Swart Life: Family

Last weekend was such a treat for Jeff & I! We had all our kids in our home at the same time! Rachel and Derek arrived on Saturday. We enjoyed a quiet, "laid back" kind of day with them. Even got some game playing in. Here we are playing Rook - one of our favorites:

Then Sunday, Josh, Erika, Karla, Andy, Carman and Lainey-Bug all drove up for church and lunch.

Mom and Howard also came:

Paul & Mary Mooney and grandson, Nate also ate dinner with us (didn't really have a good picture though to include of them). Here is my sweet granddaughter:

We were especially thrilled that Karla was still in Josh and Erika's care and was able to come too. Here she is with a gift from Leigh Ryan (Leigh is the queen of gift giving--thank you!!)

And a gift for Laine from Leigh as well:

I was trying to catch a few minutes amidst the hecticness of getting dinner ready and cleaning up to hold this baby doll:

Wish it wasn't blurry - but a special, special treat to have both of the girls in my lap :-)

And I loved this one too -- with my own daughter included:

Josh playing with Karla below.....he'll be such a good daddy! Josh & Erika had thought all week that Karla would be going to her grandmother's any day and did not think they would be bringing her with them. However, on Friday before their visit, they got a call that the paperwork had been messed up and it could be 6-8 months before she would leave their home! However, on the following Wednesday, they got the call that they were to bring her to the DHS office at 4:30 that afternoon. Another shock. So they packed everything up and took her. They were surprised and thankful that they got to meet many of her family, including her mom and her grandma. Karla cried though when she had to part from them and I know Josh and Erika probably cried all the way home. Please pray that Karla will be loved and well cared for and that they will teach her about Jesus. Also pray for Josh & Erika as they continue to travel this foster/adoption road.

Papa saying goodbye -- the visit was entirely too short and too quick!

On Monday, Jeff & I went to Branson for a couple of days to celebrate his belated birthday. We've gone to Branson the past three summers for his birthday celebration. Due to the very generous gift of a couple of people from our church family, we got tickets to some shows! This is Liverpool Legends. Yes, they looked and sounded almost identical to the Beatles. In fact, George Harrison's sister "owns" the group and was there at intermission to answer questions, etc.

We also toured the Titanic exhibit. Jeff has always been a major student of the Titanic disaster. He even has a sermon series about it. So we thoroughly enjoyed our time here:

They didn't allow any pictures taken of the inside, so all we have is these of the outside.

The other tickets that were given to us was for the musical show, "SIX." It was such a great show! Six brothers who sang and did all the back up music with their mouths. There was no band or sound trak, although it sounded like a full band behind them. Amazing!! We highly recommend this show the next time you are in Branson.

The brother on the far left had a ridiculous hairstyle - but it was quite humorous and the brunt of many jokes! His children call him their "Chia Pet."