Goodbye 2009!

2009 brought a life changing event in my life....

And in 2010 I'm not going to let MS get in the way of anything I want to do!


how's that for a New Year's resolution!

Wordless Wednesday!

(His love of Legos...this says it all!)

Two years!

**This post was originally run last year on this date. **


Joy was such a wonderful person, I truly wish all the world could have known her. She had something special about her that I don't see in many people. She was special. Her love for the Lord showed through her love for everything else. She was a daughter, a sister, a wife, a friend, a nurse, a mother, a grandmother, and a spiritual teacher. All those duties, were performed with the Lord by her side.

She battled the cancer for 3 long years and was a trooper every single step of the way. And even though is hard for those of us left here on earth, knowing that she is pain-free and with her Lord and Savior makes all the difference.

Below is a letter that I found that Andy started to write. He was planning to read this at the funeral. His feelings took over and he wasn't able to read it, but I feel that it is totally worth reading...

Mom, Joy, is there anyone more fitting to carry that name? You have impacted so many lives and spread so much love and joy. While preparing this, I did some searches for joy, and found a wonderful quote from Mother Theresa that sums it all up.

Joy is prayer - Joy is strength - Joy is love - Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.

Mom, you are that net. No one will ever know how many people you consoled, counseled, and led to a better relationship with the Lord, but the numbers don’t matter.

Your devotion to us, your family, and God, has been an example for all. As I reflect back on everything you’ve done, there is incredible consistency. That consistency is your dedication to God, never ending selflessness, and abundant compassion. You never had to tell us “Do as I say, not as I do”. You taught by example, not by words. When asked to serve, you willingly gave. You were never too busy or too tired. On the contrary, you embraced every task as a blessing and opportunity to serve the Lord.

We miss you very much!

Lots of Christmas Pictures!

Christmas Eve with my side of the family!

Maggie took this one...pretty good don't ya think!

Grandma & Paca (by Maggie)

4 Generations!

Max just being goofy and Maggie getting his picture!

Opening some fun new markers...(washable of course!)

Max and his new finger flashlights!

The girls opening their gift from us...personalized pillowcases...what every tween needs for their next slumber party!


Christmas Morning at home

Maggie was so excited about this do-it-yourself scrapbook
she got from some special friends of ours! She's already made a few pages!

Max loving more Legos...(thanks t,t,m& v)

Double light sabers from Santa!

Mags decked out in her new coat, hat, scarf, and don't miss the new soccer shorts!

Then...
We went to Papa's house in the afternoon on Christmas day

Here's QP opening one of his gifts from us...a Star Wars gun....he was in heaven!

Mags with one of her stocking stuffers

Max and his new "boy" scarf! Super cute!

A Max with Papa's new workshop headphones!

All my pics of Sloan were fuzzy...she's a fast one, but I'm sure Janelle will have pictures posted on her blog...you can check here!

Needless to say, we had a very nice Christmas, and as always, way too many gifts. Hope you had a great holiday too!

Four-legged Mary and Joseph

Yesterday after the craziness of what Christmas morning brings, while we were all just hanging out, enjoying the sounds of kids playing, watching A Christmas Story on television, we had a couple of very unexpected visitors.

Andy glanced outside to check out the snow situation, hoping for way more snow than we were actually getting, only to see two yellow labs out in the windy, snowy and very cold weather. He then saw a mini-van pull up to the dogs hoping it was their owner. He saw a man trying to gather the dogs up and decided to go out and help.

When he got out there, the man was NOT the owner and was just trying to check to see if the dogs had tags and then call the owners. The dogs didn't have any tags, no way of knowing who they belonged to, and it looked like they had been out for a while. They were a mess. Dirty, wet and on top of that...the snow was finally beginning, so they had it all combined together to create two very dirty dogs. And to top it off, one (we'll call her "Mary") was very pregnant.

I came in and called the non-emergency number for the police. They informed me that they couldn't call the auxiliary animal control guy unless the dogs were contained. So we brought them into our garage to wait for someone to come and pick them up. I took out a bowl of water and we gave them a few milk bones and tried to keep our own dog, Charlie from freaking out.

As we were waiting for animal control to come, I told Andy that I felt like the inn keeper in Bethlehem on that magical night. And although our "inn" wasn't full, the dogs were really dirty and there was no way they would be coming into our home. However, we were able to place them in the stable (aka...the garage) to get them out of the cold. We let them lay down on warm towels and we got them out of harms way. We asked the man picking them up to look for our address and the bright star (aka...the porch light). Thankfully they were picked up before "Mary" had any puppies! (can you just imagine!)

My hope and prayer for them is that their owners have been notified to come and pick them up and that they return to a nice, warm, cozy home with owners who love them and have missed them very much.

It amazes me how God puts these little everyday things in our lives to remind us of the much more important events that have already happened to us. God is so good!

Mary & Joseph!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Eve

I'm sorry that my blogging has been lacking lately. I've heard from many of you via Facebook or email and we are all just fine. I have plenty to blog about, but it seems like there might have been a reason for all the illness going through our family in the past few weeks. It has made us slow down, to enjoy just being with each other and to remember what this season is really about. We've had to miss get-togethers with friends, several church activities and even a Christmas gathering with family, but we are all back to being healthy and looking forward to celebrating Jesus' birthday tomorrow.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and many many blessings in the New Year!

Sick day = Treat day!

My sweet girl wasn't feeling well today. I decided to keep her home from school. She wasn't horrible, no fever, no cough, just a sore ear and a tickle in her throat. I thought for sure she had an ear infection (you know, one kid feels left out when they don't get their own antibiotic!) We got into the doctor this morning, only to find out that she did not have an ear infection...just a cold! A regular old cold...except for the fact that her cold is running the opposite way. Instead of her nose running and being able to see it running...hers is running down her throat! Okay doc...so what do I do about that?? His reply," have her chew gum!" I wish I could have captured her smile for the rest of you to see! Her reply, "That's the best medicine I've ever heard of!"

So with my girl being a little under the weather, my plans for finishing up the Christmas shopping this afternoon had to be postponed. While she was resting on the couch, probably watching way too much t.v., I made a bunch of goodies.

I made a double batch of Chex Mix with double the seasoning and double the nuts, just the way my hubby likes it. I also made these cute cookies for Maggie's class party tomorrow. I made them last year too, but I think they are so stinkin' cute...I had to make them again. I sure hope she gets to go to her party!

She also got a big surprise today. Her class was making gingerbread houses today and she really didn't want to miss it. One of the moms dropped off all of the goodies so she could still make her very own house at home! So after a little nap this afternoon, she let Max help her and together they created this beautiful masterpiece. Thanks Angie for helping my girl feel better! (I think maybe a little sugar helped too!)

Missing

Today was Cantata Sunday at church. It was absolutely beautiful. The music they sang, the story narrated by our wonderful pastor, and just seeing all of the choir members and their dedication and talent. It always gets my every emotion.

I knew it was Cantata Sunday and I knew I would be emotional, you see my late mother-in-law used to be a member of that choir. I could see where she would have been standing, and I could even see her head bopping back and forth at a few of the songs and I envisioned her singing her heart out.

I knew I shouldn't have worn mascara, and why didn't I take my own Kleenex? I had to borrow a hankie from our good friends who were sitting behind us, (thanks Wade...I'll get that hankie washed and returned next Sunday!)

It was mixed emotions for me. I was happy, because I know important the Cantata Sunday always was for Joy and I remember how much she enjoyed it. But I was also sad, for selfish reasons mostly, cause I want her back, I want to sit next to her and hold her hand while we listen to it together. I want my kids to sit on her lap as they sorta listen while doing their "math" books during church.

So even though I know she was there in spirit, it wasn't the same, and I know that. I know that life goes on and that "things change", but I wish, just for this day, that she could have been sitting next to me, holding my hand.

Sick and tired of being sick and tired!

chest cold

plus

sinus pressure

plus

a throat that feels like it's closing in

plus

a nagging cough

equals

one sick mommy!


Praying to get over this really soon!

They might hire out!

We LOVE healthy - whatever week this is!

Tomorrow we are having our annual cookie walk at church. People come from all over to our sale. When you come in, you get a box to fill with all the homemade cookies and treats you want. We then weigh the box and we charge by the pound. It's an awesome way to get a variety of different cookies.

We all know that I am not a baker. In fact, I'm honestly not much of a dessert person at all. I'd choose a bag of chips over a dessert any day. Sad I know. But there are a few cookie recipes that I do like to make over the holidays. To help out with the cookie walk and my friend Lisa, who is in charge of it, I got my Kitchen Aid mixer out yesterday and started baking.

Yesterday I made a double batch of cranberry-walnut cookies and a double batch of chocolate chip cookies. Today I made pecan-shortbread cookies (yummy) and some pretzel treats. And now I can't wait to get them out of my house. My counter top is full of cookies to take to the church later today.

The holidays are a hard time for those us trying to get some weight off, heck, it's hard to just maintain a certain weight this time of the year. I've still been getting a few days a week in at the gym, but I need to do more. It seems like I can always find something else that needs to be done. But I know that the shopping, wrapping and baking will still be there for me to do when I get back from the gym.

Any body have any great-holiday-stay-fit-tips, or heck...got any good cookie recipes that you want to share? We'd take either.

Have a great weekend and stop by our cookie sale if you can! (I'm not helping am I? sorry!)

Simple decor makes me happy!

I get so excited every year when it's time to get all the Christmas decorations out. It's one of my favorite things.

But I think what I love even more is getting a little something new every year! This is my favorite new item. Isn't it just the sweetest!

I especially like it on the top shelf of the desk area in my kitchen! So sweet!

Do you have a favorite new or old Christmas decoration?

Almost Wordless Wednesday!

This is one of my favorite pictures from last year. How can you NOT just love these faces!