Life --as we know it--couldn't be more exciting at the moment! Everyone in our family has attained a momentous milestone all within the past several weeks.
My milestone ~ After years and years of waiting and hoping, it looks like we are going to add to the family tree! When we started getting good reports from the doctor, we felt safe to share the news that we are going to have a baby! Due date - June 2. When you have experienced pregnancy loss, you kind of approach the whole idea with caution. You want to be hopeful, yet not presumptuous. We are fully aware that good health and good progress are all direct gifts from God's hand.
Steve's milestone ~ First time world traveler! Steve made a trip around the globe to our mission work in India. Wow! What an experience! We were so thankful he was able to make the trip with a veteran traveler - Bro. Steve Robinson. God certainly used them in amazing ways, and they received such amazing blessings from these precious people that we sponsor in Tenali, India. 
Tara's milestone ~ She shot her first deer! Hurray for Tara! This was her first time to hunt with a rifle! She was so calm and confident, and knocked that deer down!! It wasn't until she was climbing down out of the stand that she started getting "buck fever!" There was no need to track any blood! Her daddy was so proud ~ her cousin DJ was so proud ~ everyone was so proud of her! I know her Grandpa Snodgrass would have been bursting at the seams!
Tara's milestone ~ She shot her first deer! Hurray for Tara! This was her first time to hunt with a rifle! She was so calm and confident, and knocked that deer down!! It wasn't until she was climbing down out of the stand that she started getting "buck fever!" There was no need to track any blood! Her daddy was so proud ~ her cousin DJ was so proud ~ everyone was so proud of her! I know her Grandpa Snodgrass would have been bursting at the seams! 
Katie's milestone ~ sweet 16! We had a grand time celebrating! Our friends the Truitts were able to come from Missouri, which made the weekend extra special. Celebrating entailed the Cheesecake Factory on Friday night, shopping all day Saturday, and finally a birthday party after church Sunday evening with around 40 friends and family ~ topped off with an "Oreo" cake from Edgars Bakery. What a sweet celebration for such a sweet girl! Our prayer is that she will grow in grace and the love of our Savior! Love you, Katie!
Imagine our surprise when we walked into a Bob Evans restaurant last Thursday, and lo and behold, there stood Mr. & Mrs. Lincoln! He was so gracious to take time to talk to the girls, but he paid special attention to Tara.
He told her that it was a girl about her age that convinced him to grow a beard. The girl's name was Grace Bidell, and she told Mr. Lincoln that he had a plain face. She said that if he would just grow a beard, she may be able to convince her brothers to vote for him. So he did! Another interesting fact is that he only wore his beard during his presidency. Then he invited Tara to join the group at his table while he gave a speech--the "Gettysburg Address." I'm sure Tara will long remember this fun diversion to the day.
The morning hunt was very successful with a buck and a doe down! Wow, Katie! She says, "Yay! I'm loving life right now!" Well, she is now 1 up on her dad with only a week left of season.... 
Isn't that sad--I mean with a season that starts the middle of October and goes until the end of January, why does the last week have to get here so soon? Well, my hubby so sweetly invited me to go along with him for this morning's hunt at one of his favorite stands. There is nothing quite like being present while the forest comes to life. It was a beautiful morning with a tolerable level of chilliness. I tried to sit very still, be very quiet, look for deer and read my book. We did see 4 deer, but, sadly, he could not get a shot on any of them. Katie won the day! 
