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Today Delaney had her first "girlfriends" movie date - she met 5 of her school friends at the movie theatre to see Soul Surfer.  After that they were going to eat supper at a fastfood restaurant a few doors down, then shop at Old Navy, Aeropostle, Claire's and Borders. She had earned some money over here, and was so excited to have a chance to use it.  When I took her inside the theatre to meet her friends (and one mom who was overseeing this outing) it was almost too much for me.  In the last few months she has grown to nearly my eye level, and definitely is moving into the next phase of growing up. 

Like the song says "Where did that little girl go to?" - and I know that the next few years will fly by way too fast!

Haha!!

Wishing everyone a Happy Saint Patrick's Day! 

I can actually claim a bit o'Irishness:  A am one-half Norwegian (my mother is 100%), one-fourth German (my dad is one-half), and almost nearly one-fourth English (my dad again- but the almost nearly includes my one Irish GreatGreat Grandmother who was a Gillilan).

But anyway, who cares - on March 17 everyone is Irish!!

Happiest of Birthdays to Delaney Marie - she is celebrating her 12th birthday today, and what a lovely young lady she has become.  Her calm countenance, generous nature, sense of humor, and endearing naivete for her age is really something to behold.  She is a joy to have in our lives, coming along as she did so unexpectedly, and we wouldn't trade one second of the past 12 years for all the gold in the world!!

Loving Birthday wishes to Delaney for many happy returns of the day!

Our niece Alicia Ruth is being married this coming Sunday - she is the youngest of the nine grandchildren on my side of the family and will forever be Little Alicia Ruth in my book.  She was the sweetest baby, a talkative preschooler, had the longest golden-colored hair (I loved fixing it with lots of ponytails and barettes), the biggest innocent eyes and the most charming laugh.  My favorite image of her was captured in a photograph at about age five - she is jumping off the dock at my parent's cottage, into an inner tube in the lake below, her long braids flying out from her head.  The pure joy shown in that photo expresses the essence of Alicia Ruth perfectly!  She will be a wonderful wife to Matt, and when the time comes, a loving mother.  May God bless this young couple with a long and joyful marriage!!

Continuing with the abundance of September birthdays, we celebrated Melissa's on Saturday!  (Also the birthday of my good friend Barb)  We gave her a reconditioned bike that she was so happy to recieve - now she and the girls can take rides together around their neighborhood.   Yesterday at church Delaney took Communion for the first time and the ceremony was very nice.  She had attended an Early Communion class a month ago, along with another girl her age and they both were so very serious and excited to be doing this.  We gave Delaney an angel figurine and a book of devotions for girls. 

A very nice weekend!

I love September, it is a quiet and lovely transition into autumn.  The days are still summerlike and warm.  The evenings are cool and open-window worthy for sleeping.  The flower beds and plantings have begun to wane a bit, but soon I will be adding mums.  Not just yet though, because when I do that it always seems like I have thrown in the towel on summer!

We had a nice Labor Day weekend with visits from Delaney and Ella.  Yesterday we had a nice indoor picnic (bothersome yellowjackets outside - dangerous for Steve) with everyone.  Mesquite smoked turkey on the grill, fresh cucumber (from Mr. Riffle) salad, deviled eggs (farms eggs from Minnesota), Old Dutch chips, Indiana State Fair Corn (from Matthew and Davie) and a delicious frozen Oreo dessert (made by Melissa).  We were entertained with a puppet show by the girls  before dessert time.  Oh my it was a good meal and a nice visit with our family!