Shane and I have recently got caught up in Facebook and I haven't taken the time to update you all by blog. Shane and the kids had a fabulous time seeing family and friends. Shane surprised Kevin and Sharon by coming unannounced to the funeral. They were very happy to see him and the kids. Austen got to see his school friend, Reed. They all got to see snow, and play in the river all in the same weekend.

The recession has not really affected Longview, We have had many layoffs and plants close, but for an average the Forbes Magazine listed Longview, Texas as one of the top cities for employment and the city continues to grow. Housing is still high and people are still buying and selling. This has helped my job because even with people moving out it seems that many are just shifting from houses to apartments or the other way around.

Shane is leaving May 3rd for Brazil on a mission trip. He will be gone for three weeks. He is a little nervous about traveling alone, but excited too. We both have such a desire to live in South America. He will be spending his time with missionaries, Mike and Jodi Bunn. They work with Brazil Air and YWAM. Shane has also decided to change his degree plan. Funds have not been able to come in for him to get his flight training now, so he will graduate with a aeronautical science/computer science degree. Hopefully after school he will land a job that will pay for the flight he needs to get the pilot license.

The kids are doing great. We are looking into homeschool for Austen for next year. He still is moving very quickly in school and gets bored easily. He has moved from the top reader in the entire school to second because we won't let him read Harry Potter books or any other books that have magic in them. Unfortunately, these are the books that have the most points in them for Accelerated Reading. We really are praying that we could find someone that wouldn't mind adding Austen to their schooling their own kids. Austen has been swimming three times a week with the Longview Swim Club. He has a test soon to see if he will move up.

Gabrielle is doing so much better at reading, She can't wait to start swimming for the summer. She keeps asking me when the pool opens at my work. She also wants to go to a water park this summer. She still wants be a mermaid when she grows up. I would love to get her into swimming with Austen but its just not the time.

My mom is doing ok. She seems to have days when she spends most her time in bed. I have noticed that she is having a hard time formulating her words. I think it might be from one... she doesn't interact with people on a regular basis and two..I'm afraid that she might be having mini strokes. I did talk about it with her and we have made an appointment with her doctor.

My mom and I went to a ladies retreat a few weeks back, it was so beautiful! Our cabins were right in front of a huge lake. Smack dab in the middle of nowhere, it was great! We met new people and played games, and had an awesome time with my Heavenly Father.