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