So.......

It has been a while hasn't it!  I suppose I just haven't been into blogging lately.  There is FB and now Pinterest.  I often look at FB and blogs but have just recently started pinning.  It is addicting, all those things that I like, want, wish to have.  I have found some really great things on there.  You know how one thing can lead to a million other things and the next thing you know you have been on the computer for hours!  Well, I did find a site called Women Living Well and it has led me (or was it God leading me?) to think about what God wants for me instead of me wanting for myself.  Awesome site! (If you are reading this Kathy, thank you!  I guess I found it from your link on FB.) I found the Gentleness Challenge and then the Ephesian's Study.  Now my goal for this year is to spend more time in God's Word then on the computer.

Being in God’s word is KEY to true transformation.

(which came from Courtney on Women Living Well)

I want to be more dedicated??? driven??? determined??? persistent??? committed??? devoted??? DISCIPLINED!!!!  I couldn't think of the word I was looking for!!!!!  DISCIPLINED!!  I haven't been disciplined.  :(  I want my kids to see that I am disciplined in not only taking care of my family, my job, but also my walk with my LORD, JESUS CHRIST.  I want them to to have a lasting faith!  (Another book that I want to read, StickyFaith.) 

So I guess this brings me back to blogging.  I will try to keep blogging, at least for my mom who is 600 miles away since she is really the only one who reads it anyway.  :)  Maybe for a few other friends and family that care. :)

Here are some pictures  since the last time:

Soccer

The Beginning of September Birthdays

Nate's 14th

Karli's 6th

Visit to Karli's Kindergarten Class

Mrs. Mast teaching P.E.  That was fun!  ;)

Friends that she talks nonstop about!

Kelsi's 9th

FALL FUN!

My 40th with some great friends and my mom and dad surprised me!!

Thanksgiving

After a delicious dinner, walking the dogs on a beautiful day.

My first experience paragliding.  Awesome!

See it on youtube.

Christmas

New tradition - jammies for everyone Christmas Eve.

Lot's of reading and playing games.

First Day of School!!!

Nathan had to get up early for his first day of 8th grade!!!

He was ready to get on the bus at 6:30.  I felt so bad for him.  :(

The girls were sooooo excited!!

Karli was ready for Kindergarten and Kelsi for 3rd grade.

Rob started a tradition when Kelsi was in Kindergarten.  

He gave her a necklace to remind her of us and how much we loved her.  

He has continued every year since then.  

He gets the necklace himself, usually from a coworker at Everence that makes them.

Karli was so excited that she finally got a necklace, too!

Rob caught a picture of them getting on the bus.

And.... I got home in time to catch them getting off the bus!!  

For the next hour or two I just listened to the new experiences they had at school.

What a fabulous first day!  I just know that God has great plans for them this year! 

**I had a pretty good day at school, too!  I am excited!  I have a good group of first graders.**

Summer Vacation

I am quick posting this before school starts this next week!!  This was our "back to school bash" this year.  We usually take the school kids (Nate and Kelsi) somewhere like the water park or Cedar Point before school starts.  But this year we decided to go to Florida!! 

Rick and Jen were there for a wedding.  So we got stay with each other for a couple of days.  

One night we went down to the beach to look for sand dollars.

Had to stop at the "Unconditional Surrender" Kiss Statue.  

Every time we drive by it Nathan wants to know what is under the dress.  

Everyone got out except Rob and Rick!

Football fun!  Uncles vs Nephews!

While we are here we like to go to the Mote Aquarium.  The kids love it!

Karli's favorite, seahorses!

 Phillippi Creek, one of my favorite seafood restaurants.

Drove down to the Venice area beaches looking for sharks teeth and dolphins.  

I saw a dolphin but nobody else did.  

Nathan and his favorite "eats" while we are there.

Yoders for rivel soup and pie!

Sweet Berries for the girls!

 More beach time!

Storm rolled in and out.  It was fun to watch but Karli didn't like it.

 We love Siesta Key!!! 

**Back to School pictures next week!  Yay!  I'm trying to be positive.  :)**

Karli did it! That little stinker!

Last year Karli wanted to ride a 2 wheeler, so Rob started to practice with her.  He took off the training wheels and practiced going down the hills in the grass.  But then she lost interest.

This summer started off and she didn't say much about riding her bike.  Then they went camping and were gone for two weeks.  First thing Karli wanted when she got home from camping was her training wheels put back on!!  Rob said no way!  But she begged.  So Rob said if you go out and practice and learn how to ride your bike I will buy you a razor, like Kelsi.  That little stinker went outside with Kelsi's help and came back in a 1/2 hour saying, "When are you going to buy me a razor?"  We went outside and she had done it! 

 She was riding all by herself!

I had to take a picture of Nate, too!  Just practicing!

Summer Camp

First, both girls went to Grandparent's Camp with my mom for a week in Ohio.  They had a great time!   According to Kelsi this was their schedule:  breakfast, swimming, bible study, lunch, nap, swimming, dinner, "vespers", more swimming, snack, games, and bed!

Karli was so excited to have made a new friend!  Kelsi's favorite part was the bible study.  Kelsi is already planning how she can go back next year to another camp while Grandma and Karli go to Grands Camp again.  

Big THANK YOU to Grandma!!

Then my mom and girls picked up my niece and nephew in Dayton and drove to Turkey Run to meet my Dad with the camper.  We drove Nathan down and did a little canoeing at The Shades Park before they arrived.  Had a blast and are looking for more places around here to do some canoeing!

The van ride to drop off.

 Unloading the canoe and kayak.

The rapids!

Nate loved kayaking!

Snake!!

After our adventure, my mom and dad arrived.  We were excited the see the girls, hadn't seen them for a week. Kelsi gave me a big hug but Karli wanted to be held for a while and then she was ready to camp! We helped them with a little set up but then knew they wanted us to go home!!  :)  

They had another great week of camping!

This was their schedule according to Kelsi:  Sleep in, pancakes for breakfast, hike, lunch, nap, swimming, camp fire for food, smores, showers, watched a movie, and bed.  They also did some canoeing, visited the nature center, more hiking, ate some ice cream, and played at the playground.  Karli loved swimming, the chocolate chip pancakes, and sleeping in the camper.  Kelsi loved the smores and swimming.  Nathan's favorite thing about camping were the hiking trails!

Wonderful memories made with Grandma & Grandpa!!  

THANK YOU!!!!

Karli's Last Day!

Today was a very sad day for me! I didn't even want to leave school and  I think I was the last one to leave the building.  I was not sad that the workshop was over.  (Sorry, Lisa!)

It was Karli's last official day at Lorene's.  :(  [tears]

She has been our babysitter for 13 years!  Isn't that amazing!  She started with Nathan and ended with Karli.  What an amazing gift she has been.  Words can not express my gratitude for this gift that she has given me as a working mom.  She taught my children, cared for my children, and loved my children so that I could teach.  I am so very grateful for her and thankful that God placed her in my life!  I know that it will not be the last time I see her but it is a phase in my life that is over.  I look back and can see God's handy work!  He knew the perfect person for me when I had Nathan and fretted (remember, Rhoda!) over finding just the right person to take care of him.  He also knew that she would be there for my other children that I would have five years later and continue on for the last.  I never had to worry!  God had it covered!

Now all of my children will be school age!  I will continue to put it all in God's hands.  He can handle it so much better than I can.  :)

(If I forget, please remind me!!)