Monday, November 12, 2007

Happy Birthday Uncle Dan!!!


Happy Birthday Dan! We are SOOOO glad you were born (Um..TWENTY TWO years ago!!)

Reasons we love you like crazy...
1) You're a hard worker.
2) You genuinely care about what we say when you ask us how we are.
3) You are thoughtful and courteous.
4) You love us, and you show it by trying to be around whenever we come over.
5) You are really good with the kids and seeing you with them makes us so proud of you.
6) You are the best beach buddy and movie buddy John had growing up.

We can't wait to see you next month...

Love,
John, Chelsy, Mary, Scotty, Zach

Blessing just for me...

I had a BIG sectional test scheduled for this morning. It was in a class that is particularly hard for me because the teacher is unorganized and throws out random comments that we need to connect with things he said a few minutes ago - and it's cardiology - which is a deep subject anyway.

I studied as much as I could over the weekend and didn't really cover all the material I wanted to because I was really trying to understand and not just memorize. Well, I took off Sunday and didn't study, even though I knew I needed to, because I have always tried to avoid studying on Sunday - my grades are always better when I keep the Sabath Day holy. I prayed last night and had a very good prayer, probably the best, longest prayer I have had in years. I asked for His help to magnify what I had studied and help me to be able to cover the rest of my material before the test. So I got up at 10 min to 3am and went to school to study for 3 hours before the test...I quickly skimmed everything and made flash cards to quiz myself, but i barely remembered what I studied. I was really scared. Then - my teacher came in and said that the tests won't print out and asked if we could take the test in a few days instead... I knew without a doubt that Heavenly Father intervened for me. I could feel it! I still have to put in my time studying, but he answered my prayer and helped me have time to "cover all of the material before the test".

He hears our prayers. I testify of that...

John

Sunday, November 4, 2007

Scotty & Mary


Zach Pics

Zach loves to sit at the piano with me and will come running from any room in the house if he hears me playing. This kid loves music!


Halloween in Pennsylvania






These kids had so much fun at Halloween...We painted pumpkins for Family Home Evening, and took the kids Trick or Treating from animal to animal at the Zoo in Pittsburgh a few days before the actual trick or treating on Halloween.

But my favoite part of this holiday was seeing the kids getting candy especially Zach, who learned to say "Thank You" at every house we went to. He was SO tiny and running from house to house - so cute. He was just DELERIOUS with JOY to be getting all that candy!!

Mary was a good witch, and she kept complementing people when they gave her candy! She was in such a good mood, and grateful, that she kept telling people "Ohh! I love your sweater...and your stairs in the house look beautiful!" She was cute. However, Scotty, dressed as Superman with muscles, didn't like waiting for her to chit-chat at every house, so he let her know she was wasting time! Zack was a little pirate.

Mary's Birthday!






Mary had so much fun on her Birthday! She wanted an under the sea party so we had fish floating on invisible string, fishing for prizes games, caribbean limbo, and fun leis from Hawaii to wear. I used my Halloween costume of Jack Sparrow to be the host and Chelsy had really fun decorations and treats for everyone. Mary got a book about drawing cartoons step-by-step, which she LOVES and uses almost every day! And from her Nana and Papa and Grandma and Grandpa Shipp she got a dress for church (pic to come) and a pet paradaise with all sorts of cute little animals.

Thanks for her fun birthday presents!!