Shepard is 6!

Happy birthday, precious son! 

It's so much fun to celebrate with Shepard.  He just oozes excitement and gratefulness.  We had such a fun day!  After finishing all our chores, we went to lunch at Chuck E. Cheese.  It's been a long time since we've been there...  and it was fun!  I got a few pictures with my phone while we were there...

Then Shepard got a Starbucks treat...  he was beaming!  He drank the whole cup before we got home!  And then what else?  Yes, another cookie cake!  They couldn't create the design Shepard requested (a Halo helmet) so they just put the Halo logo on there instead.  Sweet Shepard thought that was just great.  He is easy to please and I admire that about him.

Gift Time...  finally!  We decided that Shepard set the Wasson record for fastest gift opening.  He blazed through it, but still managed to be grateful for each gift.  He got his very own DS and he was so excited!

Then it was over the river and through the woods...  to Grandmother's house we go! 

The boys are staying with my parents for a couple days while I have my shoulder surgery and begin recuperating.  Then they are on to Ken and Shelley's for a couple more days.  I'm so grateful for our family and friends who are so willing to help us out. 

The Lord has brought me an overwhelming peace about the surgery.  I'm not anticipating that it will be easy, but yet I feel an "unnatural" peace.  It's not really explainable, but I know it's from the Lord.  I've heard other people talk about feeling that way, but I'm not sure I've ever experienced it myself quite like this. So, here goes!  The joy of the Lord is my strength...