There's nothing like ending the day with a "Happy Ending"

Ahhh How I love Fridays! The last day of the work week, just anticipating the start of the weekend. Thinking of time to spend with my husband and family, yeah that makes the week worth it. Today was a busy Day for Dennis and I, but it had a "Happy Ending"! I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story.

And that is what inspires me to smile!

Today was another busy Saturday. It started off with taking Samantha to church to watch the AWANA Grand Prix. It was fun to watch the races and see the kids get the different trophies from fastest, most creative, etc. Then on to the best part of this annual event. Free hot dogs and homemade milk shakes. Our Teens from Youthquake help a couple from our church who are dairy farmers run the kitchen for this event every year.
Around 12:30 five of the girls from my small group in youth group headed for the mall. We had a great time being silly and even met two new friends. You will see who I mean when you watch the montage.

Photo and video editing at onetruemedia.com

Sandfantasy art

My mom sent a E-mail to me that had this link in it. I was fascinated by the clip and went to the web site and found more clips there that show demo's of this person's art. Being someone that can't even draw stick figures very well, I am always impressed with someone that has a artistic gift. Check these links out and see why I am inspired to smile!
http://www.sandfantasy.com/videoclips/just_imagine_long.wmv
http://www.sandfantasy.com/videoclips/videoclips.htm

Caroline is on the move!

Today we had our monthly family dinner at my mother's house. Not only is it a great time to get together and have her fantastic cooking, but it is a time when we all get to see each other and catch up on what is new. Well the newest thing this Sunday was that little Caroline is now walking. Check out this video and I know you will be inspired to smile just like I am.

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The Good ole Days!

Cheryl and me sledding. Feb. 1966
This memory inspires me to smile!

Hogan goes on a adventure!

It was last Friday night March 2nd that this little adventure took place. Dennis and I had joined up with our youth and leaders from our church to go to a weekend retreat. My oldest son Randy volunteered to watch Hogan and Tucker for us while we were away.
We had just finished midnight room checks and were drifting into a sound sleep when I heard my cell phone ringing. When I answered Randy said to me Mom the worse thing has happened! My first thought was that our house had burnt down. But he quickly told me that Hogan had broke the leash and ran off while Randy was out walking him.
Randy apparently had been trying to catch him for a good 45 minutes, when a man stopped for him to use his cell phone to call us. I could tell Randy was ready to give up. We felt so helpless because we didn't have any way of traveling home to help. I quickly told Randy to keep trying to catch him and that I would call for someone to try to help him. Well my dear brother-in-law was to unlucky one to get the call from me asking to get out of his warm bed and go and help find our run away dog. What a good guy he was to agree to help. I owe him and my sister big time. Meanwhile we call Dan our younger son to come pick up Dennis from the retreat and take him home to help in the search. Dan also was asleep when we called. So let me catch you up to speed. Dennis is in the truck with Dan getting ready to leave Harrisburg to head from home, Cheryl and John are heading over to our house to help and I get a phone call from Randy that he has the dog home and back in his kennel!
I quickly called Dan to bring Dennis back, got hold of John & Cheryl, but they were already up at our house, and called Randy back to profusely thank him for getting the dog home. It all seemed like A bad dream. Thinking back on it now, I can say I am inspired to smile but at the time I just wanted to go back to sleep!

IMPACT Youth Retreat

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Friday Dennis and I left on a bus headed to Harrisburg with 28 others from our church for a IMPACT retreat in Harrisburg PA. There were 6 leaders and 24 Teens. This is the third year that Dennis and I have went along on this trip. It is something we as a youth group look forward to every year.
The speaker was Awesome. His name is Bob Lentz. He had a great message at all four of the main sessions. Some of his main points were as follows: We can not get to Heaven by 1) GE being Good Enough, 2)RR religious road or by 3)KIA Know it all (thinking we know it all about the BIBLE) we can only get to Heaven by: BGTF By Grace Through Faith
He really challenged the teens that they can make a difference. If they are CCC Compassionate,Courageous & Committed.
This was the second year for the Aaron Pelsue Band. You can listen to them on the slide show.
Saturday afternoon some of us took a walk across the Susquehanna River on the footbridge. There was a lot of ice floating down the river. It was nice weather and a lot of people were out walking. We went to City Island and then headed back to the retreat.
Some of our group dressed up on Saturday evening and went door to door at our hotel (the Hilton) Trick or Treating. There were several teams and a competition going on to see who could get the most food given to them. It was interesting to see what they brought back, even a piece of pizza!
Well it was a long and blessed weekend and I am heading to bed now. I can't wait to blog tomorrow and tell you what happened at home while we were away!
And that is what inspires me to SMILE!