Wow, it has been almost a year since I got on here and updated things...I am so bad about keeping this up to date. I hope you are all viewing the pictures on Facebook!
*McKenzie celebrated her 4th birthday in January. She is 4, but acts like 16! Ah, ay, ay! She is my little drama queen, but I love her to death! She started school (LA4), pre-K, this August. Her teacher is Ms. Welch and she is such a good student. Her teachers love her! She is doing so well. She can spell her name (first and last) and almost completely write her name (first and last). Her verbal usage has multiplied immensely and she is so sophisticated in her language skills. She doesn't talk, she "speaks" to you. She is too funny! Her fifth birthday is just around the corner and I just can't believe it! Where does the time go?
*Madisyn celebrated her 1st birthday in April. We had her party in Indiana and Joe took leave and joined us too! She has changed so much over this last year! She is walking well, most of the time running! Her hair is finally filling in! She wants to do everything her sister does and does not consider herself to small to do anything. We attempted a big girl bed with her, but after a week of doing well she decided she could get in and out of bed and subsequently learned how to open her bedroom door and "escape". She LOVES her sister. She is starting to talk and now repeats EVERYTHING you say. We really have to be careful around her. She just recently turned 18 months and I don't want to think about birthdays around the corner! It does not seem possible...
*Joe is working, working, working. He is still trying to lose his weight so that he can reenlist, but here of late has been making better progress. He lost 7 pounds last month. He is very skilled in his job and is looked up to for wisdom and answers on most days by even his superiors. I am so proud of him, just wish the rank would come with the job being done. Most recently his job has been "Mr. Dad" as he takes care of me postoperatively and cares for the girls. He is such a wonderful provider. The girls are loving having Daddy time. Don't know what is going to happen when he goes back to work, but I think he is starting to miss it! LOL. He has also been doing a wonderful job at the housework, little does he know that with his display of ability with housework, he has just volunteered to help out around the house more!! He really steps up when he is needed. I am truly blessed!
*Ah, me, where do I start. Well in March, the girls and I went home to Indiana to spend some quality time with my ill grandfather. The experience was well worth the separation. The memories that were made with my grandpa in those last few weeks were priceless. I learned more in those 10 weeks than I did in a lifetime with him. Unfortunately I had to come home in June and grandpa passed away in August. We traveled back to Indiana for the funeral and were able to spend some quality time with my dad and his family as well as our other wonderful family going to the State Fair, Mooreland, and just hanging out. This fall, I had back surgery. I am 10 days out and still recovering, but my leg pain is gone and I am getting stronger day by day. God has richly blessed our lives with an amazing church family at ELBC. If you don't know the story behind how God lead us to this church, you should call and catch up with me. It is amazing! These women and men (brothers and sisters in Christ) have been such an exceptional fill in family and have made every effort to make sure I am and the girls are provided for during my recovery. They are currently bringing in food, helping with cleaning, and when Joe goes back to work, stepping in to help with childcare. Wow, God is good. We were scared I would not be able to have the surgery when our Compassionate Reassignment got denied, but look how God has moved through his people.
Finally, we are still up in the air as to what we are going to do for Thanksgiving, but we will probably have dinner with someone in our church family. We will be having Christmas here with the girls, just the four of us. The following week are praying and planning a trip to Memphis to meet up with Mom, Dad, and the siblings. We are very excited to see them all and to experience Memphis at Christmas. Snow...we will have snow for Christmas! God has been good this year, providing for our most basic needs, providing us family, and most of all giving us each other in love, in health, in UNITY. God bless you all!
Easter 2010
Halloween 2010
The Girls Together
Random Pictures From Our 2010 Adventures
Our 2010 Family Picture (Summer)
