JanMarie the moments of my life: August 2011

Saturday, August 27, 2011

A Quick Note

Just wanted to check in real quick to say I'm sorry I didn't post football pictures yesterday!

It was so hot at Ben's game Thursday! For here anyway ~ 100* & it was almost a 3 hour game. We were sun screened and under umbrellas and sat drenched in our sweat. Taking pictures went to the wayside.
Oh, the things we do for our children :)

Ben played really well but they got their behinds kicked ~ 57 - 6. Here's hoping this weeks game goes better!

~ My thoughts and prayers go out to all those on the East Coast who are battling Irene as I type!

~JanMarie

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Here We Go!

And here we go again ~

Another school year has started! It's always fun to go school supply shopping :) Creating a fresh start with things like new paper, pens and pencils is somehow exciting!

Heather is continuing her path towards getting her RN. She's going to school and working full time as a CNA. She has a compassionate heart and loves her job. She's so darn cute in her scrubs too :)

Danielle is a senior ~ Even as I write that I find it hard to swallow......should she be that old already? She is one hard worker! She worked full time all summer cleaning condos. She was able to pay her car off and put a chunk in savings. She will continue to work weekends during the school year.
She gave herself a pretty heavy schedule this year ~ several AP classes which count towards college. She loves learning and wants to be an elementary teacher.

Ben is in 9th grade ~ He trained with the high school cross country team all summer for the exercise. He loved it but is now playing football :) His first game is today! It's supposed to be 98* today ~ yuck :( I will post pictures tomorrow.
He's taking Publications this year which means he'll help put the yearbook together. I love that he's always wanting to try new things!

Can I just say I love my kids!
My prayer has always been that God would fill in the gaps where we mess up in our parenting. As I look at our kids I am so grateful that God is faithful!
I am proud of each one of them ~

~JanMarie

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Check These Quilts Out!

One day I would love to make at least one quilt ~ My lack of patience is a bit of a hindrance! I so admire others who create beautiful quilts :)

While I was in Klamath Falls I had the chance to see some extraordinary quilts. My dad has a good friend who is an outstanding photographer! His name is Jeremy Franklin and he and his wife are a bit like family now :)

Twenty quilters got permission to use 3 of Jeremys pictures and made a slice quilt out of each picture. Amazing! It took them about a year and now the quilts travel around and have been on display in different states.

If you want more information on what a slice quilt is and this project in general I'll direct you to Jeremy's website ~ www.wildernessperspectives.com (copy &paste). Click on Basin Vistas to find out more on the quilting project.
While at his website take a minute and check out Jeremy's photography! He's that good! Extraordinary really....

What I thought was so amazing is that different quilters worked on each slice independently. They got together periodically to make sure they were all on track but otherwise worked on their own. Also the texture that is sewn into the quilts is really fascinating. Things like raffia, embroidery thread, etc.
Truly a work of art!

Maybe this winter I'll attempt a quilt........hmmm........maybe.......

~JanMarie

Thursday, August 11, 2011

New Family Pictures

Earlier this summer we had the chance to have our family pictures taken as a fundraiser. A lady at our church is a photographer and for $50.00 we got a 30 minute photo session and she sent us a cd with the pictures. The money went to the youth going to the Phillipines on a mission trip.

We got each picture in both color and black & white. One of the family pictures will be used for our Christmas card this year. Yeah for no last minute panic trying to get a current photo!!

So here are some of the pictures......

~JanMarie

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Howard Prairie & My 41st Birthday :)

Ok, let's finish up with Howard Prairie :)

Our time there was like a dose of good medicine! To be in the very midst of Gods beautiful creation away from everyday craziness (phones, tvs, computers, schedules, etc) was WONDERFUL!

Mikayla & Danielle

Captain Dani :)

Danielle & Maxine ~ They are exactly 7 months apart

I love this picture of Mom & Dad :)

Mikayla & Danielle ~ Some of the group took a boat ride later in the day. The water was really choppy and they came back wet!

Mom, Mary & Dad ( my brother in law, Michael, in the background)

All the kids floating around

Ben

Kids again ~ They spent so much time in the water.

Ben was laying down in the raft with his head propped just enough to see where he was going

Danielle, Me, Mikayla, Mary, Maxine, Ben & Heather

Just before we left we walked down to the pier one last time

************

My birthday was the day before we went camping. Heather baked me a cake and Dani decorated it. It was beautiful just like my girls :) They have such giving hearts ~ I'm proud to be their Mom!

This picture wasn't sideways when I downloaded it but it is now and I can't figure out how to rotate it !

This pretty much wraps up our Oregon trip ~

Have a beautiful day!
~JanMarie

Friday, August 5, 2011

Howard Prarie Lake Resort ~ Boat Rentals :)

Our second day at Howard Prarie we decided to rent a canoe and a 15' fiberglass boat. It was $60.00 for both of them for the day. 6am - 7:30 pm and you could go in and get gas refills as often as needed ~ no extra charge! We thought that was a great deal and had a wonderful day out on the water.

DJ and I set our alarm for 5:30 am so we could start a pot of coffee and get the boat early ~ There's nothing like being on the water as morning dawns or at dusk!