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Gail got an apartment and moved in last week. It was an answer to prayer, as we had been praying that God would provide her with her own place. It's small but nice, just right for her right now. Erin and I visited her Saturday evening. She seems to like it, although being by herself is a big change for her.... but she is glad to have her own space. We're making the downstairs room a combination office, rec room, and "guest room"..... just in case someone comes to visit and stays overnight. This week the house is pleasantly but strangely quiet, as Janet and Erin are off to a national fine arts competition. Caroline, Al, and I are the only ones home. Caroline finished cosmetology school Saturday, and i was off from work, so we spent the day together. We drove to the mall so she could apply for a position at a hairdressing salon, had a cup of coffee at Starbucks, and came home. My friend from work came over for a little while, and then Caroline highlighted my hair. Al was home as well, so we spent time with him too. When Caroline left to go babysitting, Al and I had a date at Wendy's. We went for a walk when we got home, and now we're watching a DVD. Everyone's growing up, and I'm glad that God holds the future....ours and theirs!

What Happens When You're the Baby of Seven?

That's a question best answered by Erin, our youngest child. First of all, she weighed ten pounds at birth, and broke her collarbone during her delivery. Secondly, she was delightfully chubby and cuddly, and no one wanted to put her down after picking her up. She felt like a big, soft teddy bear. Well, since my three oldest are girls, Erin, Janet, and Caroline sort of had four Moms instead of just one. And since Becca, Gail, and Missy were fourteen, eleven, and almost ten respectively when Erin was born, they all spoiled her. She became very outgoing because she was used to being around people. She also became very easygoing with a bubbly personality. When Erin was almost a year old, I began teaching third and fourth grade. Since Al worked in a home office, Erin would often stay with him during the day. He would bring her with him to do errands, among which was a stop at a Dunkin' Donuts for coffee and a donut for Erin. Well, she learned to anticipate going out for a donut every time Daddy watched her. She would say,"Donut, Daddy!" and get her jacket. If he didn't respond right away, she would get HIS jacket. Daddy would give in, and they would go to Dunkin' Donuts. I don't know how many free donuts Erin got because somebody thought she was cute! She was, and still is. At just fifteen, she is tall and slender with the same cheerful personality. Even a fractured collarbone didn't stop her from cuddling her little niece last time we visited. If I were to describe Erin in one word it would be...... "irrepressible!"