Well I'm back! Do you think I would enjoy updating oftener if I would post something itty-bitty every so often, rather than a long post once every several months??  Guess we'll find out.....

This summer seemed to speed by and I don't know where it went, but we live only one day at a time and thank God that He is in control and knows "each step I take."

After the wedding, we went back to Missouri for close to 2 weeks  n came home for 10 days then went back again for 10 days, (and got to celebrate our Libby's B.D)

We came home the middle of June, in time for our 'little boy-grown big' 16th BD.

(Just like Daddy...n he did it all by himself!)

Thankfully since then we were able to stay put, but it's getting high time we go again one of these days. Actually the highlight of the summer was when Colins

came and we took them to Oregon

with us and surprised Keith & JoNell!! We enjoyed helping them work in their 1st home and helping them set up housekeeping etc.

On July 4th (on our way home) we went to Portland/Vancouver to be with hubby's sis. Marty n dau. Marisa.

After spending some time in their home, we took them out to eat n then went to the Park down by the river and watched an awesome display of fireworks!

Several wks ago we had a mini reunion when three of my brothers--2 from MO n one from OR came to spend close to a week here in CO. We spent most of that time in Ouray, 'Little Switzerland of America' -camping, and then JEEPING on Sat. That was a first for me and I admit the first while I was pretty tense, but after realizing the 5 jeeps ahead of us (holding precious cargo...31 family members) are making it safely and haven't tumbled down over the side....we probably won't either. (I still kept praying as fast as I could think-most of the way!)

Our Cabin.

A wanna-be cousin to Crater Lake?

Our Jeep

What if that rock came crashing down when

our jeeps were cruising along there?

Our Caravan

Brian & Amy

Scott Lori & Cheyanne

Nolan Gina & kiddos

Some more of my family. Wish I'd have poses of all of 'em!

The bum side of that adventure was I got toasted...literally. My fair skin without any sunscreen didn't look too good for about 10 days, plus I actually went into shock n got the shakes that night and suffered intense pain all night long. The next morn I was all swollen up and looked like E.T.except my face was RED instead of green   (No pictures allowed for fear of emotional scarring to the viewer.) My dear hubby got me some Ocean Potion Aloe Vera gel as soon as the camp store opened, which was aawww...so soooothing!

This is bout 4 days later I when I went cattle hauling with hubby. I'm still red but looks like I'll eventually look normal again!

We all came home Sun. pm and on Mon or Tue. my brothers all headed out in various directions. God was with us in a special way when He performed a miracle for my bro Charles, who went flying with a local pilot in his little plane on Mon. They left the Montrose airport n headed east toward Black Canyon. Just as they approached the rugged area of BC, the engine of the plane died and wouldn't fire again. The pilot said, "Oh, oh, we're in trouble." but Charles felt no fear, only a peace and calmness. They looked down and saw a green field close by, so crash-landed into it hoping for the best! They bailed out asap in case it would explode in a ball of fire...but God spared the plane as well. Mom has a picture of it n when Harvey e-mails it to me, I will post it here as well.

My bro are all very special to me, especially the 'little' ones ....probably because I helped 'raise' them Morris was born when I was nearly 13, [n my little sis was 6 already] Charles came a wk before my 17th BD n Nolan soon after I turned 21. He had just turned 2 when I got married (and then our 1st baby was born on his 3rd BD.) My oldest nieces n nephews are his age and so I have 2 great-nieces that are goin on 10 already, but his n Charles' children are still little-between 6 yrs to 4 mo.

The prayer of my heart:

"Dear Heavenly Father...You know every branch on my family tree. You know the lives and hearts of every one of us....my siblings-who are also uncles and aunts to my children and to all my nieces and nephews-who are 'the cousins'....bless each one in ways that will draw us still closer to each other and help us to draw closer to You as well. Show me how to love and support each one in our family, even when it has to be long distance....we are scattered far and wide. In our childhood we had great times together! Thank-you so much for allowing me to grow up in a family of 5 boys and 5 girls...and all the fun and pranks, even the fusses n quarrels, the sharing and laughter, the joy and happiness....and lots of love. Help us to not get side-tracked on our individual paths in life, but to take time for each other and no matter where You may lead us or what Your plans are for each one of us...remind us to pray for each other every day. Amen."

(There's 96 of us now!...and yes, I know them all by name

This is only 3/4 of the bunch....my older bro n his family don't pose for/have pictures.

(the following are pictures from my Mom's wedd. Feb 29, 2008)

Us 5 sisters.

And my 4 younger brothers.

"Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers." -- Prov. 17:6

P.S. Does anyone know why there's big spaces between the 1st 2 camping pic...it's not like that in my weblog entry or on my home page either...just on the public site. Is it fixable?