Long Time, No Post

I have missed you blog. I took a self-imposed sabbatical from blogging. Not for any deep, spiritual reason. Just a bunch of reasons. And then the whole getting behind on blogging and I don't know how to catch up thing happened.

Honestly, the day after my last post we had some really sad news for our family. My sweet cousin Shannon passed away suddenly. It was such a shock--I still can hardly believe it. She was house-sitting (which she did often) and got sick and just died. I imagine it had something to do with her diabetes but we still don't know for sure.

I got to help clean out her apartment. It was a sweet way to learn a few things about her that I didn't know before. She was a list maker! She made budgets for everything--to make sure she could afford everything. She loved her preschoolers. She didn't like to clean her apartment. She loved the Lord with all of her heart.

She will be greatly missed by our whole family.

Shannon Crawford

I also had surgery the week after the funeral. You know, female stuff that included losing an ovary and whatnot. The recovery was not fun. July was not the month we had planned at all.

And do I even need to mention the heat? Dreadful. And that I gained about 15 pounds? Awful. But true. I guess that whole eat-what-you-want and don't-do-a-single-bit-of-exercise really can lead to weight gain. Who knew?

So I was a little down in the dumps some of the summer. I had fun with the kids for sure. We saw more movies than we planned. Watched more tv than I wanted. But we did almost everything we had on our big summer list! We went roller skating, to GattiTown, saw Cars 2, Winnie the Pooh, the Smurfs, went swimming at several pools, had sleepovers, etc. The two big ones we didn't get to are DisneyWorld and making a spy movie. Maybe someday!

I got to do something else really fun this summer. My best friend Jenny remodeled her home this summer. I got to help in almost every aspect of the remodel! So fun!!! I am actually hoping to do this "on the side" more and more. I will blog more about it soon. (I actually may start a new blog--if I can figure it out!) So here is a quick peek of the finished product. More to come! Thanks jenny for the opportunity to design and decorate your home. Loved it.


We took a mini family vacation to the Gaylord Texan late in the summer. The kids loved it! We met the Bindras for a day of fun at the water park at the Gaylord. Here are the kiddos! (Oh yeah, we left Hank with my folks. PTL)

These two are old pros at posing together. They are quick to hug and smile.

We have to keep telling these two to get closer and closer.

These two girls are really sweet friends. We are lucky to have all the Bindra girls.

And then the summer was over! It went by so fast. Except when it went so slow. :)

The kids were so excited to go back to school this year. We like our teachers and they each have friends in their class. What more can you ask for?

Lainey (3rd), Sam and Rhody (1st)

Next year boys!

After school. It was over 100 degrees.

I took a few pics of #2 and #4 this past weekend. They love each other!




The end. For now.

Catch up with photos. . .

Who can believe it's July? We are having a great summer. We have been swimming, playing (indoors a lot), seen lots of movies, and enjoyed play dates.

We enjoyed some sweet treats! Hank and Clara love chocolate!

Happy Father's Day to Pops (Poppy!)! 14 grandkids think you Rock!

We did a week of VBS at LHUMC. The kids had such a great time. Here is Bo on Crazy Hair Day!

Another fun summer with Mrs. Debra! She is for sure the best swim teacher ever. We look forward to our two weeks with her all year long!

One of our dear Young Life friends Michelle (Meesh to the kids) got married to a great guy last month. Bo was the ring bearer and Kyle sang. It was such a great celebration. We have known Michelle for 14 years--since she was a sophomore in high school. We love her a lot!

Bo and Mary Elizabeth (gee gee).

Just a great pic of my mom and dad from the wedding!

We went to the annual 4th of July parade here in LH! My brothers and I used to be a part of this same parade-- 30 years ago. This year we were spectators and collectors of candy thrown to the crowd!

Sweaty boys. Rhody, Asher Davenport and Bo--waving to the LH football players or cheerleaders--can't remember which one.

Andy's family is in town visiting. Got a few pics of their precious children. Here is baby Andee Laine!

Asher -- my boys love playing with him. He is all boy. And a sweetheart.

This is Ayla. She is like a little pixie. So adorable. She is two and a half. Lainey wants to keep her with us. She is lighter than Hank --even though a year older.

Here are all the kids after the parade. The Bone girls, the Davenports and our 4 kids.
Man, it was HOT!
and fun of course.

Have you heard about the planking craze?
Here is our air plank with Rhody!

A fun day with Asher!

Lots more of summer to come!

Summer School

This week Rhody and Lainey and I have been helping with a Summer school program for some precious kids that live in the Lake Highlands area. They are refugees from Burma.

We weren't really sure what to expect. L & R asked what these kids look like. I didn't know exactly how to explain it to them. Then we pulled into the complex and Rhody said, "Oh, maybe these kids look like Thue!" Thue is a boy that was in kindergarten at White Rock with Rhody.

Then about 5 minutes later as I was getting set up, Rhody said, "Mom! There is Thue!" (see cute picture below of Rhody and Thue). Rhody has been reading and writing with several boys this week--including Thue.





Lainey worked with some preschoolers this week. She even had to co-lead a group with another elementary aged child. They worked on letters, sounds and read stories so they could hear English. The picture below is 3 out of the 4 kids in Lainey's group. All of the kids in our group were so eager to listen and learn.






One day at the end of the lesson, I told a few of the boys that I would come back early the next day and bring a soccer ball. I really wasn't sure if they understood what I was saying. But they all showed up at 8:15 am ready to play soccer with Rhody.


These boys are waiting for their turn to get into the game.



What a fun week to get to know these boys. They are seriously wonderful children. It was great to help them read and even better to tell them that Jesus loves them.

Birthday Fun!

This past weekend was jam packed with birthday and family fun! June 6th is Lainey's birthday and June 12th is Kyle's birthday. The last several years we have scheduled Lainey's party on Kyle's birthday. So that means a whole lot a nottin' for Kyle's birthday.

Our baby cousin Maddox was in town too! She is 10 months old and just precious. She got lots of hugs and kisses! She lives far away and so we treasure any time we can get with her!

Lainey had a roller skating party! It was fun (and easy)!




Sherry threw a last minute surprise party for Kyle at our house. She made one of her famous cakes! Thanks Sherry for helping celebrate Kyle. He was surprised!

Here are a few pics of Maddox. You just want to squeeze those cheeks!

All the Richardson grandchildren.

And one of Hank.