Grandchildren are Such Fun!

I know its been awhile since I blogged but I'm sure you have figured out life is quite different around here now. But its a great kind of different! Guka and MeMe love having Min, Luke and Will living here with us. We love every minute we are with these precious grandchildren and look forward to coming home every day to see them! Life is good and God is great!

You also probably know that we are going to be grandparents again. Randy and Jamie announced last week to the world that they are expecting a baby in March of 2009. We are very excited and looking forward to welcoming another Scott into the world. We are praising the Lord for His faithfulness and goodness.

A year ago today, Steve's dad went to be with the Lord and 15 years ago yesterday, my Dad went to Heaven. All four of our parents are with the Lord and we miss them terribly but we are trusting God that someday we will be reunited. Losing precious loved ones is the most difficult challenge in our lives but because we have stored our treasures in Heaven, we have the hope of seeing each other and spending eternity together.


Ain't he precious!

Guka and Luke playing ball!

Cousin Landon and Luke

Luke and his new Cars shoes!


Luke in the Pool at Uncle David's


Min and boys talking to Chris on web cam


Randy and Jamie are going to be parents!

Welcome to the Scott Activity Center!

Well, the long awaited day has come and last Tuesday night, Steve, Jamie and I picked up Min, Luke and Will at the BWI airport. We had a quiet 2 hour drive home while the Min and the boys slept. When we pulled in the driveway, there was a welcoming banner on the window that said- Welcome Mindy, Luke and Will! Uncle Joe had surprised us with a special welcome! Then Min came through the door to see her beloved dog, Riley, who gave her kisses all over her face! It's been a year since Riley was that excited to see anyone- she recognized her Mama Mindy!

We showed Luke his new room and he was wide awake and excited. He loved his "Cars" bed, toy box and table and chairs. Guka had also left a few new toys in the toybox.
Since that time we have been enjoying spoiling our grandchildren. Luke is crazy about his Guka and doesn't like to see him leave for work each day!

Luke has been enjoying having access to the back yard. Guka set up a sandbox and he's been helping Guka rake and clean up. He thinks it is pretty cool to be able to open the back door and immediately be outside!

We've had almost a week of non stop motion! I'm sure our schedule will slow down and we have to convince Mindy she doesn't have to accomplish all her "10 things to do in the USA" all in a week! We have plenty of time!

Uncle Randy and Aunt Jamie are having a good time too. It's been a busy week for Randy but after today, the Shorebirds season is over and he'll be around more!

Here's a few pictures of the last week!

Coming Home to Guka and Meme's House!

Finally the long awaited day is coming. Min and the boys will be arriving in a week and a half! We have been busy getting our rooms and closets cleaned out to make room for them. It's been a busy week and we are still working hard. Once the ERD approval came, everything fell into place. We are all excited and can't wait.

We never realized how much junk we owned! We've been through boxes upon boxes trying to sort pictures and memories of years gone by. It's funny how grandchildren can put things into perspective! We're much more able to part with things from the past, looking at the present and toward the future!

Last weekend marked a year since our precious niece, Karlee went to be with Jesus. She never woke up on a Saturday morning and it has been a difficult year, especially for my brother, Brian, and her mother and sister, Patty and Chelsey. Life on this earth will never be the same but God has been faithful and thankfully, we have looked to Him for comfort and peace and He is providing. Please continue to keep her family in your prayers.

Please also continue to pray for our son, Chris who is still in Iraq. I know he is feeling better now that Min and the boys are returning to the US but he misses his family very much and it is so tough to be so far away from those he loves. We are missing him and long for the day he will return. He makes us proud as he performs his duty to his country and we all are praying that Iraq will soon be able to secure their own country so our men and women in uniform can come home to their families.

Here's just a few pictures from the past few weeks:

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William Stephen

Luke and his friends, EA and MC




Luke and Will dressed alike!


Randy, Jamie, Steve and I


Getting Min and Will's room ready-Still lots to do!

Luke's "Cars" room


Cousins in July, 2007

Above the Fruited Plains!

We just returned from a wonderful trip to Colorado Springs. Steve and his other 3 brothers and wives had a mini-family reunion over the weekend. Steve and I arrived on Friday afternoon and spent a long weekend together. We had a great time. Friday night we went to the Flying W ranch for dinner and a cowboy country musical show. Then on Saturday, we travelled on the railway up to Pikes Peak. The scenery was beautiful and well worth the hour and a half trip climbing the mountain.On Saturday evening, we all sat around on the deck and the brothers shared their memories of growing up in the parsonages in Ohio, New York and New England. Sunday we were able to worship together at Steve's brother, Alan's church where he is the pastor. On Monday, we visited the Focus on the Family campus which was very enjoyable. We especially enjoyed the walk around the "Adventures of Odyssey".

Alan and Beth entertained all of us all weekend and were great hosts! The meals and accommodations were awesome! Thanks so much to them.

It has been a busy month with a great 4th of July with Jamie's family visiting from Olathe, KS. The following weekend we travelled to Royersford, Pa. for our cousin Faryl's wedding. It was great to see some of our Andrews relatives.

This weekend we are looking forward to nothing planned. It has been a while since we've been able to just hang out at Shad Point.

Being gone for 6 days, we were unable to "web cam" with Min and the boys until this morning. I missed them so much and it was great to see and talk with them. Mindy said Luke actually asked over the weekend to talk with Guka and MeMe. This morning when Steve began the web cam, Luke asked, "MeMe, wake?" It's so much fun to know he even looks forward to hearing from us!

Well, I need to get ready to go to Praise Team practice. There is so much I could blog about but no time right now. So it will have to wait.

The Military Display at Trinity CoTN- our son Chris!

Steve looking for his golf ball!

Focus on the Family

Adventures at Odyssey

Happy Birthday, USA!

Today is one of my favorite holidays. We are celebratng the Fourth of July! We will be having a picnic on the river with our neighbors, the Willeys and Uncle Joe and Aunt Marge. Jamie's parents are here, Don and Deb Ellis and her sister Dawn from KS so they will be joining us with Randy and Jamie. Good times, Good Food! YAY!

We will then go over to the Shorebirds stadium for a celebration of our soldiers families and fireworks. Thankfully, the 4th is on a Friday this year so no work tomorrow and we have the whole weekend ahead of us!

Last Sunday,the choir sang a Patriotic musical and there were displays for those soldiers who had fought for our freedom. It was a great service and a beautiful tribute to our military and our country. I actually kept my composure and made it through the program without boohooing. One of the soldiers called from Iraq which was pretty powerful. There are several family members from our church in Iraq and Afganistan. We appreciate and pray for every one of you. You make us proud!

Hopefully Min and the boys are getting closer to coming back.It has been a very frustrating few months for everyone, especially Mindy. One of them has been sick or injured every couple weeks with not much of a break. Mindy is exhausted and we are praying continually that the Lord will open the door to bring her and the boys home.

Last night we went to Randy and Jamie's for a cookout with Jamie's family. It was great fun. Randy cooked on his gas grill and we ate outside in their yard. Once the bugs started biting we went inside and played "Mab Gabs." It was lots of laughs.

Just to bring everyone up to date in case you were wondering, I'm still on my weight loss attempt. I have lost 8 lbs but this week I've not been behaving so I may need to regroup. I would like to at least lose 5 more and maintain. The weight watchers point system is pretty good if you can get past the first few weeks. The exercise routine hasn't been happening, I'm sorry to say!

We still meet with our small group every other week and are still studying the book, "Velvet Elvis." The book has really stimulated some good discussions and is helping us take a look at ourselves and the way we do church. Rob Bell is still way out there for me but he makes some really thought provoking points.

We wish you a Happy 4th of July! Please remember to pray for those who have fought and are fighting for the freedom we enjoy as a nation. Let us all remember the God in Whom we trust and Who has brought us through many struggles. May He continue to bless our nation and remind us to return to the principles on which this nation was built.

Sum--mer- Time and the Livin' Ain't Easy!

I know all our fans out there have been waiting for our next weekly blog! So here goes!

Steve is still working on remodelling Randy and Jamie's bathroom. Jamie is hoping today is the day that they can move back to their own home. Steve is hoping to have the water hooked up and everything running. It looks great and Randy and Jamie are excited to have a brand new bathroom! I'm sure they will be posting pictures on their blog soon.

This has definitely been a busy spring and summer looks pretty full too. Last week Jamie and Judy travelled to Baltimore for our niece, Chelsey's graduation party. It was a great time. After the party, we found our way to the Annapolis mall and brought home some Chipotle. That's the nearest Chipotle to Salisbury so every chance we get - we make that a stop.

In 2 weeks, Jamie's parents and sister are visiting so there's still plenty of work to be done before their arrival. They will be here over the 4th of July and we are looking forward to their visit.

July's schedule is filling up. The second weekend we will be going to Pennsylvania to a cousin's wedding and then the following weekend Steve and I are travelling to Colorado for a visit with his brothers. We made our reservations this week and we're excited. The only time I have ever been to Colorado was in 1970 for the Nazarene Youth Institute at Estes Park.

We're really hoping by the end of July either Min and the boys will be here or at least have an idea when they'll be able to come. Please continue to pray for all the details to fall into place. Mindy is really being challenged with 24/7 care of the boys with no relief.If you've been reading her blog, you can see she has her hands full. We've been able to communicate with Chris via email and instant messaging. He's really working hard 7 days a week. Keep him in your prayers. As you can imagine, he is really missing his family.

Judy's brother Brian, Chelsey and boyfriend, Ben

Chelsey's Graduation Display

Judy and brother, Brian

Judy, Chelsey and Jamie

Brian, Chelsey and her mom, Patti

The "brudders"

Faithful Fathers

Today is Father's Day. A day for me that is bittersweet. This is the first Father's Day without Steve's Dad. He passed away last September. My own Daddy has been gone for 15 years as of this September. We really miss our Dads but we realize what a blessing our fathers were and how they still influence our lives.

Both our fathers attended Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy, Massachusetts and became ministers in the Church of the Nazarene. My dad, David E. Andrews, Sr. pastored small churches for about 10 years in S.C., Pa., and Va. He left the ministry when I was six years old so I really don't think of myself as a preacher's kid. He continued to be involved in the Church all his life as a Sunday School teacher and faithful layperson. He loved the Lord and always taught his children to imitate Jesus. He was a godly example and a kind, compassionate man. There was never a day I didn't feel the depth of his love for his God, his wife and children. He made it easy to believe in a loving Heavenly Father who watched over our lives and guided us each day.

Steve's dad, Rev. John D. Scott pastored for 40 years, 33 in the Church of the Nazarene in Upstate New York, Ohio, and New England. He moved to Maryland in 1986 and pastored 3 Methodist charges in Deal Island, MD. He served the Lord and the church faithfully all his life. He was truly a "devoted pastor" to all who knew him-even his family. He had deep spiritual wisdom and was always willing to give counsel if asked. He was quiet and unassuming and all who knew him respected him. He and his wife, Doris raised 4 sons who are all serving the Lord today. They also have 10 grandchildren, 9 who have graduated from a Nazarene college or university, and the last one entering Northwest Nazarene this Fall as a Freshman.

So both Steve and I have a wonderful legacy and we have always felt the hand of God on our lives. It's unlikely we would be in the relationship we are today with our Heavenly Father, if our fathers had not been faithful followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. We owe them so much and are very thankful that our Lord provided such examples in our lives.

I could also take the time to write complimentary words of the man who is my husband and has been such a wonderful father to our two sons. But I'll give those sons a chance to express their own feelings.(I know that's a change for me but what can I say) I just know they couldn't have a more loving,wise Dad and I'm grateful for the Lord's blessing to me as a mother and wife.

This year on Father's Day, I would have to also include our son, Christopher. It is not his first Father's day, but it is the first one in Iraq. It has been a couple months since he had to leave his wife and 2 sons and I know it was the most difficult thing he's ever done. He is such a good father to his boys and his Dad and I are very proud of him. It's been such a pleasure these last couple years to watch him with his son, Luke, and now Will. Being a father really brings out the best in him.

We send out a Father's Day wish to all of the soldiers who are fathers who are serving our country. We are so grateful.

Judy's Dad- David E. Andrews Sr.

Steve's Dad- John D. Scott Sr.

Grandpa Steve and Luke


Soldiers-Our Heroes- David Andrews Sr; Chris Scott

Chris with sons, Luke and Will

Chris, Luke and Grandpa Steve- Guka