Ariana's wedding shower

The girl is setting up house in a big way! Rachel put on a shower for Ariana at the beginning of May. She asked everyone to bring a gift that dealt with a certain time of the day or night, and it became really good fun as the gifts were unwrapped. Of course Ariana cannot help but ham up the scene and she did so in a big way with ribbons and bows and other unmentionables. Derick will have his hands full with this girl!!!!

ANZAC BISCUITS AND ALL

This is a picture of Bro. Daily, who is in our Branch Presidency, enjoying the ANZAC biscuits

Earlier this month we had a “round the world” festival at church and I, of course, was asked to do Australia. (No one thinks about me being Irish, they know, but somehow it is Australia that comes to their mind when they have one of these things). Anyway I made Lammingtons, ANZAC biscuits (well Ari made them from my recipe to help me out) and I made little Aussie meat pies, in the shape of pasties as they were easier to handle that way. It was a lot of fun and everyone thought the food was delicious. Ariana said “you have not made these for years” and Sariah came back with “I cannot remember you ever making them”…..that last child syndrome! She has no memories of all sorts of things the others did as kids.

Way to go Ariana.......Congratulations!

Ariana recieved a $500.00 scholarship from Edison College School of Nursing for her acedemic work during the last year which will surely help her during the coming year as she still has one more year to go before she can call herself an RN.

This picure was taken in Chicago during the summer of 2007.

As the spirit speaks...

Derick will go through the Temple on May 17, 2008 for his own endowments prior to the wedding sealing on June 6, 2008. He has waited a long time for this. He is the kindest most generous gentleman I have come to know. He is so kind to Ariana and the rest of her family. He is nonjudgemental and loves the Lord with all his heart and has taken to the gospel of Jesus Christ like a duck to water. Our branch loves him and are all thrilled to have him join Ariana in marriage. Way to go Derick….I am proud of you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JULIE AND BEN

Almost a year ago I acquired another daughter. She is the quietest, gentlest and most loving young woman. She and Ben are such an industrious couple. They have their own home in suburbia – Englewood, a small town near Dayton. She is a special ed’ teacher and has the patience of lamb. Ben works in a electronics-age parts business and together they have a busy life being active in the Englewood Ward. Ben has just been called as scout-master. Today is Julies birthday (29) and tomorrow is Ben’s birthday (31).

Aspiring ...

Ariana is working hard at her school work and is taking exams this week. She is really trying for the highest grade she can achieve and thereby have the opportunity of a scholarship. Every little penny helps when you are first married. In the down-times she loves photography and takes every opportunity she gets to use her equipment and "play". She was inspired by her Uncle Andy and his talents and aspires to be "just like him." The wedding is one month away and she and Derick have a little house and lots of furniture to put in it from various family sources and Ari can't wait to set up her own little home.

Senior pictures

Spring is here and the lilacs are blooming (and the dandelions). Sariah is preparing to leave for college and we are trying to cover all the bases with senior pictures and plane tickets and tuition and a wedding too………….so many things to do, so little time to do it in ……..but it keeps us healthy.

Heart stopping!!!

Most kids learned to drive when they are 16 in America and they usually were able to take the driving course as one of their high school classes. However, the year Sariah turned 16, they changed the rules! You had to pay an outside firm to take the classes and you could technically not get your license until you were 18 unless you otherwise took the drivers education classes. Well we live 2 blocks from the school and Sariah had no need of her license and no money for a car or insurance anyway so she delayed until she was 18 to take free lessons in my car and on my gas of course!!! But she is doing very well, though I think my heart will stop one of these trips!!!!