a fine son-in-law (our favorite!), and we wish Brian a very happy 33rd birthday!

Birthday Blessings to Brian from Mom and Dad D.
11-26-07

Happy 3rd Birthday, Jaden

Proverbs 4:10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.

Click arrow on bottom left
of video to view it!

Our GRANDson, Jaden, will celebrate his 3rd birthday on Friday, November 2. Because his Uncle Chip was here visiting, Amy and Brian had his family party a week early.









We missed Jaden's Pappy Jim as he had to work but otherwise everyone was there: Daddy, Mommy, siblings: Jarrett, Isabella, Joshua, Great-Grandma Goldie, Grandma Carol, Grandma Susan, Grandpa Richard, Uncle Matthew, Aunt Mary, Cousin Morgan, Uncle Chip, and Great-Aunt Darlene and Great-Uncle Bill. It was a nice lunch, sweet fellowship, and a fun party celebrating God's blessings upon Jaden's young life. We pray Jaden will be saved at an early age and will receive God's sayings and live a long life for God. Here are some pics made at the party. The birthday video was made by Jaden's Great-Uncle Bill. The clear pics were taken by Bill or Darlene and the fuzzy pics were made by me. I was having terrible camera problems!! Anyway, HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY to JADEN!!!!

Wednesday Night Dinner

We had a nice family dinner at the Palms Grille on Campus. Here are a few pics from that fun dinner hour before going to church together....

HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY TO BRIAN AND AMY

For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Ephesians 5:23

Where have the years gone?
Ten years ago today, Richard walked our beautiful daughter-bride down the aisle and gave her to Brian. The bride and groom each left their parents' homes and began one of their own. It doesn't seem possible that ten years have passed.

Ten years... and four kids later! And one of them is 14! Parents of a teenage son and a daughter who will be a teenager in 8 months. What will another ten years bring? Jarrett at age 24 will be a grown man and out on his own~~ perhaps married. Brian and Amy could conceivably be grandparents at 41 and 42 years old! Isabella will have just graduated from college. Josh will be entering college, and Jaden will be just 2-1/2 months away from his 13th birthday.

With God at the helm of their marriage and with Christ as the head of their home, there are lots of wonderful blessings awaiting Brian and Amy as the years unfold. Happy Anniversary, Brian and Amy!! May God grant you many more!

Love,
Mom

THEY ARE HOME!!!! Travel Trailer Arriving ~~ Sunday Night 7:45 p.m.

Here comes the travel trailer ~~ our gang is home!

Brian and Amy home from vacation

It is so good to have Brian and Amy home. They had a fabulous 9-day vacation, and now it's back to the REAL WORLD. Welcome Home!!

Our NEIGHBORS are due back home today

I'm sure that some people have awful neighbors, but Richard and I have always been blessed with good neighbors. For the past 5 years, we have been blessed to have the BEST neighbors: our son-in-law, daughter, and 4 grandchildren!! Our neighbors have been away on vacation in their travel trailer for 9 whole days, and we have MISSED them! Guess what! They should be on their way home RIGHT NOW though not arriving until later this evening. Brian, Amy, Jarrett, Isabella, Joshua, and Jaden: We are praying for a safe journey home and can't wait to see you guys. ~~Love, Mom/Grandma

They're Off!!!

Brian, Amy, and the kids got off this morning. They were all excited about their trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with a stop-over in Atlanta to enjoy their season passes at Six Flags. We would appreciate your prayers for traveling mercies, good health, and lots of fun for all.

The Next-Door Neighbors are going on vacation

Our kids (son-in-law, daughter, and four grandkids who are also our next-door neighbors) have loaded their travel trailer this evening and will take off on their week-long vacation tomorrow morning. It surely will be quiet in the cul-de-sac with our loved ones gone, but we know it will be a fun and exciting week for the 6 of them. Amy's eye has felt better today and she looks forward to the get-away. Please pray for their safety of travel, for good weather, and for a relaxing but fun time for all. Thanks! ~~Granny Susan

Here's a picture of Richard and me with our crew.