Just some updates on us!

We have had another full and busy and wonderful week here at the DeVore's! Monday, we went with Mark to help him pick out some new glasses. About 2 months ago, he broke his only pair and superglued them together - on the bridge, right in the middle of his face! But, that is what we had to do. After a few days of that, I remembered that he and I have the same prescription (weird, huh?) and offered him my spare pair to get him by. They are not really guy or girl frames, so they sufficed. But, we were finally able to go pick him out some new frames at Costco - great deals on cute frames if you are in need! However, we realized that we were never given a written prescription last year from the eye dr. So, we called to get it faxed over and find out that that dr. is no longer in that office and they have none of his paperwork. Call the new office and find out, the dr. is out and won't be back til Thurs. All of that and still no glasses! He is going to go again tomorrow to put it all together! So crazy - and this is only Monday! I will post a picture of him when they come in.

Tuesday was a very full school day - lots to do!!! Here is a candid shot of all the kids hard at work, each one needing me for something different - Math, Writing, History and Quizzing! Mom in Demand and wishing there were 2 of me (or more!).

Wednesday - kid's Connection. If you know anything about it, that says it all! Two little words packed with energy, diversity, craziness, planning, fun, etc. We really had a great time, though. Check out the details on the POA KC blog - look on my sidebar under blogs worth checking out for the details of our evening and pictures.

Thursday we planned a short school day to run some errands. We finished in good time and headed to the library and post office, then to the thrift store. I LOVE thrift shopping. You can buy so much for so little. Yes, you have to overlook some things and you have to bring the clothes home and wash them, but you simply cannot beat the deals. We were specifically looking for some things for Caleb who is now only about 1-2 inches short of me (no jokes, please! I have heard them all!!!!! =P) For our quiz tournament, the team colors this month were to be red shirts and black bottoms - well Caleb had outgrown his black pants and had no red shirt either. We scored 2 pairs of new jeans - one from Old Navy and the other a pair of Levi's, a pair of black Docker style pants, a khaki Christopher and Banks skirt for me, 2 Andy Griffith movies (Are we the only ones who still love those??), 2 shirts for MaKenna (who is now about 3 inches taller than me!) and a jean skirt for MaKenna - all for $25.00!!! Still no red shirt for Caleb. We ended up finding a red polo at Walmart on sale for $4, though.

Thursday night was piano and prayer. Did you know that Holly is taking lessons again? Yep, she is! She meets with JP each Thursday. That was our birthday gift to her. It was worth it for her to take some time off from lessons and start again now that she is older. She is so motivated and practices without us making her. In fact, sometimes I feel like she pushes herself too hard - I can't imagine where she gets that from...

Friday was Holly's turn to babysit at Jeff and Cara's, so we finished school and chores and took her to their house. After a couple of errands, we came home to more busy-ness. Cleaning, dinner and lots of prep for the tournament on Saturday. Friday evening, we had a couple's event in our New Family and Fine Arts building - a showing of Fireproof, an awesome movie. We arranged to meet up with Micah and Melissa, a couple who have recently moved here from the Pamer's church, before the "service" and had a nice time of fellowship - with no kids! It was so nice to get to know them better and spend some time with them. They have 3 children like us only 2 boys and then a girl and they homeschool. Then, off to church for fellowship there. Such a nice evening. Oh, and our kids stayed here with a list to do: Clean up from dinner, pack our lunch things for Saturday and iron Saturday's clothes, for the whole family. If they did those things, they were allowed to watch a movie til we got home. I am happy to report that it all got done! I am so blessed.

Now, Saturday was just crazy. Mark, Caleb and I left at 6:40 (after oversleeping and waking up at 6:15!!) for our junior tournament. We took 3 teams to Tampa and had a full day of quizzing. I ran back and forth and up and down staying in touch with all 3 teams to see how they were doing. Plus, I am the official 15 passenger van driver. By the time we get home from a tournament, my brain is just mush!! I have nothing left to give at that point. But, quizzing is so worth it and to hear these little children quote the truths in God's Word is absolutely amazing! I got to work with our youngest team this time and be in the session with the youngest quizzers - 8 and under. WOW! 6 year olds quoting the Word. So awesome to be a part of that. It is also always nice to see and catch up with great friends from around the state. Not to mention that I get to hang out with Bella, Tim and Andrea's daughter. Isn't she adorable?

The girls were doing a Community Service event with the youth group Saturday morning and were being picked up from our house at 8 AM. They worked hard for 4 hours sorting goods to distribute to homeless people, then came home to study their verses, practice music, finish some school work, do chores, shower and prepare for their first Youth Service in the new building! They were beyond excited! A room just for the youth to have their services in with everything geared toward their age group. Then, after service, they opened the gym for basketball and fellowship. They came home and wanted to tell me every detail of their day, but my brain could not even comprehend it!

So, there are some highlights from our week. How about you? I hope you are having as much fun as we are. I heard a quote: "I don't want to survive, I want to live" and that sums up our life, really. I want to live life to the fullest and enjoy every second of it! We only get one life to live.