SURPRISE SURPRISE SURPRISE

Finally, at long last, we were able to successfully surprise Gretchen with a visit from Bridgette, Emme, and Levi. We have been keeping it a secret for well over one month. Bernie did not think it possible that us girls could keep quiet. Natalie, Bridgette, and I would talk almost every day without letting on. That is no easy task if you know Gretchen. Mission accomplished.

Here are the photos of what transpired late Saturday night...hhhmmmm, I think it was 11:00 pm. We had gone out to dinner together earlier and then later told her we were going to the airport to pick up some guys who were coming home from being deployed. I even wore red, white, and blue. Our Gretchen was so surprised when Bernie asked her if Finn could come over to our house. She told us later that she thought someone had died and why didn't we call first. Bridgette popped out from around the corner and she yelled "What are you doing here?" Needless to say she was soooo happy to see her sister. Thank you to all those who kept a great secret!!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

We had a wonderful Mother's Day with our moms present. We had a tasty brunch after church in which everyone brought delicious food. We ate well and had a good time of talk and laughter. Gretchen was the youngest mother present celebrating her first Mother's Day and Carsten was there to keep us entertained with all of his genius activity. Rhea and Debbie stopped by on their way home from the valley and visited with us in the afternoon. God has blessed us with awesome mothers who have taught us many Godly character traits.

Bernie had gone out halibut fishing with some buddies of his and brought home his limit. He got home at midnight the eve of Mother's Day

I received beautiful peach roses (my favorite color from Grechen and Phil as well as an edible dark chocolate box filled with chocolate candy from AK Wildberry Products. Need I say more...yum. Bernie you got me the beautiful bouquet which is on the entertainment center with the pretty purple vase and the sterling purple rose bouquet. Good taste and it came on Mother's Day delivered to the door. Thank you, favorite son of mine. Thank you Bridgette and Chad for the thoughtful gifts and card but most of all for the beautiful grandchildren you have blessed us with. Natalie and Adam I loved the card and can hardly wait to hold little Greta. I laughed so hard at the card.

God definitely blessed us with 4 great kids who have succeeded in life because of God and His goodness. "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

MARVELOUS MAY


Here are just a few random pictures of what we did last week. These are my good friends I went to CHS with Joy Powell McCall and Dianne Boehm Bassett. Dianne and I were cheerleaders together and Joy was the smartest student in our school!! Dianne has been here for the past year (only I didn't know it) and Joy has been home for about 4 or 5 yrs (she's a former missionary to Haiti). We got together for the second time to visit and talk and remminisce and, this time I remembered my camera. It's been 32 years since we graduated and moved on and amazing to see how God has blessed us and let our paths cross. Joy and I go to the same church and Dianne goes to church in ER.

Here is our little camping trailer we bought two years ago and Dad has been diligently working on it. He took it completely apart and rebuilt it and added fancy lights etc. Thanks to Chris Yelverton for the awesome paint job. He outdid himself on this project. The former owners came over last week and they don't even recognize it. Once it warms up, we will take it camping for the two of us.

The other pictures is of Dad. Gretchen and I got such a kick out of watching him and Finn sleep so good last week on the recliner after he came home from work. He went to sleep in about five minutes...deep sleep with very aduible snoring coming from Dad. Finn didn't move a muscle and loved it, sleeping in the crook of his arm going up and down with each exhaling. It was priceless.