Lake Wedington Hike 2013

Jay made my day!!! A few Sunday's ago we got home from church and he said, "Everyone, throw on some hiking clothes, we are taking Mom on a hike today!" It was so much fun. We drove through  Mickey D's and grabbed some lunch. (we never get McDonald's, so JT and Claira were thrilled!) The hike around Lake Wedington was beautiful and my love tank was so full I couldn't hardly breath!

Happy Easter, let's go bowling?! 2013

Since the fire we have chosen to go on outings to celebrate everything. It has actually been really fun! Who needs to hunt Easter Eggs when you can go bowling.

 

Claira & Nonna

 Aunt Christ with Lila & Madilyn

Aunt Lor & Coley. Uncle Nathan was there too, but for some reason I don't have a picture of him.

 

Aunt Debbie, Lila and Uncle Mark

Cody needing a little help!

 

Cody, Coley & JT

Claira & Poppa

 Claira you're glowing!

Little ones playing under the table.

 Me & Jay

Did I fail to mention...we also celebrated Lila' 5th Birthday!

Who knows, we may have just started a new family tradition.

PCCA Prom 2013

JT got the privilege of escorting, his friend, Rachel Shoppy to their 10th grade Masquerade Prom.
We borrowed Ken's Mercedes for the evening.

 

I made their boutonniere and corsage  out of paper flowers and antique jewelry.

 

Here JT is posing with his "Bond Girls" his best friends Lexi and Sarah.

 It was a fun, first Prom for everyone!

He drives...from booster seat to drivers seat.

When both the kids were just little and older women would come up to me and say, "Time really goes fast, in a blink of your eye they are all grown up." I don't think I had any idea that they were right. It really does seem like yesterday when we removed JT's booster seat from the car and let him be a "Big Boy", and just use the seat belt. 

 

JT, this picture was taken on Mother's Day. We are on our way to Grandma and Poppa Jerry's to celebrate. I had to capture you chauffeuring me around.

It's official!!! You have your licenses, you can now leave the house, on your own without a parent!
Crazy, but very exciting!!!! 

 I haven't been one of those "cry baby" Moms, but today my heart did race and my eyes filled with tears at the idea of you and Claira taking your first mini-road trip to see the McCollum's.  I think your Dad was taking it harder than me. Thanks for calling when you arrived
and for being safe. 

Kids remember- When you have your own children, you will hear me say,
"Time really goes fast, in a blink of your eye they are all grown up." 

You'll have to just trust that I know what I'm talking about!!

The Tallest Snoopy in the World

The Spring Musical for 2013 was You're a Good Man Charlie Brown and JT was selected to play snoopy. He did an incredible job! It was a great production, as always. He had lots of family and friends show up to see the performance.  Once again, I am so thankful for the opportunity JT has had to attend such a great school!

PCCA Homecoming of 2013

Rachel, Hannah, Ms. Mullen, JT, & Mason.

Nonna & Poppa

Lexi Beaver & JT Gresham Sophomore Attendants 

Poppa Jerry & Grandma

Mom, JT, & Claira Poor Dad was at work :(

The Terrible-Awful of 2013

Mom called me late one night, in February, and said, "My house is on fire, but it isn't that bad."
The next day Jay, Claira, and I drove out to see the damage...

it was bad, actually, a lot worse than Mom and let on. I quickly realized that Mom was in shock and couldn't see the damage for what it really was. As the days went on it looked worse and worse. One of the negatives of fire is that it is damaging in multiple ways: Smoke, Soot, Fire, Heat, and Water.

Kitchen: It was determined that the electrical plug on the stove caused the fire.

Our family always tries to  find humor through tough times. This is Sr. Lansolot,  Nonna's favorite
rooster that she had stuffed when he died. We cracked up when we saw how toasted he was!

Living Room looking toward Kitchen.

Pantry

It has now been three months since the fire. I think we have all learned a lot from the experiance.

• Praise the Lord Nonna and Poppa weren't hurt
• Having insurance on a house pays off. They are covering all damageages 
• Stuff isn't important, but we have memories because of things. Nonna lost her grandmother's rolling pins and it was very sad because she thought of her grandmother teaching her to bake every time she looked at them. 
• Less is more. After 41 years of marriage they had collected a lot of stuff. It was all beautiful and orgnaized/ decroated well, but there was a lot of it. As they have taken inventory they have realized they don't want to collect as much in their future. 

Jesus will refine us is ways we least expect, because he loves us. Mom and Dad's house will not look the same when it is put back together. Most of their earthly posseions are damaged, gone forever. But, the love, hospitality and fun that we always have experianced in their home will be there because they will be there.

Thank you Jesus for keeping my parents safe! 

Hammocking with Claira...my challenge to be spontaneous.

One of things I was so excited about in having a little girl was getting to re-live "park days".

Often when the weather was nice my mom and I would grab our books and blankets, head to Battlefield Park, find a nice shade tree and relax for an hour or so.

Well, yesterday was the day! It only took 13 years, but Claira finally came to me begging me to go to the park with her so that she could find a shade tree, relax and read books.

My first response was, not today because I need to do: X,Y,& Z. Then she challenged me to be spontaneous and seize the day! Thanks to Claira's convincing argument this is what my afternoon looked like instead:

Frog dissection conqueror!

JT:

I am incredibly proud of you! On your Frog Lab, you received 143 out of 144
points! I'm brimming with joy for you! HOORAY!!!!!!!

Feel free to break your arm patting yourself on the back! WAY TO GO!

Mrs. Johnson

We received this text from JT:

Mom & Dad,

I have the second highest score in the class and best dissection.

We are so proud of you JT!!! Science was difficult at the beginning of the year but you have overcome! The great news is that you and Rachel can continue to be lab partners for the rat dissection.

Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness

I love looking out the window in the morning and seeing Claira with her bible open starting her day off right.

"Thank you Lord for a daughter who desires to seek you out in the morning. I pray that all the things she in learning in her mind will continue to penetrate her heart."