Remembering GG

Recently the girls' GG, short for great grandma, passed away. Above the girls are smelling a rose I brought home for them from GG's special service (that was the best description for a funeral I could come up with) We had been praying for her as she had been in the hospital. When we explained that GG was now better and had gone to heaven to be with Jesus Grace's response was one of joy. She was glad GG was better. Then she said with sadness, "Mom, but I will miss GG. Does God have SKYPE in heaven? We should skype GG!"

Grace has an amazing memory and I think she will remember GG. Here are some things I want Grace, Faith, & Titus to remember:

-GG loved to look fancy she always wore necklaces & earrings.

-GG always gave out peanuts in the shell for Christmas. (i always loved that)

-GG never had a bigger smile than when her great grandkids came to visit. She loved their visits & artwork.

-She always commented on how beautiful each of them were, especially as babies.

-GG loved the Mississippi river.

One of the things I loved about GG's funeral was the focus on celebration. I'm so thankful we have the hope of heaven. Some glad morning when this life is over....its only with this hope that it truly is a glad morning.

Make Your Own Pizza

One of our many summer adventures was to head to a local pizzeria so the kids could make their very own pizzas. This was a busy play group but I think the kids enjoyed it. They started out taking the kids to see the walk-in fridge & freezer. The girls found this very interesting.

Then the kids helped to put the toppings on their pizzas. (My girls were a little disappointed they didn't get to "pat" their own dough.)
Both girls choose ham pizza. They also helped weigh the cheese. (something different from at home)
Here the girls are watching the big pizza oven. The pizzas "roll" along and when they come out they are perfectly cooked.
(Thank you Nana for the adorable coordinating aprons.)
The finished product. Yummy!
I didn't pay to make me one (i'm thrifty I know) thinking I could share with the girls. But, they surprised me by both eating their entire pizza by themselves! Pizza is one of Faith's favorite foods. Whenever I ask her what she wants for dinner she always says, "PIZZA!"

Goodbye Cupcakes

We recently had a going away party for some dear friends of ours. We have had the joy over the last year of getting to know Felicia and her daughter Sidney. Felicia's mother & grandparents live right across the street from us. She has been in Hannibal this past year while her husband was in Iraq. He just returned home and so they moved again. The girls helped to make these cupcakes for a going away party at the pool.

I feel so blessed that God brought these special "girls" into our life. I learned a lot about being a military family and was surprised the similar ground we found having both experienced a spouse's job that affects your whole lifestyle. (Who knew a ministry wife and military wife would have so much in common?) One of the things that has been most difficult for me in ministry has been our family's moving around. Felicia has such a positive attitude about their many moves due to military life. She really inspired me to see this challenge in a more positive light. I really admire her strength and dependance on prayer while her husband was away. We will miss these special friends but as Felicia is quick to remind me, "You never know when you might end up in the same place again."