Ruth Turns 72....

Ruth turned 72 on March 5......she celebrated her birthday several times this year. On her birthday Judy, Lisa, Bev, Ruth and I went out to lunch at Ried's Deli. Judy made her a red velvet cake that we all enjoyed and the food was delicious there also, that was the first time most of us were there. Then that Sunday afternoon Chic's, John's, Keith's and us took an ice cream cake to her house. And the last celebration was at the Gasthof with the Miller sisters and brothers which she enjoyed also!

Ruth with her cake........

Kayla, Josh, Ruth and Jeremy..........

Kendell, Ruth and Claire................

Ethan, Ruth and Eric..............

While we were there - there was a beautiful rainbow in the sky reminding us of God's promise to never flood the earth again.....when I was uploading the pictures I saw these pictures and it reminded me of another one of God's promises that He will not give us more then we can handle and I think to back in December when Ruth came home from the hospital and was needing 24 hour care...it seemed overwhelming at the time... not knowing for sure what was ahead. But with the help of many family members and our church family we made it through and I thank God that he chose to help Ruth recover so fast and she seems to feel so good now. She is up making meals, doing laundry and helping Bev with the house work. They have been doing spring cleaning and going through closets and drawers and she has been helping Bev with that. She went to church Sunday for the first time since she was sick and she is going to Lil's to do her hair and going to Wal-mart to do her shopping again. I know as spring gets here she will be wanting to get outside....she loves her flowers and mowing lawn.....I'm not sure about the mowing - will have to ask the doc on that..last year she helped with the riding.

I'm also thankful for God sending us Bev....she was in between jobs when we were looking for help......she has been so good for Ruth, just being there and helping with Sonny takes a lot of stress off of her and she does wonderful with Sonny...most people would have been intimidated with him - but she just has a way of working with him and he likes her too!! It's kinda neat that Ruth and Sonny used to run around with Bev's parents when they were younger....so that was a connection for Sonny.
So I just thank God for blessing Ruth with another birthday....she is a Very Special Lady to me and my family!

7th Grade Basketball Season.......

The basketball season is now over and the 7th grade had a great season...going undefeated for a record of 19-0. They played in the Jammin Jasper Tournament and are going to play in a tourney at Springs Valley yet in April. Jeremy did real well this season..he didn't start - but always got to play a big part of the game and usually added some points to the score. They have 13 players and alot of them are very good players...too bad they only need 5 on the floor at a time!!
Here are a few action shots.....
Shooting a free throw.......

Ready to get the rebound.....

Back row: Coach DeCoursey, Lucus Graber, Ethan Duncheon, Jeremy Graber, Addison Wagler, Connor Swartzentruber, Jeff Harrwood and Christan Wittmer.

Front Row: Joshua Graber, Wyatt Helms, Seth Swartzentruber, Matt Stoll and Drew Fields

Senior Night....

Last Friday Night was Senior Night at Barr-Reeve...I'm not sure where the school year has gone. It's hard to believe that we have a child that old...it don't seem that long ago that we put him on the school bus for the first time and I can very well remember that feeling in my stomach as I watched the bus go down the road! Now I'm feeling the same thing as we are getting everything in line for college! I keep telling myself that he is going to be 19 this summer.....but to me he is just my little boy.....


Ernie and I with our senior....

The Loogootee Tribune does a piece on the area seniors and Jordans picture was in a couple weeks ago....

ClAirE TurNs FiVe!!

Yesterday I had a fun day with Claire and Kendell.....Dannielle had asked me to babysit for a few hours. Being that it was Claire's birthday we decided to go to McDonald's to play awhile. Karen, Kendrick and Kyann met us there to play too!
This is the five year old diva!! She had got her hat, sunglasses and purse at her party on Sunday.

Of course Kendell is too cute in his Carhartt shirt.......

Little Miss Kyann.........

Kendrick and Claire posing........notice her purse.......

Kendrick always wants to be silly!!

Kendell and Kyann......she just played on the steps.....

Then we ran and picked-up Ruth's medicine and took it to her....the kids always enjoy going there...Sonny teases them and Ruth gives them candy! I took the kids home and then they headed to Florida to see Grandma and Grandpa Kemp!!

Last of the Birthday celebrations.......

Sunday evening we went to Sonny and Ruth's for Josh and Chic's birthday party, I think we had Sonny about crazy til we left! The kids keep getting bigger and we fill Ruth's trailer up to the max anymore and Judy's and dads weren't even there!! Everyone just trys to find a corner and stays put!! I made ice cream and Emily and Kayla made the cake. Karen and Dannielle brought pizza bread and crab dip which was yummy.
Josh and his cameo cake.........

Kendell, Kendrick and Claire.........

Kayla and Kaitlyn..............

Jan and Dannielle............

Jeremy and Damon..................

Ruth and Claire..................

Kyann playing with the ice cream.....................

Jordan and Keith..................

Chic, Calvin and Ernie.................notice this is the 2nd round at the table!!

Emily, Claire and Matt.............

Kendrick and I...............

Birthday Lunch at Mi Pueblo.........

We went to Mi Pueblo's to celebrate Josh's birthday, some years I make their favorite meal and other years we go out to the restaurant of their choice. This year we went out!!

Here's the Bday Boy celebrating with fried ice cream.....yum!

Me and Jeremy's choice......

Jord's...............

Josh's...................... I guess I didn't get Ernie's.......

My boys.......Josh, Jeremy (who never wants his pic taken) and Jordan............

Ernie and I............

Josh Turns Sixteen..............1.21.10

It was a cold morning 16 yrs ago that we were blessed with a 8lb 7oz and 22in boy......you waited 2 weeks after your due date to make your appearance...yes, your mom was tired waiting...but it was sooo worth the wait!! We had a big snow/ice storm a week or so earlier and the roads were very bad, there was one night I remember asking your dad if we could make it to the hospital if we needed to go and he said he wasn't sure...that wasn't very comforting! Also your concerned aunts kept calling asking what we were going to do if we had to go while it was bad?!! Well you waited and everything worked out :-) When we called Jordan and told him that he had a brother and his name was Joshua Kyle, he must of thought we said Joshua "cow" because he told someone that his brothers name was Joshua "moo-moo"!!!! Here are some baby pictures...........

3 weeks.........

9 months........................

2 years..........................

And now you have grown up to be such a handsome young man.....I'm so proud of you Josh, you are a hard worker always willing to do and try anything....you love working with your hands - whether it is building something, working on a vehicle, working with turkeys or just tinkering in the shed......you also have a big heart, you have a love for animals and are always ready to help anyone....especially Sonny and Ruth when they need something fixed or done.

Josh, just stay who you are and you will go far in life. My heart is heavy just thinking all you will face as you get out in this world, but just make good choices and know that Jesus is always by your side and that dad and mom are always here for you and always will be............

Dear Lord, I pray that you will bless Josh as he grows older and has to make bigger choices, guide him and direct him in the way he should go.....Amen

I love You Joshua Kyle :-)