.....YIPEE!!! Fall is actually Here!

I LOVE cooler weather. I'm so happy we are finally having some fall although I would like a little less in the rain department and have a longer time to see the beautifully changing leaves. Seems about the time they turn really nicely it rains and blows them all off the trees. I was hoping for a ride to the mountains to take some gorgeous photos but it seems that won't happen for now. Maybe I can find some beautiful leaves online somewhere to look at.

Well, we're off to pick up one daughter from work, find some lunch and then take the younger one trick-or-treating at a local church's trunk-a-treat. Hope you have fun too!

. . . . . . . . . . She's in the air! . . . . . . . . . .

Well, by the time you see this, my precious daughter Savannah will be in the air on her way home from China! It's been a long five weeks, made longer by the fact we've been able to have so little contact.

We were extremely excited to receive a phone call from her last Sunday during our Sunday school class. She spoke to the class over my cell phone speaker for about 8 minutes. She sounded so excited and upbeat in the little ways she could share. Then we were also able to hear her in the church service. That was awesome as well except for the fact poor Sandi has been missing her sister so much that she just boo hoo'd the entire time and I think for the rest of the service. Watching her made me cry so the two of us were a blubbering mess. OH, and we heard passing traffic and a car horn blow in China. Isn't technology amazing?!

Anyway, she was able to tell us that "Dad" was doing a great work there. She was fortunate enough to get paired with 2 "C" Chinese camp counselors who were able to coach her in ways to share her faith with the other campers. Since she was there as a camper as well, she wasn't as limited as we all first thought in how much and how she could share with the others. She told us she had a conversation with a girl who was working to teach Savannah some Chinese so they could communicate better about "JC" and that the "M" there is going very well. She appreciated everyone's "PR's" and said for us to continue "PRing" for the "M" there.

Now, in case you couldn't figure all that out:
Dad = God
C = Christian
JC = Jesus Christ
M = Ministry
PR - Pray

I'll be back with an update after I've "debriefed" Savannah on her trip. HA!

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . China

So, our 17yo left on Friday for her 5 week trip to China. Keep her and the others (I believe she said there are 34 of them total) in your prayers. Due to the nature of their trip we will not hear from them often but we are trusting God to keep them safe and do a great work while they are there.

It was really busy around here getting to this point. She was gone to church camp for a week and then home working a week. Then off to a teen/tween retreat we did for our home school group at Lake West Point. The next day she was off to beginner camp as a CIT. Home again on Wednesday afternoon and then off for China on Friday. WOW!

She did call once she arrived in LA to say she left her sleeping bag at the security checkpoint in Atlanta. Hmmm... She was able to borrow an extra set of sheets another girl brought so that was good. Then her friend took this photo and text messaged it. She was lying on the floor at LAX waiting on their flight to Hong Kong. She looked none the worse for wear, at that point only about 36 hours into her trip. She was smiling and looked like she was having a great time.

So, the rest of us are just carrying on without Savannah's laugh and dry humor, waiting for the next 5 weeks to fly by!

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. . . . . . . . . . Graduating Daughter #2

So, this has been my favorite pose of the 4 of them. It was taken after the ceremony. Savannah is on the far right. From left to right are Evan McAvoy, Marilyn Wallace and Jamie Noble, the other graduates. It was a great ceremony! I'm hoping to get some good video off our camera when I have a chance to slow down enough to actually put it on a dvd.




This was Terry about to present Savannah her diploma and give his speech. Seems the most memorable part was something about not ever teaching pigs to dance to because it will annoy the pig. HA! He posted his speech on his facebook page so if I get a chance I'll copy and paste it here for you to read.


Here Savannah and Jamie were singing their duet. The were accompanied by another home school graduate, Garrett Washington. They did an awesome job. Each graduate performed some talent and Jamie and Savannah decided to do theirs together.


And here are the graduates as they move their tassels from one side to the other on their caps. They opted not to wear gowns because the girls didn't want to cover up their dresses. I think they looked beautiful, performed beautifully and the parents speeches were awesome as well as the charge brought by Mr. Boice. Oh, there were also slide shows put to music by each graduate. Those were quite entertaining at times. Especially one look Evan gave his mom for a photo she included in his presentation. PRICELESS!

It was a lovely time for all the families. Even my parents drove out for the ceremony. We tried to get some family photos but the cameras (yes 2 of them) messed up and I don't think we got a good one out of the many that were snapped. Oh well, maybe next time!

. . . . . . . . Prom, Birthday, Stuff

WOW! Again, time has flown by and we have been so busy prepping for events that I've not had time to do more than think "I need to get on blogger and do some typing."



Backing up a bit, we had a wonderful home school prom! I think the kids had a great time and I know the chaperons did! I know I woke up at 7 on Friday morning and didn't sleep again until 3pm on Saturday. WOW! I won't do that again simply because I had a hard time staying awake to drive those girls home. NOT good! I did come close to pulling over and asking my 19yo to drive the rest of the way but I managed. Once I got to sleep I slept soundly for 5 hours and then I was good to go again.



On May 1 I celebrated my 45th birthday. The moms in our home school group surprised me with balloons and cookies and rice krispy treats and all kinds of goodies. I didn't have a clue! Then my sis-in-law took me out to dinner at Olive Garden. YUM! I celebrated all weekend. LOL!



Since then we have been busy with last minute preparations for Savannah's graduation. We are looking forward to that this week and then her focus will be on finishing her prep for her trip to China!



Here are a few prom pictures for you to enjoy!




Group picture before we left Stockbridge







Travis and Jesse all duded up in their tuxes - we have some good looking guys in our group!







<-Girls on the dance floor but looks like they are just talking here.

Guys on the dance floor - you can't tell here but they were watching Travis dance (in the white hat). ->

And here Terry had been showing the kids some dance moves of his own. =)





Next time I get to post will probably be after Savannah's graduation. Hope to be able to share some photos!