Beautiful weekend

Thursday I surprised the family with a dog. I was on my way home from work when I called and Jade answered the phone. I told her that I had a surprise and it was something she, Dave and Monika have been wanting for a long time. She said a dog....I then changed the subject and asked to talk to Dave. She kept saying "mom, really? a dog" and I said it not what it seems to be, she didn't catch it right away. So when I came in the house, I presented them with a dog. Isn't he cute? He was tasty too.

This past Saturday, my oldest neice Jessica got married in Brainerd. It was also Jenny's dance rectial. Dave stayed home with Jenny while the rest of us went to the wedding. I don't have any pictures of Jenny's dance recital since I had the camera. I will get some pictures soon from people who were at the recital. I was told by Dave and Jenny that the dance recital went very well and that Jenny did wonderful. It was also sad because it was Jenny's teacher last class as she is moving forward with her life. The wedding was beautiful. My oldest brother and his family flew in from Alabama, it was his daughter that was getting married. I became very teary eyed when I watched my brother walk his daughter down the aisile, there was a lot of family dymantics with my brother and his family when his kids were younger and I didn't think we would see this day. It made this day even more special. It would have perfect if Dave, Jenny and my nephew's little boy could have been there. We have never had the whole family together since the 4 oldest grandkids were toddlers.
Jessica (my neice), her husband Rayin, Jade next to Rayin, Monika in the blue dress, Katie in Green and I in the black.

Jade holding Deonta (some of you might have remember that he was born at 21 weeks and weighed only 1 pd and 10 oz., he is now 10 months old and 15 pds) It was our first time meeting him. He lives in Alabama with Missy (my brother's wife daughter)

Monika and Deonta. The little cousins (2nd) could not get enough of him. He loved all the attention too.

This is my family. We are missing Dave, Jenny and Luchien (He lives in Germany)

Sweet beautiful sisters. Katie and Monika

Katie

Monika

Jade had asked my dad if he would show her how to shoot a bow and arrow. My brother ended up showing her at my parent's place. She did pretty good for a first timer.

In one month, Jade will be leaving us to go back to China. We are praying that this will only be for 6 weeks and she will return in August. Dave and Jade are right now working on e-filing the applications to change her visa, so she will be able to stay here and continue both her high school and college education. This is her and her family dream for her to obtain her education here and to live here. Please pray for her to succeed in getting the visa changed so she can fulfil her dream. It is hard to believe that she has been with us for almost 10 months. It seems like it has been much longer then that and hope it will be a long time she is with us. I thank God for allowing her to come into our lives, to open our hearts to her. She has been a wonderful addition to everyone in the family.