The grass is always greener....

.....on the Texas High School football fields.

Texas is in a terrible drought right now and we have had hardly any rain this year. I was driving down the highway where everything is really brown due to the lack of rain and I see this green oasis, our high school practice football fields, and they were also being watered. Glad our priorities are straight.  

Not Driving Me Crazy

Makenzie has started driving school this week. It seems crazy that she is even old enough to get a permit, but I must admit, I'm not as stressed as I was with the first two getting their permits and then their drivers license. I've come to rely on having extra drivers, but I won't have any after Brittney leaves for BYU. It will be back to driving to early morning Seminary with the hopes Makenzie can catch a ride to the high school with one of the kids that do drive. I guess I can't send a kid to the store to pick up a few things for me either. I will be excited for Makenzie to get her license, as long as she's a good driver!

Favorite Pic

I am very fortunate that Matthew sends home a lot of pictures from his mission, but this by far is my favorite!

In true Texas fashion!

WE LOVE YOU TOO!

Happy Camper....NOT!

Last week Jacob attended Scout Camp. He is not a camper so needless to say he wasn't super excited. It didn't help much when the packing list included mouse traps, mosquito netting, mosquito repellent and bug spray. It was also very HOT, remember it's July in Texas. Dale spent the first night up there and said it was really hot and he was glad he didn't have to sleep all week in the heat. I have pictures to document that Jacob actually went to camp, thanks to Dale who took pictures with the camera that Jacob had to have.

Are we having fun yet?

Not yet

Still not having fun

Maybe he's going to have some fun

We are having fun now!

Happy 60th Anniversary

My parents have made it to 60 years!!!! Happy Anniversary to them! They are the greatest examples of love and what marriage should be. My dad was the perfect role model of what a husband should be and that's the kind of man I found in Dale because he has the same qualities as my dad. My mom was great example of being a wife. She loves and always supported my dad. They always were kind and loving to one another and treated each other with respect. They never raised their voices to each other, at least not in anger, they have to speak louder now that they are a little bit older. I love you guys very much and couldn't ask for better parents!


Taken one week after they were married at my grandparent Brink's house




Wedding Day
July 15,1951




My Grandpa and Grandma Brink and my parents on their wedding day.
I must say my Grandpa Brink is quite the handsome man!





The Wedding Party



Half Way There

Matthew hit his year mark today!!!

One more year and he will be walking the other direction!



He's Home

Last week was a little more eventful than I would have liked.
On July 7th my Dad was diagnosed with PAD (Peripheral Artery Disease), basically he had a blocked artery in his leg and he wasn't getting any blood flow to his foot. On July 8th he was taken into surgery to clean out the artery. When they got in they realized there was a lot more blockage than they thought, like of foot of blockage. They closed him up and examined his options, which the only one was bypass surgery, or he would lose his leg. On July 9th he had the bypass surgery. My dad figured he already payed his copay to be in the hospital, was there and why pay it again. They were able to find a good blood vessel to to graphed in as an artery and the surgery went well. By that night he was passing out "Badgers" (tootsie rolls) to the nurses and doctors. He has hardly used any pain meds and he came home today. He actually called me and he sounded really good on the phone. It was hard not being there through all of this, as much as we like where we live it's just too far from family. I'm grateful that all went well and that he is back home. I know this wasn't easy for my mom either. I'm grateful to friends who gave me words of encouragement as I was worried and so far from my parents. I'm also grateful for the comfort that prayer brings! Look forward to seeing my parents on my way to take Brittney to BYU!

Hi Dad, We love you!

Sammie Be Ballin'

Jacob taught Sammie how to make a basket!

Happy Fourth of July

We started our Independence Day off with a flag ceremony and breakfast at the church. There was also so face painting for the kiddo's and balloon animals, I told them I could make snakes and in different colors, but they didn't want to use my skills. After breakfast we had 3 Veterans, 1 from the Iraqi War and 2 from Vietnam, share stories from their service. It really makes you appreciate all the freedoms that we enjoy and appreciate all those who served and those who gave their lives for our freedom! I was touched when Dave Swope, who served in the 101st Airbourn  during the Vietnam War, talked about his friends that he lost and how he still remembers them as 23 year old young men as he had tears in his eyes. He lost friends who sacrificed for our freedoms today. It really helped me remember why we celebrate the 4th of July!

The morning was topped off by a parade of little kids on their bike, trikes and scooters.

We then came home a relaxed in the pool to cool down!     



Jacob, Brittney and Makenzie 



Dale making pancakes, although he prefers waffles

Jacob holding the flag

Marti with Brooke, my friend Liz's daughter

Makenzie manning the parade, doesn't she look excited

Making pancakes wore him out

Makenzie soaking up the sun

Jacob the Beast

O.C.R.S.

Some times you just need a mental health break.

We did have to rid the car of the tater tot smell so Liz's 8 year old son didn't wonder why the car smelled like tots. And we donated to an AAU team, some of Makenzie's friends were at a corner collecting money for their AAU team.

Liz and Brittney




Marti and Melanie



Night at the Ballpark

Dale was given 4 tickets to the Astro's game on July1st. It worked out perfectly since Makenzie was at EFY and Matthew, well, he's still in the Dominican Republic, so we didn't have to buy extra tickets or bribe kids to stay home. Even though it was a home game, I think there were more Red Sox fans there, especially where we were sitting, the section behind the Red Sox's dugout. Glad the tickets were free since the Astro's blew a 5-1 lead and lost 5-7.