I have to keep telling myself that! If you're wondering where I've been....it's HERE:

This is what WAS our front porch! I'll spare you the details but, suffice it to say, one thing leads to another.

Anyhoo...since there are only so many warm days left, I'm getting a bit worried about getting this project done. I'm trying to work in the mornings and sand/paint in the afternoons.

Here we are with things getting even worse. Did I mention I'm the only one doing this? My husband is in harvest now, so the porch will remain that way until late August! lol Actually, I finally broke down and hired a young man to help sand, but he's working on the massive wall on the left side (that you can't see) This is all my "handiwork".

This is the nifty bench handy hubby made me so I can reach up to the corbels. Unfortunately, it is about six inches too short. I can reach everything except the front soffit board, which needs sanded as well. I'm just going to ignore it for now, though.  Oh!! And there are birds in that hole on the left, so we can't cover it up until the babies fly out. They freak me out because they rustle around when I'm working there and I always think they're going to come out and attack me - or Momma Bird is. She's not happy about this whole thing. But I'm not happy they're there, so we're even. lol We'd covered the rest of the holes w/fiberglass long ago and it held up well. This one still had a plug, which fell out.

 I painted the bottom front. Yay! I've decided that, for my mental stability as well as physical well-being (sanding is HARD, hot, dirty work!) I'll have to see progress and paint as I go.

Here are the colors. The body is Mochachino, trim is Chocolate Cupcake, Accents are Port and Porch rails and inside windows are Creamy White.

I actually got the body coat on the top front last night. Between MORE sanding, scrubbing the filthy corbels and moulding, priming and painting, I was on the porch from 2 - 8:30 pm!! I didn't take a pic yet, because it doesn't really look that good w/o the window trim done. Today is shot with activities, but I' hoping to get the rest of the top completely done this weekend. May be overambitious, but one can hope! lol Actually, my family was making fun of me last night because I wouldn't come in until I had the front painted.

There are times when a small house would be infitely more desirable. This is one of those times. :-) Still, I know that by doing this ourselves we are saving between $20,000 and $30,000. (Is that CRAZY or what??!! I think I'm in the wrong business. No. I wouldn't want to do this for a living)

Print off a coupon for free 22 oz Zout at www.trymefree-zout.com

~D

This summer has certainly held many "firsts" for our family, and over the coming days it holds a tremendous amount of firsts for our 2G16 as she has embarked on her first mission trip!! In a mere twelve hours from when I write this, she will be flying out to the United Kingdom to serve full time missionaries on the field there in whatever capacity is necessary. This will be her FIRST airplane flight, and FIRST international airplane flight, FIRST trip on her own beyond her history of summer camps, FIRST mission trip, and FIRST trip with no other people she knows beforehand!! God has called her into quite a growth experience over these next two weeks. I appreciate your prayers on her behalf.

I am avoiding focusing on my motherly concerns for her right now, I'm doing my best to focus on God's calling in her life. I am so thrilled that she heard...and obeyed! What a blessing she is to our family. The last year has been filled with many confirmations that this trip is what God wanted to do in her life right now. I pray that she is a blessing to everyone she works with, and that the witness she and the entire group offer to those around them will bring others to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. I pray that she will be blessed by that true blessing: witnessing firsthand someone else finding salvation for the FIRST time!!

Suddenly, the FIRST book written by our daughter, FIRST exposure to publicity for our family in the book effort, and planning this FIRST mission trip pale in comparison to the firsts my 2G16 will experience. We have been very blessed and pray that this summer reveals many blessings for your family.

We have continued learning a bit about the United Kingdom, and are enjoying a clock up right now so we can follow 2G16's time while she is away.  Reading study continues in earnest for 3B9 and is finally coming along fairly well. Study of business practices and all things publicity continues to take some of our time as we push 1G21's first book. And I am busy with continued organization of the house and the last of the odd jobs around the boys' bedroom transfer that began more than a month ago. I don't even want to look back to see when I actually STARTED that job!! Things are moving along well enough overall, though.

Has your family decided on a particular curriculum for next school year? I'd love to hear about it!

Ha! I just remembered that when we took my hubby on a train ride for Father's Day last year, they were shooting a video. (At the time I wasn't thrilled and was trying not to be in it!) I just checked the site and it's there. I'm in the first people shot, pointing something out to Brayden. Then, later, Paige talks while I pointedly look the other way. lol Brayden is practically asleep lying on me. :-)

Kind of silly, but fun. Since I live in the West, I guess it worked for me. What about you?

I had to run in to town to check out a family surprise. (I'll get to that later) but made a quick stop at Rite-Aid for the following Free-After-Rebate items.  Amazingly, they were all in stock. If you stop in and they're not, ask for a Rain Check and pick them up next week. The Monthly Rebate will still be good. Simply buy your items then go to www.riteaid.com and click on the box that says Single Check Rebates. Sign up and you can simply enter the store number and register number from your receipt and they'll automatically credit you for the items you purchased. At the end of the month, simply request your check. I've even forgotten to request my check and they sent an email letting me know that they requested it for me! Today I got the below items which will be totally free for me!

Organix shampoo $5.49

Herbal Essence Long Term Shampoo $2.99 (in yummy raspberry, for my daughter)

And a disposable camera with flash $10.99 that I will give to my eight year old as part of his birthday goodies.

Nearly $20 in goodies for nothing but tax.  YAY!!

And now for the reason I went to town.....

The adorable little sweetie in the front is ours and will be ready to come live with us around July 4th. We have one Shih Tzu and I've been wanting another for awhile. However, the kids had no idea I was looking and are totally shocked and extrememly excited.

He will be dedicated this Sunday, on Father's Day!! Now, how cool is that? He already belongs so much to my Heavenly Father, it is unbelievably appropriate to have him dedicated on that day as well.

I almost didn't include this one, it is already so old. And ewww, I look awful, I suppose I'll always hate pictures. But the boys are adorable! And proud Daddy is priceless, that SMILE!!