Poor Baby!

First Day of School 2019...another SENIOR YEAR!!!

 Our girlie is a SENIOR!  We are praying for a great year for her.  She has worked hard keeping two jobs going all summer long.  We have been researching and planning and searching and saving for her future plans.  Alisa does a great job with children!  God has given her a heart and a talent for working with little ones.

 Teddy is our junior!  This is my 5th year in Kindergarten.  Alisa is our Senior!

 So many details to make the first day of school memorable!

 And a daughter who bought us coffee on our first day!

 Flowers from a new family.  Yummy chocolate chip banana bread from another family.  I'm already spoiled!

 I love Facebook snapshots that show up!

 First day of school game...ended in a tie!

 Taking Teddy's number one fan to supper at Chinese Delight in Howell.

 My first day went as I feared...we had some difficulty with one and another one who wanted to follow...so this made me laugh at the end of the day!  I used the ducks for counting to 10...I moved two of them to show that they were definitely not all in a row...and I have 12 students...but you get the picture!  I'm thankful that God gives wisdom when we don't have any.  I'm thankful for co-workers who help in hard situations.  I'm thankful for friends with a fun sense of humor.  I'm thankful for a husband who says, "It will be all right....it will all work out!  Trust God!"

I'm thankful we did the hard stuff when our children were little...because now that they are older...they can cooperate with others in many different situations.

Guys overnight trip on the Huron River

Happy 50th Birthday to me...

 from my children and from my loving husband!

 It's official...I'm vintage!

And I still run on Dunkin!

Celebrating 21 years together...

 and my 50th birthday at Diamonds!  Ted knows how to pick good places to eat!

 Our complimentary celebratory world famous carrot cake!

Monday...Cosmetology School...

 Beginning the registration process...forms and forms and lists to sign up on...

 Checking in with Mrs. Carter...Ashlynn's teacher and advisor for Cosmetology.  Everything is in order and we headed over to the financial office!

We paid the first bills...and then headed to buy more books!  Learning how to do each part...watching what other students were doing and learning from them.

 We didn't take pictures of our goodbye.  There were tears but no sobbing!  Ashlynn was ready.  We are excited.  We hugged her neck and left her in God's hands with people who truly care for her.  A blessing to my momma heart...her dorm parent is a gal who attended MBBC and was in education classes with me years ago.  She recognized me.  I am so thankful for those little blessings that God sends.  She brought treats to the girls this past Sunday night for the girls and they had a dorm party.

 I love this picture.  The girls have smiles on their faces and they seem more comfortable after two weeks together!

Our puppies know something is different!  Velle misses her Ashlynn and Chica just wants to play.

Sunday memories

 We met up with Ashlynn at church for the Sunday School and church services.  Ted had the idea of lunch at Zaxby's....and it was a winner winner chicken dinner for our 21st Anniversary!

 What adventures we have had!  And this year...we add the college adventure to our list!

 Beautiful sunsets across the mountains...

 Ashlynn and I drove back to the dorm for the first gathering.  It was neat to see all the girls and hear from their dorm leader.  We stopped at Walmart again after getting some more information and then drove back to the house chatting the whole way.  Monday is the day of registration...and saying Goodbye till October!

Saturday...getting comfortable with the idea

 We picked Ashlynn up after her morning meeting and drove out to the camp property for a bbq lunch.  What a beautiful place the Lord has given to the church/college!  We enjoyed bbq chicken, corn on the cob, fresh made potato chips, and....sweet tea!

It was so hot!  Thankfully the humidity was not high and there was a slight breeze.  We then took a drive to Pigeon Forge and found a fun ice cream place.

Watching them make our concoctions...

 and then roll it up for our cup!

 Some sweet memories together!  We drove back to the house and had supper.  Ted dropped Ashlynn off at the dorm for night number two.

Our Ashlynn is a college freshman!

 August 16, 2019...we left home at 6:30am and headed south on 75 to Powell, TN!

 It was a beautiful day to travel...and got hotter as we headed south!

 We arrived about 2:15pm and went to check in to find out Ashlynn's dorm assignment.  Dorm 22...here she comes!

 Waiting in line...feeling like this is all a dream...but it is not!  Ashlynn is ready to fly.

 Sharing this special occasion with Grandma.

 Some sweet touches to welcome the girls to the dorm and their new home for this year!

Sweating and making the bed and settling!

 Silly girl...checking out her new space and claiming shelf room.

 The kitchen area.

 Room 1 had the bathroom right across the hall...5 girls share this space.

 All settled...for now.

 The living room.

The view on our drive to the air b and b that we rented...a cute little house about 25 minutes away from the college for a good deal!

Literally chilling out for a little while before going back for the big family bbq and meeting.

 Southern bbq...was amazing!  The man in charge of food service does a fantastic job!

First kick off meeting for the students and parents.

We made a Walmart run and then stopped at Sonic for drinks before taking Ashlynn to the dorm.  She decided to stay the first night and get acclimated.  So proud of her!

 So thankful for God's leading and provision in this stage of our life...but especially in Ashlynn's life! So excited to see her grow and spread her wings at Crown College with people who care about God's working in her life!