Matthew's going away party!!

Two weeks ago Saturday we had Matthew's birthday party and we were so cold we ended up eating inside. Yesterday we had Matthew's going away party and it was over 100' luckily there was a light breeze and we changed the time to a little later in the evening so it wasn't too miserable. I don't like hot weather at all, so this time of year I am not too happy. Everything went okay though and we had a wonderful time with friends and family. This party was mainly for family and family friends. Next week Matthew is having another party just with his friends.

Of course I have pictures of everything (did anyone happen to notice that I love pictures!!)

The food for the party~ (nothing fancy- hot dogs, chips and baked beans)








Everyone seemed to enjoy the food and the conversation~




Dylan and Kaitlyn even sat together on the couch for me to get this picture~




Here they are with Matthew's cake~




This is the cake~ I had the scripture Jeremiah 29:11 put on it, this is the verse that I pray for Matthew always.






Here is Matthew with his cake~



My daughter Jennifer's 28th birthday is Monday so we couldn't leave her out~(she got a chocolate chip cheesecake, her favorite)



Here is Roger and Jennifer~




Here is Matthew and Me~


Roger and Matthew~



My Mom and Matthew~



Jennifer, Roger and Matthew~



Jennifer, Me and Matthew~



Roger and Me ~



This is our entire family~

Chris, Jennifer, Kaitlyn, Me, Matthew, Dylan and Roger~ (sadly we don't see Roger's daughter very often or the grandkids)



We all had a wonderful time, but it was still a sad time for me. Two weeks from Monday Matthew will be leaving and I really don't know when I will see him again. First he goes to Ft. Jackson in South Carolina to take his GED testing and then he is off to boot camp in Ft. Knox in Kentucky. If he stays on schedule he will be graduating from boot camp sometime in September.

I have been reading and praying for him, here are some of the verses I have been focusing on~

For protection~ (I know this verse is about Job's house and possessions, but figured the hedge around him part is what I wanted to pray for Matthew.)

"Have you not made a hedge around him, around his household and around all that he has on every side?" Job 1:10

Godly Influence~

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners nor sits in the seat of the scornful." Psalms 1:1


Hunger for God~

Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart!" Psalms 119:2


Consecration to the Lord~

"Pour out your heart like water before the Lord. Lift your hands toward Him for the life of your young child." Lamentations 2:19



Here is my Young man, doesn't look too much like a soldier to me. But he is ready and excited to start his new journey to become a soldier in the Army and to represent and defend our country to the best of his ability.






I would appreciate any and all prayers for My son as he starts his grown up life.

May God bless you all!!