Kathlyn Is Going Away

Last night we had a going away party for Kathlyn. She is moving to Ohio to live closer to some of her family. Kathlyn has been a huge part of our family and the college group, lots of relationships. I have NO idea how many people were here, but there were tons! We had lots of fun and plenty of great food! We got Kathlyn a china tea set-she loves tea! It was a wonderful night, but we will miss her lots!

A Busy Day!

This morning started with a dentist appointment (I need a crown) and then on to the dermatologist. From there, I ran to school to see Kaylee inducted into the National Honor Society! Somehow, parents get a lot more excited about this than the students! Anyway, she's the third from the left and she didn't trip and start the place on fire or anything! We are very proud of her! She wanted her picture made with one of our favorite teachers. Mrs. Peterson has had three Robinsons come through, and we love her dearly. Then we ran to lunch (Kaylee got out at noon) and had lunch with Carissa and some of our college girls for Shannon's birthday! She's 21 today! Shannon and Carissa live together, so we claim her as one of ours. After lunch I ran home to work on food for Shannon's surprise party tonight, so of course, the next thing on our list is the party! A busy day, but that's the way we like it!

Scrap Book Weekend

On Friday, Michelle, Kaylee and I left for a weekend of scrap booking. We were on Ft Myers Beach and this was part of Kaylee's birthday present. We had a great time, and accomplished a lot. I was able to FINISH my first scrap book! I am very pleased with it. Being a perfectionist, I spent a lot of time "tweaking" until I got things just as I wanted them! That makes Kaylee crazy! She says I think too much! We had a great time!

She Did It!!!

Yes, she got her permit! Oh, it was an experience! We had an appointment, were almost late due to being lost in Cape Coral, and then...we had to have her SS# and we did not!!! After a million phone calls, we finally got it and then she passed the test and they were even able to make change (finally) for a $50 bill. Oh, I'm glad this is behind us! After I did not have a "good" picture of Carissa for her birthday, I told Kaylee we had to get one of her. She was only too happy to pose for about a million, and I just had to pick one! I think she was really trying to get out of homework the night she volunteered! OK, we are done with birthdays for a while!

Happy Birthday, Kaylee!!!

Things can change a lot in 15 years! I woke up this morning thinking about Carissa and her pony tail, Joshua and all his questions, both standing and watching Kaylee get her first bath. Donna had come to help me with the kids, and she had just arrived the night before and I woke her up early to say we were on our way to the hospital and we'd call her and tell her how to get there with the kids!!! I guess she was pretty good with directions! I'll write again later today, but I just had to share this picture this morning!

Bob's Birthday

My brother's birthday was last Saturday. I didn't write about it at the time because there was a big surprise party being planned. Bob is 18 years older than me. Age and miles have made a relationship difficult, but through the time of mom's death, we were able to spend a lot of time together and a relationship has developed. We were together when mom was sick quite a bit, when she died, and after the funeral it was Bob and I that went to CA. to clean out her house and get it ready to sell. Being the only son, he was left to deal with all of the living trust that mom had arranged. It's in the thick of things that you really get to see what someone is made of. Bob wanted to do things the "right" way, and he used great wisdom in all the responsibility that was left to him. He completed everything the way mom wanted it done. I was very proud to be able to watch the process and know how his mind worked. I believe mom is proud too. We talk on the phone often now and have had several good visits, and my relationship with him is certainly a wonderful gift that resulted through mom's death. This picture was his two year picture. Cute!

Kaylee's Birthday Celebration!

Yes, ANOTHER birthday celebration!! Today we had a family celebration for Kaylee, since her birthday is on Wednesday and that's a crazy day. Wednesday she will have school and get out early to get her permit...hopefully! Hilary joined the family fun and we went to Olive Garden for lunch and then came home to open presents. One of her presents was two tickets to the afternoon show TODAY of Disney on Ice, High School Musical. We had ice cream cake and then rushed off to get Kaylee and Hilary to the show. It was a fun surprise and I think they had a good time! Now, no more birthday stuff until WEDNESDAY!!!

Claire's 4th Brithday

Tomorrow, our Claire will turn four! Today, we were honored guests at her "Princess Party!" It was a pool party and the decorations were wonderful! Michelle does a party right, and puts a LOT of work and effort into it! We got her a princess gown and robe, and some roll on glitter, of course, and her sister got to read to her about an upcoming trip to Disney World! We had a wonderful time and we are so blessed to be a part of Claire's life!

Happy Birthday Olanda!

This is Olanda, my World Vision little girl. Today, she turned five! I started sponsoring her in January, in memory of my mom, on the first anniversary of her death. It is amazing to me the healing and joy that comes from reaching outside yourself and touching the life of someone else. Olanda has written to me through a counselor. She hopes to grow up and be a nurse. She lives with her parents, brother, and two sisters. Her dad is a farmer. She lives in Haiti. I mailed her a bunch of stuff for her birthday, and I do hope it put a smile on her face!

Walking

I have been trying to walk in the mornings some. I haven't said anything, because, quite honestly, I thought it would be short lived. However, this is the first time I have tried to walk since I've had my nifty little shuffle that I told you about a while back. I wake up WANTING to walk, can't wait to get out there! I've even been going on days when I didn't plan to! For real. "Ms. I don't want to sweat." Somehow, having Matt and Chris with me has made all the difference in the world! (That's Matt Redman and Chris Tomlin) This morning they were singing and I was praising, and I was SO excited I was almost marching instead of just walking! I heard first thing this morning that God had worked out a terrible situation, He had the last word, and He just needed to be praised for it! Last night, a wonderful friend found me-we had been out of touch for a few years, and I was so excited that God had brought us back together. I just had a lot to talk to the Lord about and we had a great time visiting today! I just love how God works! I love it that because of past experience, even when I don't understand, I still know that He's working, and it's for my good! He always has my best interest in mind. Always.

Shackles and Chains

When I took Kaylee to school this morning, we heard my favorite song, "Shackles". Hearing it reminded me of a story I never wrote about. Kaylee was able to get a ring tone on her phone that plays-rather loudly-"My Chains are Gone" every time her phone rings. (Which can possibly be about 60 times a minute.) Around here, being free from shackles and chains is a pretty big deal, and I like that song too! Kaylee offered to have it added to my phone too, but I wouldn't let her. I told her I was afraid I would forget to turn off my phone one day during a funeral and "My Chains are Gone" would start to play-rather loudly! To that comment my 14 year old daughter said "What better song to have at your funeral?" I was telling the story to Carissa one day and before I could get to the punch line, she said "What better song to have at your funeral?" We all kind of think alike around here, and I have left Kaylee in charge of making sure that "Shackles" gets sung at my funeral. I've also OKed a little dancing in the aisles. There is something pretty wonderful about knowing that my girls are more set free than I was at their age! God is faithful!

Cookin Kaylee

When Carissa moved out, Kaylee inherited cleaning the bathroom. This didn't exactly fit into HER plans, so she thought she'd wheel and deal. She offered to fix dinner one night a week, if I would clean the bathroom! And, to me, THAT was a DEAL! Tonight she made chicken alfredo, garlic bread, and salad, and it was wonderful! She's learned to "suggest" what I should blog about and even volunteers for pictures now! She even cleans up and does it all with a smile and a great attitude. I'm liking this plan real well! Actually, tonight I need the time to relax while she cooked. I got the wild and crazy idea to let her drive for the first time today! She will get her permit in 10 days, and so I gave in and let her drive around the block. Last time I checked, all the mailboxes are still where they were earlier today! Only my nerves took a blow.

The Eye Of God

This is a picture NASA took with the Hubbell telescope. It is called "The Eye of God." Kaylee sent it to me and it is pretty cool. I know He is watching and has everything under control-even when we can't see it, but this is a nice reminder!

Carissa's Baptism Day

Today was a wonderful day! Carissa got baptized, by her daddy. Carissa made the decision to get her baptism on the right side of her salvation and today was the day! Josh and Jen came, along with Mitch, Michelle, Grace, and Claire, and we all had lunch together. They have been such precious friends, a huge part of Kaylee and Carissa's lives. Kaylee, of course, decided that since everyone was together, we needed a new family photo! Joshua always loves it when we do family photos!!! The good part about today was that Claire got to spend sometime with "my boy" and now she knows his name and has even declared herself his girlfriend! Jen took it very well, didn't seem too concerned at all! We are so proud of Carissa, our 20 year old daughter, and the stand she has taken in her walk with the Lord. You go girl!!! We love you! (I charged my camera yesterday and I know the date is messed up in the pictures, today really is the 9th!)

Scrapbook Weekend

I know, these don't look like scrap booking pictures! Michelle and I scrap booked all weekend, worked very hard, with occasional short visits from different family members! Michelle has her hands full with trying to teach me this new art! Claire found out I had Legos in the garage. I keep them for little boys that come to visit, but had never thought to offer them to the girls! She knows that they were "my boy's" so she often was telling me that "your boy" lost this piece or that piece! She really doesn't know Joshua, so the name just slipped her memory! Today she was with us for a while and she and Kaylee made cookies together. I don't have any pictures of the scrap booking, just the entertainment! I told her today it was a good thing God gave her to her mama and not me. I'm pretty sure she'd be real rotten real quick. She makes me smile and laugh and remember when mine were that age. I KNOW mine were cute too, maybe it has something to do with being able to send them home and not having all the responsibility!

Happy 20th Birthday!

Yep. She's mine. I'd claim her most any day of the week. Today she is 20 years old, living in a condo, working hard in college, working hard, makes good decisions, has her head on straight. When she was little, I sang "You Are My Sunshine" to her all the time. She was. She made me smile. This picture was taken at a clown practice before we went to Guatemala and it says a thousand words! We celebrated her birthday on Monday, so tonight we will meet for dinner before going to church. Happy Birthday!

Painting

When we moved in our house five years ago, Carissa spent tons of time painting basketballs and a Gator on the walls of her room. It was a very bittersweet thing, but we just felt like it was time to change things up a bit when she moved into the condo. Since Joshua's room became a guest room, Carissa's will be a sewing room and office, and somehow, the gators just weren't in the decor plans. So on Saturday, after we went bridesmaid dress shopping, we got to work on painting the room so I can start rearranging the house! It is done and tomorrow I'll start trying to figure out how to best use the space. After I make a little progress, I'll post another picture!

Complaints

I'm getting complaints from my reader (yes, that is singular) that I am a bit behind in updating my blog! This is the time of year when I go CRAZY. We have three birthdays in a very short period of time, demanding lots of my attention! Cary's birthday was last Thursday. We had dinner together, shopped, had dinner with friends on Friday, dinner with friends on Saturday, lunch with family on Sunday, and then tonight-the FIRST time all the family could get together at one time, we had our DQ cake. Since Carissa's birthday is Wednesday, we celebrated early, while we were all together, and now hers will go on for a few days. And in my SPARE time, I am to plan Kaylee's birthday! Cary got lots of clothes, Carissa got a new bed set for her new room in her condo. Josh and Jen came to celebrate with us, and yes, Jen has better jeans, she just feels very comfortable with us and that's the way we like it!