Fall Soccer

C played fall soccer this year.  It wasn't a good year--for many reasons.  But we did meet a new family. Their kids now attend our AWANA.  The one boy has the same name--C and is homeschool.  Kinda funny.

Since Daddy was assistant coach, he wasn't available to take many pictures.  I didn't do so swell at taking pictures.  For a few reasons: I'm not that good and I'd always forget.  But here are two; I can't find any more.  Mother-of-the-year award.

At an end of the year pizza party, I looked over to see C at a table full of girls (yes even the one in white is a girl).  I thought it was kinda funny.  Even sharing a chair with one of them.

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