Crystal

This is a pic of my beautiful sister Crystal. She left us 5 years ago today to be with our heavenly Father. She was 18 and fought a tough battle of large cell lymphoma cancer. She was a trooper. This pic was from her SR Prom. She had just been released from the hospital and was told that she was terminal. She tried to live life to the fullest...what else could she do?!?! Aug 15Th 2003 she gave her life to the Lord after fighting His every call. Oct 22 He called her home for eternity. That day was the hardest day my family ever has had to experience, but also the most peaceful knowing that she was not suffering anymore.

I was pregnant with Josiah when she passed..but he knows she loved him and that she is looking down from heaven with Jesus watching over him as his special angel. He still calls her car hers even though it's in our garage. It is sooo sweet. She was the 1st person to know I was pregnant. We kept the secret until our brother's 2 week break from Iraq when all of the family was together...there we annouced w/ my sister Tonya too that both of us were expecting (3 weeks apart!) We would stay up all night talking, watching movies and of course eating. We were hooked on hot mamas for a while. I look back at those speicial times and wish we could have had so many more. We always teased my mom that God had to send her two grand-babies at once to keep her as busy as Crystal did! Crystal we are grateful for the 18yrs we got to be a part of your life and are thankful that you are forever in our hearts and memories.

We miss you and love you so much and can't wait to be where you are!!

Fall Time

This pic is from last fall when Josiah had a little fun with the yard work! Fall at our house is such a fun time. Lots of yard work required to keep up with the massive leaves. We are still pretty old school for the times...meaning my hubby refuses to get a riding lawn mower (we are the only ones in our neighborhood still pushing it!) and he just (last month) splurged on a leaf blower/mulcher (WOW!!) I love my husband and his frugal ways (most of the time ;) but there are just some things that a man should have...ie...tools!!! Our yard is not huge by any stretch...just enough that push mowing takes about an hour to do. Then there's the bagging of the grass and leaves...I have no clue why I care...I don't mow(luckily allergic to grass!!)...just rake & bag (Great exercise!)

This year we are doing a lot of renovations on our exterior...adding all new windows and siding to make our house more energy efficient. I am excited to see the windows (they will be put in sometime in the next few weeks) If you are considering new windows for your house let me know and we can do a referral for you...we make $100 and so do you!! Just for meeting with them and letting them give you an estimate...NO OBLIGATION! It's a great way to make a lil dinner out money and see what it would cost to update your home :) I'll post before and after pics so you all can see the difference & keep you posted on utility savings!!

Well....

I will admit it...I am NOT a blog person...let me clarify...I LOVE to reading everyone's...but, I am just a chicken when it comes to making my own! To be honest I have been a member of this site for almost a year and have made soooo many excuses why I haven't posted yet. So here I go! I love the simplicity of being able to share day to day adventures with all my friends and family, I just need to let go of my anxiety and have some fun!