What I did over “Summer Vacation” . . . month 3
Well, we had a pretty eventful summer, and August was a great end of the summer. On August 3rd I embarked on a life changing journey. I know that sounds pretty dramatic, but it really has been a life change for me. I started the South Beach Diet. So far I have lost 19 pounds. I feel healthier, and so much better about myself. My starting weight was 232 and my goal is to be 200 by Christmas.
Cortney, Obelea, and PB are South Pacific Nurses posing with "Bloody Mary"
PB kept very busy in August. She was in the Archer City Royal Theater’s production of South Pacific. The musical ran 3 weekends and almost every night was sold out. Out of the whole cast 3 of them were from our church. PB, Cortney, and Obelea did a great job. (although PB was the best singer and dancer in the whole show!) I am so proud of her and her commitment and love for the arts. It was a great show and one of the best parts of the month of August!
and the Oscar goes too. . . .
The last weekend of the show there was a cast party at the Lonesome Dove Inn in Archer City. I didn’t know this but Larry McMurtry is from Archer City. Larry McMurtry wrote the Lonesome Dove books and was the screen writer for BrokeBack Mountain which he won an oscar for. He is close friends to the owner of the Lonesome Dove Inn and has allowed his Oscar and Golden Globe to be displayed there. It was pretty awesome to be able to hold an actual oscar. Even though it was for a movie I don’t really care to see!
Meeting great friends at Pappasitos!
Some very dear friends, the Cassens family, visited some family in Texas and we were able to meet them for lunch on their way back to Illinois. We met at the poplular mexican restaurant, Pappasitos. (which has become my favorite restaurant now!) It was great to be able to spend a few hours with them before they had to head home. Before we moved to Texas, they gave us a frame that hangs in our living room. The frame has this quote from Helen Keller on it: “The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.” We have a picture of us with the Cassens family in that frame. They were and are very special friends to us and we miss them so much. Their daughter Isabella was in the youth group, and was one of the most dedicated students I have ever met! The day we were packing up the moving truck she gave me a flower she doodled on a piece of cardboard. I know it doesn’t sound like much but it was something that she made and wanted to give to me. Well I keep that doodle on a piece of cardboard in my desk and every time I open my desk and see it I pray for the Cassens family. So if you are reading this Rob, Betsy, Issabella, Lydia, and Jonah. . .We love you guys and miss you a ton! Anytime you are in Texas let us know. . .we can meet at Papasito’s again!
Toller's at the Ranger Game! it was HOT!
Well, the month was coming to a close and our last hurrah of the summer was going to one last Texas Ranger’s game as a family. This was actually Lucy’s first game to sit through all 9 innings. It was so awesome to hear here cheer on the Rangers. She loves to say GO! GO! GO! We sat in the lower home run porch area and had a home run go two rows behind us! It was a pretty hot night as you can see in the picture, but we had a great time at the game. To top it off. . the RANGERS WON 11 to 1! It was a great time to spend with family. My brother-in-law Kaleb came with us but he had different seats. Poor Emily couldn’t come cause she had a ruptured disc in her back and ended up getting surgery the next week. Towards the end of the game Kaleb was able to come down and sit with us though. It was a great night of baseball!
All in all, our 2009 Summer was a great summer! We had, a wedding, my sister lived with us for more than a month, church camp, Texas Ranger Games, Musicals, and so much more. It was great to make new friends, spend time with old friends, and visit with our family.
One thing that I will cherish more than anything about this summer is the time that Paula-Beth, Lucy, and I were able to spend together as a family. I think we grew together as a family and we love each other more than ever before. God has some amazing plans ahead of us and I can’t wait to see what this next “season” has in store for the Toller’s of Olney, Texas. I hope you enjoyed reading about “what i did over summer vacation.” This last picture is us as a family spending time together at the park. (Even though we did this in September) It was probably my favorite moments of the past few months!
The Toller Family: Michael, Paula-Beth, Lucy, and Anna
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