My Baby has grown up - She is independent now

Yesterday was an exciting day for Chloe and a bit of a sad day for Steve. Yesterday Chloe got these
As soon as we got home from work - she was off on her first solo drive. In fact she managed four solo drives last night. Steve feels a little sad - he figures that now she has her licence, we will hardly see her. He is probably right, He finds it hard to beleive that his baby has grown up.

Yesterday also saw these guys celebrate their fifth wedding Anniversary.

They tell me they still feel like they are on their honeymoon. We just love seeing them so happy together. What a blessing. Congratulations guys - we pray that you have many many more wonderful and happy years together.

Last night we had these four gorgeous kids sleep over. We love them to bits -since our kids are a little slow to produce grandchildren, we have adopted these guys as grandkids. They live in PNG and we only get to see them every 3 years or so and then only for 3-6 months, so we love to make the most of our time with them. They ADORE Chloe.
She is able to get them to do things happily which I am sure that neither I or their parents can get them to do. This morning she had them out helping her do this
I have also managed to do some scrapbooking this week. I have to apologise for the dodgy photos. It has been raining here all week so I have been unable to get outside and photograph these layouts properly. Thought I had better share though as I am off to scrapbook with the girls this afternoon so who knows I might have some more layouts to share in the next week again. I am still trying to catch up on the backlog of photos from last year.
I have also managed to do a few more tags for the Scrap of Faith Hope Tins.
A couple of months ago, I posted a photo of our back year - there was not a blade of green grass in it. We had gone for 10 months without any rain - we had experienced the worst fires ever in our region and then two days after Christmas the rain started falling and it has been constantly falling ever since. I am still not sick of it - it is SO GOOD to see everything green and lush again.
Here is a photo of the contrast of our back yard in the space of a few short weeks. Now all I need to do is take a photo of it now that it has been mowed, and cleaned up. We spent the whole of last Saturday afternoon, mowing, trimming trees, whipper snippering, and weeding. I am so thankful that we did. It has rained all week again - still wet and overcast today, and the grass has already grown so much that we really need to do it again. Won't be this weekend though. I am off to scrapbook with the girls this afternoon.

My gratitude list for this week would have to include

1. Rain, glorious rain.
2. the colour green - everywhere you look.
3. cuddles and hugs - especially from the kids
4. scrapbooking the memories
5. Smiling at a layout.
6. Refreshing words from God
7. Peacefulness.
8. Bright colours that make me Happy
9. Hot chocolate from Gloria Jeans
10. Playing "Settlers" with family and friends.
11 Laughter when we all get together.
12. The tugging at my heart from the Lord to be content in all things.
13. Inner Peace. Talking to God and feeling His presence.
14. The Scrap of Faith girls
15. Sleep ins