This is just a SMALL taste of what the Sandberg Summer has been like!

This summer has flown by! This is the photo of the Maywood Youth Mission Team that went to Minneapolis/St Paul Minnesota - Morgan & Rob went on this trip. This was Morgan's 1st Mission trip and she can't wait to go back to Minnesota to visit the church where they worked for the week. It was truly a growing experience for her.

Then in July, my neice, Megan got to come up for a visit - while she was here the girls got to see the Jonas Brothers in concert!

They had a great time.

After Megan's visit to Independence, we all went to Branson, MO with David, Valerie, Curtis & Caleb Williams for the weekend. IT was a great trip - which included go-carts, and SilverDollar City! Fun times and memories made on this trip - hope we can do it again!

After our weekend trip to Branson, Morgan and Megan went to Eagle Rock, MO for a week of camping out with their Grandma Hicks & PaPa Hicks. They enjoyed the week of tubing and swimming and just hanging out together! I'm very thankful Morgan and Megan are not only cousins, but are great friends.

After the camping trip with her cousin Megan and grandparents, Morgan leaves again for a weekend lake trip with the Carroll girls, Shannon & Molly. Megan Higgins went as well. Morgan has been very busy this summer!








We got a visit from our great friends from Des Moines, IA - the Willeys! Enjoyed their visit and the girls enjoyed the McCoy water park. I love these girls! and I miss them a lot! David & Erin's prayers have been answered and they moved into their new home this past weekend! God is faithful!





MEET LENA! Lena is finally here! We picked her up on Friday, August 14th! She is here from Moscow, Russia for 10 months! We have been so excited about her coming and now that she is here it has been so much fun getting to know her and to learn about her culture back home. We were so busy the week before she arrived - getting the house ready and her room - thanks for my parents and my in-laws for helping with that huge project! As each day passes we grow to love her more and more and I'm already at that point that I dread her going home. This is a huge adjustment for our family, but one I know we will all grow from! I hope that you all will get to meet her soon!




Cassie is off to SBU - 2nd year! Yes, a week after Lena arrives Rob heads off for a business trip for 10 days - to Minnesota and Georgia - and it also is the weekend we move Cassie back to SBU! So, nothing like Lena getting to know us better than to pack up and move Cassie to college. ;0) Not only did we pack her and move her, but we moved furniture once we got there- not once, but 2 or 3 times! ;0) We girls can do amazing things when we have to!


Cassie had a busy summer too - she worked by my side at the law office each day - running errands and helping out around the office and answering phones while I went on my lunch break - it was great having her around so much this summer - I miss her so much!


NOT only was it move in weekend for Cassie - it was also LENA's SWEET 16 birthday! ;0) So of course, after we move her stuff in and move furniture we had to take a lunch break and have a little Sandberg party for Lena - so at the local Pizza Hut we enjoyed lunch (it was 3:30pm! by then we were starving)
Lena enjoyed her presents and the pizza!





After lunch at Pizza Hut and a little party for Lena - we had to take Cassie back to her dorm room - it was time for us to leave and time for Cassie to unpack her stuff and settle in her new home for the next few months. Morgan, Lena, me and Daisy were headed to Eagle Rock for the night - time for Lena to meet her host grandparents!





Lena meets my parents. She is welcomed by my mom and dad and muffin (family dog)! She gets to visit with them a little then we have dinner - fried chicken, mashed potatos & gravy, green beans and then BIRTHDAY CAKE!

My mom got her a necklace "Y" for Yelena, and a YELLOW peace watch. She loved the birthday celebration and gifts and she especially loved the homemade cinnamon rolls! Lena loved the country and will for sure want to spend some time there!


Here are a few photos of the weekend in Eagle Rock.


















Sunday after church - it's time to head back home where Lena had an AFS gathering at Truman High School - here are a couple of photos of that evening -











This is a friend of Lena's - she is an AFS student from Germany who lived in Russia till she was 3 - and she spoke Russian - her family still speaks Russian - so Lena and her became fast friends!


THEN ON MONDAY - we had a surprise party at the local HiBoy for Lena! Friends from school and from Maywood came by to wish her a happy birthday! She was truly surprised and enjoyed the evening! Thanks all who came and made this so much fun for her! Here are some fun photos of that evenings events:

























Well...if you got thru this post you've done quite well. Did I mention that we have been busy? ;0)

Rob wasn't seen much in these photos, but it's because he is training for a new position at Jack Henry. He has been traveling quite a bit - Minnesota, Georgia, New York to name a few places he has been or will be going in the next few weeks! He is excited about what this new position and I am too cause it means once this training is done he will hopefully be around more!


Morgan and Lena are both playing tennis for Chrisman and last night was their 1st match - Morgan won both her matches and played JV2 - Lena is playing exebition and lost both of her matches - but she is learning - she has never played tennis before.


As you can see, we are busy - and I don't see things slowing down any time soon. I will try my best to keep this updated for all of you that are out of town - ;0)

Hope you get the opportunity to meet Lena and get to know! I feel blessed to have her here!


MUCH TO COME!

Denise

We are going to host an AFS Student! We are in the process of getting the application completed - its quite lengthy. We are excited -however it changes the last post totally - forget my entire list of To Do's - I have a new list!
I am currently flustered by all the things that I'd like to see get done before "she" arrives in August - only 30 days away! So many things that are not finished at our house, like our 2nd floor landing, the door frame in Morgans room needs to be fixed so that the door will SHUT- our new family member will be staying in Morgans room so we are currently cleaning out my craft room on the 3rd floor for Morgan to make her room - it's new up there - new carpet, newly painted - new windows - but we need to make it hers...so, we have work to do. UGH - time is getting away, and "she" will be here before we know it. "She" is Yelena, and she is from Russia. She is 15 and has many of the same interest as Cassie & Morgan. We are praying for a smooth transition, but I know many adjustments will have to be made on her part and on ours. She is coming into something SOOO new and we are so use to the way life is here and I know she is not. Just pray for our family that we will be very sensitive to her needs. She being only 15 (she actually turns 16 the 1st week she is here) - I know this will be difficult for her - leaving everything she knows to live with STRANGERS and well....I just know she must have so many things going through her mind as she prepares to come here and to also leave her friends and family. Just pray that she feels loved and cared for and that she will have a great experience here with our family in our home. I pray that our home will feel like home to her and that she feels "accepted" by all who meet her. Pray for us as we all make adjustments in our lives that we would be open to how God can use us for this time and this opportunity. I'm excited, and nervous.
Denise & family

JULY IS HERE! I don't know about you, but somedays I wish the days were longer, others, I wish they'd go by.....we should never wish our time away!
Thinking lately of what I have accomplished this summer.....NOT MUCH. I need to do so many things but just don't have the will power to just get in there and DO IT!
1)ORGANIZE my house/each room (and throw away STUFF I think I need, but don't!)
2)RE-DO my bedroom - I mean by that getting rid of stuff and redecorating - repainting - (this room has not been touched with anything new since we moved in about 14 years ago)
3)save money for a fenced in back yard - and then landscaping it so we can actually enjoy being outside!
4)scrape & paint the outside of our house
5)loose 5 lbs
6)each week, keep UP with everything!
7)don't be LATE to anything!
8)read my BIBLE EVERYDAY! and journal!
9)spend more time with family - (including parents, nieces, nephews)
10)keep my car cleaned out! (somehow my trunk fills up all its own)

That list, is it all that important? some of it is.....some of it, does not make a bit of difference to the Kingdom of God. (most of it doesn't) Seeking God daily is so much more important than dust on the furniture and worrying about keeping a house clean. Spending time with your children is so much more imortant than organizing your rooms in the house, or working in the yard....time with them is so fleeting, and it's gone before you can blink an eye. I miss so much the days of those little arms around my neck and those wet kisses and butterfly kisses....and those little handprints all over the mirrors and windows & doors! I miss so many lill' things with my girls, now that they are grown, I don't get as many hugs and kisses, and for some reason, they don't want to set on my lap! ;0) I enjoy the moments we do have, and the laughs we share. They are all very special to me. Time slips away so fast, kids grow up, become independent, and truth is, you aren't needed as you once were - they can fix their own food when they are hungry, and wash their own clothes, and fix their own hair....the list goes on. I'm happy with the adults that my children are becoming. They care and have passion for others. They love the Lord, although I know they struggle at times. They both know that their parents loves them deeply and will do anything for them, NO matter what. They know that they will be loved by us, NO matter what they do. I look forward to the times we will have in the future as they continue to grow into adults......go to college, finish college, have boyfriends, get engaged, get married, start their own families....I don't know if God will allow me to be here for all of that, but I do hope so. I'm very thankful for the gift(S) God has blessed me with - one, a loving husband - the gift of being a wife; 3 beautiful daugthers - the gift of being a mother; and many more.
I hope that each of you notice today the gifts and blessings you have. Spend some time writing them down, you will be amazed at how many you will have! ;0) Be thankful, and don't forget to Thank the One who allowed you to be blessed with them!
Love you all,
Denise

JUNE is here! Seems like each day goes by faster and faster...I can't keep up!
Cassie is home. She decided she outgrew her lime green room - so before we could move all her "STUFF" back where it belonged..we had to paint! So it went from lime green to grey - 2 different shades! She is now moved in...NOW it's Morgan's turn!
So far, summer has been fun. Cassie started her 1st job last week - she is working part-time here at the law office where I am working. She runs errands, answers phones for my lunch break, and copy/scan jobs. She likes it so far....we'll see how she feels when she gets that 1st paycheck! Morgan just got back from kids camp with Maywood - she enjoyed that! We also had a fun weekend with family - Rob's parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary! Morgan is heading back to God's Mountain for another week of camp - this time Jr. High girls! But 1st we are going to the Royals game and then staying for the Mercy Me concert afterwards!
Morgan is really enjoying helping out at camp! When she gets back, we are all going to Chicago for a mini vacation! I'm looking forward to the time away...Chicago is such a fun place to go! Deane & Pam Deason are going with us on this adventure! This will be their 1st time there!
July I'm sure will mean a few weekends down at my parents house - going camping and enjoying the lake - renting a pontoon boat for a day and SUN, SUN, SUN! Also, having a 1983 class picnic at the Memorial Park in Cassville in July! This summer is filling up fast!
Starting the process now of planning for the Soul Sister Ministry that will start up this fall. I'm praying about where God is working in this...if He is working in this.....sure don't want to do this on my own strength! But I'm excited to see what His plans are so I can join Him!
Proverbs 3:5-6!!!!! Look it up if you don't know it! It's my favorite Bible scripture!
love you all,
Denise

May is here!

May is here! Cassie has almost completed her 1st year at college - - and Morgan is ending her soccer season at her school. It has truly been a fun soccer season for us and I've enjoyed going to see her play. It's almost time to move Cassie back home for the summer....so I'm getting excited to having a family of 4 again!!! I know things will be quite different with her being pretty much on her own the past few months, but I know it will be great! She gets to find a job for the summer - notice - I said GETS TO! ;0) She has had it pretty easy thru her high school years and this summer her dad and I - and HER AS WELL - think its time she gets a little spending money on her own efforts - I think she is kind of excited about it - mostly nervous since she has never had to apply for employment before....awwww...new beginnings for her!

Morgan will be busy this summer (hopefully) doing some baby sitting and also helping out at God's Mountain some. She will also be going to tennis camp and soccer camp with the school. I will work full-time through the summer - its the 1st for me since I started working for the law firm in Jan 2002 - so I'm somewhat dreading not having that time with my girls and also time I spend on the house doing remodeling jobs- but they will be busy and the money will be nice to have with the expenses of college and all that still remains...like the house remodeling projects! I do have a few things on my TO DO list to accomplish even though I'll be working full-time - so my evenings will be spent working hard on the house! Would really like to get Cassie's room remodeled this summer - so if I do get that started - she will be taking over the 3rd floor of our home for the summer! Morgan's room needs to be painted as well...so much to do, so little time it seems!

My folks also got a new travel trailer, so we do hope to spend many weekends on the lake with them - I enjoy the outdoors so much and spending time with my mom, and my girls enjoy it down in the country as well.

Rob has been busy with work and doing some tree trimming in our yard - he and Eric Martin (his friend since teenage years) came and did the tree climbing part - I wish I would have thought to take a photo of the two of them that day! It was quite the sight to come home to on my lunch hour! Rob is in Maryland this week, last week it was San Diego - so his job is keeping him real busy....

I'm excited that May is here - but also know its going to be a very busy summer...looking so forward to the sunshine filled summer days!!! and yard work! ;0)

Enjoy the sunshine!

Blessings!

D

Happy Easter!
We will be heading south for the holiday - looking forward to seeing my family and coloring Easter Eggs with the kids.
We have had a busy week. Morgan has had soccer games, and our puppy Daisy had surgery this week. She is just pitiful right now. Yesterday when I picked her up from the vets she was so groggy - and was walking sideways.....she slept all evening, and slept uptil I made her get up this morning...still not moving very fast. She has her 1st Birthday on Easter Sunday, as well as ROB!!! Happy Birthday Honey!
Cassie is heading to the boon docks today (as she would call it) - GMA Hicks will get to experience the piles of laundry all over her house!! ha!
Tonight Morgan is going to a lock in with the soccer girls - I know they will have a grand time! Not sure what the evening holds for me and Rob - guess we'll just spoil Daisy!
You all have a blessed Easter! What a weekend to celebrate - our Christ is RISEN!
Denise & Family

Today, April 3rd - is Cassie's 19th Birthday! Happy Birthday Sunshine.
It's hard to believe it was 19 years ago today she blessed our family when she came into this world. God brought SUNSHINE into mine and Rob's life that day - and many others. Our family was formed the day she entered the world. God has blessed Rob and I with beautiful daughters! We are so very blessed to have been given the gift of children - and the responsiblity in raising them. I love my girls - oh more than they will EVER know!

Cassie, I hope your day is extra special today. This is the 1st year we have been apart on your birthday - so, your momma, is a little sad today - ;0) But I'm so very proud of you and who you are! God has given you many talents - and one of the ones I ENJOY the most, is your singing. Your voice melts my heart - and I love to hear you sing! Enjoy your day - it IS all about YOU today!!!
Happy Birthday CASS!!!

Spring is here!
Another month has come and gone. Spring break is over.
Cassie came home for Spring break, enjoyed seeing her and having her around. We didn't do anything too exciting, except have the Sandberg family together for Cassie's 19th Birthday dinner before she headed back to school. She turns 19 this Friday - I remember so well the day she came into this world...wow - 19 years has really flown by! She is starting her next phase in her life, adulthood....wow, I am getting old! ;0)
Morgan enjoyed a few days off for her Spring break. We went to the Hicks' for the weekend and she really enjoyed hanging out with her cousin Megan. I'm so glad that they are close - even though there is 2 years difference in age, they get along really well. They enjoyed G-Ma & G-Pa Hicks' new travel trailor - and even spent the weekend sleeping in it! I look forward to spending many weekends down there this summer camping out with mom & the girls! So much fun we are going to have!
Morgan is playing on the Jr. Varsity soccer team - and she loves it! She even enjoys practice! Talk about getting into shape - you have to be in shape to run as much as these girls run! She has done very well and I'm so thankful she is enjoying it!
Easter, 2 weeks away! I sure hope the weather is more like spring - except - not raining! We are excited to spend Easter at the Hicks' this year. Cutter (my nephew who just turned 5) is going to be there and possibly my niece's two boys - Wyatt (2) and Justice (10-11 months) - I haven't got to see them much so I'm very excited to spend time with them and the girls can't wait to play with their cousins! and decorate eggs and then hide them for the little ones! Rob's family have all outgrown the fun things for Easter, so we look forward to doing the fun things this year and spending time with my family who we only really get to see around Thanksgiving & Christmas. Usually when I go home for the weekend we don't get to see everyone - everyone is busy with their families - well..I'm sure you know what I mean.
I've been working hard on my craft room - it's starting to take shape - I'm so excited to get that set up to work on some scrapbooking and other things! Morgan has her sewing machine set up and she is ready to conquer her 1st project - a summer dress! So much fun will be had up there! I have a new printer and have my lap top set up and so we are ready to have some fun.
Well..that's it for the Sandberg's news.....life is busy, and we are very thankful to God for our health, and what He is doing in our lives.
Happy Spring, and I pray you all have a very safe and wonderful Easter!
Denise & family

Here it is the end of February. Time goes by so fast. Updates: Not much going on....each day goes by faster than the one before.
Cassie is doing very well at school....so proud! She continues to love it - at least from what I am told. I don't hear from her very often - so no news must be good news.
Morgan is doing well too. School work is keeping her busy. She just loves her AP World History class - NOT! This class has been a challenge for her...and ME as a parent! (ha)
Rob is doing well with his job - he has not had many trips lately - which is nice to have him home. He's been busy coaching basketball for Bears Tomorrow - boys 6th grade team. I think he enjoys coaching BOYS - he says they don't cry like girls do! ;0) I enjoy going with him to watch his team play - they are doing pretty well.
Me....well....I've been crocheting! Morgan has learned too, SO Monday nights are Crochet Nights for us - we take turns having it at our house and Valerie Williams home. Morgan is currently making a blue/gold blanket to use on cold nights for Chrisman football games! she is doing well on it! I've got 4 projects started. I tend to get bored with just one and enjoy using different colored yarn and different stitches...so I have 4 different things going on right now! Rob calls our Monday nights "Granny nights" - but oh well...it's something both Morgan and I enjoy doing. I need to work on my scrapbooks, but my craft room is a mess, and well..to be honest, haven't felt like tackeling that just yet!
This weekend is Acquire the Fire for our youth group in Kansas City. Rob is taking charge of planning that - from food to everything in between. He's got that under control with the help of some other folks. He and Morgan will be gone most the weekend. I am going to spend the weekend at my folks. I can't tell you the last time I've been home by myself - but looking forward to a fun-filled weekend with my mom! (its'a girls weekend so dad is going to have to find something else to do!) ;0)
That's it from the Sandbergs.....Hope you are enjoying the nice day out today (2/24) - ;0) not sure how long it will stay this way! (if you live in Missouri - you know what I'm talking about!)