Billy my Bronco fan

One of Billy's friends very recently gifted him with these very nice caps.  Billy is delighted.

Darrell and Sandy Blatchley at our House~April 15

      I (Joy) grew up in a pastor's home and had the privilege of sharing our dinner table with many preachers and missionaries over the years.  Their lives and their stories had a profound impact on my life.  I so want my children to have at least a little taste of that blessing.

     Sunday evening, April 15, we had the intense honor of having long-time missionaries Darrell and Sandy Blatchley as guests in our home.  I still can't believe that we-- a small group comprised only of our family, my parents, and 6 good friends from our church--had over 3 hours of just enjoying their stories and better-grasping their hearts for the children of their city in the Philippines.  I feel like a spiritual pig but I am so glad it worked out.  I love the Blatchleys, I love missions and I love children.  Ya just can't beat that combination.

     This couple runs a ministry in Davao City called Family Circus.  You can check it out at

www.familycircus.org  They feed thousands of kids, teach them about Jesus in a very fast-moving, kid-oriented fashion, provide some basic medical and dental care.  Darrell even works with something called aquaponics (I think that's how you spell it) -- a method of growing catfish and a highly-nutritious vegetable in such a way that the two benefit each other.  Please forgive this very kindergarten level description of such a fascinating, inventive and sustainable process. It's another way of helping to improve the diets of the people he loves.

     James, especially, kept calling for more  stories.  Abby kept asking more and more questions.  One of my children--whose name shall go unmentioned--told me afterwards that he had thought the evening would be "torture" but it had turned out great.  PTL!!

He Is Risen! Easter Sunday ~April 8

I know it's fuzzy.  I WISH I would have asked the very sweet young lady from church to take a second shot "just in case."  BUT at least we are all pretty much looking toward the camera.

Back row:  James, Billy, Kevin's head, Joy, Teresa, Scheri
Front:  Caleb, Steven with Abby's head behind him.

It was a wonderful, exciting day of worshiping our risen Savior with a church full of other people.  We started with a brunch in the Fellowship Hall.  The kids had their own brunch downstairs then had Children's Church during the Sunday School hour so the teachers could participate in the adult brunch.  It was fun.  I chatted with friends I hadn't seen in a long time and with one I hadn't seen in YEARS who is now glowingly serving the Lord.  PTL!

The kids were all with us during the main worship service.  Kevin, by request, did his stirring, dramatic rendition of "Watch the Lamb" and as usual I had tears streaming down my eyes; he also sang, "Behold the Lamb."  There were several other specials as well as a number of choir songs.  (I got to be in the choir--that was FUN.)

At 3:00 pm Mom and Dad hosted our extended families at a potluck dinner at the church.  I talked pretty much non-stop and still didn't get around to visit with everyone.  The kids went down to the park for an Easter egg hunt.  YES!! a bunch of those 4 dozen eggs went home with someone else :)

It was a great day.

Scheri's 16th Birthday~April 12

 Scheri had her birthday party at 4:30 pm on April 12.  It really was an enjoyable party--a lovely young lady, nice attitudes, nice guests, nice decorations--and besides that, the cake was yummy.  Scheri had specifically asked for pink and lime green.  At first I thought that was an unusual combination but I really liked it when I saw those two colors together.

 Much-appreciated phone time from Grandma and Grandpa

 Tank tops

 Curling Iron

 Wonderful friends

 Adorably cute scrubby selected by Sarah Jane

 Nails

 Cinnamon scents that will work in her Scentsy pot

 Finally "legal" to wear make-up

 Yes, she asks for this stuff:  Nutella :)

 Laughing over a huge comb set

 Unwrapping a cleverly-packaged bracelet

 Thanks so much for the lovely card and the moolah!

 Beautiful purple journal

 Can't get too much 'girlie' stuff

 Lap-top!!!

 Gift-card

 Sparkly "16" candles

 Scheri and guests--somewhat serious

 Somewhat silly

 Making a Wish

 Grandma typing on Facebook for the first time--Happy Birthday to Jessica in Moldova who shares the same special day

 Abby enjoying the youngest guest

 Gum--even it is pink and lime green--in the weighted sack of Scheri's balloons

 Caleb and Steven were pretending to be Grandma and Papa carrying in a box of "laundry"

 Checking out the lap-top

 Enjoying the Pizza Hut personal pizzas Steven was awarded for READING!!

 On Friday evening Scheri got a dozen red roses from her Daddy prior to her**first date**with her Daddy.  We want her to know how a young man should treat a young lady.

 On their date Kevin presented Scheri with a purity ring--a promise to keep herself pure until her Wedding Day.