Rebekah's Birthday - She turned 14

Rebekah had a wonderful birthday. She is always the one that decorates for parties, so I had to take over the job for her. I went with a Broadway theme.

She got books from Katherine, a pair of pink converses from Kimberly, and facebook privileges and make up from me and Keith. Based on what we saw, she was quite happy with the whole thing!

She also chose cake with strawberry icing and really wanted the twisted candles. It is quite funny what can make some people happy!

Because of turning 14, she is now able to go to church dances and went to her first one just 6 days after her birthday.

Matthew - Germany Week 12

We got a nice letter and photos from Matthew today. His big news is that he is being transferred to Friedberg! You can read his letter here: http://www.missionsite.net/elderguin/viewletter/28156.

This is Elder Guin with Kevin Jobst. Kevin just turned in his mission papers!

This is Elder Guin with an investigator named Nina. Nina is very close to being baptized.



This is Matthew's district.



German grilling



And the Königstein Castle

My Beach Retreat

I spent a weekend ALONE at the beach!!! I really needed to step away and regroup and it worked perfectly. I'm so glad that Keith insisted I go. Here are some pics for you to enjoy!

Strawberry Season

Katherine is in 4H and they create project books each year based on things they want to learn. One thing she wanted to do was learn how to make lots of recipes using strawberries. She and her sisters went picking and came home with four 5-quart buckets.

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Katherine learned to make strawberry shortcake with real homemade shortcake.


She also made strawberry smoothies.

Last Thursday, we went over to our church where a good friend taught a few of us how to make strawberry jam. Katherine did great and we made 12 pints that we canned and another 4 cups that we'll eat up long before they go bad! lol

It was so much fun to be chopping and preparing and stirring while talking with friends. I kept thinking that this was what people used to do. They'd get together with people and get their work done - those jobs that are long winded. Canning, freezing, and drying foods. Quilting. Even barn building. There would be fellowship and typically food and sometimes even dancing afterwards. And although the times were tougher - there was no microwave or washing machine - times were simpler. There wasn't anything taking you hither and yon. And the friends you made were there for you, helping you, and being a part of your life. It was a time when the front porch was for something other than a decorative rocker or wrought iron bistro table.

Lately, with my life so crowded with things and the stress mounting beyond my ability to cope, I have wished I could roll back time and be an "old fashioned" home maker - one that spends more time doing home things and less time on the road and on the computer.

Don't get me wrong. I love my life and the many things I am able to do. Technology is a good thing most of the time and I can't imagine my life without the Internet. But the ability to transport myself into a simpler time, was like getting a breath of fresh air with a bonus of some delicious jam!