New Favorite Poem

Maybe I've been living in a cave but I have never heard this poem before by Mother Teresa. I came across it in the last few days and LOVED it! Just thought I'd share...

Mother Teresa's Anyway Poem

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

Back to School...ALREADY?????

I REALLY can't believe summer vacation is over and the kids are back in school. The kids are excited so I guess that makes me excited, but if I had my way we'd have an additional month of summer this year. :) Hailey was a bundle of mixed emotions yesterday as she left for "7th Grade Day" at the Jr. High but came home saying that Jr. High is WAAAYYYY better than elementary school!!! :) She also loved riding the bus to school which is a first for her. She didn't want me to follow her down to the bus stop to get a picture...apparently that would be very embarrassing for her...so this is a picture of her walking down there that I took from the doorway so no one could see that she was getting her picture taken. :)

 Nick is excited for 8th grade and I am taking comfort in the fact that the kids are at the same school again. I like to think that they can watch out for each other and that Nick will help Hailey if she needs it. Although that might be just a fun fantasy I have in my mind because if they treat each other at school like they treat each other at home, it might be better if they went to school in different counties...hahaha. Here's to hoping it's a fantastic school year for both of them!!!!!

Happy Birthday Brian

Brian's birthday was yesterday...29 again...hahaha.

He bought his own birthday present this year...a new (used) road bike and he's pretty excited about it.

We love this man!!!! 

Now You See 'Em...Now You Don't

 Today was the day for Hailey that all kids with braces live for...the day you GET THEM OFF!!! Hurray!!!!! :)

Off to Boot Camp

We had a farewell barbecue for Bryson last weekend. He is now down in Southern California for his first 13 weeks of training. He'll come home for 10 days in November and head back out again for his next 13 weeks of training. It was fun to get together with family and friends to wish him luck, but hard to say goodbye!

 Bryson and a few of his friends...Rand, Leah & Luis.

 Bryson with his cousins Savannah, Chelsea Kate & Adi.

 The Morrow and the Atkinson kiddo's (plus J's boyfriend :)). These kids go waaaayyyyy back and have hung out since they were just little. 3 out of the 4 parents were on their mission in Spain together...I'm the "odd parent out" there. :)

 Last family picture before heading out. I love this picture other than the fact that it looks like I have no hair...I did not chop it off, I just have it back in a pony tail...haha.

I did not think to start taking pictures until after the grandparents and some other aunts, uncles & cousins left so I'm sad to not have those. But we'll get those when he comes home in November! :)