Be Strong and Courageous

I sometimes am cut off guard by how quickly time flies and how much is jst 'going on' around me. My hub and I met 15 1/2 years ago at a fall dance and through a singles group that met once a week. We did not officially start dating ar really getting to know one another until late May of 1994. We were engaged July 1994 and married November 1994 and I am in awe of the 15 years that have since just flown by. We were blessed with our First child Andrew in February of 96 and Emma in December of 97. Life moved us from East coast to West coast to Germany in no time flat and back again to West coast where we were again blessed with Addysen February 03. What brings me to all of this is last night 2 things happened that made time seem so sureal to me. Emma asked her daddy to dance with her, they used to do this often, when she was small, but as a watch our 11 1/2 year old relish in dancing with her father, my eyes were lit with joy, and love for them both. Secondly as we headed to bed an...

Jillane learned to sit up early and we did an impromptu photo session in the living room one morning. April 2009 Our foundation was poured February 15th and by April 23rd it was done. Ours was the only house being constructed and so the 90 build turned into more like 70. It was a great blessing, and God's timing was of course perfect. Christmas was full of emotional ups and downs, the kids were so good with every thing being so crowded in our duplex and the adding of grandma and aunt and cousins. Little Dono holding sister.

We went to the Yakima Fair grounds for a concert by Jeremy Riddle, he is Christian singer that we have listening to for about 4 years now. His music is soulful and praising God in all things. Last year we saw Merideth Andrews. We bought his CD and the kids got to meet him for like 2 seconds. He has 4 children back home in Nashville and said he couldn't wait to get Home to them. We live in a beautiful part of the country sort of a high desert place. It is sunny almost everyday, and the farms near our house produce most of the worlds Hops supply and nearly any kind of tree growing fruit, such as apples, cherries, apricots, plums, pears, peaches and the blueberries here are so yummy. We have begun to plant our landscaping, my favorite is the japanese maple(in the dirt baerly visible), and the new autumn glory maple I bought Ketih is on the porch and hope to get the irragation and sod laid before the end of summer. Our neighbor hood of 75 lots no has about 30 homes up and the construc...

Andrew Playing Soccer for the 5th year and loving it. His team lost every game but they still played hard and kept great attitudes. Obama won. that's all I have to say about that. My neice Jillane was born November 10th. She is adorable. My brother William died on Veteran's day. He took his own life and left no inkling of the Why. He is greatly missed by many, my mother and his wife the most. I just pray for their healing and that Time and God will lshow them that Life is still worth living every day. Even with such great sorrow. His burial at Willamette National Cemetary in Portland, Oregon.

My brother BJ came for a visit on his across america Motorcycle ride and the kids played a rousing game of Monopoly with him on their last day of summer. The next morning we took the annual first day of school photo at our home in Selah. An hour later, as BJ got ready to get back on the road, he told Addysen she could come along in his back pack, she was not liking that idea. this would be the last time I saw my brother alive. The last time I hugged him and told him to drive safe and that I loved him. That evening we took the kids for the first day of school dinner. September 2008 The Yakima county fair visit to the cow barn. October 2008

4th of July concert Merideth Andrew's, at Yakima Fair grounds and fireworks following. Business trip to Bellingham and trip to Birch Bay for the afternoon. Mid July 2008 Yakima Bears Game - the kids first balll game, and we were on the 3rd base line, plenty of action and close calls with balls. August 2008 The kids in the yard playing light saber with my brother William. Labor Day 2008

A morning at the park, it is at the nearby school and perfect for all ages. Just enough for everyone, with a skatepark on the other end of the field and paved 1/2 mile track for the kids to ride their bikes. The dome used to be one of my favorites when I was a kid. We met up with a couple girlfriends and their kiddos, and stayed until the warmth of the day sent us back home for lunch, and naps. Who needs a yard at home when you have this 3 blocks away. It was great that there was a toddler swing for little Jillane to have a try at the fun. the blanket kept her from being wobbly. The little monkey Addysen could swing with great force and stay swinging for minutes, wish I had that upper body strength. Emma was doing dress up with Jillane out of grandma's hope chest from outfits that I used to wear, still kinda cute after 37 year s!