Derek's golf outings...

It felt great to be back on the golf course this year. My back is 100% and I have not felt this good since college. Thank you God! I enjoyed several golf outings this year. Below are a few where I had a camera available.

Lucy/Morgan Fall Sports

The girls wrapped up their regular season for Fall sports. Lucy scored 2 goals in her last soccer game and won 3-1. Lucy ended up with 10 goals for the season! Morgan played her first year of volleyball and loves the sport. Another one to add to the list. Morgan did great and I have a goal for her to get 5 serves over in a game and in the final game she served 11 over! Morgan plays in her tournament this weekend. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures. Our camera is getting a bit outdated and need to invest in a new one soon. Next is basketball and snow skiing for both girls.

It was bound to happen...

Lucy received 4 stitches the other night after falling from some bleachers; head first. She was at Morgan's volleyball practice with Betsy and I was at an elders meeting. I received a voicemail and text that Lucy was at Children's hospital. What? I wasn't too surprised though. Lucy had a big gash in her chin and they couldn't stop the bleeding until it was stitched.

Makeover :)

Lucy and a few of her friends decided to take the older girls (Morgan and her friend, Abby) hostage and do a "funny" makeover... The picture speaks for itself.

Back to School!

The summer is coming to an end and yesterday was the first day back to school. Morgan is in 5th grade and Lucy embarks on her first full day in 1st grade. Here are a few pictures...

Before school starts the kids line up (by classrooms) outside and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Morgan got to hold the flag for the first day of school. The lady next to her is the principle; Dr. Robinson.

Lucy Soccer Camp

Lucy participated in a week long soccer camp from 9-3pm everyday last week. This is a Christian based soccer camp called; Ambassadors Soccer Camp. They ended the week with a "world cup" day of games and skill events. Lucy was one of forty kids in her age group of 6-10 year old. In two of the shooting events Lucy was one of three finalists for a trophy. She did an amazing job. We are so proud of her! Lucy has found a sport that she can excel in that is different from her sisterLucy shoots and scores...Goallllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
Lucy competing in the dribbling skills contest.

Morgan turns 10!

Happy Birthday Morgan! Today Morgan turns 10; double digits. We are so proud of you! For her birthday she wanted an iPod touch. For those of you who are crippled by technology:) it is a larger version of the iPod that plays music and has other functions. Morgan is also going with a best friend of hers to get her ears pierced. This is a big deal for Morgan. May God bless you in all you do!
Morgan and her (bff's) best friends forever...

Morgan showing off her newly learned archery skills in the side yard.

Family Beach Trip 2010!

We had a great family vacation this summer. We visited Cinci, Charlotte and Hilton Head. Below are some pictures from the beach! This was the first trip to the ocean for both girls. Here Morgan is eyeing a good wave for boogie boarding... Betsy and the girls resting from shopping in Harbour Town

We went with Betsy's family. Here pictured are her father (Jim), brother (Eric) and the rest of his family with us.
Lucy can get real used to this :)

Daddy even remembered how to catch a wave!

Ethipoia updates better late than never!: More Projects We Will Tackle

Please check out my friend blog below on updates for our Ethiopia trip. This particular post shows more ways we will be able to support the village there. DW


The Howletts 5, er, 6.... better late than never!: More Projects We Will Tackle: "Hello Dear Friends! So much is happening, there is new news every day, and new details to work through.

Ethiopian trip 2011!

I posted this because you are trusted friends and family who visit my blog and I need to raise monetary and prayer support to visit (FOVC), Friends of Orphans and Vulnerable Children, in Southern Ethiopia. Our close friends; Dave and Lory Howlett are board members of FOVC and are planning a 2011 mission trip. FOVC is a small organization that depends solely on God for all help and hope. To date, two families from the West have ever visited (or helped) FOVC. If I am able to go on this trip, my group will be only the third western (white) visitors to Shanto in the history of the village. Of course, it is not the color of my skin, but my desire to bring the hope and love of Jesus Christ that really matters!

If you want to read/learn more about FOVC, then please visit their blog at http://fovcethiopia.wordpress.com/. Desalegn Daka, Howlett’s friend and the founder of FOVC, is also very active on Facebook.

At this time, we are looking at the following dates to travel:

December 29, 2010 to January 8, 2011

We expect to be gone for about 10 days. Currently, airfare is running about $1500 per person for all of these dates. I do not yet have in-country travel, food or lodging costs, but I have reason to believe the trip will run approximately $2500. An FOVC board member is working on getting 501c3 status for FOVC, which--I believe--will make our expenses tax deductible.

"What would we do in Ethiopia?" you ask.

We expect to spend the first couple of days in Addis Ababa. This is the capitol city of Ethiopia. We will stay at a guest house there, rest up and do some sight-seeing. There will also be opportunities to visit Children's Heaven (http://www.childrensheaven.org/), the leper community that is located in Addis, the world-renowned Fistula Hospital as well as ministry opportunities.

Next, we will travel approximately 5 hours south to the small city of Sodo. During our time with FOVC, we will be based in Sodo.

FOVC is located in the village of Shanto, approximately a 30 minute drive from Sodo. At the time of our trip, FOVC will be working on building its new orphanage facility, thanks to just-announced funding by an organization called Ethiopian Orphan Relief (www.ethiopianrelief.org). We will help with this project. We will also deliver much-needed supplies to the children there. Finally, our presence will provide life-changing support and encouragement to the orphans, vulnerable children, FOVC staff and villagers of Shanto. Shanto is an extremely remote and impoverished area where people suffer greatly from preventable conditions and children die of starvation.

In addition to the things we hope to accomplish for FOVC and the village of Shanto, I know the children and the villagers desire to welcome us with a festival, cultural dancing, street races and etc.

After three or four days in Shanto, we will travel back to Addis via the beautiful lake country of Ethiopia. And, or course, wherever we go in the country, we will see the beautiful, warm, welcoming people of Ethiopia.

If I am able to join in this trip, I know, I will never be the same!

Please let me know if you have questions, and if you are interested in supporting me as I need to raise $2,500. This amount of money will cover airfare, in-country lodging, food and travel. Please be assured that I will strive to be an excellent steward of any gift you are able to give: we will be safe, but in no way extravagant, while we are in Ethiopia. I am praying that God will use me and that this will glorify His name!

Blessings to you and through you,

DW

Grand Elk Club; Granby, CO

We were able to enjoy a few days up in Granby (near Winter Park) for some R&R. Some friends of ours from church who also had a child in Betsy's class have a mountain home that they blessed us with for a few days. We had beautiful weather and a great time!

Lucy's lost tooth

Lucy lost another baby tooth yesterday. The funny part is how she lost it. Grandma Weber was throwing a diving stick in the pool for Lucy but it missed the pool and knocked Lucy's tooth right out. Lucy never cried and was happy to finally lose that tooth! We had to write a note to the tooth-fairy that we lost the tooth in the pool so he would leave some money :)

Kindergarten Graduation

Our last child is moving on to full day school! Lucy celebrates her Kindergarten graduation and we are amazed how time flies! Here is a picture of Lucy and her wonderful teachers...

Lucy's good friend from our neighborhood, Sydney. They will look forward to playing at our pool this summer!

Field Day

Morgan enjoyed the last few days of school but it was bittersweet as mom will miss having Morgan in her class next year. It was a great year for the whole family! Here Morgan shows off some skills with the hurdles...
Not to be out done, Betsy shows off her track skills from High School :) This was the favorite event of the day. A different take on beach volleyball!

All-Star Tournament

Morgan was invited to play in her 10u fast pitch softball all-star tournament. She got the game ball for MVP in her All-Star tournament but what we are most proud of is she also was awarded the sportsmanship ribbon by the other coach and she told them that another teammate deserved to receive it and she gave it to her. We are so proud of Morgan!