Jack's blog

My son, Jack, has joined the blogging world. Check it out! Jack's Junction

Furry New Member of the Fam

Kate's new kitty. Check out her blog to read about how we came to be cat owners.

I coudn't resist posting these darling pics. Kate, of course has many more on her blog.

How cute is this cat?

Cute little Socks

Birthday Boy!

We were thankful to have our family with us over Jude's 1st Birthday.

Jude was moderately interested in his gifts, but extremely interested in..........

........ his CAKE! Starting with the flame from the candle, he was focused 100% on that cake.

We stuck with tradition and had Angel Food with strawberries and whipped cream. Mmmm!

"Dig in!"

"Hmm, this sure tastes different than my usual fare"

"Ok, this is tiring me out"

Happy Anniversary Brock and Amber!

Wow, 10 years! Reading your post on this big milestone in your life was a walk down memory lane for me. Man, I remember all of those pictures, those stories, those days so well. Seems like yesterday - kind of -:) I'm so happy to have been able to be a part of you guys life and to have shared countless great memories! I remember that morning at church when we all (3,4,5?? of us) stared over the balcony at Brock (after you pointed him out) just in time for him to look up at us. I still look back fondly on Mankato and all the time spent hanging out with you guys -sharing a plate (and fork) of Orange Chicken in the mall (yummy food,scary owner - only 1 fork & 1 napkin per order! ) I remember introducing Brock to his own Dad at your wedding! Reading your post, it hit me in a big way, just how intertwined our lives are and how that is exactly God's plan. His plan for families and church. Just as the church is likened to ONE body where we are ALL a part and very much inter-connected. We NEED people and our lives are so greatly enriched by eachother. That hit me anew and more deeply in looking over that post. I was seeing your life these past 10 years and yet it felt like my life too. Congrats on the past 10 years! Wishing you many more!

Can it Already be One Year??

So hard to believe that it has been a year since the Lord brought our sweet son, Grayson Jude, into our life. What a delight he has been! He is walking like crazy - running, really. We love his bright smile and silly faces! He says a few words "thank you", "Dixie" , "Bye- Bye", and of course, "Daddy" and "Mama". What a joy he is!

He seemed so tiny to us after our 3 previous 8 pounders

Big brother and sister are so excited!

Beautiful Boy!

Oh, my sweet boy! I love you so much! More everyday. I can't wait to see the Lord's plan for you unfold.

So much fun!

We were so excited to have my Mom, my sister, Amber and her 3 children, Madison, Isaac and Hannah come to visit us. We had a wonderful time! The 9 days went by WAY to quickly. Each day was full to the brim. Amber has documented it so well on her blog that I will just let you check it out. Why reinvent the wheel? :-) I will post some of my pictures.

Jack and Madison are within 1 year in age and best buds! They played non-stop!

Sand, sun and family - what more can you ask for??

Mary and Isaac - 2 months apart had a love - hate relationship. MOSTLY love, though!

Isaac, Madison, Jack, Kate and Mary

That wave was too close!

You can see by the wet sand that the water hit them and Jude looks none too happy about it!

Jude and Hannah are 9 days apart. I hope they will be as close as Jack and Madison. They get along well so far. What cuties!

Sorry, Amber, for stealing your picture ( and a few others!) This was taken at "The Crab Trap" in Ft. Walton Beach, as was the one below. So much fun!

Amber, Madison,Isaac & Hannah

Grandma Mary with Isaac and Mary

Thank you Mom & Amber for driving 3 DAYS!! to come visit us! We really appreciate it. It was a lovely time. It was fun to get to know my nieces and nephew better. They change so quickly. They are sweet, funny children and I look forward to watching them grow.I so, so wish that we were all neighbors. What fun we would have! Oh well, we will have to be satisfied with some great visits and nearly daily talks! I can't wait until the next time you come down, but I guess, it is my turn now!

Thank You , Mom.

It was wonderful to be able to spend Mother's Day with my Mom this year. She and my sister, Amber, along with Amber's 3 kiddoes drove for 3 days to come visit us. THANKS!! We had a great time! I am so thankful to have a mother who is also a friend. We have so much fun together. I don't remember a time when I didn't love to spend time with my Mom as much as any friend. Thank you Mom for being that kind of a Mother! Thank you for including me in your daily life and always being interested in mine.

Amber & I with Mom.

Mom with my niece, Hannah.

Grayson took us out to a Japanese steakhouse
for Mother's Day. It was delicious! The kids
loved it too.

I have to steal this quote from my sister Amber's blog
- it is just so good!

"Godly womanhood ... the very phrase sounds strange in
our ears. We never hear it now. We hear about every other
type of women: beautiful women, smart women, sophisticated
women, career women, talented women, divorced women.
But so seldom do we hear of a godly woman - or of a godly man
either, for that matter. We believe women come nearer to fulfilling
their God-given function in the home than anywhere else.
It is a much nobler thing to be a good wife, than to be Miss America.
It is a greater achievement to establish a Christian home than it is to
produce a second-rate novel filled with filth. It is a far, far better thing
in the realms of morals to be old-fashioned, than to be ultra-modern.
The world has enough women who know how to be smart. It needs
women who are willing to be simple. The world has enough women
who know how to be brilliant. It needs some who will be brave.
The world has enough women who are popular. It needs more who are pure.
We need women, and men, too, who would rather be morally right
than socially correct."-
Former U.S. Senate Chaplain Peter Marshall, 1940's

Thank You, Mom, for being an example of that kind of woman!

The Experienced Walker

Jude now walks like crazy. It is his new favorite past time. He is getting pretty speedy too!

Nashville Trip

Grayson travels quite a bit with this new job.
Often, when his trip takes him to Nashville,
we go with him. This last trip was particularly
fun since we stayed in a beautiful hotel
downtown and had the company of several friends.
Amy and Jennifer also came with their husbands
and brought their children. We had a great time
swimming, going on walks and seeing the sights.

This was right across the street from our hotel.

More Nashville........

I know this is a blurry picture, but I wanted to
show the view from our 7th floor window.
It was amazing!



View of lobby from our floor.


Mary was fascinated ( possibly a bit frightened)
by this picture. Whenever we walked by it,she
would say something about "the big monkey
not being mean to the lady" in an effort to keep
herself from being scared.


There was much for the kids to see
and enjoy to see in the lobby.

Some oldies

I found my old camera that no longer works
and thankfully took the time to see if it
contained a memory stick in it. Glad I did!
Here are a few of the photos that were on it,
taken in 2006.


Mary was just a bit older than Jude is now.



Jack found a cute kitty. Turned out
to be the neighbors, so , though he
could not keep it, he did get to play
with it regularly.


Little missy


"Keeping up with my public really
tires me out"