To a Wonderful Papa

Dear Papa,

A very Happy Fathers' Day to you!!!!!!! 

What a blessing you are to me!  I am so thankful that you are my papa and that I am your daughter!  You do so much to make my life better and I truly don't know what I would do without you.  God is so gracious to us and I praise Him for the evidence of His perfect work in your life.  I love to see that you are pursuing humility and that you are being sanctified through the work of the Holy Spirit.  I praise Jesus that He died for you and that I have the privilege to be raised in a home where Christ is at the center and a home where He is preeminent!  You do a wonderful job in discipling your family and I am continually blessed by your godly example.  May you have a very happy and blessed Fathers' Day!

I LOVE YOU!  Soli Deo Gloria,

Hannah

Father and sons.

Helping Jonnie fly a kite at the beach in Port Aransas, Texas.

Putting together the bunk beds.

At the archery range.

On our uncle's pond

(The dog is Owen, a Rottweiler that we had a few years ago.)

Fishing at our uncle's pond.

The USS Texas.

The guys gave the girls a night off in the kitchen (!) :)

Jeremiah's sign that he made for mama and papa's 22nd anniversary.

Plowing and shoveling snow. (How fun!)

BLOKUS!

Uno on New Year's Eve.

Practice for the upcoming hunting season in 2009.

My Strength

Exodus 15:2

The LORD is my strength and song,
and He has become my salvation;
 He is my God, and I will praise Him;
my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.

Direction

Proverbs 16:9

 A man’s heart plans his way,

But the LORD directs his steps.

  Amen!  That is SO true!  I found that out last year when God very clearly prevented us from moving down to Texas. 

  We were reading as a family in Proverbs today and I just wanted to share this with y'all and remind you that God is in control and that, no matter how well-laid our plans are, He is able to change those plans in an instant.  Allow God to direct you and you cannot go wrong.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Hannah

Derek's Graduation and the Weekend

 We had a very busy and blessed weekend.  On Saturday, we went out to the Richter's in the morning and were privileged to experience a pig roast - very interesting.  The end product was delicious and worth the long wait!  Amanda and I baked brownies all morning in preparation for Derek's high school graduation on the following day.  We had a day full of fun, fellowship, amazing food, and most of all, friends - brothers and sisters in Christ!

  Sunday was great!  We went to Derek's graduation in the afternoon and then went back to the Richter's for continued fellowship, more games, more fun, and more amazing food.  Here are some of the photos that I got over the weekend. 

SATURDAY:

Two boys, two friends in two orange hats. :)

Tree climbers

The meat in the early afternoon, with many more

 hours of cooking time to go...

Checking the temp

Beef brisket for dinner...too yummy!

...Invisible hands...   :)

Lunchtime!

Grabbing snacks

Mrs. [David] Richter and Jonah with the dog, Star.

Conversation

Dinner!

I thought that the expression on his face was so funny!

Playing pickle...

...and fast-paced action!

"Li'l pirate"  :)

Hunter

Bagging up the pork for Sunday.

Halli and Briella

Four "kids" petting the mama goats.  :)

Fire pit!

The stars were simply AMAZING!  I've never seen so many at one time as I did on Saturday night.  Don't we serve an amazing God!?!

SUNDAY:

Halli and Byron

Lindsey and Chloe

Amanda and her energetic little brother, "Jeddy".

Chloe and her very tired little brother, Jonah.

Grandma Richter

"The Girls"

L-R

(back row)  Halli, Amanda, Margo, Hannah

(front row) Haley, Jonah, Hope, Faith

Mr. Richter and Derek