GoodBye to 2007!!! Hello 2008

Well I am glad to see 2007 year close. It has been a quite a year and one I will be glad to forget many parts of it. Ok I guess I will never forget it, but I will be glad when the year is behind us. We had many ups and downs, and some days it felt like more downs than ups. So being able to "look back" will be nice. Hence the reason for no Christmas letter this year. It was hard to know what to write about!

But we hope that 2008 will bring many things for us. We are hoping for continued success with Jamie's photography business, continued growth for Taylor, Jackson staying healthy and me to find a good job, close to home. We also hope to bring another little one into our family if that is in God's plan for us. (No I am not pregnant..yet)

So I wish you all a very Happy New Year! I hope and pray that 2008 is a wonderful year for you all!

Blessings,
The Hines Family.

Christmas

Greeting! I hope everyone enjoyed the birth of Jesus yesterday! It is always such an exciting time of year.

Well Christmas Eve we went to 4:30 services. The Mama of the house was afraid that it just wouldn't feel like Christmas because the service wouldn't be full. Boy was I wrong. And my loving husband was able to point this out. We had a wonderful service and it is always so wonderful. We went home and I had baked a ham with a few fixings. We were instructed to eat fast so the kids could get to presents.

Taylor of course made out like banchie!! New clothes, gift cards, some cash, a new "jump suite" (AKA a sweat suit), new books (which she was going to have a hard deciding which one to read first), and so much more.

Jackson too made out like a banchie. We opened up the new Little tykes T-ball set from Nanny. Big mistake. A ball crazed boy with a bat on Christmas... Note to self, that next year we open these type of presents LAST!!! But he loved his trucks from his auntie and he LOVED the new little people circus from his other auntie. He got some new clothes and a train from grammie and countless other presents!

And to think....This was my kids SECOND round of opening presents!!! When Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Andy were down that was round ONE! And to think Taylor flew home to her moms yesterday and she is heading for round THREE! Crazy I say. Crazy!!

Not to leave us parents out because I got treated pretty well as always. A new MP 3 player, lotion, a new "jump suit" beautiful house decorations, jewelry, clothes and shoes and so much more. I am lucky because I have TWO great mother in laws that spoil me rotten!!! So thanks to them for all the wonderful gifts!

Jamie made out good too. We were blessed to get some really cool pictures of his Dad from his step mom. They were very neat. He too got an MP3 player, socks clothes etc... But he was most excited about the new MP3 player.


Christmas morning Santa arrived with a pirate ship for Jackson and stockings filled to the brim. Taylor opened hers before she left and Jack and I waited for daddy to get home from the airport to open ours. Santa gave Jamie too many Starbucks gift cards... So mommy might have to "acquire" those. LOL Just kidding!!!

Well I will add pictures as soon as I have them downloaded!!! I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas!! I am sure the Lord has bless you all.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!!

Jesus is the reason for the season!!

Christmas Blessings to all!

May we all celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior!

From our home to yours, Christmas Blessings to all! We love you!

Playing Catch Up...

Well I can hardly believe its been a month since I last posted... Boy am I am slacker... Well lots has happend... In no particular Order:

1. Got notice I am loosing my job....Will be done on or before March 31 of 2009

2. Jackson got moved up to the 2 year room. Very tramatic for his mother.

3. My parents came to town! very exciting to spend another early Christmas with them.

4. taylors Orchastra Conert

5. Jackson Debut in his Watch Me Grow Christmas Pagent

6. Jamie busy with Photography..

7. Lost my Cell Phone....The worls as we new it, ended until today when I got my new one!!

(Laura, since you are the only who reads this blog... You can call me again!!I have a new phone! Yeah!!)

We had another exciting time with my parents. We took an ASU Boy BBall game, the park n swap, food, more food, desert, more desert. Open presents and just had a blast. We pack more into 4 days than most people can! Jackson had a blast opening up his presents and playing with his new toys. He still pull the Thomas the Train backpack "Gamma and Gamma (no Pa)" gave him.

From our family to yours we wish you a very merry CHRISTmas and a happy new year!! Remember that jesus is the resaon for the season!! Let us Celebrate his birth!!

To Close...I will just share some pictures of Jackson's first ever Christmas Pagent!!

Taylors New Room

The Pictures should speak for themselves... But this is Taylors new room and she LOVES it! Amen to that!







Jackson Trying to help by making funny faces while Taylor is trying to work!!

JOb Well Done TAYLOR!! LOOKS AWESOME!!!


Mama J -

Happy Halloween!!! Pictures Posted

Jackson with his Loot!!

My first Sucker~~
I was Woody at Daycare becasue my costume as a frog was just too hot mom said..

Me with my baby sitter Sarah!!! She was a nerd!
Getting my Loot. I was sure good at this!!

Yuck! I don't want to touch that stuff mom!!

Our Pumpkins~!

Pictures say 1000 words. We had so much fun! Enjoy!

Long Over Due... An update

Well not a whole lot to report these days. We are plugging along.

We were a part of the BizEmoms East Valley Bridal affair which was a huge success for us. We booked 2 people from it. So I felt like that was huge! Jamie has been busy booking Holiday sessions is practically full!!! Its crazy busy for him. I am so glad that things are coming together for him. He has worked so hard. All of my prayers for him are being answered.

We were busy with Halloween. Jackson was a frog and he had a total blast!! I hope that I will get the pictures downloaded soon.

Taylor has been busy. She went out for Halloween with her friends and enjoyed herself. She is busy with school. We are all doing ok. We have had a few weeks of some challenging times, but I really hope that everything she learned will continue to fill her heart. She has been active in our church too so that is good. She has helped clean and do a lot. She will be doing that again this Saturday and then doing a volunteer project for feed my starving Children next Friday.

Other than that, I am ok. Very stressed from work. I have severe next pain at this point that has been persistent for over 2 weeks. I am hoping that a visit to a chiropractor will help this. But I know everything will be good and in the end what is meant to be will be. I just have to trust that God is looking out for me.

Well Thanksgiving is upon us as well. I always look at this time of year for all the things I am thankful for. So here are a few

Thankful that my family has stayed healthy
Thankful that Jamie and I both have jobs
Thankful that we found Springboard
Thankful that I have been able to get home and see my family
Thankful for my family and all there support
Thankful for my friends

These are just a few of them that are on my list. I am thankful for so much.

Well today I would like to leave you with a very special prayer request. A dear dear family friend of our was airlifted from West Union IA to Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN as she suffered a brain aneurism. She has had 2 surgeries so far. She has no feeling on her left side and still sleeping I believe. But please pray for Kathy and that God is with her lays his healing hands upon her. Pray for her 2 boys and daughter. Pray for her husband John. Their daughter is making or by now has made the 14 hour trek from Kansas to MN to be with her dad. The youngest son Andy is at home tending to the family farm so his dad can be with his mom. And the eldest son Mike is coming home as well. Make sure you pray for safe travels and continued strength as they prepare for the journey ahead of them.


Resting in Gods arms,
Jenny

The Hines Family!!!

Here are some pictures of Jamie with his Sisters and Step mom from Boston. It was fun to finely meet them all.

If you guys are reading this...Jamie is working on getting the pictures online for all of you view / order if you would like....

Miss you all!!

Jenny

Playing Catch up...

Well I just thought i would get on here and play a little catch up.

Springboard Graduation:
This was a wonderful event. I have never been in a room with so many people that lives were transformed by one house. It was very emotional. I gave our testimony when Taylor received her plaque and cried like a huge baby. I was so proud of Taylor and all that she has accomplished.

She is no in Brooking SD with her mom. She went there for her Fall break. I sure hope that she is having a good time. I am sure she will come home with new clothes, new hair and lots of stories. She just loves getting together with her brother Keenan and seeing her mom and step dad.

Jackson:
Is growing like a weed!!!! I will post some picture of his 19 month photo shoot. They sure turned out cute. He is so much fun. Talking up a storm. He is starting to put sentences together. "no mama no" is one of his favorites... Then "t-ball t-ball" or "juice, juice" is a close second. He is finely getting the rest of his teeth. So he will have a fun set of chompers. Otherwise he continue to LOVE daycare and playing with his friends. I can hardly believe that my "little man" will be 2 in Jan. They grow up way too fast. I have no idea where the time goes.

Jamie:
He continue to be busy with his photography. He has several big shoots coming up and really enjoys it. He has been working his hours at the airport. Loving the cool weather of course. He just got back from LA where he did a a pregnancy shoot

Me:
I keep busy... Between work and church these days I am busy. I don't even have anyone in sports!! I am getting excited because i am going to be SCRAPPING this weekend!!! Heading to MN for a Day of scrapping. Totally crazy I know, but I can hardly wait. I hope to get tons done. All of 2006 and the rest of Jackson's album. They when I come back my mom will be with me. I hope to make a list of the pictures I need for 2007. I will get that year done in April when we have the scrap here in PHX. Julie and Anne hope to come down for that..

Well its getting late and I best be off to finish my weekend cleaning....


"Peace, I leave with yo, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. " John 14:27

Our Letter of Appreciation To Springboard

This is a letter I recently wrote on behalf of our family for a Springboard Fundraiser. I thought I would share it with all of you. We are getting ready for graduation day for Taylor this Saturday. We are all very excited. It will be so nice to go back and see those who have helped our daughter.

Please say a prayer for us this Saturday as we journey down to Tucson.

Have a wonderful day!

"If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking." James 1:5

The Letter:
When our pastor came to us and recommended Springboard to us, at the time I did not realize how it would impact my family. Springboard quite literally saved my family and my marriage. Taylor has always been a joy but over the past few year we saw her heading into the wrong direction. Nothing major like drugs and alcohol that we know of. But disrespectful, defiant, low grades, lack of respect for other adults and would not take on any responsibility that was asked of her. My husband and I tried everything. Giving her more attention, goals, church everything. Nothing seemed to work.

So the night that was our turning point was when our pastor came to visit us and told us, he really thought we needed outside help. He told us of Springboard. On Monday I place the dreaded call and talked with Elaine. She faxed me info and I told her our situation. We read over everything and decided this was what we were going to do. It broke our hearts in one sense but gave us renewed strength in the other. I never expected it to happen so quickly. We were just trying to figure everything out when Elaine called and said can you be here on April 19th. I said yes. At this point I had no idea how we were going to pay for anything. But someone out there that believed in the program was generous and we received a scholarship. I knew we could do this. We sent out letters to friends and family. To our amazement people we hadn’t even talked to in months sent us sponsorships. I get goose bumps just writing about it. They showed such amazing love to us. So because of our family and friends our cost was now affordable.

The days leading up to Taylor’s admission were stressful. Lots to do and it seemed every way we turned we had road blocks. But we slowing climbed over each one of these and we made it to Tucson on April 19th 4 days before Taylor’s 15th birthday. Thankfully my mother in law was able to be there for all of us. She has been a huge part of Taylor’s life and Taylor loves and respects her Nanny. To have here there was a wonderful gift and I really don’t think we could have done it with out her.

Here we met everyone and our counselor Trisha. Jamie and I have never experienced such heartache as the heartache you feel when you are leaving your child. But we knew that she was in the hands of some amazing people and that she would be safe and taken care of it. We also had God behind us. Holding us up and showing us that this was the right thing to do.

In the end we have our girl back. We have the Taylor I met 6 years ago when I met Jamie. We overcame so much as a family in the 4 months that Taylor was there. She learned so much. Not only about herself, but about her relationships as well. Her relationship with God; her mother, me (the step-mother), her father, her brothers and her friends. She is truly a transformed girl and has upheld her contract and teachings at Springboard. We have moments where we remind each other of things, but we practice and work at everything she learned over those 4 months everyday.

There is not a day that goes by that I do not pray for the girls at Springboard or the counselors. Trisha, our counselor is truly an angel and really was a major part of Taylor’s transformation. To have a counselor that you trust, respect, can be a friend and know that truly wants what best for you was the most precious gift of all. Upon Taylor’s return home our hardest goodbyes were to the staff and house parents. You were all such a big part of our daughters healing that we can’t even begin to thank you enough. Our daughter is back and that is because you give so much everyday impacting these girls lives. We also have her back because of strangers like you. People who give to the AZ Teen challenge. Your donations helped my family do something that we would have NEVER been able to do on our own. To all the strangers who continue to support Springboard and the other facilities thank you so much. You save my family. Really you did.

To the staff, counselors, house parents - We are forever grateful and thank you will never be enough to say for saving my family. You all have been given such special gifts. God Bless you all.

Jenny Hines

Being a Princess / Prince:

Being a princess is so much fun, wish I could be one!! My niece who is in kindergarten got chosen to be the princess next to the newly crowned King and Queen. She looked so very cute with her crown on. As you can see…..

Being a Prince is so much fun…I have three princes! They are Andrew, Adam & Alex. My knights in shining armor. As you can see they needed there pictures taken too!!! They are so very handsome!!

I love you all! Auntie Jenny

Life – And the choices you make…

Well I am sure in LIFE I have made my fair share of good choices. Good choices that continue to blessings in my life. These choices are ones that I continue to pull strength from when you have “one of those days”.

But then there are the choices that you no were a flat out mistake. The ones that you try and make the best of, but it seems so matter what you do it never turns out right.

Whether the choice you made had to do with your career or family. Sometimes you know that you were flat out wrong. And you wonder. Why did God put this choice in front of me knowing it was going to be a bad one? Was he tempting me and obviously I didn’t see it as a temptation? Or was he testing my strength, courage and other attributes that he thought this challenge would give me?

I guess these are questions one will never have answered.

I know that a choice I made back in 2006 was maybe not the right choice. I was hopefully that this choice would allow me to grow and build on my skills and abilities. But I think the only good thing out of this choice is that I have made several friends and learned more about what not to do in certain areas. I have to be careful how I tell you what my bad choice was because you never know who reads your blog. But for those of you who know me, I know you know what that choice was.

Hopefully in the next five months I can move on from this choice and try and make the right one. So I am asking the Lord to guide me in that direction so that when the choice is laid in front of me I will make the right educated choice.

Resting in his arms....Jenny

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change…Courage to change the things I can and Wisdom to know the difference…

Little Boys and “The Temper Tantrum”:

Replay from last night…

Location: DAYCARE

Mom: Hi baby, mommy is here..

Jack: SCREAMS, lands on the floor, hits mommy

Mom: Now Jack that is not nice.

**Attempt to talk to the teacher, only to find out he wouldn’t eat lunch, tried to take his nap at 10:00 and basically was a little out of sorts all day. That is putting it lightly.**

Location: CAR RIDE HOME

SCREAMING the WHOLE way home. Not part, the WHOLE way home. Asking for “gogert” aka Yogurt, his “baby” aka Nukker in between outbursts. None of which I had “handy” in the car!

Location: THE DRIVEWAY

Getting Jack out of his seat. Normally he holds my hand and walks into the house. Tonight we decided to through our body on the sidewalk and scream as though I am torturing him. I then attempt to pick him up as he hits me and proceeds to try, I repeat TRY to bite his mommy.

We finely make it in the door.

Location: KITCHEN – HIGHCHAIR

Jackson: We eat our yogurt as if I have STRAVED you for 3 days, play with our pancake and proceed to throw it on the floor.

Location: PARK

So thinking that getting outside would do him some good we head to the park to wear him out. He plays with his ball and slides and swings and is having a grand time. But as we know all good things must come to an end and it only stays light for so long. So we head to car with him once again SCREAMING and KICKING. We make it home and he throws himself in his wagon and demands to go “outside”. Not, I repeat NOT going to happen.

Location: THE TUB
So I proceed to think. Oh a bath. This should relax him. Long story short after he throws water out of the bath tub and then proceeds to throw the rag at mommy we are done and headed to get PJ’s on. At this point I have called in reinforcements. Jamie is attempting to diaper him. I pick him up to put clothes on him and proceeds to swing his hand across my face and knocks the glasses right off of my face. So he sits in his crib for 20 minutes SCREAMING yet again.

FINELY after I am about ready to pull my hair out, I take him outside and we talk about the moon and he drinks him milk. We then proceed to the rocker where he humbly lays in my arms and falls asleep. That is when you think, “Oh what a wonderful cute sone I have” I have obviously lost my mind because I have forgotten at that moment about the above. Then I snap out of it, lay him in his crib and take a big sign of relief.

Lets hope that tonight is a better night. My plan of attack:
DINNER
PARK
BOOKS
BED

Any comments on the terrible 2’s at 18 months are more than welcome!!!! BEFORE I LOOSE MY MIND

Just Stuff

Well On Friday 9/14/07 our little man had to be picked up early from Daycare. Mommy went ahead and took him to urgent care. Only to find out that we had Strep Throat. So my weekend was very busy taking care of my boy. He becomes a mommies boy when he is ill...

Sunday we went to Church and Taylor headed over for the Teen night rally. She had tons of fun hanging out with everyone. I will be teaching 3rd & 4th grade with my friend so that will be fun. I am looking forward to the adventure!

Sunday we also watch our Phoenix Mercury WIN the WNBA PLAYOFFS against Detroit. Of course we ROCKED there house down by beating them!!! It was very exciting and I can't wait to see them play next season. I wish I had the money to get season tickets as the games are TONS of fun for the family to go to.

Other than that, still no word on my job. It is very frustrating not knowing what is going on and being in limbo. I am sure everything will be fine, and I have to put my fate in God's hands that he will provide for us and lead me on the right path. I am sure he is watching out for us. So continue to pray that If I loose my job, I will find a new one very quickly. Also pray for all my co-workers going through the same frustrations that I feel.

Also say a prayer for Jamie. He has a HUGE shoot coming up at a big resort here in Phoenix. We are really hoping that it turns out to be BIG and full of many referrals for him.

Taylor: Pray that she continues to do well. She has 2 big events coming up. Springboard graduation and her confirmation. Both very exciting things for her and we are so very proud of her.

May God continue to bless each and everyone of you! Have a wonderful week!

Our Love, The Hines'

Garage Sale & The Thief

So this weekend Taylor and I (Mostly me) did a garage sale to benefit Springboard. She wanted to raise money to buy yarn, new shower curtains and orange shirts (this is for a later blog). We we venture out at 3:30 AM (me) to put up signs and pull out the tables. We are ready to go by 5:20. Customers come and go and things are going well. Taylor is helping and bring me Ice tea when i request it because it is so blasted hot.

These 2 couples come up and start taking to me about springboard and I still have one other customer in the background "shopping", when all of a sudden the one Lady says she just took your purse and left.

I waste no time, RUN to he pimped out Tahoe and grab onto her door handle, bang on her window demanding our $15 prices fake LV purse back. She looks at me as though she can't speak English when I know she can, and drives away. While driving away I hear the men at my garage sale yelling let go lady. So I let go and she sped off.

I was mad to say the least, and since I try and keep this as clean as possible I will refrain from using the words that were in my head.

In the end she will be punished for her sin. She knows she stole, she got caught and she knows we know that she stole. Still makes me mad. We were just trying to raise some money for a good cause and it takes one bad person to try and ruin your day.

Our day ended up being fairly successful. So we have purchased our "stuff" and will bring it down on the 29th.

Springboard Graduation

Well on September 29th we will be heading down to Tucson to attend the annual graduation for Springboard. Taylor is very excited to go back and see her counselor Ms. Trish, the house parents and others from the house. Of course all of the gals that she met on this journey as well.

We are also very excited as this will a big part of Taylor journey. To get the recognition of completing this program and making all the changes she has made. We have also been given the honor of being selected to give our testimony about how Springboard has impacted our lives /family. This is a huge honor not only for our family but especially for Taylor. She really impacted so many people and touched so many people’s lives. I am really proud of all that she has accomplished.

You will have to stay tuned to read our testimony. As for now, we are hoping we don’t get rained out this weekend. We are holding a garage sale in honor of Springboard. We are going to buy items for the house and hopefully give a donation as well. So pray that we have lots of traffic at our sale!!

Have a wonderful Weekend!

"Get Together at the Fair!"

Vacations:

Well we just returned from MN for the Labor Day weekend. On Saturday we ventured to the MN State Fair. We really had a good time eating our way through the fair. The picture below will also show that Jackson just LOVED going on the slide. He kept doing the sign language for “more” so we went on it at least 7 times. But the smile on his little face was so worth it…










Then on Sunday we all gathered at Chrissy’s house and had a BBQ. It was fun. The kids all had a blast and I have a picture that was taken of all the kids. Now not everyone is happy in this picture but we got the picture with all the little rugrats. Everyone if growing so fast it was just fun to see and play with them all.



Monday we heading to Harmony and I met up with the girls in Cresco. We ate Pizza, breadsticks and laughed. However me loosing the diamond in my ring was no laughing matter. But Chirssy came to the rescue and by an act of God found it at my moms. This is after I had ridden on the tractor, shoveled sh@t, dug flowers, and went to Wal-mart. But my diamond was found and being re set as we speak.



Tuesday and Wednesday we hung out and just had fun in Harmony. It was a nice trip but it is good to be home in my own bed. This weekend will be busy and we will be having our garage sale for Springboard. Taylor is very excited. I just hope that we don’t get rained out this weekend.



Must run! Enjoy the photos!!

Fine Time with Taylor

Taylor Taylor....She can be so funny!!!! Since her arrival home she has made so many positive changes that I can even begin. So far so good is what we are saying...

Last night her and I had a fun night. After Jackson went to bed I went in and just "hung out" with her. We chatted about her friend Jesse and other stuff. Then I begged her to scratch my back. Literally begged! She has fake nails so when you have that itch...it feels good to have your back scratched. But what was so funny and I am sure this does not do it justice is that she and I got laughing so hard. She made this cat noise while we were talking about something...I don't even remember what the conversation ones. But then I was on the floor laughing and she was in her bed, acting like a cat making these weird cat noises! even the dog came in to check it out.

But it is sill moments like this, that maybe make no sense at all that are so enjoyable. It shows me that we have all learned to laugh again, have fun and take time out of our busy day to just sit, chat, laugh and be a family. It also shows me that Taylor continues to thrive in the changes she has made. She has found God and is serving him.

What a blessing!

"Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them all." Matthew 18:19,20

Minnesota

This picture is of Jackson on one of his MANY plane rides. I thought it suited this journal entry well since we will be traveling once again!

Well tommorrow the kids and I are jetting off to Minnesota for a long weekend!! I can hardly wait! Statefair here I come!!!! Deep fried pickles, beware! You will be eaten!!!

We will be heading off to the MN Statefair on Saturday with the whole gang! My sisters, mom, dad, and all the kidlets! It will be so much fun! I have spoken with Sarah's kids. Andrew, Abby, Adam & Alex. I told them to beware that they will be tickled and hugged! Then there is Sophie! Jackson and I are going to chase her!! (She is learning to walk) so Jackson said he would show her how!

I can't wait to see Jackson eat his corn on the cob and see all the animals. Go on rides and just have so much fun!!! I am going to boat loads of pictures so that I can have like an 20 page layout!! (not..ok maybe...)

So anyways, say a little prayer for us. I will be flying through Vegas with the kids on a red eye to MN so we can make it. Pray that I survive the journey! I am sure it will be fine, but one never knows how kids will be!

"But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil." II Thessalonians 3:3

Anniversaries

Well today was our 4 year anniversary….Its hard to believe that it has been 4 years. Funny thing is the other day Jamie or I couldn’t remember the year…Was it 2003 or 2004? Thanks to Chrissy that was clarified that in fact we were married in 2003.

Jamie and the kids surprised me with a dozen roses that were beautiful. I would have posted a picture but I forgot to take one….Then Jamie and I got dolled up and we headed out to my favorite restaurant.

Olive Garden!

There we feasted like kings. We had my favorite toasted raviolis, Jamie had the tour of Italy, I had my cheese ravioli and I sipped on a glass of wine. We had such a good time. We didn’t even have to pay our babysitter! Taylor stayed home with Jackson and did a wonderful job!!

Overall, it was a wonderful day / Night and I look forward to many more years. Jamie. If you read this - I love you very much! Through thick and thin, I will always stand by your side!

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is Love.” I John 4:7,8

Taylor Jordan Hines

Taylor Jordan Hines:

Springboard:
Well first I just want to say THANK YOU to all the staff at Springboard. It is a truly amazing facility and without it who knows where our family would be. It was by the grace of God that we heard of the place and we are ever so thankful that God guided us there. Taylor’s counselors really loved her and really work with these girls 24/7 to help them see there blessings in life, bring God into there lives, and help them prepare for there lives outside of Springboard. Our counselor Trisha was amazing. She is truly and Angel. Taylor learned so much at Springboard, not only about herself, but about relationships, and how different things impact her life. She has made so many positive changes.

She started school again at Desert Ridge High School. She is in 10th grade. She is about 3 credits behind, but she will make that up very fast. She is focusing on her studies and choosing who she will have a part of her life.

In honor of her time at Springboard we will be hosting a garage sale this weekend and the earning will go towards a care package for the girls. I am sure it will include mostly yearn, because the girls can crochet in there down time and they are sparse on "cool" colors as Taylor would say. So are hoping to raise some good Dollars to send them more yarn than they know what to do with.

She is getting anxious for our trip back to Minnesota over Labor day. She can hardly wait for the fair. Plus she can't wait to see her cousins. It will be nice to take her away for a long weekend since she didn't really have a summer or a birthday. I hope we can surprise her with a cake and celebrate with family their if time permits. She will have a blast and I hope that everyone see the wonderful changes she has made and welcome her with open arms.

"And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy Children" Isaiah 54:13