Girl Scout Cookie Time

Hi,

It's that time of year that Marissa delivers more than 100 boxes of cookies to friends, neighbors and Mark's coworkers. She is a hard worker and loves cookie time. She is one of her best customers.

She would like to thank everyone that ordered from her. It means a lot to have your support (especially in this economy).

Have a great day!

Yes, it's official! Jessica can DRIVE!

Not to worry - that sound you hear was shouts of JOY! "THIS IS SO COOL!"

Today I took Jessica to take her Driving test for her permit at the Courthouse! She passed - no problem! She was so nervous for the test, but she did great! She drove home (not on the freeway). She will be driving for the next six months with Mark or I in the car, so you don't need to be alarmed if you see me in the passenger seat.

WAY TO GO JESSICA! WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!

Reflecting on my Mom

My mom when she was in High School becoming the Worthy Advisor in The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls. My Mom, My Grandma, my little sisters - Kirstie and Sandy,

My Great Grandpa Deakin and me!

"Love your mother"

"Love those around you!"

"Love the Lord"

On February 5 my mother would have been 66. I miss her so much. There are so many questions I have for her...so many triumphs I wish I could share. I've been on my own for the majority of my life. There have been so many things in my life I wish I could have shared with my mother. She was a wonderful person. She taught me everything I needed to know by the time I was only 14 years old.

I look at Jessica a realize how nice a life she has. By the time I was her age, my parents had already divorced, remarried each other and divorced again. I had a step mom and had moved probably close to 25 times.

At 14 my sister and I washed, cooked, and cleaned. We packed the lunches and ironed my dad's work shirts. I still had my homework and other activities to do.

I'm so grateful my mom prepared me, but I miss her sooooo much!!!

DEVON'S Service Project

For Devon's 8th Grade Service Project he decided to collect "Lost and Found" clothing from the area schools and donate the clothing and lost items to charity. Devon contacted Goshen Elementary, Harmony Elementary, North Oldham High School and North Oldham Middle School.

At the schools he put out all the "lost and found" items. The school advertised that the items would be displayed for a certain amount of time. Devon (and his mom) then collected the clothest that were not retrieved by their owners. Devon looked for names on items before removing the clothes from the school. He wanted to make sure he didn't take something that could be returned.

Devon folding clothes for display at the middle school.Devon looking for names at Harmony Elementary School. Devon then washed all the clothes (let me tell you that was a lot of laundry!)

After all the clothes were washed and folded Devon weighed each bag/box to see the total amount he would be donating...(drumroll please)...
Devon loading up the car with 6 huge bags and two boxes of items for Good will.
In all there were 106.5 pounds of donated items. That's almost as much as Devon himself!

Unloading the washed clothes and items to Good Will.

More and more bags were delivered. More and More bags were delivered!

Devon enjoyed this service project and learned a lot from it. There are so many ways we can help people around us.

Pinewood Derby - Blink and it's over!

Robert participated in his 2nd Pinewood Derby on 2/6/09.

He made a fantastic car called, the Polar Express!

Wow, our troop did such an excellent job putting ont the Pinewood Derby. The boys were so excited for the race to begin.

He was so excited to see his car take 1st Place a few times, 2nd a few times and then once he came in third. We don't really know what place he came in but I'm guessing it was 4th for his age group (after trying to calculate it out - which is impossible). It really doesn't matter because Robert was just happy to be there with his friends and have such a great time! For all I care all the boys that didn't take 1st, 2nd or 3rd can be 4th. They all did a great job and showed excellent sportsmanship towards each other.

Jessica took this picture

"I tried to practice Basketball, but it didn't work." The net was frozen. - Jessica