We have the most precious daughter. Since she entered this world, she has brought us and many others nothing but joy. She started a new school this year....they sell school supplies on Fridays. I am not sure exactly what these sales benefit, but I am sure the money goes to the school somehow. She took $2 out of her piggy bank and came home with a pink highlighter and two bookmarks. Those of you who know Jordan best know that she is never without some kind of writing utensil. I absolutely love that about her. I hope it never changes.

One of the bookmarks she bought for her brother. It's a lion. Could it be any more perfect or any more cute in his dinosaur book?


The other bookmark was for me. She said, "because I know you like to read."


It chokes me up just thinking about the fact that she spent half of the money she took from her piggy bank on OTHER people. And no one told her to do it. She thought of it and wanted to do it all on her own, because she loves us. She said next week she is going to buy something for Daddy :)

On Friday afternoon she also had her first Girl Scouts meeting of the year. She noticed that one of her friends was not there. The leaders explained that her father had been battling cancer for quite and while and wasn't doing well. She was very concerned about it when she got home that day. I had to tell her this morning that he passed away....just in case she heard other people talking about it at school. I asked her if she would make something special for Dora if she had time. Those of you who know her best also know that she really likes to read. Alot. She has been known to read entire chapter books in just a few hours. She gave up her DEAR time (Drop Everything And Read) after lunch to make Dora a letter.

It was obvious that she put alot of thought into it. She thanked Dora for being such a good friend and invited her over to play.

I am so proud of her. Chris is proud of her. Even Jaron is proud of her :) She is thoughtful and caring, and I am so glad to see these characteristics displayed in her life. She has been the hands and feet of Christ this week, whether she realizes it or not.

We love you, Jordan Avery.

Scout's Honor

Jaron started Boy Scouts last week. He is a Wolf Cub, Pack 48. We went the day before his meeting and bought his uniform. After we got home and I started to work on attaching patches, he practiced putting on the neckerchief with the slide. He was soooo very excited to be a Boy Scout. When the meeting was over the next day, he said, "Is that it?". Such a cute boy! He is working on earning his Bobcat patch :) More to come on that!!!

I forgot about these pictures from the Liberty Science Center. I took the kids the first weekend of the month because I got free admission with my Bank of America card. I guess BofA is good for something! LSC is in Liberty State Park.....on the Jersey side of the Hudson River. It's also where we got on the ferry with Granny and the McNutts to go to the Statue of Liberty. A huge science museum, a view of the State of Liberty and NYC made for a fun, cheap afternoon!!

They wanted to do an experiment making an estuary....like the Hudson River....where fresh water and salt water meet. I learned something too!!!

It was a self-guided experiment. They did it all themselves!

First Day of School!!!

2nd grade!!! Jaron has Miss Estremera....she was Jordan's teacher in the first grade. We are so excited that Jaron gets to enjoy her this year too!

Jordan moves up to a new school this year. She is going to the 4th and 5th grade school, Village. I am so nervous, she is so excited, it will all be great!! Isn't she beautiful?

Friends!!!!!!! Ameera and Jordan have been BFFs since kindergarten and have never been in the same class! Janae is our sweet little neighbor :)

It always makes me so emotional when I watch them get on the bus the first day of a new year. I have to learn to let them go all over again. I tend to be like the mother hen....gathering her chicks under her wings for protection. I have to really remind myself of 2 things. #1 It is good for them to go and have experiences of their own and #2 Even though I can't gather them under my wings all the time, God can and does because He loves them even more than I do which is absolutely unfathomable how anyone can possibly feel for them the love I do, but He does. He knew them before they were born, He has numbered their days and counted all the hairs on their heads. Thank goodness that even though I have to send them out into this world alone sometimes, God never, ever does. He is with them every step of the way. My prayer for them this school year is similar to many people's, I'm sure. I want them to have fun, learn alot and be successful. But I also want them to experience personally the hand of God in their lives, the love of Jesus that we carry with us always. I want them to learn how to lean on Him in frustrating times and rejoice with Him in good times.