Too funny for words!

Sorry I don't know how to crop the photos after I scan them in...

These precious photos were taken Christmas Eve, at Grandma Mary's community center. The best part of the photos is.... look close.... who is Santa? Can you guess? John and Josie didn't have a clue - that is what makes this picture with Josie so fun!

Here is John chillin with Santa...

New Year, New Start, New Goals...

As New Year's approaches I always look at the things I did this year, as I prepare my goals for next year.

Wow what a year we have had....

-- Reuniting with my brother after 21 years.... How do I top that?

-- First cruise taken last Feb/ first real vacation in 7 years!

-- Started training for triathlon, completed first triathlon! woo hoo.

-- Trained (over 200 miles ran in training) and ran in first 1/2 marathon - and finished!

-- Worked out nearly everyday since July! ( little boasting here!)

-- Watched Josie start talking in 3 word sentences.

-- Watched John Isaac develop the best sense of humor!

-- Watched Detrix lifting weights and bulk up (look out future bodybuilder here)

-- Witnessed Derrick fall victim to a stroke in our own home, watched as he fought for life, and then was privileged to see him miraculously healed.

Wow what a year. I am still fine tuning my physical goals for next year.... But I know I have atleast 2 traithlons I want to train and compete in, and it looks like I am going to do another 1/2 marathon... (raising money for stroke awareness and prevention) I think I am a little crazy! But I am more than happy to push my self to do things I didn't think were possible a year ago!


Family life in rewind....
03 John born - has seizure at 30 days old.
04 Derrick loses job
04 house burns to ground
04 daughter born with 2 tumors
05 - fairly "normal" - no huge issues just rebuilding house and moving 5 times!
06 - stroke/miracle
07? Nothing but happiness! In Jesus name!!

Bless you all - - Hope you have enjoyed reading the good the bad and the ugly that comes from life. I am a person that always says what is on my mind, so if anyone is still reading this.... Thanks! Have a wonderful New Year.

Remember - "For I know the plans I have for you."... " plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11-13

If you have had a not so great year - put your eyes on the above scripture - that is for you. Just a word of thought, for you as you plan for the new year.

MV Fire Department Christmas Party!

We went to the MV Fire Department Christmas Party this year. Here are are two cuties all dressed up and ready to have fun!




Here is John with Santa, Josie well still won't go near Santa - John however was more than happy to sit on his lap and tell him all about the toys he wants this year.

The theme this year for the MVFD party was exotic animals. They had lots of animals for the kids to look at and to pet. Here is a kangaroo. They loved that the kangaroo was wearing a diaper!

I don't remember the exact name, but here is a pic of a deer....
Here is a iguana... they are huge. What is funny is Josie wouldn't go near Santa, but she would pet the iguana! go figure.

Here is dad with his sweet little girl. All dressed up! "bootiful" as John would say she looks "bootiful"!

Oh to have power again!

Our power went off Thursday night about midnight. We had our gas fireplace going in our bedroom so we would have some heat if/when the power went out. Well due to the fact we live in the boonies, the power went out. No trees hit the house - Thank God! We had a couple 10 feet from the house but none hit, again thank God! Not sure if I could've handled a tree through the house!

So Friday day we went to Grandma Mary's they had a generator so they had a tv and VCR, and a little more room than us. Our heated room was our bedroom, yes we have a large master but when there is nothing to do in it but stare at one another it becomes small quickly! So we got to watch videos at Grandma Mary's and Grandpa Lou's. Thank you to them for taking us in, we had lots of fun there - and went to a near by park. Brrrr. cold outside though at 40'.

Friday night Derrick and John got to ride the fire engine with Santa to pick up canned food for the local food bank! We weren't sure if they were going to have the ride along due to all the power out, but we finally got a hold of the fire station and off they went for some fun! John was in awe that he got to sit across from Santa the whole night. He would look at dad and whisper "it's Santa"

Let's see Sat - hung out at Grandma Priscilla's and Grandpa John's they still don't have power - but they have a wood burning stove and room to run, so Sat was there turn with the Grandkids. After Fri and Sat with no nap Josie was pure joy! Our bedroom was nice and warm, but the rest of the house was 38'!! brrrr

Sunday we went to church and then hung out over at Angela and Cory's. They never lost power! By Sunday our kids were so tired and exhausted they could barley see straight! But they did pretty good, they had a blast paying with Aundie and Nathan. Thanks to Cory and Angela we got to watch survivor finale. What a treat! We came home and power was on! when one more night of all of us sleeping in the same room and we would've all been insane! lol

happy to have power back .... and room to run and play!

that is our Wind Storm 2006 story!!

Ode to the toilet

Not the best post to follow up the last one - but that is life!!

For those of you with kids this post may ring a bell. Especially if you have a boy!

John Isaac will be 4 in March. He is growing like mad and busy all day long. John has a few quirks... His buttons have to be all buttoned up to the top. He was once shopping with Grandma and had her stop the shopping cart, he got out and then straightened all the wheels to the cart! He has to have all the doors closed if we are in one room. OK, so maybe the way to describe it is obsessive compulsive... his newest addition is the ends of the toilet paper rolls. When the toilet paper is getting low down to the end he has to take all the paper off.... well you can probably see where this is going. I had just changed the roll, John went in and well the whole roll of paper went into the toilet! Oh the joys of parenthood. After 3 days and finally getting a toilet snake... The toilet is fixed. Yeah!

Thought I would share our fun times with you all!!

Faith

Since Derrick had the stroke, we both don't sleep that well. I think it's due to many factors. But each night as I lay my head down and pray for some sleep my mind just races. It is amazing to me how I still can't really wrap my brain around what has happened in our lives. Almost everynight I replay something in my mind and I can't seem to stop it. Well last night my mind got to racing and I started thinking about a scripture. My favorite verse really. It is what I like to call my life verse. You know the scripture that you kind of live by... Your mantra. Well I remember very clearly why I chose this verse. Way back in the day when I was dating Derrick and we were going to this church where they had a bookstore... Yes some of you know the one! Anyway I went into the bookstore and I saw this little card with a pin attached to it. The verse is ;

Matthew 17:20 You don't have enough faith, Jesus told them. I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, Move from here to there, and it would move. Nothing would be impossible NLT.

was written on it. I remember thinking how could you not have faith the size of a mustard seed? That is silly. So it became my favorite verse in the bible. Many many years later I would be tested and then tested again. These first few tests well, I failed. I didn't have nearly the faith the size of a mustard seed. When Derrick went through the cancer scare, I was terrified. I wanted to run away - no faith. When Josie was born with two tumors - no faith, In factI remember just be so angry and yelling at God. Good thing I have a relationship with Him... Fast forward 2 years. With everything we had been through slowly my faith had grown. When Derrick was in the hospital in the ICU and still in coma. My faith wasn't the size of a mustard seed, no it was the size of the hospital room. This time in the trial something had clicked with me. I wasn't going to let things just happen anymore. I was going to stand on my belief and take a stand no matter the cost. Isaid out loud at one point, I will not stop serving God. No matter the outcome of this. I stood my ground in all areas. With the hospital, Derrick, friends and family. I was determined to stay positive, and know that the outcome could be nothing but good. After all, All things are possible with God. So I learned on a 10 year journey of Faith that faith comes by hearing the word of God, and trusting God in all areas.

Little thought for you all~

Christmas Mama!

We decorated for Christmas the other night. John was so cute from the moment we started he kept saying it's Christmas Mama! He would say it so excited that you couldn't help but be excited too.


We decorated everywhere upstairs - the windows too. I realized I had the window stickers since before Derrick and I met! I had never opened them

One of the best decorations to put up this year was the nativity set. We don't have a real big one - but as I took out each person I explained to John and Josie who they were and why we celebrate Christmas. When I took out baby Jesus I told John how this was Jesus and he healed daddy! After all Santa is fun but you have to remember the Real reason for Christmas!

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John put a stocking on his head - how I don't know he has a big head - Josie wanted a stocking to - ear muffs were as close as we could get for her!

Since high school I have collected snow bunnies - it is fun to take them out every year and remember who gave them to me!

When I was little I started collecting penguins. I have so many now that I don't even know where to put them all - so all over the upstairs we have penguins. The tree is almost all penguins as well.

I couldn't get John and Josie to stand in front of the tree together so here is John!

Gingerbread house

Grandma Mary came over this weekend, she brought with her a gingerbread house! So we all put together a fun gingerbread house. This year it is a little bit more special for Christmas - as John is understanding this year for the first time more of what is happening. He is getting into the Christmas Spirit... and actually "gets" that Santa is going to come!

Finish line photos

Here I finally got some pics to load. Here is me at the finish line!
I think I am going to fall down now!!

Odds and Ends

A couple of things for you all....

Derrick recently did an interview with a local Seattle radio station, 94.1 KMPS country, regarding his healing. If you would like to hear it is on my myspace and Derrick's. The link is to the left.

Also - - I can't get the pics to post on the blog for some reason of the 1/2 marathon... don't know why... so if you really want to see them they are on my myspace. The link is to the left, just click.


Here are the kids during the last snow.... they wanted to go outside so I pushed them up to the park to play. This was the day after the "big storm" so some of the snow had already melted.