It was the first time we had been together as a family since dad's surgery.
Meet my dad, Larry.
Spending time with his favorite person.
Two surgeries within 7 days was pretty tough on him. When he's well enough, there will be chemo. But don't be surprised if this time next year while at the lake you happen to see a seriously white head of hair on top of a slalom water skiier. You'll recognize him as the one who has a funny way of getting into the water.
Rachel, self-portrait (taken with her phone in Riverside)
I just love my boys in ties...
Jessie, jumping for joy, with sunflowers...
Later that month, Theron and Lori enjoyed a couple’s retreat at Hume Lake, 
and Jessie turned 16. 
In February it became clear that Lori’s mother’s health was declining. We prepared a room for her in our home, and Grandma Dot moved to Fresno. 
I was not directing the band in this picture...my husband was tickling me.
Jordan turned 20, 
bringing us down to only four teenagers. In March, Josiah celebrated his 11th birthday. 
In the month of April, Jordan, Jessie and Ben traveled to Mexico to help build homes with Amor International. 
Easter time came with new hope as Grandma’s health showed steady improvement. Theron’s dad went home to be with the Lord, and once again we shared a time of celebration in Oklahoma with family. 
May brought exciting news as both Rachel and Jessie were selected to represent California in each of their Zones National Water Polo Tournaments. Rachel traveled to Utah, and Jessie to Washington where they competed with girls from across the country. Luke turned 14, and Rachel’s relay team went to the Valley Championships in Bakersfield, 
while Josiah and Rebekah joined Junior Water Polo for the first time. Luke participated as well, for the last time, as he prepared for his first high school season. 
In June, a very excited Rachel graduated from high school, and she and two of her friends sang for graduation. Theron took the boys to Wishon for a camping trip. 
During the summer Jordan enjoyed working at Hartland Christian Camp, Ben turned 16, 
we did our annual bike trip on the Monterey Peninsula, Bekah turned 9, and we packed Rachel off to college at California Baptist University, where she will play water polo. 
Thank heavens for scholarships!!! Jordan decided to go back to school as well at the local community college. He also began working for Fresno Unified School District as a special education aide at the neighborhood high school. He enjoys his job very much, and it seems like a perfect fit for him.
In September, Josiah enjoyed being the new ballboy for the Sunnyside High varsity football team. 
We also got a new dog, an Irish Setter – Bella. (see previous post)
In the fall, the boys’ and girls’ water polo team won their league championships, and the girls’ team played in the Valley Championship game, losing by only one point. It was a special treat to wake up one morning before Valleys to find an article featuring Jessie 
on the front page of the sports section of the newspaper…(even though we already knew she was amazing). 
In addition, Ben’s team voted him MVP, so it was a pretty happy couple of weeks around here. 
A few weeks before Thanksgiving, Grandma decided that she was well enough to move, along with her husband, into a senior apartment. We are so happy for her ability to do this, and that she is much healthier now. They live about 1 ½ miles from our house, just behind Fresno Pacific University.
It sure has been nice to have all of the kids home together for a few weeks. 
Rachel had to leave on the 30th of December, because she has triple water polo practices daily the week before classes actually begin. This was a tough goodbye, as visits home will be very difficult once her game schedule begins. But typing this has been really good for me; it has taken my focus off the goodbyes and given me a chance to reflect on how blessed we are as a family. God has had his hand on us this year as we traveled by car, train, and plane. He has blessed us with an exciting year, and with a measure of His grace during the hard times. He has answered our prayers beyond all that we could have asked as some of our children have begun to move into adulthood, and has given us the strength to keep up with those who are still young. Our love for one another has been His greatest blessing in a world where love is temporary. We hope that you have seen His blessings this holiday season, too, and we pray that God will reign in each of your homes and your hearts in 2008.
He had a wonderful time.
He is now home, has begun college again, and is continuing to work as a Special Ed aide with Fresno Unified School District.
The Perry's have been going as long as we have, and long ago took on the task of being in charge of the trip each year.
The Belden's started coming long ago too. It's like a reunion to see which of the "regulars" will join us each year.
We sleep in tents, and get up early to ride. Sometimes it's cold and foggy when we start.
Each year there is at least one new family. Sometimes two or three.
We get pretty grungy..........
but we clean up pretty good.
We went on rides and played on the beach. There were so many people there!
I really liked the rides. But not the scary ones.
