Mixed Emotions

My dad and mom (Jim and Paula), my oldest brother, Richard is missing. then from left to right: Michael, me, David, Loy, James (Jimmy) and John Mark.

I just got home from Oklahoma where I went to my Uncle Bill's funeral. My uncle Bill was a good man who loved his family greatly and provided and protected them. So for that reason, I am sad. But my Uncle Bill was a Christian, he loved his savior and is now with Him and for that reason I celebrate. He left a beautiful wife of over 56 years, two children, 4 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren and for them I am sad, they will miss him greatly. I had the wonderful opportunity to visit with cousins that I had not seen for years, for some it has been a couple of years and for others it has been around 20. And for that I rejoice. I look forward to getting together with them and renewing our friendships. I hope we can get together for a reunion that does not include a death.
5 of my 6 siblings also made the trip. It was good to see all of them.

December newsletter

Finally got December ready. It is two different pdfs, sorry about that.

December part 1
December part 2

My boy

Here are a few pictures of my smallest boy, Daniel Josiah. He is such a little blessing. He doesn't talk much, but he makes himself heard. He makes car sounds, animal sounds and sounds of joy with he laughs. His eyes are strikingly blue though that does not really show in any of these pictures. I was counting today and realized he will be 2 years old in only a little over 2 months. It does not seem that it could be true, but I know that it is. (And along with it will come Joshua's 19th birthday.) Am I really that old? I guess it is true, I am. But boy oh boy am I greatly blessed.
I know that I have let my blog get behind as I have been busy with the new year. Perhaps here soon I can catch it up a little. I am also a bit behind in my photo journaling. But yesterday I starting trying to catch up on that. Life is just busy with schooling, church, and Darrel being out of town.

Life gets busy

We are sort of on a company binge. We have new friends, the Beamers and we have had them over 3 times in less than three weeks and we had some other friends Friday night and we are having two families tomorrow. Keeps things busy but lots of fun.
Darrel and Jonny worked on Jonny's new truck.... Darrel's old red truck. Jonny has decided to fix it up. He got two new tires and a battery and now it is in the shop getting a new transmission. Jonny is so eager for it to get out of the shop so he can do some more things to it. I of course love them working together.
The kids have basically lived in the playhouse since we got home from Lubbock/Slaton. They love it! Tomorrow cold weather comes so they are bummed.
I started trying to eat better on January 1st. I pray the Lord will help me with self control.
I know I need to post pictures, and I will when I get time.
We start school on Monday so that needs my attention tomorrow after the company leaves.
Company plus my family will mean 6 adults and...18 children... and the weather will be cold so the kids can not go out... what was I thinking? It will be fun and I will get lots of exercise cleaning up after they leave.

Update on playhouse

Sunday was 83 degrees and so after church and lunch the boys worked until sun down. (CRAZY thing is Monday was a high of 28 degrees)

Christmas letter

After running out of ink... twice and getting postage and.... oh the list goes on, but anyway I do believe that today is the day that the Christmas letters will go in the mail.
Christmas Letter 2008
Joshua designed the pages for us.
I am very sad that I do not have a family picture this year. Perhaps we will soon get one together. In my mind I am very sure that we need one before Darrel leaves in early January for Ohio and Israel.

Has anyone told you Merry Christmas today? Merry Christmas Ya'll!!!!

November Newsletter pdf

Click here to get the November Newsletter.....