2008 was a very challenging year for the Mehmen family. Lots of trials, tribulations, and more trials. God was obviously working overtime in our hearts and lives. What a Praise! That is always a good thing, but not always a fun thing. So the 15th of June we closed the doors at the Café. We needed to make some changes so that it would work here in Nevada. We opened it back up in September. During that time, we sold the west side of our building which eliminated quite a bit of overhead, and put in a drive-up window. The adjustments have been great!
Ashley is 5 & has joined her school going sisters by attending the Kindergarten class. She LOVES school. Ashley is our most smiley girl. Always happy, always smiling. Quite in class, but is louder than a herd of elephants at home. I guess I would rather have her be more quiet at school, but it’s funny when the teacher asks, “Is she’s always this quiet?” HA! Ashley talks about 10 notches higher than anyone else in our family. We are working on her with that. It’s SO LOUD! She’s still so thin, and still so beautiful. They all are. She has begun to have play dates, and boy does she love those! Her good buddy is Ella! (don’t you love that name?) The other friend is Isabella. LOVE THAT NAME TOO!
Our little Katrina, is not so little. She is getting so big, and is so independent (stubborn!). She makes herself known loudly & clearly. Especially if she’s not getting her way! She is so cute though. She seems to talk the most clearly than the others at this age, and with complete sentences. It must be because she’s the youngest, and has all of this help from her older sisters. That’s what I’m guessing anyhow. She has met a little friend that she met at daycare that comes over now and again. She really likes her a lot, and her name is Shelby, so we remember our Shelby very often!
Brooke is 9 & in the 4th grade already. It blows my mind & I can’t believe it. She loves school and her teacher & her friends. Brooke is a loving mother at heart, and is just always happy. That doesn’t mean that she never argues with her sisters, because they all do, but in general, she’s just always happy.
Courtney is 14 & a freshman this year. She is taking Spanish, which I think she likes, and accounting, which she doesn’t like at all. Good thing she’ll be done with that class in a couple weeks. She does work at the café a few hours a week and does some babysitting. She likes going to her friend’s house, and the library. What’s so exciting about the library, I don’t know. She is already boy crazy, but we’re still sayin’ NO!! She still loves to read, so that’s good. Oh yes, she is now a cell phone owner. That came ONLY because we turned off the home phone. (Mom isn’t too thrilled about it.)
Taylor is 7 & in 2nd grade this year in the public school. Last year she was still homeschooled ½ way through, but so far this year has proven to be a good one, and she is happy attending & learning, and is really doing a great job. She has had more black eyes this year for one reason or another, so I’m thinking she’s the tom-boy of the family. No broken bones (knock on wood), but lots of tree climbing!
All the girls are growing and growing, and getting bigger and bigger. Stephanie has been working & running the café full time. During the summer while the café was closed, she ventured out into the hotel industry as well as the grocery industry. She has decided that she is getting mature (meaning old & stubborn J ) in her ways, and has decided that she likes her little own world at the Café. Trying to stay caught up on housework & homework is a full time job in itself! We all share in these job responsibilities since mom slacks sometimes!
Brad finished up a pretty big trimming job this summer, and has started with a company here in town called Almaco. They build & sell farming equipment. He’s enjoying it so far. It offers a steady income plus great benefits, and the commute is like 5 minutes! Can’t beat that! He’s praying his Stealers will go all the way to the Super Bowl! (hoping anyhow)Love you all & wishing you all a very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
