BAPTISM

This morning Sara was baptised. Her track coach was leading the music for the service and told a special story about Sara~~making me cry it was so very sweet. Our pracher tends to speack quickly, so I asked him to speak slowly, or in Chinese, or Sara would surely say "huh?" and we did not want this. It was so exciting to watch Sara profess her belief in God and Jesus.....

Ruth did not attend because she is still sick. Thus my sister and her husband were not interested in coming over afterwards. Mom, dad, Sara and I went shopping in the afternoon and Jeff and Ruth stayed home.

WARNING~~FLU

Ruth came down with the stomach flu yesterday, just after my parents arrived. This is day 2 w/ all the symptoms, including fever!!!!!! Jeff is not feeling well and went to bed very early.....YUCK!

SOCCER BEGINS

Today was the first soccer game. They lost 1-0 based on a technicality....better luck next time. In the team photo, look bottom right-the one with all the hair.

Track & Band

Today was the first track meet. After a cool front came through and it stopped raining, it was a go. Of course I did not know that it was going to rain or get colder, so we were unprepared. Sara ran the 1 1/2 and came in third. This picture was BEFORE she ran~she did not look so great afterwards.

Next it was a quick run home to change for the band concert. They really sounded great!

Sara's baptism dress

Sara is getting baptised Sunday the 14th and we finally found something for her to wear----NOT JEANS! We found the dress in the Jr. dept and it was size 3, but she really needs a 0 or 1,so I will take it in some. My parents will be in town and will attend, along with my sister and her husband that live fairly close. Of course she is all about accessories, so we are now working on that.

COLD

Today Sara was being too silly. She said she was so cold and began to put on a lot of clothes-just like a China Baby. Notice all of it is pink!

Notice Ruth having fun with her sister hehehe

Chess winner

Today Sara went to an area wide Chess Tournament. Kids from 100's of miles came to this. Sara is now going for her chess rating and played mostly highschool kids, and KICKED THEIR BUTTS!!!

She took first place,,,,,again this year. Not bad for a kid who is mostly self taught and won her first school tournament one month after she learned to play.

Note her trophies-ribbon from 4th grade-the first. Then 3rd place, followed by 2 1st place.

Lazy Days

While Sara and Jeff are at the chess tournament, Ruth and I had a lazy day. We went shopping for things for her birthday. It was a beautiful sunny spring day so we soaked up the sun, as did Jessie in an empty swimming pool and Puff under the hammock. We had to keep Cooper inside because he is all about "throw the ball, throw the ball" and this is not help when we want to relax.

Bird Rescue

I went out this morning to put some outgoing mail into the box, and noticed something in the street in front of my neighbor's. At first, being trash day, I figured it was trash left behind, but then it moved. All those know me know that I will/have rescue anything, including dogs, birds, and a few turtles. Well, it was a small bird and it was holding it's wing out. Our neighbor also has two large tom cats that snack on birds, so I figure that Bumble Bee got the bird. I got it and put it into one of our small shoe boxes I keep for the numerous kid's school projects. I actually tried to feed it a worm, but he looked at me like what's up, this is not a cricket!

Having used them in the past, I looked up Animal Rescue locally. They told me there is a place not far away that does only bird rescues. With directions & bird in hand, I was off. The place is in the country on a few acres and they had everything there.

The lady volunteering that morning said it was a simple puncture wound and he would be OK. She said I could call later and see how he was. I wish I could remember what type of bird he is. She also said they need many volunteers at the end of March because all the eggs will be hatching and the chicks will need to be fed every 20 mins, so we may have found a service project.

HEARTS

Jeff had his ♥ procedure yesterday and all is well. It was a very long and painful day for him and total restriction on any activity until Monday, but all is well.

snow AGAIN!

Can you believe in N TX this is our 5th measurable snow. This one was huge flakes and very wet, but it melted by afternoon. I guess spring flowers will now come up next week, or another snow, who knows.

Daddy Daughter Dance

Jeff and the girls attended the Daddy/Daughter dance at the community rec center. It is a yearly occasion the week following Valentine's day. This year the theme was sock hop and they dressed to please. My sister made the girl's skirts that the girls wore.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There was also a hula hoop contest and Jeff is cracking up. Sara took this photo on the sly.

Volleyball champ

Today was the last day for Ruth's volleyball. They were the reigning champs and today was the final tournament.....and their team ruled supreme....beating the top team by 10-15 points in the last two games. Cheetahs Rule!

Rub a dub down...new sink in town

The old sink was chipped due to too many dishes slipping out of my hands. The faucet leaked all the time , and the finish in the botton was worn off. Our new stainless sink is huge and we stayed with the deep one. The new faucet is really cool and we did have to get a new garbage disposal when discovered a huge crack in the old one.

Doggie help

Whenever I am on the computer, I have my two shadows trailing behind, either right next to me, or sleeping near me.....my shadows Cooper and Jessie

Chinese New Year

YEAR OF THE TIGER~~YEAR 4708

Happy Valentine's Day

Flowers and lots of chocolate for mom....way to keep her happy.

Frog and Monkey things for the girls, chocolate included. Note the Chinese red envelopes too, and per Sara, with money.

Cute little mice I now collect

beginning...middle....END

THE END

TX quick melt

As they say in TX, if you don't like the weather, wait. This is 24 hours after the 12 inches and it is going quickly. The snow did tear down the netting around the trampoline with the weight, so we are in a market for a new net. We did lose one large branch from one 20' Crepe Myrtle bush, but that was all. Much better off than many around here and the live oaks that keep their leaves during the winter seem to have taken the largest toll since the snow was so wet and it stuck to all the leaves.

Note the snow people are on a diet program. They now look VERY old and stooped....what a diet program!

We should be snow free by tomorrow!

12 inches of snow!

Jeff did a wonderful job at keeping the walkway and our very long driveway cleared.

WE HAD 12+ INCHES OF SNOW!!!

Yes, we are in N Texas. As you can tell, the kids had more fun outside than I did---BURRRRRRR! I was suprised that the dogs loved the snow. Cooper the black dog has long hair and he looked like a little snowball after being in the snow and we had to pick the snow off him.

WE had to get the snow off the trees and bushes because it was snapping the branches all over the neighberhood and we did not want this. WE also helped two neighbors-both single women-shovel their driveways so they can get out, and in one case, up the hill into the garage!

Yes, Sara does not have a coat on. It is not really that cold and the snow is already beginning to melt quickly. Just wondering what all this snow on the roof will do-either slide off or melt. There are many places in town that is having roofs collapse.

HAIR

Sara is still growing her hair. This is the first time she has had long hair and is loving it. She will eventually donate most/some of it to Locks for Love, but she is enjoying having it long and warm for the winter.

CONFIRMATION

Today Ruth began the 12 week confirmation classes at church. She likes the small group she is in with many of her friends. They are served lunch at church before they break into groups.