Summer Weekends

Most folks find June to be a busy month with many beginnings for the summer but endings of school and activities!

Our last few weekends have been busy with graduation parties, visitors, and other events. This pas weekend we went to a baptism of a wonderful young man. His dad and Darrell have become fast friends and have gotten to know one another through Alert Cadet. It has been fun to get to know their family through activities like this...so Saturday afternoon we went to Merrimack to see Andrew baptized. Afterwards we joined their family and extended family at their place to celebrate with lots if wonderful food, games, chatting, and a great time. Pictures below....

We then left early to get home just minutes before Darrell's mom and sister arrived from Delaware for the night.

The next morning was Father's Day where we went out to breakfast before sending them on their way. We then headed home to prepare for my sister and daughter and my parents to join us. We met at the 99 for dinner! What a treat that was because my folks were there but so were Michaela and Jessica! It was a good thing!

Happy Fathers Day Darrell!

The Weekend

This time of year can seem so busy and we are having to pick and choose from many invites and activity possibilities.  We had two exciting things going on this past weekend. 

The first was too finally connect with Gavin Vu, Aggy's brother. He has been living in NH since September. He leaves sometime in the next week. He is a lot like his sister but different in so many ways. We felt an immediate connection. He is going to school in the States so we hope to see him again! The pictures of the kids on the swing are at his host families house...it was great fun! Kiara said it was just like flying and Harmony just giggled the whole time she was in it.

On the way home, we stopped at Moos in Derry for some ice cream....mmmmm!

On Sunday, we traveled to Fort Foster in Maine for Laurel Simonds graduation Party.  It was an amazing day....the older kids played frisbee and football while the younger kids checked out the brand new playground. We ate a delicious lunch and visited awhile. Afterwards, we headed down on the beach where the kids got into the cold New England water and found many treasures. After a short break the older kiddos went out as the tide was low and found sea glass, a sea sponge, and sand dollars. They were so excited and it was just a beautiful day for or family.

What a treasure of a weekend!

Then and Now

Then....1988...25 years ago I married my man! We had a great ceremony, a feast, some dancing and then he whisked me off to New England for a honeymoon.  

The honeymoon where we stated, "this is the perfect place to live. We have the mountains for you (Darrell) and the ocean for me  (Louisa)"....God always hears us and moved us to New Hampshire 11 years later! 

Tonight, he came bringing lots of beautiful red roses!! Oh they smell so grand and bring many memories of the Residance Rose garden in Wurzburg, Germany. I spent many hours there when he was at works the first summer there....

25 years....several moves---Germany, New Jersey, New Hampshire, 9 kids later...he is still the love of my life!

Excited to see what the next 25 years bring!

Love You Darrell!

Today is the day ...25 years ago we said, "I do!"

Date Night

Over the past year, Darrell and I have gone on a weekly date night. We have had lots of fun and delight in knowing the kids are home safe with our sitter , Ruthie !

We've gone on hikes, fancy dinners, red-neck places to eat, walked at the mall during the winter, shopped, met with friends, met with family, taken Michaela or Jess our to dinner...even went gun shopping! Lately, we have been investing in our horses and have gone to our horse instructors place for some training and riding lessons.  We have enjoyed encouraging each other as we build our confidence.

Last night we rode on Hercules! The other horse we were scheduled for coliced and had to be trailered to help it ...which was successful! A good ending to that story!

Here are some pictures :)

Cape Cod

Our boys had been at the Cape for 3 days of rain, work and play when we got to join them. Jess, Kiara, and the 3 littles rode down with the Winslow family and Martha. They told many funny stories of their trip, did drill downs for us and gave out awards. It was so much fun to meet the other families, walk in the beautiful beach and look for crabs, snails and mussels. After a hearty lunch the boys all headed out to clean while we played on the porch and then went into the music room and listen to Maddie Winslow and 2 other girls play violin, mandolin and piano. They were eventually joined by singers as Miss Genie gave out books to sing along with the music. We later headed home with a traditional stop at Cracker Barrell where they saw the Alert shirts and asked if we know the Duggars! Apparently they had just aired a segment on their show about one of the boys going to Alert.

It was a long beautiful day!

Hope

There are many things that seem like it is crazy 'out there' in our world but we can never lose HOPE!  God's word is clear and we just need to trust him and when we acknowledge him in ALL things he promises to make our paths straight!  Trusting in Him today!! Hold onto Hope!

Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV
But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."

Jeremiah 29:11-12 (New International Version)
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

Zephaniah 3:17 (New International Version)
The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing."

Psalm 71:14 (New International Version)
But as for me, I will always have hope;
I will praise you more and more 



"I Will Trust You"-Steven Curtis Chapman
I don't even wanna breathe right now
All I wanna do is close my eyes
But I don't wanna open them again
Until I'm standing on the other side

I don't even wanna be right now
I don't wanna think another thought
And I don't wanna feel this pain I feel
And right now, pain is all I've got

It feels like it's all I've got, but I know it's not
No, I know You're all I've got
And I will trust You, I'll trust You
Trust You, God, I will
Even when I don't understand, even then I will say again
You are my God, and I will trust You

God, I'm longing for the day to come
When this cloudy glass I'm looking through
Is shattered in a million pieces
And finally I can just see You

God, You know I believe it's true
I know I will see You
But until the day I do

I will trust You, trust You
Trust You, God, I will
Even when I don't understand
Even then I will say again

You are my God, and I'll trust You
And with every breath I take
And for every day that breaks
I will trust You
I will trust You
And when nothing is making sense
Even then I will say again

God, I trust You
I will trust You
I know Your heart is good
I know Your love is strong
And I know Your plans for me
Are much better than my own

So I will trust You, trust You
I trust You, God, I do
Even when I can't see the end
And I will trust You
I will trust You, I will
Even when I don't understand
Even then I will say again

I will trust You, I will trust You, I will
I know Your heart is good,
Your love is strong,
Your plans for me are better than my own
Yeah, Your heart is good
Your love is strong
Your plans for me are better than my own
And I trust You
You are my God
And I will trust You