Surprise! Happy 27th Laura! Love, Ryan, David, Mom and Dad

Ryan's Sweetheart, David's Best Friend, Daddy's Bun-Bun, and Mama's Little Girl

Our Little Girl Turns 27 Today, August 25th!

When you can't be with your kid on her birthday, what better to do than to surprise her while you are in Germany. Complete with Hello Kitty Decorations brought from America. The secret was held by friends, Lori, Rebecca and Little Ava, Mary Liz and held by Family-Uncle Justin, Ryan, David, Dad and Mom.

Thank You to Rebecca and her daughter Ava and Lori

Uncle Justin looks like he was really enjoying this Hello Kitty Party! He was such a sport, especially being the one male in the group, (tee,hee)
Ava loved the balloons!

Rebecca's niece, Mary Liz even joined in the fun! In the middle of Stuttgart, Germany, we stopped at a side-walk cafe. While Lori took Laura for a "long restroom break", the rest of us decorated. The guy in the background even gave us an extra chair and extra room. Laura was very surprised and had a wonderful early birthday!

Worms and Bitche on a Shoestring!

Worms, Germany
More of Worms...

Town Center Fountain in Worms (pronounced Vorms)

Wish my camera would give you a better glimpse of this beautiful church!

The inside was just gorgeous!

Then off to France....

Does anyone speak French?

Someone thought it would be a cute picture?

On the Ubahn with our loot after shopping in the rain one day, scroll down...

My breakable item in the wet paper bag is now broken...

Amazingly Lori didn't get one strand of hair wet!

"London on a Shoestring"

Buckingham Palace!

Wouldn't be a trip for me without visiting the local Hard Rock Cafe, and how cool to visit the ORIGINAL Hard Rock, where it all began...

I didn't like carrying luggage down and up these stairs the first time I visited, and it wasn't any fun the second visit either. But the girls were troopers and even turned down offers to help them. Me? I accepted every offer to carry my large bag up or down these tall staircases! Mum was tired!

Don't we look like we are having a blast?

The Abbey is probably one of my favorites

Are they not just gorgeous?

Isn't this fantastic?

Westminster Abbey, wish we could have taken pics inside :(

The three L's are still going strong!

Times Square in London, one of the more crowded areas we visited

The Tower Bridge

St. Paul's Cathedral

More of St. Paul's

Lori did not like those "mushy peas", so she put them in her empty water glass! Laura the tour guide, always ready with her map in hand!

The Tower Bridge

London Eye

We spent lots of time waiting for the subway...

We also took lots of pictures while on the subway!

"Mind the Gap"!

Camden Market was "interesting"

Leaving for London, Germany and ????

I'm so excited! Tomorrow I leave to see Laura! Lori Beaver and I will fly to London and meet Laura there. After a couple of days in London, we will head to Stuttgart. My brother, Justin, will pick us up at the airport. Laura has a busy shedule for us, she has everything planned. I have been packed for days and I am just overwhelmed at all that I still have to accomplish before we set "sail" or maybe "set wings" for the "Fun Adventure with Laura". More to Come Later!

Baby Dave is 25!

Can you believe it? My youngest is 25! Yeah, it is cool that he gets a "raise", via Auto Insurance, but my did I ever pray for David. Of course I prayed for David and Laura when I was pregnant, however, that was only the beginning. I know without a doubt that had it not been for God, that David would not have turned out so awesome! God has protected, healed, encouraged, fed, educated, clothed and found humor in my kid. Lord, I lift up my son, "Baby David" to you tonight. Thank you Lord for keeping him safe from harm and for healing all his injuries and healing his heart. May You bless David and wrap your arms around him and give him the desires of his heart. Help him to stay faithful, to marry a Godly woman, raise Godly children and to always be a "Man after God's Own Heart"! Thank you God for your faithfulness, AMEN.

Brazos Bend, Texas

Years ago when Linda Beaver found out that I had never been to Brazos Bend, she immediately planned a trip for a visit. My first trips were with her riding our bikes, our husbands riding bikes (once or twice), then with our daughters, Lori and Laura. Through the years we have gone camping/shamping (that is our code for shopping in a nearby town when we are hot or it is raining!) and walking out there as well with several friends, Mari and Pella first, then Gayle, next Jo, followed with Angela, Jennifer and our families. It is such a peaceful place (most of the time), to walk, think, figure things out, eat and fellowship. Little did I know that this would be the place that would help me pray through some of the roughest times in my life! Thanks Linda for sharing this beautiful place with your friends.

Hurrican Alex, July, 2010