I LOVED this day!  Danielle had her  princess birthday party today!  I had been praying for a birthday party for Danielle to “happen” but it just wasn’t happening!  Life was getting in the way.  So finally I scheduled it for the day of my birthday(Nov. 7. . I won’t mention the year I was born). . and it all fell into place. 

I had the BEST time making this Princess birthday cake: 

The cake!

Crystal and Bethie were the “hostesses”, and Alissa was the photographer . (she takes really good pictures).  Here’s a great pix she took of the girls playing “hide the princess”:

Kate, Lesley, Elizabeth, Hannah (down below!), Danielle (in wig I got for $1 at an “after Halloween” sale), and Courtney!

I couldn’t ask for a better birthday!

Here’s Crystal with a loaf of bread she made.  The girls made it daily (they said) while Bob and I were in Colorado Springs in late July.  I’ve been making bread myself  daily now for a couple weeks.  I really like doing it.  I don’t know if it saves me any money, but it’s fun.  There also aren’t any preservatives in it.  The main reason I do it though is because I ENJOY preparing food for people to eat instead of just buyng it ready made and slapping it on the table.  I got that from my mom and grama.  Especially my grama.  Her whole life revolved around preparing food, and in her 80’s, she is still preparing food for others.

My friend Sherri’s blog ( www.workingwaitingwatching.blogspot.com   ) inspired me to blog again. . and today is a great day to post since it is Danielle’s 8th birthday. . . . . So here is a picture of our “baby”. . . Poor Bob won’t be home until tomorrow to celebrate with us, but she had a great day anyway as she opened Grammie and Pap’s gifts.  The dress we all LOVED (my mom has great taste), and she immediately put it on, but it is a tad tight.  Nevertheless it stayed on all day, even though it MUST go back to Kohl’s.  

In case you’re wondering. . . we still haven’t found a house here to buy.  Finally, a couple of days ago, I started asking God if maybe He doesn’t want us to buy a house here? (Duh? After 17 months of looking for a house?)  Might make sense.  I am trying to hear His voice.  Spent some time crying before Him today to ask if He would push through to enable the renter of our house in GA to be approved for the loan he applied for.  Alissa is wearing out Crystal by getting her to help her study for a World Literature test.  Bethie went to Girls’ chorus practice.  Crystal worked on her Biblical Foundations course (it’s an online course she is taking from Bryan College. . although she has not def. decided that’s where she wants to go for college.  We’re leaving that up to her.)

Other than those activities, it was a special girl’s birthday day.

All four girls were baptized. Bob cried tears of joy.

Well we’ve been here in Tennessee since last September and have covered every square inch of the county looking for a house for our family of 6. I know the Lord has a reason for us not finding the right one yet and I have to trust that Romans 8:28 is true. So many people are going through so much all over our country. Our trials are nothing compared to most people’s. I just read a blog entitled, “Curvaceous in the City”.   My heart goes out to this young woman and her family. I appreciate her being so candid. I have to continue to look at unseen things, but it takes faith. Romans 10:17.

It was a great month though, with the four girls getting baptized.  Bob cried tears of joy.  It was a very special day.

A big thing that happened today is Bob found a stable where Bethie could take a horseback riding lesson for her birthday present! (Her birthday is February 24).  She’s been waiting a long time to ride again. We just haven’t been able to afford riding lessons. A bonus was that Debbie, the owner, was kind enough to let Crystal and Danielle take a short ride on “Midnight” as well! They were thrilled!  Bethie was thanking the Lord.

Bob’s Mom is not doing well.  We don’t know what to think.  Bob has to go to work; he’s taken off so much time already with flying back and forth to see his Dad (who passed away January 29) and visit his Mom. . .. . . . although he’d like to be up there more of course.  He is a loving son.  Mom is not in intensive care but the step down from that, as she had been improving slightly.  She is 72 I think.  Her website is mom-passburg.webs.com

Update:  On February 24 Mom went to be with the Lord.  It’s a sad sad time for all of us, especially Bob and his siblings as they were all so close.  I had the privilege of getting to know Mom this past year as we were Cinching together (a weight loss program).  She was such an encouragement.  She has such a positive outlook on life as does Bob.  She is missed so very much.

Bob is back from Massachusetts.  His Dad died last week in the nursing home, at 82 years old, on January 29.  He got back from all the funeral stuff on Sunday night, and then got a call early Monday morning.  His mom had collapsed and had to be rushed to the ER.  She was drugged up and put on a life support system (ventilator). . .  So he went back up there last Monday, Feb. 2.  He just got back Thursday Feb. 5 (last night).  She is still hanging on.  The kids aren’t sure what to do.  What would Mom want?  What do all 6 kids think is best?  (they must decide together).  What does the Dr. recommend and what does he leave for them to decide?  It’s difficult. 

Danielle and I had a tough time doing math today.  It was my fault as I was up too late last night on the computer.  It makes me “meaner” the next day, and less patient.  She did well, after I grabbed hold of myself and saw what I was doing (being impatient).  Then we had a pretty good time together doing piano (I taught her lesson this week.  Usually Crystal or Alissa teaches her, but I was already there helping her practice, so I went ahead and taught her lesson too.   She is the only one of the 4 girls that is not way ahead of me in their piano abilities, so I am taking advantage of the time with her while I can.)

Her Daddy did a fun science experiment with her on how rocks are formed (sedimentary rocks).  Then Bob did a science experiment with Bethie!    Crystal had a good time at her flute lesson.  I accompanied Bethie to her violin lesson again and sat in on it (Suzuki method requires parents to do this), and Bethie got passed off on “Song of the Wind”.  So it was a good school day.  Alissa, our college freshman,  is glad that it’s Friday.

Bob and the girls just got back from a farm they enjoy visiting on the mountain where they fed the horses and donkeys.  They had a great time.