Together We Build

Our church bought land a few years back.  Once weekend in October, church launched our building program.  We hope to have the new church started (hopefully finished) in the next three years.

The blueprints.  The dark is phase one and the light is phase 2 (way in the future)

The church will be in the flight pattern of a little local airport which means we can't have our steeple on top of the church.  To solve that, the steeple will be in front on some kind of a lower wall.  Still making it look like a church.

We started the weekend Friday night with a banquet (the food wasn't that great).
Many details were given  and the above programs were handed out.

The weekend continued with a picnic as the new site.  

The "outline" of the building was staked out and had rough sketches showing what you would see if you were "standing right there"

We also had the PCC Proclaim team for the weekend (still not sure how we managed that)

One of our niece Bethany's best friends from college was part of the team.
We wish she could have stuck Bethany in her suitcase and brought her along.

Sunday School was a recap of some of the details plus some Q&A time.

They have come up with some ingenious ways to raise the money we need.  One is piggy banks.
 Nice color, huh?  Daddy's mom even has one to collect money!

Is it jelly or jam?

When we went to the Orchard we picked about 2 pounds of red raspberries.  A few days later, I made----is it jelly or jam?

I boiled the berries down, added one cup sugar, and one packet of pectin.  Put it --while still very hot-- in canning jars, and let them seal.  We haven't tried it yet, but the tastings I did while making it seemed OK.  We shall see!

All those apples

And I still have that big bag's worth left to deal with.

My birthday celebration

Around here, we celebrate a birthday for as long as we can.  Benefits all of us; not just the birthday person!

My actual birthday was a Wednesday.  we celebrated that day by having chicken patties (made by C) and going to AWANA.  Fun times.

The Friday after was a true celebration.  Daddy had off work.  C had no school.  We went out to breakfast (Panera for a pumpkin bagel and a free pumpkin muffin).  Then we went to the apple orchard.  We picked 1/2 bushel and a peck of apples and 2 pounds of raspberries. Plus we bought apple cider, chipotle cheddar cheese, candy corn, and honey.  YUM!  Then we headed to the Tamale Place for lunch.  Oh.  My.  Goodness.  Best tacos ever.  Then back home to get ready for a church banquet to kick off our new building project (more on that later).  It was a fun day!  I love spending time with my family.

Sweet friend came to visit and brought pumpkin coffee and a K girl inspired present.
Doesn't it just make you smile?

Even my birthday present wished me Happy Birthday!

Doesn't he look so grown up in this picture?

I usually don't post pictures of myself.
Now you can't say I don't ever.

The Tamale Place

A Picture Post (cuz I really have nothing exciting to say)

Happy Birthday!  to me!  For a whole week!  We celebrated my birthday dinner the
Thursday before my birthday (which is on a Wednesday this year)
The week of my birthday is going to be crazy busy for us,
so it made sense (besides the fact that I didn't want to cook that night)

C made this picture for his best bud.  I noticed AFTER THE FACT that he had spelled friends wrong (FrEInds)

This was K's Bear.  That was what she named HIM--even though he is pink.  C promised her that he would always take care of Bear for her.  Bear and I were waiting for C to get done with math homework so we could finish school.

Crazy child says he is going to wear these this winter.  Doesn't he look hilarious?!

I introduced C to Walker.  He loved it!  Now I"m trying to remember some of the old and good shows for him to watch on YouTube.

Some very dear friends.  Mr. V went to heaven and is now partying with K girl and my dad.
Probably playing softball too.

Found this on my computer the other day.  K's Easter dress and the one she was buried in.

Crazy child.

We did a "Box of Sunshine" for a dear friend. The little duckie kept sliding around inside the box.

Again, crazy child.

This is outside a yummy, local hamburger joint on our little downtown square.  It's only been open a few months and we as a family have been twice and Daddy and I went one other time.  Both times C has gone he had his picture taken with this little guy.  I'm guessing it's a "thing" we will do every time we go???

C and I saw these hats at Target today.  I think they are more funny than they are scary!

Before and after.  He is lookin' good!