Steeplechase Video

Iroquois Steeplechase

Today we had a great family day at the races! The Iroquois Steeplechase to be exact! What an experience! You know that Shelby LOVED seeing the horses! Some friends from church even showed up! What a beautiful day!

Hoping to post a video from today! Look for it to come!

Easter

Better late than never!
When we got home from church we had a picture taking session! The kids were able to some pictures - so you get several poses! Enjoy - and have a good laugh at Michael's hair!

Spring Trip

Well, our trip started in Nashville as we headed to Wylie, TX. The Lord blessed us with a smooth trip of 11.5 hours. I had figured making it in 12 hours would be good, so I felt great with our timing! The children only watched about an hour worth of movies, and the DVD player stopped working - so we had quiet time (which was great for me)! That Thursday evening we had dinner and played with our dear friends, the Perkinsons! I can't believed we stayed 4 nights and I didn't take any pictures at the house! AHHHH! I am bummed! But, that just means we were busy catching up and having a great time!
Friday morning we played with Cait while Benjamin and Tamra went to school. We had lunch together, then we went to visit Mrs. Irma (my precious neighbor in Allen). We miss her so much! Mr. Roy was still in the hospital recovering from a knee surgery, but he is doing well!



Mrs. Irma & Michael



Mrs. Irma and the kidos!

Friday evening we went Babe's in Garland to eat with friends!
Thank you to the Pates and Perkinsons for great fellowship and fun!



David and Thomas have grown! I think they like Babe's!



Michael wasn't sure about things!



Every now and then everyone that wants stands up and does the Hokey Pokey with the waitresses! You can tell the crew that enjoyed this the most!



Jack thinks these chicken strips are great!



Here we go!
As we left we were in the middle of a bad thunder storm! Drenching rain and hail was fun to run and drive in! Later we found out that 12 tornadoes touched down in the Dallas/Ft. Worth that evening! The Lord was watching over us!

Saturday, Benjamin's soccer game was cancelled because of the rain the night before. Shelby, Michael, and I went to get Shelby's dress for Kevin and Hailey's wedding next month! We had success! YEAH!



Saturday evening we went to a fellowship at our TX church! :) We had a great time visiting with friends!



What sweet fellowship!



Look at that smile! And the yummy food!



Happy Birthday, Mr. Hamm!



Games ...



games, and more games!



Sunday after church we went to Aunt Andrea and Uncle Chris' for lunch! We had yummy hamburgers! We were able to see the addition to their home and how the baby's room is coming! Since our visit, they have decided on a name! Yeah! Check it out here!

On Monday we headed to LA! First we stopped for a few hours in Shreveport/Bossier City to visit with Nana! We were also able to see Ms. Ila, Nana's friend, Mrs. Terri Prince and Taft! The children played and we visited and passed a tuxedo for Taft to wear in the wedding. We had a great time of fellowship and headed to Monroe!



Grant in a new LSU shirt that PawPaw gave him!



A trip to the park with PawPaw, JenJen, Danielle, and Anna Claire!



Look at that face!



Big girl! My great-niece, Anna Claire!













And for one of the main reasons for my trip - Grannie D! We went to see Grannie every other day! She looks great!




Shelby and Anna Claire playing with the kittys at Grannie's!



Grannie and me!



Grannie and the children!



Michael with one of Grannie's hat's on!

On Sunday, we met Grandpa and Grannie Susan at the park in Ruston. That morning I took the children to church at the church where John and I were married (12 years ago this month)! What a great day seeing old friends! You can see pictures from our time with Grandpa and Grannie Susan here. If you can't view these pics, let me know and I will try to link them differently!

We came home on a Tuesday! Boy were we glad to get back home to Daddy! - Great trip, but glad to be back in Nashville!

The Secrets of Providence

Title: The Secrets of Providence
Author: Mrs. Charles E. Cowman
Source: Streams in the Desert
Scripture Reference: Psalm 25:14

"The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him" (Ps. 25:14).
There are secrets of Providence which God's dear children may learn. His dealings with them often seem, to the outward eye, dark and terrible. Faith looks deeper and says, "This is God's secret. You look only on the outside; I can look deeper and see the hidden meaning."

Sometimes diamonds are done up in rough packages, so that their value cannot be seen. When the Tabernacle was built in the wilderness there was nothing rich in its outside appearance. The costly things were all within, and its outward covering of rough badger skin gave no hint of the valuable things which it contained.

God may send you, dear friends, some costly packages. Do not worry if they are done up in rough wrappings. You may be sure there are treasures of love, and kindness, and wisdom hidden within. If we take what He sends, and trust Him for the goodness in it, even in the dark, we shall learn the meaning of the secrets of Providence.--A. B. Simpson

"Not until each loom is silent,And the shuttles cease to fly,Will God unroll the patternAnd explain the reason whyThe dark threads are as needfulIn the Weaver's skillful hand,As the threads of gold and silverFor the pattern which He planned."

He that is mastered by Christ is the master of every circumstance. Does the circumstance press hard against you? Do not push it away. It is the Potter's hand. Your mastery will come, not by arresting its progress, but by enduring its discipline, for it is not only shaping you into a vessel of beauty and honor, but it is making your resources available.

Jack the Blue Lizard

Jack after his new hair cut tonight!


He first told me it was a mohawk, then he said he asked the lady to make him a blue lizard! What a funny boy!

Our Children

Need a current picture of the Ramares children?
Here it is!



John left this morning to go visit family in LA. He will be in Shreveport, Pineville, Elmer, (Pineville & Elmer are in the Alexandria area) and back to Bossier City! I had not current pictures to send with him so I shot a few this morning so he can pick them up this afternoon in LA! Isn't technology great some times!

Shelby turned 8 in January! Grant turned 6 a couple of weeks ago! Jack is 3 1/2 and will have a birthday in July! Michael is 16 months! Aren't they growing fast??!?!?!

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to our eldest son, Grant!
I think Grant is having a great birthday week!
Today on his official day we gave him his first big-boy Bible.
It is amazing how many changes happen in a year!
He can read, help with many more chores, and loves time with Daddy!
Lord, I pray you make Grant into a godly young man!
Happy Birthday, my dear son!

Friends ... the Penners

We enjoyed our sweet visit with our missionary friends!
It was fun to play and go to the museum with them!
Jack was just asking yesterday if he could go to the Penner's house!
Not sure I can send him to Africa! :)

The Penner & Ramares Children



The Penner Family!
Lief, Mr. Franz, Luke, Mrs. Emily, Lael, & Lian
and unborn baby "L"