End of Year

I am going through some old electronic files and came across some photos......what is it that makes it so enjoyable to reminisce? Even when it bring up sad memories, I still love to look back. Have a look.

This  is Nate, in the fall of 2009 after coming back from the pumpkin patch with our harvest!

This is a camping trip to Hocking Hills in Spring of 2007. Dustin and Manette went with us, but Manette had horrible morning sickness, she was green the entire time:-(

But we still had fun!

Manette and I took Mackenzie to Chicago for her 9th birthday. This was taken on the train that we rode on every day.

Mackenzie at Liz's wedding in June of 2004?

The big day! She was beautiful but it was HOT!

This is Mackenzie summer 2011 at Lake Erie with the Chases. Isn't she beautiful!

Here are the best buddies! Nate and Brendan have been friends for a while....but it never seems to get old! They really love playing together.

These pics were from this past summer at Lake Erie with the Chases.

This goes quite a bit further back to Spring of 2008.

Nathaniel Owen was born at 2:54 on March 7, 2008. During the worst snow storm of the year!

Gran Margie and Alexa were on hand to be some of the first greeters of the new family member. Alexa cut the cord!

Manette was very upset that she could not drag her own baby into the snow to come and see us! Dustin was working and already nearby, so he came instead!

We did not realize until he was 2 days old, that his clavicle was broken :-(

 Southern Cousins visit....Jonathan and Madelyn Talley

 First introduction of the soon to be best buddies :-)

Guess I really should have just reviewed the past year, but I am not organized enough to do that.

New Year and its resolutions is fast approaching. I think this year I may even break tradition and make a few of my own. Each year is streaming past with more speed than I ever could have imagined. Mackenzie is a high school student! I have been married for 16 years! I am 2 years away from being 40 :-(
This holiday season has been wonderful. We are so blessed. I hope that 2012 brings more happiness, peace and rest than any year before it....I wish safety for our soldiers, at home and overseas, and that above all, I can remember who to be thankful to and why.

Happy New Year!

I can hardly believe that Christmas is just a few days away.

We barely got our tree up in time this year. I always tend to procrastinate, but its getting rediculous!

This year my oldest, decided she did not want to help with decorating the tree, rather than ruin everyone's evening, the boys and I did it ourselves.

Nate's favorite thing was testing all of the lights.

He enjoyed trying to hang them on the tree too!

Bill held him up so Nate could put the angel on the tree.

I tried to keep the breakables away from little hands, but we broke 3 balls before it was all said and done. I panicked and put all the ornaments before we were quite finished. In retrospect, the tree is a bit sparce......but the ornaments are safe and Nate rearranges everything he can reach at least once a day!

At the end of the night, Nate was very proud of the tree!

Merry Christmas!

"Gifts"

Can't believe its almost Christmas! This year has just flown by so quickly....the older I get the faster time goes..like sand in a bottle!
Well, since the last post, the weather has turned a bit dreary, lots of rain and cold.

I have been to Indianapolis to visit my new niece, Princess Ella. She is a precious little sweet smelling bundle of love! Of course, I could not visit her without also paying homage to the original Princess Chloe and Trenton the "Bat". It was a very busy day...lots of fun. I really need to read my camera manual because I still don't know what I am doing half of the time! But I did get a few cute pics.

We have recently finished a series of study at church about growing "strong". During one of the study discussions, we were asked what we thought our "gifts" were and how we could use them to be of service in a daily manner. At first I felt a little smug....I thought..I'm good, people like me, I go out of my way all the time to help people. Showing strangers across the hospital, stopping to help pts who appear lost, picking up trash on the floor. Then my husband gently pointed out that he did not believe that my compassionate giving heart was one of my best gifts! I could not believe it! Clearly this is what I excel at! He named 2 of my co-workers that I consistently butt heads with and said, "would you go out of your way for either of these two people without being asked on a daily basis? You are only kind, generous, and compassionate to people that you want to help...not just anyone! I was hurt! How could he say that? Then I realized that it was true, I was not known for my big heart that could tolerate any insult, forgive any sin, always be counted on to help, no matter who was on the receiving end....

But that is who I want to be! I want to be known and remembered for my ability to see all people the same. To hold no grudge, to never pass along a bit of juicy gossip that is hurtful, to always be willing to go far out of my way to help! ANYONE! Friend or foe.....actually to have no foe!

You see, I learned that there is a difference between being a servant and doing service. I servant would treat everyone the same, they have to. Doing service implies that its voluntary. I want to resolve that this change will come from deep within and my family will be the first to witness it.

Ben and Kenzie took cards off the Angel tree at church and will spend $20 of their own money to buy a gift, so tomorrow we are going shopping! Also buying some used clothes for a family in Busco that we "adopted". Can't wait, should be fun!

found this old pic from 2005, Children's museum in INDY. Does anyone else remember how hilarious this was? LOL