Christmas

In the meadow we can build a snowman,then pretend that he is Parson Brown...

What a joyful time of year ;-) Other than the windchill being below freeezing, the spirits are bright! We celebrated part of our holiday last night. I received a new video camera, my original was literally a dinosaur and has been dead for several years! I am so excited to be able to catch funny moments on video. Maybe we will submit to Funniest Home Videos soon! Russell is working @ the Fire Alarm Office and the kids are visiting in-laws on Christmas day so we will all get together on New Year's day.

Awww...Megan and Devon are crashed! They are wore out from lack of sleep... being uncomfortable from the baby and training a puppy they found last week ;-)

Megan is getting closer to having the baby, February is oh so close! She made Devon a little nervous after her Wednesday doctor's appointment... she is dialated to a centimeter and a half!!!! So... Alyvia is "on the way." I shared that I was dialated to a centimeter and a half for a month; however, I am hoping she will wait until after Megan's baby shower to come to us ;-)

Devon started working Scioto Township Fire Department part-time this month. He is still working full-time for Information Works. Megan bought him a nice bag for his gear; we bought him a trauma bag and are working on filling it with needed supplies. He is ecstatic!

Tasha and Josh are doing well. They are moving along in life. Working, finishing school, establishing a home... being happy!! Visit Tasha's blog to catch up with her and Josh's happenings;-)

Happy New Year!!!!

Life happens

December 1st!!! Oh my gosh... we had a great Thanksgiving. Russell and I went to his mom's in the early afternoon then Thanksgiving evening we went to Tasha and Josh's with the Braniffs. Beautiful weather, a little running around, a lot of food, and great company. Russell and I have undescribable children. They are so.... functional! We will always worry about them, cause thats what parents do, but they are independent, stable, problem solvers, supportive, and share their lives with us!


Devon will be 20 on Sunday, December 7th... He has orientation with Scioto Township on December 16! He will work there part-time and Information Works full-time until he earns a full-time firefighter position somewhere. He will also continue to go to school. Megan's employer laid her off this week ;-( However, she has an interview on Wednesday with a childcare facility in Hilliard; so, we will say our prayers that all works out well!!

Tasha and Josh are working, finishing their college degrees, and establishing their home. Tasha is busy with one project or another. She never lets any dust collect anywhere!

Russell is taking better care of himself, trying to get his diabetes under control. Worry gets the best of me, but I try to be positive and take care of him, as much as he will let me. He works too much and needs more rest. Hopefully he will sell his gas guzzler, give up some hours, exercise, and get some rest. I really look forward to a long happy healthy life together! 25 years have gone so fast ;-)

shower

Megan's mom and sister are hosting a baby shower for Megan in January. Tasha is almost finished making the invites!! They are perfect... my daughter has many talents ;-) I will try to describe it; but, when you receive it you will see that I am not doing them justice ;-( It is a little pocket with two pull-out tabs; one tab with the location, date, and time details; the other tab with registry details. She has just the right touch that makes everything she does so special. She will continue to be successful sharing her creative talents as well as her passion for children and heartfelt connections with others!!!

Firefighter(s)

Like Russell, Devon was born to save lives.... he has been at the right place at the right time many times throughout his life ;-) At age 10, while waiting on the school bus he called 9-1-1 and helped a man escape a flipped car in front of our house; at age 16, while driving home from work he watched a car come over a concrete wall and crash on 270; at age 18, he directed co-workers to call 9-1-1 and kept his boss alert after she went into a diabetic seizure. This past week Devon recieved an official "welcome to the department" letter from Scioto Township Fire Dept!! He will be a part-time paid employee, so he won't quit his day job, but this is another great chapter in his life!!!

Bull Mastiff-NOT ;-(

Russell had very good intentions last week... I love big dogs, especially Bull Mastiff's. So, he brought home Buster, an eight year old "Bull Mastiff-Boxer" mix that was going to have to be put down because his owner was placed in a nursing home. Needless to say, Buster looks like a Lab-Boxer mix! He is a sweet dog; he and Charlie are getting along. We will keep him ;-) However, I commented to my dear husband that he "is not off the hook to get me a Bull Mastiff."

Decisions

Well... Russell and I recently set up an appointment and went to look at a home in Amanda! I thought it was beautiful, not everything I like/need; but, it had character. It was built in 1900, three stories, 20 acres, barn... Of course IF we move, we do not need to go further from Columbus. Mom and Dad are getting older. The kids are working/living more in the Columbus area. So... we decided to look more in Grove City. I found a few potential homes. We drove around Sunday afternoon to check out the options. We scratched all but two! One is a ranch on SR 665 and the other is a ranch on Big Run Rd. Our Real Estate agent came to the house tonight... she couldn't get over how much we had done over the years, especially the square footage we have added ;-) -which reminded me of how much we have made this our home!!!) Since the market is bad right now, I am not counting on the pricing to be as much as our house was appraised for 3 years ago ;-( However, I believe this may be an answer to prayer and we should stay put for a few more years. We will know how to proceed in a few days...

I ordered a crib for the baby from Craigs list... Devon couldn't wait to put it together. He and Megan are undescribable. They can't wait. Megan is counting the weeks until her baby shower. Leslie (megan's mom) picked a date and location. Tasha is putting together the invites! Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's will quickly come and go; then the baby will be here!!

She said yes ;-)

Well, our family continues to grow... Devon proposed to Megan yesterday and she said yes! I came home from work tonight, they were looking online at flowers and tuxes... talking about colors and dates! I'm not certain what year, but Megan wants a spring/April wedding ;-) Devon was trying to sway her towards fall; of course, I reminded Devon, this will be Megan's day... he just has to "show up." Regardless; she will be a beautiful bride!

Prayers

Devon had an interview today for a part-time firefighter position with Scioto Township. He feels that it went well; but, he realizes that some of the others that were interviewing have experience that he does not have. I continue to pray that he secures this position so that he can practice and learn in the path that he was born to fulfill!

ONE year, already!

I am so proud of the adults that both of my children have become... Tasha and Josh have been married a year already. We had so much fun planning all the details. I remember wondering what Tasha and I would do after the wedding was over; but, Russell and I have been able to enjoy helping them with some of the things that she and Josh have been doing to make their house a home ;-) They both are doing well... working, finishing their college degrees, and having fun with each other and/or their friends.

Devon and Megan have been friends with each other since they met in third grade. Russell and I were excited when they started actually dating.... and now, over a year later, they are excited to begin their own family also. Wow! so much happens in such a short time. I really try to keep life in perspective and count my blessings every day ;-)

Pumpkins

I have been pumpkin picking four times @ Pumpkins 'n More on Darby Rd, around "the corner" from our home! They grow healthy pumpkins and gourds and have great prices not to mention the beautiful fall foilage so... I have taken my friends, family, and students there to get pumpkins. I hope you take an opportunity to enjoy and appreciate a great fall day before winter arrives ;-)

Time to tell!

Well... if you haven't already been told/heard... Megan and Devon are having a GIRL ;-) We would be happy even if they were having a boy; however, girls are so.... girly!!! February will be here before we know it. Megan is looking forward to her shower. Tasha is going to make the invites; Megan's mom and sister, Leslie and Taylor are planning the shower. Megan and Devon are registered at Target and Babies R Us... lots of fun!

announcement

Well... Megan and Devon had an ultra-sound to tell whether the baby is a boy or girl!!! Can you tell?? Visit later and I will tell you!!! Megan and Devon are having friends over this weekend to announce the news ;-) I will say, what is really important is that mom and the baby are healthy and active

The Wilds

Tasha, Melissa, Logann, and I traveled to the Zanesville area toThe Wilds a few weeks ago... awesome is an understatement!!!!

We rode a schoolbus up a hill to the ticket area, upgraded our prepurchased tickets for the closed-air conditioned bus to tickets for an Open Air bus!!!

We could reach out to touch the animals if we were allowed ;-) These precious looking animals are known to us as donkeys (aka: Donkey on Shrek), and in case you're wondering...their technical name is Persian onager/Equus hemionus onager!











The giraffes were my favorite, they proudly posed for us to take their picture.

This is one of two female cheetahs that lounged in the shade while we baked in the sun and admired them.

Logann picked flowers for us while we were off the bus for one of our walks

Fall

My favorite time of the year... FALL!! Cool air, sweatshirts, pumpkin pie, and colorful landscapes ;-) Activities are plentiful: cookouts; football; Tasha & Josh's anniversary ;-) birthdays; family and friends will come to visit the Circleville Pumpkin Show; I hope to take Logann and Abbie to a neighbor's pumpkin patch; helping with the planning of a fund raiser banquet for a local Pregnancy Center, directed by my friend Brenda; Thanksgiving (yum); planning the arrival of Devon & Megan's baby/Russell & my grandbaby!!!; and of course, Christmas shopping in between it all!!!! I hope winter doesn't arrive early so that I can enjoy as much of the season as possible!!!

Saturday; August 23, 2008

School has started, so I am back into somewhat of a routine... The two girls I spent my summer with have started kindergarten ;-) I am so excited for them. The freshness of starting school is unexplainable! Which always makes me stop to wonder, where has the time gone?!? This is also why I remind myself often, in our hustle and bustle society, to slow down and enjoy my daily activities.