I'd like to ask you all to pray for the family of Glen's cousin, who died as a result of a four-wheeling accident. She lingered in a coma for a little while, and slipped away yesterday. She is a wife and mother. Please pray for Glen (and some of his other family) that will be flying to Colorado for the funeral...Glen will be gone from Friday to Wednesay, so maybe you should pray for my sanity as well. And to the top of the list: Pray that Kristy's father will turn his heart to God during this difficult time. He's lived a very rough life, and over the last few years has been softening a bit to the things of God. I know God is a God of miracles, and we know He longs to bring this sheep into the fold.

Some Carli-isms....We got to go to see my parents over Labor Day weekend, and Carli spouted some good ones while we were there: We were in Wal-Mart, and we went and joined my mom in her line. Carli lectured: "Granny, what did I tell you about running away from me?!! You have to follow the rules!" When we were out of the store, and all buckled in, she declared that she just had ot go to the bathroom. I said she'd have to just hold it until we got home. After a few minutes: "Mom, this isn't working!" And when Granny ran into Starbucks for a gift card, Carli insisted, "Mom, I have NO CHOICE! I HAVE to go to bathroom!"

We bought her little brown shoes for church, etc. They have a small heel on them, and when Carli was trying to tell me what shoes she wanted to wear, she clarified, "The ones with the hips!"

Also in PA, Carli told Granddad that she wanted milk in a little glass, then paused and said, "Is that clear?"

Glen's mom reported that she also said, "Man, what a big bottom!" about someone, and also made it known that "I'm a genius!"

Olivia is talking more and more. We think she's about six months behind where Carli was at this age. I've talked to quite a few people that say that their second was the same way, so that makes me feel better. She doesn't like to sit on my lap to read like Carli did. She loves to look through books for long periods of time, but not for me to read them to her. And of course, she plays so much with her sister, so I don't entertain her as much as I did Carli.

Well...take care. I finally have my phone back, so be patient while I try to catch up with everyone!

Love you all,
Pam

PS...I almost forgot to mention that Carli started preschool a few weeks ago. She loves it! Today we went on a field trip to the apple orchard with all the 4s, so that was interesting to say the least. I wasn't sure how much she caught, but she must have been listening when they talked about polishing the apples, because when we ran into Kroger after the trip, she saw the apples, and said, "Mommy! Look at the apples! They're so shiny! I can't believe my eyes!" And she kissed one before I could stop her!

Seems like forever since I've written anything, and I don't have time to write a lot, since I have a quiz to take, etc. But I enjoy keeping up with you all through your sites, too, so keep it up!

Olivia is finally trying to talk more. I'm not able to understand it all, but it's so cute when she babbles like she's really trying to tell me something. When she wants me, she pulls on my sleeve and says "Mom!" She says, "Hi there" when someone hands her her favorite stuffed animals. And now she tries to imitate Carli praying by saying, "Go ee ga" which sounds a lot like "God is great" the way she says it.

Carli continues to be our drama queen, not in a bad way. She's always so expressive. They spent two nights over at Glen's parents last week (Do I hear groans of jealousy, Regina?! ), and Carli somehow got a string wrapped very tightly around her finger. Grandpa worked on it and couldn't get it off, and Grandma worked on it a long while before getting some scissors to snip it. Even though it hurt a bit, Carli said, "Oh, thank you, Grandma, thank you so much for taking the string off!" She went running to Grandpa to show him, then back to Grandma: "Oh, thank you, Grandma, for getting the string off! You're my greatest hero!" I'm sure that endeared her to "Gamma's" heart!

Last night we were picking up toys in Livy's room, and I asked Carli if she like the flannel set (bear with different outfits and outdoors scenes) that I'd gotten at a yard sale (for a dollar! They've played with that more than anything in the last few days!). She said yes, and the puzzles and the games, too! Then with the sweetest look on her face, she came and wrapped her arms around me and said, "Your the best mommy!" Ahhhhhhhhhh! She talks so big and polite when she wants to--like when I was telling her that it was time to go get her room picked up, she said, "If you will excuse me, I would like to finish my milk, please!"

Lots of fun stuff going on this last little while.

--First, Jordan and Kayla and Brianna moved out to South Dakota this week to begin their work on the reservations. Please pray for their safety and God's blessing on their work. I'm so proud of them. We got to be with them for an hour on their way through (with Mom and Dad!). My cousin Emily went with them to help with the baby while everyone is unpacking, and when Mom and Dad come back through, they're staying here, so we'll have another chance to be with them for a while.

--Carli Brooke turned FOUR on July 7th. Time goes so fast. We celebrated her birthday on Sunday the 8th with Glen's mom and sisters (Dad A was in Dominica). We gave her most of her gifts, and Glen's mom beat us all out with a little china tea set! When we woke up from our Sunday afternoon nap, we found her asleep in her bed with her new baby doll on one side, her new CD player was on her other side, and some of her tea set at her feet. On Monday, we did a very small party at Chuck E. Cheese with three of her friends at church. They had such a great time. I think Carli's favorite was the little car with Cheese that spit out a picture. We did that several times, so I have some for the scrapbook. Pizza was yummy!

--Did I ever say that my friend Louisa fell and broke her foot in three places and had to have surgery. She's doing better now, but what a bummer!

--Our church and choir had some incredible opportunities recently. First of all, we have a booth every year at the fair. This year they gave away walking sticks that had the colored gospel beads (like the wordless book). They planned on giving out 1000, but they gave out 3800 and with the other things they handed out, they told the meaning of the beads approximately 6000 times. Then at the last minute, our choir was asked to fill a slot, and we were able to sing five of our patriotic songs from the musical, as well as quite a few of our "church" songs. We're already on the slot for next year.

--I got a perfect score on my last accounting course! Yipee!

--Katie and Kirsten stayed here for about a week. That was fun, and too quiet when they left.

--Melanie is expecting her third! (I need Shawn to talk Glen into giving in so we can have another!)

--Family outing planned! We haven't done anything with just us and the girls for a long time, so we're taking two days in August to go to Cinncinnati for Sean Hannity's Freedom Concert. It's at Six Flags (we haven't been to an amusement park since Salem days!), and there's a lot of singers, presidential candidates, Ann Coulter!, and more, let alone the rides. We're spending the night in a pretty swanky hotel that Glen got for a really good price, and then we'll find something to do that next day--zoo maybe?

Love you all!
Pam