Nina

About 10 years ago I was helping teach a junior high girls class at church, and there was this spunky girl named Nina who came with her neighbors. She is an only child of a single Mom who worked a nurses hours. For some reason Nina and I hit it off and she began coming over and babysitting for a Bible study in our home and then spending the night. That's how it all began, the journey since then has been what we lovingly call a rollercoaster. I have experienced the teenage years and now some of the college years. Through it all it has been a blessing to me to watch how God has worked in her life. There have been difficult times too, but even those God has worked together for good, because He is a faitthful God. She has become my best friend. In some ways I liken it to a child who grows into a friendship with their parent, and now here we are getting ready to say good bye. She leaves tomorrow and words can't explain how we will all miss her. I gave her the following verses for they say it better than I can:

Phillipians 1:3-7
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about you since I have you in my heart.

My Favorite story

The other night Mak commented that his light didn't work, so explained that it was likely that the bulb had burnt out.


While he was replacing it I had the following discussion with Jack.

Jack: Mom, someone stole the power. There was a farmer guy, I saw him.

Mom: Where was I?

Jack: You were at college. There was this farmer guy and I saw him. And he came in and took the power, so I went in, and I took it back.

And wouldn't you know it, the light was then working!

Below is a picture of the front of our house. They finally took down all the scaffolding. There is more to be done like taking down the plywood "door" and finishing the columns, but the general idea is there.

Lorain County Fair

We went to the fair last night.

First we walked around and saw lots of animals...but touched none of them. We also so things like pumpkins that were larger than Kayte. Then we debated over rides or food first. We opted for the rides.

It was a good thing...otherwise Aunt Abby would have lost her lunch, so to speak. She was sweet and offered to go on a ride with Mak that he needed an adult for, but neither of his parents were willing. Abby now knows she is no longer a ride person, but Mak's appetite for them has increased.

Jack's treat was to throw a dart at a balloon and win a prize. We were shocked he did it in one try. He named it Volcano.

vroom vroom

We stopped in a sport vehicle shop to buy helmets for Opa and the first thing Kayte did was climb on this mini bike. I have no idea where she learned the vroom vroom thing.