What a Weekend!

What a whirlwind of a weekend. We left Thursday at 6 PM to head to Illinois. We spent the night about 5 hours away. Then, drove the rest of the way on Friday. We arrived in Paris about 4 PM.

Mauri took the ACT in Terre Haute, IN on Saturday morning. She found out that they are an hour ahead of Illinois time so she had to be at the ACT at 7 AM not 8 AM. We were exhausted. She felt good about the test. I am so proud of her. Dad and mom took us to Indiana State University where she tested. Mom and I went to pick her up at 1:00 Illinois time and the anniversary celebration began at 2:00. They had a great turn out. I am proud of their 50th Wedding Anniversary. I've never known a couple make it 50 years. What an accomplishment!

Sunday we checked out of our hotel by 10 and headed to the Ford's house. We had lunch and visited until 2. We headed home shortly after and drove 7 hours to Forest City, AR. We spent the night in a very spa-like Hampton Inn. We left at 8:30 AM this morning to take the last stretch of our trip. Kim and Eric's family had to head home so they had 3 more hours after we arrived home.

Kimmy and Eric changed cars with mom and dad so we could take Mauri to see Ouachita Baptist University...Kimmy's alma mater. We got to mom and dad's about 1:00. We ate pizza, visited, and then headed home. We finally made it home around 3. Tonight, I went to my summer Bible study at 6:30. Mauri, Caleb and I ate at Amigo Juans. Mauri and I are home while Caleb went to spend the night with a friend. What a busy and different day. I was summonsed to jury duty but PRAISE THE LORD I do not have to report. I'm exhausted. I think it's time for bed.

Scripture Memory #12

Psalm 19:14 KJV

Let the words of my mouth,
and the meditation of my heart,
be acceptable in thy sight,
O LORD, my strength,
and my redeemer.



I started my summer Bible study tonight at New Hope Baptist Church in Bloomburg. It is called Me, Myself, and Lies by Jennifer Rothschild. I think this is exactly what God wants me in this summer. It happens to be the same Bible study Beth Moore is doing with the siestas so I am pumped. God revealed so much to me tonight and it was only the intro. I am expecting great things from my Lord and Savior. Clean out my closets Heavenly Father.

What a Special Day in the Life of Our Family!

Today brings many incredible memories! Mauri turned 17 this morning at 9:55 AM. I am so proud of her. She is celebrating with friends this afternoon and then with the fam on Saturday.

Caleb is graduating 8th grade! YEAHHHHHHHH! I'm so glad this day has come. He graduates tonight at 7:00 PM. Caleb has overcome so many hurtles in his life. I am incredibly proud of him and all his accomplishments. This closes the book on many hardships and issues he has overcome. They are finally and totally completely 100% behind him.

Tomorrow is a new day. Praise the LORD! My baby will be a freshman. I hope he continually has hope in his future. His future is so bright and the beginning of high school gives him another opening to his future. His outlook is better than ever before. He is becoming a man. God is in control and we know that but more importantly Caleb knows that. He is focusing on his studies more than ever before. He's kept all A's and with only 5 B's his entire 8th grade year (2 - 88's and 3 89's). All of the rest of his grades were in the A range! :) He has signed up for a Distinguished Diploma as his goal for High School. At this time in his life, he still wants to be a video programmer or something to do with technology. I am so grateful for endings and beginnings. I am extactic that the last four years of schooling are completely behind him.

I am sorry the entire family can't attend his 8th grade certificate ceremony. My dad is ill with kidney stones and dehydration and might have to be hospitalized. My sister is at the Scrapbookers' National Convention in Dallas with some girlfriends. My mother-in-law has bronchitius. My sister-in-law is ill her lupus troubles. My brother is having to entertain big wigs who are visiting his district. I am so glad David, Mauri, and I will be in attendance. It's his big day and I don't want to take anything away from his day.

Scripture Memory #11

1 Chronicles 28:9
And you, my son Solomon (Caleb), acknowledge the God of your father, and serve Him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.

I'm "taking" this Scripture from my sister. It was her verse to memorize a few months ago. She said dad told her about this. I'm going to pray this over each of my children as well as myself.