Be Strong and Courageous

In the last week I have experience great joy in the birth of my neice Jillane and great sorrow in the loss of my brother William. And as the title says life as I know it has changed forever. My God is with me and I know I am strong only by the prayers of others directed Godward on my families behalf. Thank you dear friends.

Fall means: more reasons to drink coffee and cocoa or both, staying inside wrapped up on the couch for movies, more game nights (Addysen love to get games out and demand we all play together - last night it was yahtzee but not for points just for the fun of throwing the dice), soccer is over - good thing too, it looks like snow out, the short rainy season cleans the air (great for my allergies), Daylight savings - can I get an AMEN to the extra hour that I actually slept through this year, oh yes and Fall means Thanksgiving, My Father's Bday (he has been gone 4 1/2 years now - still miss him dearly), My wedding anniversary -14 years and counting - I love MY MAN!, and the rainbow in the trees -even here in the Yakima valley, I LOVE FALL! The kids trying to look at me and keep their eyes on the HUGE COWs that were on display at the fair, you could walk right up to them, that is crazy I think. Albino River Turtle - he was huge and so cool to look at - reptile exhibit at county fair. ...

Hosted by Peggy @ The Simple Woman Outside My Window…The warm afternoon breezes of a September day. I am thankful that…the blessings of life and family and friendship. From the kitchen…ready for dinner to begin, just not sure what that will be yet. I am wearing…a red tee and plaid shorts, no shoes or make-up and hair in a pony. I am creating…a set of coasters, 3 years of scrapbooks simultaniusly and a somewhat organized plan for the 1st year of preshool. From the learning rooms… I am not sure we have an actual learning room, ours is more about living - play house here, color there, read over here and so. I am going…to really try and encourage my husband and I to take our health more seriously. I am reading…my new MOPS book about the Adventures of Mothering, blogs daily about how to be more of the Woman, Wife, and Mommy that God wants me to be. I am hoping…to finish staining our living room furninture this next week before it gets too cold out for it to cure quickly. Around the house…...

Well I see that I have not written here in months, and we have just been on the go all summer. I cannot believe that school is back in session in only 2 weeks. The kids are really looking forward to it and I must say I am as well. Addysen and I will be starting a little bit of Pre-schooling at home later next month, she learned to write her letter A, in only 15 minutes of writing with her. She is a smart little thing and I look forward to focussing on her learning again. We have let this be the summer of not doing much but reading and I hope that Andrew and Emma's brains have not lost all the info over the weeks. Going back to school also means band, and soccer for Andrew and Dance for Emma. Addysen and I will Attend MOPS -Mother's of preschoolers, and BSF - bible study fellowship this year, we will be studying the first 5 books of the Old Testament. Keith is as busy as always with work, but not working weekends any more is still a new thing. God has been so good to give a se...

It was nearly 80 degrees last Saturday as I stood watching Andrew's soccer game getting a sunburn, but yesterday as I stood in the exact same spot, i wore 2 coats, gloves and scarf, because it was snowing. It is decieving the sunny skies and and big fluffy clouds out my window, for it could be july and 90, but it is only 42 degrees. Between MOPS and the kids stuff, I can barely read my emails, let alone keep up this blog. i have been checking my face book site with more regularity. I hope that you are all well, and that your spring is shining down on you.

If you can even believe it after 13 + feet of snow in our passes just an hours west of us and a pile nearly 3 feet tall in our yard. We hit 50 degrees today. Maybe even 52. I guess now the concern is for rapid melt of the record snow and flooding. Oh but wait snow is coming again by next week. It was just nice to not be bundled against the elements today. Spring will be very enjoyable and waiting is not my strongest suit. I know the weather won't last but for a few days and we are headed to Portland to do birthdays and have all the Grandkids + 1 great grand do picture with my mom this weekend. My oldest niece Janelle (19) had a son in December ( 6 weeks) and it will be the first time we have all be together since Christmas of 2001. Can't wait to see her, I will put up pictures soon. Love - Nicole

This is the kids yesterday after church as we were celebrating Andrew and Addysen's Birthdays! I found these dresses for the girls last winter and will miss them, since they have grown nearly out of them this year. I can honestly say I want to try and cherish this last year of non-teen year in Andrew's life. I was reminded today by my sister that it has been 6 years since my Granfather passed away. In those 6 years we have moved 4 times, lost my Grandmother and my Dad, added Addysen and gotten out of the Army. life has just been a compilation of moments of sadness with the daily sprinklings of God's Grace and love, to bring the perfect combination of days to make you glad for what you have, and what He has blessed us with, while not forgetting those who have gone before. so it is good to celebrate birthdays and holidays, but don't forget to celebrate the inbetween of it all. His grace is sufficient ...... In all things.

Wow, My friend Jenn was talking about birthdays and anniversaries and in the month of February and I know what she means. We have my sister and her son on the 1st and 2nd, Addysen is 3 today on the 3rd, Andrew will be 12 on the 10th and YIPPEE, I get a REAL birthday on the 29th this year, I will only be 9 ( I will let you all figure that out - LOL). Pictures of our latest 6 plus inches of snow and Addysen's Bday to come soon.

Well the snow is falling by the buckets just outsite our tiny valley here in Central Washington. The Snoqualmie Pass which is our link to Seattle has been shut most of the week due to 5+ feet of snow that has fallen since Saturday. We are bracing ourselves as it heads toward us this evening. Addysen just wants enough to build another snowman. i just don't want to have a shelves go bare in the store because no supplies are getting through. Eveyone take care. Love - Nicole

Wow, 2008 - who saw this coming? Time just seems to be whipping by us. No matter how you try to slow it down and take it in, it is just gone like a vapor. 2007 was a great year, God blessed us in all things and we are grateful to Him for great gifts of life, love, and His Grace most of all. The year was full of blessings of family time and God's Creation all around us. We visited the Oregon coast over the summer and Keith's familly in North Carolina over Thanksgiving. Both trips were a blessing and gave us time alone with the kids with out interuption and daily routine. I hope to post pictures from the year if I can figure it all out. I pray that you all had a Great Christmas and are diving into 2008 with great expectations of good gifts from God above.