Jr. Prom for Blake!

  This weekend was the Jr. Prom for Murray High!

 Blake went with his friend, Kyleigh.

Just as they were getting ready to leave,

it started snowing and snowing and snowing!

 They did get a very short ride in the limo!

 

 Of course they participated in the traditional Promenade 

down the Capitol Stairs.

Blake consented to dance with his mom.

(I think only due to peer pressure 

because everyone else was doing it!)

 

Because of the bad weather, 

the limo company would not drive up on Capitol Hill,

so Blake's group got to ride in a 12 passenger van!

 I think Blake had a really great time.

even if he did have endure a lot of pictures!

More Information about DR Congo

We have been learning a lot about

Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

It is in Central Africa. 

Only half of the country is in Brad's Mission.

The Democratic Republic of Congo Kinshasa Mission

includes part of DR Congo

Republic of Congo (also known as Congo-Brazzaville),

Cameroon, Central African Republic (CAR),

Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. 

I am sure we will continue to have many

geography and culture lessons over the next few months!

Democratic Republic of Congo Kinshasa Mission

 

After waiting for MRI results on his wrist,

having several procedures done on his body

to be mission ready --

Brad was able to submit his mission papers.

 

 

We left his call in the mail box

and he got here after dark on Wednesday.

 

Brad has been called to serve in the

 Democratic Republic of Congo Kinshasa Mission

and will enter the MTC on May 15th.
He will be speaking French.

His mission includes

  
part of Democratic Republic of Congo

 
Republic of Congo

 

Cameroon

 

Equatorial Guinea

 

Gabon

 

and Central African Republican

Christmas 2012

 The last time we were all together as a family 

for Christmas was back in 2009.

Neither Ben or Bryan were married then.

Our family has grown to 10 and 

with missions, schooling and life adventures

we are not sure when we will be together

for the holidays again.

 

We had our traditional nativity

with Grandpa Brockbank as narrator this year.

Christmas Morning 2009

Christmas Morning 2012

We had our traditional line up by age,

but everyone is getting too tall!

 

Grandpa & Grandma Brockbank joined us 

along with Aunt Elizabeth.

Of course we had to have our 

"traditional picture" with all our gifts.

But the greatest gift of all was being together!

Hope your holidays were as good as ours!

Happy New Year!!!

Christmas Crafts

I enjoy crafts -- all kinds of crafts.

Many times I see something and think

"I can make that!"

 

As Christmas was approaching

I saw a Bearded Beanie on the internet

and knew I had to have one for Bryan.

The price as over the top, so I made my own.

My children draw names and this year

Gwen got Brad's name.

I talked her into making Brad a quilt

using his Murray Wrestling & Football t-shirts

With lots of help from Brandon & Blake

the quilt turned out great and Brad loved it!

 

The last craft of the season

was an inspiration from Sarah's family.

Many years ago Sarah's grandmother had

made a Puzzle Nativity for each of her children's families.

Sarah wanted one of her own.
 
Ben and Bryan took the challenge of figuring out 

how to make the stable frame

and cut out the individual pieces.

We then spent several days painting and sealing them.

It was so fun to work with Alyse, Ben, Sarah and Bryan.

Each puzzle turned out darling.

(Wish I had pictures of all of them, here is mine.) 
 
Here is a picture of Ben and Alyse's Nativity Puzzle

Merry Christmas!

"He knows if you've been bad or good --

so be good for goodness sake!"

A New Bathroom

  For a while we had been talking about 

remodeling the bathrooms in our house.

Finally this summer we decided it was time to start.

The first bathroom we tackled was the one in the main hall.

I quickly snapped this picture as the men started the demo.

(I wish I had a better before picture.) 

After months and months,

the bathroom is finally done!