"I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious."
~Vince Lombardi~

1 Timothy 6:12 NIV
"Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses."

Miss Priss goes to AFRICA.....

This one is NOW on her way.Her bags are now all packed and in the bottom of a big ol'plane headed across the ocean..
Hopefully, all their bags will arrive when the team arrives tomorrow in Johannesburg, South Africa where they will spend the night....then get on a bus and head about 7 hours into Swaziland where they will be working. They will also spend some time in Mozambique doing a few projects there as well.

This one on the right hand side though,........just got back from Africa the end of last week.

He went to do this.......
And this.....
And this.....And some of this....
AND a whole bunch of other great things in Mozambique and Swaziland.

Miss Priss and Joshua had already been doing some great things together here in Baton Rouge before ever going off to Africa. Things like working with the "SERVE"team and passing out water on a hot day at one of the BUSIEST intersections in all of Baton Rouge.

THAT is why they both wanted to go to Africa in the first place...
To be able to SERVE the orphans and people that are in need.

AND to help and assist the International Relief workers that are already there working to make a difference in the lives of people in Swaziland, Mozambique and other countless countries on that huge continent....

So....

Then he left for Africa. Then he came home. Then she had to leave for Africa.

But not before they did this last Saturday night....
Joshua and Ariel going out on a date.

Does this sound like a drama?

These two tell me that "I am full of drama"......I tell them "to GET OVER IT because this is who I am.....and drama is my life."

Drama isn't going away ever in my house.

However.....we only have "GOOD drama," in our lives mind you.
I'm all about the drama.

Could you tell?

Remembering....

"The greatest glory of a free-born people is to transmit that freedom to their children." -William Havard

It's not all about the "BBQ's" and the "Day off work bargain sales".........
Monday is "MEMORIAL DAY."

It's named that for a reason.

What Day Is Today???

I'm lost day and time wise and I am getting nothing DONE at all today it seems.
I know that ya'll never have days like this. HA!
So I thought I would at LEAST do this update and fill you all in. ~Miss Priss getting ready for Graduation~

It's been crazy the past week plus at our house......but it's all good.
~Miss Priss in her Graduation dress~
~Ready to leave with friends for the rehearsal practice!~

We did get this event over and done with......and I'm SO glad. HA!Luke, Kolin (Caleb's girlfriend) and Caleb, waiting on the little sister to come outside after graduation.
Finally here she is......"ALL SMILES" too.

She got her FAVORITE flowers from the Mama and Daddy....
Don, Ariel, and Joyce....we ARE the "proud parents."
~"The Brothers and Kolin~
Big brother Gabe, is in Miami for so he missed the graduation....we may forgive him at some point. :~)
Miss Priss and Me
Going out to eat with the family afterwards.


~Ariel picked out my outfit for me that I bought special for her graduation...she's into the "African Motif" right now....can you tell??

We always go to "Boutin's Cajun Restaurant" after graduations for our kids....I think that started when we had family down from Iowa for Gabe's graduation and they wanted Cajun food and live music.

We've just maintained this tradition as a family ever since we went for the first graduation...the food is great and the staff is excellent as well. So it works out wonderfully.

Our crazy family.....who we love dearly.
Notice Luke.
I think he's "over the edge," someone please take the butter knife from him.


The person on the "right" was missing in action too at Ariel's graduation...... However we DO forgive him because he's been in AFRICA doing missions work for the past 10 days.
He will be back tomorrow and Miss Priss cannot hardly wait.

Miss Priss is GLAD this season is over in her life!! So are we frankly!

She is now onto NEW adventures and next week........SHE LEAVES for Swaziland and Mozambique for 11 days!WHOOOOOHOOOO.......
But for now....she's waiting on that Joshua to get home.

He's on a plane heading across the ocean right now.....she will see him in about 20 hours.

Can I tell you.....she's very anxious right now!
It's been a long and quiet 10 days at this house. Sort of...it never really is "calm" here at the Mahan house.

If you know us.... you know what I mean.

We don't have a calm family AT all...and never have.
I think that comes from the Dad's side. HA!

This does make life fun for us. And we don't mind that part at all....we don't like to be bored.
But for now.....this party is over.

This IS How We Roll in South Louisiana......

My "Mother's Day" feast....Baton Rouge style.

For Mother's Day...for Father's Day, for Easter, for MANY holidays or "family gatherings" we often celebrate such events in South Louisiana by doing this.......

We have "Crawfish Boils!!!"

"This one wants OUT"...."Somebody is trying to make a BREAK for it....."

Gabe "purging" the crawfish.....you pour SALT and water all over the live crawfish before you boil them.
So they will "throw up"....it's gross and cruel I know.

But they are about to be BOILED alive which is even crueler.....AND you want all the "crud" out of them before you eat them.
Sick I know.
But I am used to the "food" customs of Louisiana...even though I'm from the NORTH. HA~!.

Mallory, Gabe's girlfriend and Don in the background, prepping the burner and the crawfish.

Finally after awhile of cooking over the burner.....

The finished product....
Luke and Gabe making getting ready to pull the pot out of the steaming seasoned water and dump on the table.



Then you dump the whole pot all over the newspaper that is spread out on a table......
Gabe and Joshua cutting the bag that holds the onions, corn on the cob, red potatos and mushrooms......weird I know but it tastes great. We also put sausage in to boil with our crawfish.
Then it's every man and woman for themselves!



Gabe, Kolin, Caleb and Joyce
Then we just "relax" as a family and laugh.

Ariel and her boyfriend Joshua.....
Gabe and Mallory......
Me, taking a "butterfly bandage" to my husband who cut his finger open. UGH!

"Kolin, Caleb's girlfriend and Luke"
Caleb


There were even flowers later on from Miss Priss.....and a sweet note.
Notice the name on the envelope.......I told you in the South the girls especially call you "Mama".... Although she spelled Mama sort of weird....but honestly.....I didn't care HOW she spelled it. HA!
Her letter made me cry.....

My little girl is all GROWN UP....UGH! This has been SO hard on me lately and I am not sure why.... but I am "adjusting."
Sort of. HA!

The beautfil White Roses were from my sweet husband.....
I have to tell you.....my Mother's Day was great.

All I even wanted was to just have my kids all together....which is probably what most Mama's want on this day.

I had that happen and MORE.

I AM soooooo BLESSED......!!!