2017 Looking Back at January Through March

I feel like every time I get online to blog I say...how can it be that I have gone x number of months without blogging? I so enjoy blogging on Sundays but the Sundays have been busy. I am not a fan of busy Sundays but church and family activities are at the top of the prority list and when I have those opportunities blogging has had to take a back seat.

Looking back:

January 2017 Elle finished her time in Garden City and came home for a bit before her 1st traveling nurse assignment in Lewiston Idaho. Gary helped her buy a new Honda CRV. Gary volunteered to drive her new car out to Garden City and then fly home from Wichita. The end of January Elle and J drove to Colorado where he left for Navy Boot Camp and made the drive to Idaho with her cat, Cleo in about 3 days. I was relieved when she arrived safe and sound.

Colleen  and Tania flew in for a visit in February. We had some beautiful weather and got to spend a day hiking over in Mohican State Forest. Tania is such a sweetie and I am so grateful that she is such a good friend for Colleen and fits right in with our family.

In March, John and I had the opportunity to fly out to Spokane and meet up with Elle, discover the city of Spokane, drive over to Clarkston, and spend a couple WONDERFUL days with Elle. It was such a nice mix of site seeing and relaxing at Elle's apartment. John and I got to get to know Cleo, one of the friendliest and sweetest cats and get to know the eastern edge of the Pacific Northwest.

Christmas 2016

 

Christmas 2016

 

Ready, Set, 2017!

Christmas has come and gone and once again it was full of special memories! Colleen and Michelle both had to work on December 25th so we postponed our immediate family Christmas celebration  until January. We actually celebrated on the weekend of the Feast of the Epiphany ( I love that word!). We picked Elle up at the airport on Friday Jan 6 and Colleen on Saturday Jan 7. On Saturday I had this idea that we would make homemade pizzas and play games and that's exactly what we did. Each of the kids made their own version of pizza and it was interesting to see the differences. Colleen took pictures of each of them. After eating we brought out the games. Clue, Uno Attack and Rumikub kept us busy until about 12:30 am. I was exhausted but I wouldn't have given up a minute of that special time together.
On Sunday Granny and Papa came down and we made a baked chicken dinner with mashed potatoes, baked sweet potatoes, stuffing, gravy, steamed green beans and pumpkin pie (made by Granny) for dessert. After dinner we all sat around the table and talked and laughed...one of my favorite things in the world to do! Granny and Papa took off to get home before dark. Colleen and Dad watched some TV, Elle got a call from Hillary and the boys went off to do their own thing. I put on an audio book and cleaned up the kitchen. I enjoyed the time to reflect on the week end and all the special moments. In the evening the girls and I watched the move Storks that I had stumbled on at the library. It was cute and we all enjoyed the main character.The remainder of the time the girls spent visiting with friends and Elle and Gary bought a car! After much thought she ended up buying a new Honda CRV. Soooo Gary will be making a trip out to Kansas in her new car, flying home and then she will drive it to Lewiston Idaho where she will start her 1st traveling nurse position on January 30! Another adventure begins....ready....set....GO!

Fall Fun at the Falls

Finally and Fall

I have been trying to get on my blog for about a month.
It finally occurred to me today to try using a different browser and voila!

So...catching up...

It has been a beautiful autumn.

This month I have been at the library for one year! Last month, I began a 2nd job working as Co-coordinator for PSR and Youth Formation programs at Resurrection. At first I resisted but when it became apparent that there was no one coming forward to take Sherry's place Melissa asked to consider sharing the position. We met and discussed how we would do this and it seemed like we can make it work. So far, so good.

Thomas celebrated his 17th birthday on a beautiful September Sunday.

 

And John left the teen age years behind with another family celebration on a beautiful October Sunday!

 

 

 

 

Thomas has adjusted well to his junior year fall schedule. With 4 classes (3 of them advanced) at Lexington and 2 at Ashland he is definitely being challenged. He was asked to join the Mock Trial team as a witness so he is adding that to piano and karate as his outside activities.

Super proud moment last week...Thomas was inducted into the Lexington National Honor Society! 

So I think that is enough for one post. Hopefully I can find time to put together another post on my time at Cuyahoga Valley National Park this fall...twice!

Junior Year

I can hardly believe this handsome guy is going to be a junior!

This year will certainly challenge Thomas as he attends Lexington High School in the morning and Ashland University in the afternoon. He also wants to continue with piano, karate and Leo's Club. May God bless you and watch over you this year my precious son.

Fishigan 2016

It would be hard to describe the memories made in Michigan this year. As much as I treasure the memories of small children in my arms, chasing toddlers,  and watching the antics of young children there is a joy in sitting with our 4 nearly grown children, talking, laughing, and enjoying the beauty of God's creation with no regard for a clock! 

A keeper bass!

Lunch stop at Tawas City on the drive to pick Elle up at the airport in Saginaw.

Grandpa and Blazer

                          Morning view from inside the camper.

Helping grandpa close the cabin for the year...not sure how he does it all by himself