Julie

This past Saturday was Julie's 25th birthday.   I know I have said it before, but she never ceases to amaze me.  Her compassion for suffering people is so strong, that I know many people who have been and will be touched by her will always remember her for her kindness. 

So for her birthday, she and Joe invited us to eat pizza with them at Balducci's and then they got dressed up and went to the Fox theatre to see West Side Story.  They both looked very nice.  They liked the play, too. 

Since they were going to be gone for most of the evening, I got to dog sit Yadi.  Now Yadi is the sweetest dog.  He loves our back yard, and spent the first half of the evening running like crazy.  It would be easy to sell tickets and place bets on him.  He is that fast.  Poor Shadow, on the other hand, tolerates Yadi, but he has enough puppy in him to remember how much fun it is to run and jump too.  The only thing is Shadow tuckers out fast and Yadi just keeps on going.  This is how they were at the end of the evening.

After Julie and Joe got back, we had ice cream cake -- Yum Yum.

Then Yadi and Shadow got a "second wind" and ended up like this:

Yadi Won!!!

So Julie, thank you for bringing so much joy to my life. You are so special to me.  Happy birthday.  I love you!!!

~mom~

New Bathroom

We are remodeling our upstairs bathroom. I'm so excited!!!  We have not done any updates in this house since we moved in 15 years ago.  This bathroom was in the planning for 3 years, but all we had bought was the vanity and then it sat in the basement.  I was getting so aggravated that we weren't doing anything, I seriously thought about selling it, and just sprucing up what I could to make the bathroom look a little better. 

Then about two weeks ago, I happened to run downstairs and found water running from the upstairs bathroom.  As I ran back up to see what was going on, I realized that the faucet had finally rusted through and the water was running as if someone had left the tap open.  As a result, we had to start the long process of remodeling.  I will start with before pictures and add more as it gets done.

Our lovely sink with all Erins "stuff".  Notice the knobs fell off long ago.

Bye bye potty...

and floor

This ugliness will be all gone soon.  Can't wait!!!

January

Yesterday I took down my Christmas tree and decorations.  I leave my snowman collection up during January, but I really hate putting away Christmas stuff.  The house always seems so much brighter and warmer.  It reminds me that winter is still coming, but we are safe and warm in our bright home.  January always seems like such a boring month.  So this year, I am going to try to see how I can make this month more interesting.

Not sure what I plan on doing, but when I figure it out, I will let you know. 

Keep warm!!!

New driver

Erin got her drivers permit last Friday.  It was a date that she looked forward to since she turned 15 in October.  Lucky for her, she was born in 1996 because as of today, anyone born in 1997 has to wait until they are 15 1/2 to get their permit.

I'm not so sure what prompted the change in age, but Erin seems to be counting her blessings.  She has a lot of anxious moments, especially when there are other cars around her, and she is always afraid to cause an accident because she will lose her permit.

I do have to keep from smiling sometimes, because she is SO serious, but I know that is a good thing to be.  And, she needs to get used to the fact that there will always be someone on the road.  She has improved a lot from when she started. She is getting used to taking a turn and feeding the gas at the same time.  She used to stop and let the car coast, and as you know, that doesn't always work well, she learned that a St. Louis roll is NOT a good thing, and that dad's car is much easier to drive than moms.   This next year and half will be a huge learning process for her and one for me as I let her go a little each day.  This is sad for me, but I know it's best for her. 

Erin --- keep driving.  You will eventually "get" it and by this time next year, will probably be driving yourself to your piano lesson and Sunday night Bible study.  (We'll see, though).  I may still want to take you sometimes.. I mean I will miss talking to you.

Love,
Mom

Happy New Year

Well we've come to the beginning of a new year.  I always love this day.  It gives me the feeling of starting over fresh, and everything I have done in the past is water under the bridge. 

Last year at this time, there were several events that were planned.  Erin's confirmation and graduation and the pending arrival of Cody and Ashley.  These occasions are always fun to look forward to.

This year doesn't seem to have that excitement.  It seems like there is really nothing huge happening this year.  No weddings, new babies, graduations or other family stuff except for birthdays and holidays. (This is not a bad thing, just an observation)  I guess we will just have to sit back and see what God holds in store for us.  Whatever it is, I'm sure it will be good, if not...well, He will be there for us. 

This year I plan to get my house in order.  Cleaning out closets will be a big priority as will painting my kitchen, bathrooms, my bedroom and possibly the living room.  My biggest hurdle is picking out colors.  I am not good at this so I will probably hire someone to help me.  I wish I was more creative.  I also want to scrapbook more and start sewing things again.  I never realized how much time has gone by since I did these activities.  One other thing I want to do is go back to Florida.  If you're reading this please consider coming with us.  I think the more the merrier.  I promise lots of beach time and relaxation. 

Other than that, maybe this year will be more relaxing and less stressful.  We'll see

Happy New Year!!!!

Visitors

Ahh..  This past weekend was Christmas.  I absolutely love this holiday, although some years I love it more and some less.  This year I loved it more.  I was way behind schedule on all of the things that I think should be done, but really it doesn't matter if I don't get everything done. 

One of the things I usually try to do is bake a lot of cookies and candies.  I remember watching my Aunts WeeWoe and Alma bake cookies.  I remember the year my aunt Alma died and going to visit Wee Woe who lived with Alma.  It was a Sunday morning, and I went to her house between services while waiting for Katie and Julie to finish Sunday school.  She always had church music playing on her radio and this day was no different.  The only thing missing was Alma.  I remember watching Wee Woe rolling out dough for cut out cookies, but the sadness in her eyes was heartbreaking.  There were lots of tears in those cookies that year.  Even though she was mourning, Christmas was still coming and she was going to be ready.  I really believe that Christmas was sad for her a lot of her life.  Her grandmother was buried on a Christmas Eve in 1930.  I can't imagine what that must have been like. 

Which brings me to thinking about visitors.  It seems that Christmas has a lot of visitors, the Angel Gabriel visiting Mary and Joseph, Mary visiting Elizabeth, angels announcing the good news of Jesus birth to the shepherds, the visit of the Magi.

I think back to this weekend and all the visitors I had at my house.  I loved having every one of them, and wish they could have stayed longer.  But I also wonder what it must have been like for Mary.

Imagine being a young girl around Erin's age and having an angel tell you you're going to have the Savior of the world.  I asked Erin what she would have said if that was her and she said something to the effect... "I don't think so"...  but I guess that is why she nor really none of us were chosen.  Anyway, Mary had great faith and was truly honored to be chosen.  I really think God has a sense of humor though.  Imagine being in a very crowded and noisy city finding no accommodations for the night, being so close to having a baby and having to ride out to the countryside to await your baby's birth.  And then being visited by, of all people,  SHEPHERDS!!! Really!!! But God is so good.  Shepherds are just ordinary people like we are, and Jesus came to save ordinary people. I imagine Mary was pleased to have some visitors.  She probably wanted to share her Son with everyone, and these men came to her to meet her child...and then again two years later being visited by the Magi.

What a wonderful gift we have been given in our Savior Jesus Christ!!!!

Merry Christmas to all of you ... thanks for visiting me.

Thankfulness

THANK YOU!!! 

Words I never use enough.  Most things I take for granted and truly don't thank people the way I should.  So on this day of thanks, I would like to thank everyone in my life who has made it so special:

My husband Brad -- Thank you for 33 years.  For being here when we all needed you. 

Katie, Julie, and Erin -- what can I say?  You girls mean more to me than life itself.  My heart literally bursts with love for you girls.

Joe -- for making me laugh and making Julie happy.

Shadow, Sam and Yadi -- my three favorite dogs who bring so much joy to me.

My parents -- even though my dad is with Jesus, my parents made me who I am today.  Thank you for teaching me the importance of faith so I have someone to walk with me in my daily life.

My sisters -- even though we have different ways of dealing with life, I remember the laughter and memories we had as children.  I love you both with all my heart.

Nieces and nephews.  It was so fun to see my sisters in you.  I love all of you and now we add your sweet children to the mix. 

My sweet aunts Alma and Wee Woe.  I miss them so much. Their gentle ways of handling all that life gave to them made an impression in my life.  I miss their cooking and remember the times I spent at their house overnight.  Each Thanksgiving and Christmas, I try to bring a lot of their memories into my traditions.  The cookies, pies, and love that they put in each celebration shaped me more than they will ever know. 

and mostly,

Thank you Jesus for loving me and saving me.  You are the One that gave me everything!!

Table centerpiece

Erin and her beautiful pie crust

Katie and Sam

Very pretty

Julie and Shadow

My beautiful daughters

My silly daughters