Bonnie is not hyper

The principal at our school, Sandy Little, spoke to Bonnie in the hallway.  He said, "Bonnie, you are hyper!"  She said, "I am not hyper!"  Later we were teasing her about being hyper.  She said, "I'm not hyper, I'm busy!"

Honeysuckle in the Spring time

Gilbert is in 4-year-old Kindergarten this year.  His teacher brought in a piece of blooming honeysuckle vine for the children in her class to smell.  Gilbert said it smelled like ALLERGIES to him. 

He loves to run, fish, jump, run, swing, slide, hit the baseball, vacuum, run, talk, and be outdoors.  Did I mention that he loves to run?  He is very good at driving our "Mule" around the farm too.  (We don't let him go without an adult yet.)  He looks so much like his dad did at that age!

Are you going to please God?

Margaret, Mandy's youngest, is two.  Her dad says she is 10 years old caught in a two-year-old body.  She says the cutest things.

Last night, Mandy was moving all their sleeping supplies into the camp trailer that they will be staying in for the next two weeks.  Margaret wanted yogurt for bedtime snack.  She asked her mom not to forget.  Mandy got the girls bathed, dressed in night clothes, teeth brushed, blankies gathered, and ready to go to the trailer. Margaret stopped the progress by saying, "Mom, are you going to please God?" 

Mandy then remembered she had promised Margaret the yogurt for bed time snack.  Promises to children fall under the definition of pleasing God in a two year old's mind.  I am so glad that Mandy knows her children well.

Mandy and her family are moving

A few years ago, everyone was studying the "Prayer of Jabez."  The prayer is in I Chronicles 4:10.  I prayed about enlarging my coast too.  My coast is being enlarged again.  Mandy is moving farther away.  She is moving to Ft. McMurray in Northern Alberta.  Believe me, it is way up there.  As far as I can see on the map, it is the end of the road.

Mandy gave me a little word of cheer.  She said there is a nonstop to Ft. Mac from Las Vegas.  It might be easier to get there than to Kelowna.

They sold their house and will sign the contract for a house in Ft. Mac.  It hasn't been easy.  The inspection of the house before it could be sold showed that the attic was full of mold.  The builders only put in one vent in the eves.  There should have been at least six.  Mandy is fighting city hall about that.  It cost over $6,000 to have the mold cleaned up and to replace the insulation in the attic.  The mold wasn't the dangerous type (one good thing).  All of that is behind them now except trying to get the builder to put in more vents and pay for the clean up. 

Mandy and Dave just love the church in Ft. Mac.  They have visited with the pastor and his family several times now.  They said that the pastor reminds them of Uncle Larry.  

It is hard for us to conceive buying a house for 1/2 million dollars that is nearly 30 years old.  The house is a regular 3 bedroom 1 1/2 bath house with a full basement.  The cost of living is just that high there. 

Dave loves his job.  The girls are eager to move.  Mandy likes the adventure.  It was Dave's plan when he graduated from Oklahoma Baptist College to be able to move to different places in Canada to help small churches.  It will be interesting to see how our Lord uses this family in Ft. Mac.

Mandy will be without a house for two weeks.  She will stay with the girls in a camp trailer that belongs to their neighbor and friend in Kelowna.  Mandy will be able to continue homeschooling in the camper.  The girls are so excited!  Next Monday, April 26, 2010, is the official moving day, Tuesday is cleaning day, and on Wednesday they turn the house over to the new owners. 

Lori went up from Spokane to help Mandy during spring break.  They rode the train to Edmonton, and then took a bus to Ft. Mac.  It was an experience and very scenic. They did that so Mandy could drive their truck back home. Dave was using the truck in Ft. Mac. When they left Ft. Mac, it was snowing.  The pastor recommended that they not leave.  Dave told the pastor that Mandy and Lori would be just fine.  He told the pastor that Mandy and Lori were different than most girls. When Mandy called back, the pastor said there was four feet of snow drifts there.  The girls sure were glad they left when they did.

I am sure the trip was too long for little girls.  It took them two days riding the train and the bus.  They looked at houses for two days in Ft. Mac.  Now two more days to go back home.  It was an action-packed week.
 

Sammy Jo and Margaret were tracking their travel on the map.  Margaret was acting like she could read.  The funny thing was that she was on the right spot on the map. Those girls are so much fun.

On the trip home, they saw many animals.  The mountain sheep wouldn't move off the road.  They had to wait until the animals moved.  The Elk were grazing next to the road.

While they were in Ft. Mac, Mandy found a house.  It meets their needs, and they like it.  It even has a big yard so the girls can have a dog!

Last week, Dave flew back home, signed the contract papers, ordered a moving truck, cleaned out the garage, took the bunk beds apart, and loaded up their Mustang and 4 wheeler on a rented trailer to go back to Ft. Mac.  He had a busy week too.

When you pray Jabez's prayer next time, remember your children might be involved.  I am glad the Lord can use our children.  All of them are ready to go anytime He says, "Move."  Our son and family are missionaries to West Africa, our daughter and family are going to Northern Alberta, Canada, and our youngest daughter is teaching in a Christian school in Spokane, Washington.  I wonder what the future holds for these young people.

Joe and his family on deputation

Yesterday, Joe and his family were leaving to go to a missions conference in Aransas Pass (close to Corpus Christi).  I opened the van door to tell the kids that I would miss them.  The van was loaded down with "World's Finest Chocolate."  Our church school had a candy sell several weeks ago.  Because of Laura's radiation treatments, etc. they never had time to get it sold.  I asked Joe what he was going to do.  He said he was going to get that candy sold on the way so they would have gas money for the trip.  I asked him if he needed any money.  He told me he didn't need money when he had all that candy.  Off they went.  He sold $150 worth before he left San Augustine.  (They really did have money for the trip, but they needed to get the candy out of their house.)

Last night, he called to say they had stopped in Houston at an office building.  It was a very nice office.  Everyone was nicely dressed and was so pleasant.  It was Danny's turn to sell this time.  The people were buying candy just right and left when the big boss came in.  Joe said the man looked like he was wearing a $5,000 suit.  Danny asked him if he wanted to buy some candy.  The boss said he just came back from lunch and didn't have any cash left or he would buy some.  He didn't have a dime in his pocket.  Without hesitation, Danny reached into his pocket and pulled out a quarter.  He handed it to the boss saying with his Elmer Fudd lisp, "I am sorry, Sir, you don't have any money.  You can have my quarter." 

The boss looked up at Joe and said, "You bring him back in 15 years; he has a job."

Spring in Deep East Texas

I just love what it looks like here in the spring time.  The Dogwoods, Red buds, Azalias, Janquils, and the fruit trees all blooming.  I know it is a big allergy time, but it is oh so pretty.  The Blue Bonnets are special too. 

"Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD."  Ps. 105:3

Texas Bluebonnets

Danny (3) came by the other day to tell us that he learned at school that he shouldn't ever step on the American Flag.  He said he shouldn't step on Texas Bluebonnets either. 

Danny has a lisp.  It is like Elmer Fudd's. The other morning Joe, his dad, came into the kitchen while the kids were eating breakfast.  Joe was in a teasing mood.  He said, "One of these days, boys, POW! right in the kisser."  Danny said, "Ya, Dad, One of these days, boys, POW! right in the 'pisser.'"  Joe started waving his hands, "NO, NO, NO! Let's not say that again."  (he he he)  Isn't it grand to be the grandma?