In Our World

Oh How He Loves Us!

2009-11-11T20:41:00.000-08:00

Summer has been busy!

2009-07-30T22:05:00.000-07:00

Well, its been forever since I have been on here. Guess I got caught up in the facebook craze:) That and the fact I didn't have a computer for awhile. Either way, so far my summer has consisted of Nick getting to come home twice. Once for five days and the last time for about 2 weeks. The last time was ever so much needed , but it was also that much harder to see him go:(
We did so much fun stuff together, made some memories to last a lifetime. Wrecked our car. Well, he did that all by himself, but ... thats ok. lol. Then when he had to fly out I hurriedly tried to put my life back to norm in about three days so that I could be ready to have gall bladder surgery. I went in and had a very good experience all things considered of which I thank God for. I was a little worried knowing that things do sometimes go wrong, but I prayed about it and it went great. I am now in Mi and have been for the last week healing up, but I feel really good now and am going back to Oh soon. This summer has not gone at all as I thought that it would and it has been very hard but I am thankful to God for so many things that He has done. I am trusting Him to do what I cannot do alone. There is one thing that I know, Life is really really crazy and goes exactly the way you don't think it will, but God knew exactly the way it would go and that is so good for me to know, because He knows everything and He has a plan for me, and that is good enough for me:)

Pilgrim's Progress

2009-05-06T15:05:00.000-07:00

Hmmm... Been thinking. Guess i'm in a little pensive, so much change all the time that its hard to deal with. Many people do not like change or very rarely welcome it. I am not necessarily one of those people. But, I do like to have some stability in my life. As of late, there has not been any. So, I sometimes feel lost. Today is one of those days. When I just feel like there is something I'm supposed to be doing, but there isn't. When, I think that I have somewhere to be , but i don't. One thing I know though is that God has been everywhere that I have been , He hasn't left. Some days that is harder to see than others. Some days take a lot of faith , others seem to just flow by. But the more time goes by, one thing has started to make sense to me. Life really is a journey, it really is a lot like "Pilgrim's Progress." There really are people out there that just want you to spend your whole life , wasting it , playing around. There really are people that think that they have it all figured out and they want to show you the easy way to go. And the Lions really do jump out and try to get you, only sometimes, I think that their claws actually do cut your skin, and even though its not fatal, you are left with a wound that takes time to heal. I think that is where I find my self today. Trying to let Him heal the wound. I have faith that He will. I am taking this journey , one day at a time. To do more than that is beyond what I can do. So , I wake up each day and do the best that i can do that day.

News

2009-03-06T18:32:00.000-08:00

Her Flamingo jammies!

Hippo outfit

The back

Greggy girl

Baby Nay

Janie and Jack dress

I have to say the slides at Sonic are the best that I have ever been on they were even fun and comfy for me!

JADE went right to this slide and went right down it and scared me to death but she did ok and then did it several more times .

HELLO!

Jade throwing sand and loving it!

This slide is very big and you have to climb steep steps to get to it.

WHEEEEEE!!!!!!

It was well over 70 and sunny and we were almost in paradise. Her little cheeks were already getting sun burnt!

Jade was a little spit fire today ! She wanted to do the very highest and hardest of everything!

Well, for those of you who haven't heard, Nick is being deployed sometime in the next three weeks. He will be going to Italy where he is giong to be based for the next three years. But he will only be there for 2-3 months and then he will go to Afghanistan for a year.Jade and I are going to be moving to Ohio for the summer and see what happens after that. We don't get to see Nick very much right now so here are some pics of us trying to stay busy so we don't go crazy:)

Jade and I's Happenings!

2009-03-06T07:44:00.000-08:00

Jade at Pizza Hut with me doing her very favorite thing.... drinking , or shall we say guzzling Sprite.

She's trying to rub the mess of Pizza of her hands.

She can say pizza now and every once in awhile will ask for some.

CHEESE!

She finally learned to say cheese so you can actually get her to look at the camera now!

Puppy with Rosie. She LOVED it!

Jade just kept kissing her over and over.

Kristina and JAde with the puppy. We stayed at Ryan and Mary's house for the a few days and had a great time.

We celebrated Holly's Birthday while we were there and this is the cake that Vicki got her from BonBonnerie. Its SNOW WHITE! I LOVED IT!

HAPPY!

NOT AS HAPPY LOL!

I think this might have been after Grandmas chocolate cake.

This is JAde during one of her rash episodes. They come and go very frequently and if not given enough benedryl all the time will get like this with her eye almost shut.We cant figure out what it is that she is allergic too!

This is Ava, my friends Crystal's baby girl. We went to high school together so its neat to be able to have baby girls at the same time. I think she is a cutie!

Jade giving her kisses!

Uncle Jeremy with the bathing beauty's! They use him for a trampoline i think sometimes.

Jade's favorite thing is to get on your chest and then bounce on you with earth shattering power!

Jade at the Rivertown mall, eating an ice cream from Dairy Queen.

She dearly enjoyed it!

Melissa and MOM and I at the Amway Grand Motel.

Jade and Emma sitting on a barrel at the tapas restaraunt that we went to.

Neither of them were in the best of moods that day so this was the best that we could manage at the moment.

I just had to put a picture of her in pig tails because they are just too cute!

People that encourage me!

2009-02-11T09:17:00.000-08:00

I have been reading the blog of a man who is now kinda famous. His wife died within 24 hours of giving birth to their daughter because of a blood clot. And he has started this blog to map his and his daughters journey without their wife and mother. To relive the pain I think. To write out his confusion. Writing definately does that for me. But I think I saw today that he calls his blog readers creepy as a kinda joke about them wanting to read his blogs. Because there are thousands that read it. And I started thinking why is it that people like myself want to read some random man's blog about his wife dying and their little girl? And then I thought probably because when you read the terrible , horrific things that other people go through and yet they lean on God and they pull through every awful day, and they just keep on going, you catch on to it and whatever you are going through you realize that you aren't the only one and that no matter what you are gonna be able to see tomorrow . Tomorrow might not be better than today but I am always going to hope that it is. And just to know that your heart won't break of grief is amazingly satisfying to know. And these people I read about every day are the proof. Life is hard and it tries to get the better of you. But then you see these beautiful testimonies of people who refused to let it. They don't know what life brings but they are going to do the best with whatever it brings. And maybe because it is so refreshing to see someone do what people can't seem to do these days. He knew he had a daughter to take care of and he has done it with the utmost care of a mother. When these days most people would just given up he is picking up where He needs to and doing the job that He wasn't prepared to do. Being a single father . Trying to tell a baby girl all about her mother. The message that yes, you can go on one more day and yes it is worth it in the end.

I'm back!

2009-01-29T09:05:00.000-08:00

Well, sorry everyone that has been concerned about Jade's rash. It did go away when we gave her benedryl but then came back a week later. Which is now, and so we are giving it to her again and trying to figure out what it is that is making her so allergic! I got a car so I can actually go places now! Yay. But my computer got a virus so hopefully i can get it fixed soon and give more updates and pictures , for now I am stuck going to the Public library which isn't a joy. Jade says hi to everyone and hopefully we'll be back soon!

The rash and etc!

2009-01-18T14:37:00.000-08:00

Daddy trying to keep my happy even though my skin hurts soo bad!

HAPPY BEFORE THE RASH!

BIG SMILE!

ponytail! lol

These are her ZEBRA outfit pics!! So cute!

The rash is very itchy and she is not feeling so good at the moment!

Her using her purse as an emergency rain cover hat or some such thing ha

This is the first of her sad pictures from the rash but the rash is way worse than it looks here!

Sleeping in her high chair because sleepiness got the best of her!

Here are some more hodge podge pictures. I just have been doing a whole lot of nothing lately so there isn't really a lot to tell everyone. Jade has mysteriously come down with some terrible hives and we are not sure what the problem is so . ... here are some pics.

Conglameration!!!!!

2009-01-14T14:58:00.000-08:00

Jade and Emma at the mall driving us wild!

Jade and Riley having a slip sliding time!

oops and we see it again!

She didn't dislike Santa , but she wasn't in love with him either. still cute though!

She is smoking those wheels.

This picture is to show off Jades love for putting her hands in her pockets and looking cool!

Jade wearing her daddy's field hat on the way home for Christmas.

We were doing anything we could think of to keep her entertained, she was pretty good though!

A place that nick and stopped and got lunch in West Virginia.

It was very interesting! Not bad though:0

Very brave , I know

They love the carousel

Jade and Riley still in the bathtub before the bubbles, they loved the mermaids.

Us at Beni hannas

I know not the best picture but it is all of us at Benni hannas

Our little fam at my mom's house with her tree.

Christmas at the Sam's , Jade was pretty sleepy.

Emma and Holly and I

Another years over, a new one's just begun~

2009-01-06T15:13:00.000-08:00

As everyone else is joyfully proclaiming the new year and all the things that they intend to do with it, I find myself reflecting a small bit on the things of the old year. The idea that the old year can just be over and done and the new one is now a fresh beginning, is a very intriguing notion. But , as I ponder that thought, my heart tells me it will be a long time if ever, before I can toss 2008 out the window.There are many various reasons for this , some I cannot tell, others that most know . There are times in a person's life when choices that have been made will forever change their life. And this year , a few of those choices have been made. Change has taken place in my life and with that change , I changed. Things that used to matter , somehow don't now. And things that didn't matter, mean the most to me. I learned some valuable lessons. Some that aren't quite finished yet, but each day I learn more. There were times, I thought I didn't know where to turn and my mom and dad were there when I needed them the most.Never had my dads arms felt so good. And never had my moms unselfish babysitting sessions and meals been more appreciated. And phone calls to my sisters were daily marathons for which I will always be thankful. It meant more than the world to me. I found that God knew the road I traveled and gave me a beautiful little girl to make me laugh instead of cry. Or at least hug me when I did and show her concerned little girl face, which I couldn't help laughing at. He also knew that I would need something to keep me busy and He gave me a perfect job. A place where I could be me and not have to be anything else. I learned that worrying about what other people say about you will drive you crazy in a hurry. Above all else , I learned that God is a loving God. This may seem simple to you, but I am still young and learning these things for myself. So, when I look at 2008 , I see myself learning some valuable lessons to help me through 2009 . Because this is a journey and there aren't really new begginnings, just new lessons to learn.

These are for you Mom and Holly!!

2008-12-12T09:43:00.000-08:00

Just us while we were waiting for daddy to come home from hunting.

The background is not really that cute but it was the best I could do under the circumstances!

Cute Smiles!

Hugging the bear she got last year for Christmas

Funny Faces!

She isn't sure about the picture thing yet!!!

Thanksgiving at Martha and Larry's house!!

2008-12-04T08:25:00.000-08:00

This is Carson the middle boy and he is holding brand new 3 week old Emma!
He really wanted me to get his picture with "just" him and Emma.

This is the whole crfew and i must say that if you know them at all, I was lucky to get this picture! Wiggle Worms!

Jade giving baby Emma a kiss!

Jade and Peyton were partners in crime the whole weekend. They were pretty good buds.

This was the pretty high heels that Peyton found on Black Friday!!! hahaha

EMMA!

Nick and Larry looking dissapointed at the deals they were finding on line i guess!

Playing Chess is Stevens favorite past time. !!

Jade just observed!

And Drank!

This is just a recent Jade pic

And this in pigtails

I have to say i think Nick spent more time on the trampoline with his little buddies than with the rest of us!!! I had to beg them to get the picture of them all before but for this one with Nick they were quite excited!!

Finally!

2008-11-19T16:04:00.000-08:00

Nick and I at my brother Ryan's house in Ohio.

Jade being a leapord for halloween . She didn't get a nap that day so her night wasn't going to happen without the paci in her mouth. She did love it though and even said trick or treat!

Jade and I at Aunt Holly's house!

Us cracking up!

Nick ,Jade and I went to Red Robins the other night and Jade loved this bird.....but she did NOT want to be held by him!

Here is my very own little "David Cook"

We were trying to show off our blue tongues but you can't really see hers.

Jade's new thing is to cover her and her dollies up to go night night. I find her dollies all swaddled up lying all over!

Smile!

I have lots of other pictures but it was really hard to load even these so i will try more later when i am feeling a lot more patient.
Oh, and this is how gypsiish i get when i go to Holly's house!hah

Jade seems to get that way a little bit too!

2008-11-17T07:34:00.001-08:00

Well, everyone! I've been wanting to post pictures , mostly Jade's halloween pictures, but i haven't been able to retrieve my camera cord from wherever i hastily put it when i moved. So , if in the beginning of December there are halloween pictures on here this is the reason why. And for the rest of you that haven't heard i have safely arrived in Fayetteville, North Carolina for the time being. We are very glad to have our daddy and husband back. So, hopefully soon I will be able to post some pictures .

WHO ARE YOU, AND DOES ANYONE CARE!!!

2008-10-31T10:55:00.000-07:00

I know what a weird thing to post. But it comes from something I have been thinking alot about lately. I think because of something someone said that I know. They said that while abortion and gay marriage and and a few other things that most Christians are against, were not personally right for this person, but, how could they tell someone else that those"Choices" weren't right for them because then they wouldn't be able to find themselves and be who they really are. I am paraphrasing but it was pretty close to that. And ever since then I have thought to myself how can someone really think that? I like to talk issues over with my mom because she's very smart and has been reading the Bible more years than I have been alive and she grew up with a really smart dad that was a preacher. So, I brought this up and we were talking about it and she said something that was so simple it would seem like everyone would know this but its seems obvious to me that they don't. She said, "people don't need to know or find out "who" they are. They need to find out who God is and then be like Him!!!!!" I tell you what people with shrinks and physcologists and everyone telling you that you need to find out who YOU are and you need to do what makes YOU happy, That struck me as so simple, who I am doesn't matter. Just because I have a tendacy to want to do certain things or because I am in a bad situation , doesnt mean that I can kill a baby. And This is especially true when I think of how God would view it. I want to be like God and he has given very specific directions about these issues. Thats the whole point of mercy and grace we aren't perfect, who we really are may not be a very nice person. We might need to change and be more like God, what if who you really are is Hitler and you just have to be who you really are? Or does it make more sense to say , I have faults and I have wants that God doesn't approve of and I am goiong to let Him take control of my life and help me to be more like Him? I just have a hard time letting it slip by when people basically insinuate that finding out who they are is more important than being who God is. I guess thats what is wrong with people today is that everything is about them and that is it they don't care about the baby they just killed as long as that was the right descision for THEM! Unbelievable!!!

I love this!

2008-10-17T13:37:00.001-07:00

I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction, I had nowhere else to go. Abraham Lincoln

Read this post from the bottom to the top!!!!

2008-10-17T08:19:00.000-07:00

This is actually the end of the post but My mom and I went up to this awesome orchard in STanton by where Nick and I used to live in Edmore and had a really fun time. But, Jade was a tired girl and towards the end she was getting to be quite the crab this is her while we ate lunch in Blanchard. She was not a happy camper . But it was a beautiful fall day in Michigan and the sun was shining so it was a lot of fun. Things like this make you glad that you are alive! FAll in Michigan gives you a bite that makes it hurt a little but then the sun and the beautiful colors put it all together and it is very invigorating. Its like one last I'm ALIVE before we all hibernate for the winter so you feel like you have to get your wild oats out!!! hahah well hope you all enjoyed this.

Jade and I at the farm!

This is a ton of really huge goldfisht that we fed!

Our try at getting a picture with the beautiful apple trees! Ha Jade was tired and in a bad mood!

Grammy and Jade with the baby cammel. He had some pretty stinky breath though! he was sweet though!

Another big slide like the last orchard that we went to!She cried when she couldn't go again! And it is really steep for a one year old . But she loved it!

The train again!

I think the zebra was a close second ! Both he and the camel were babies and they were so cute, but unlike the reindeer he liked to wait til the last little morsel was out of your hand and then nip youa good one!hahaha Sounds like democrats to me!!! hahah

The wooden train was a big hit too!

Jade loves these horsy swings made out of tires!

Isn't he so pretty! Makes me think of Christmas!

This place is awesome they have all kinds of animals I think my favorite was the reindeer we got to feed all the animals and he was so gentle.

This was not an easy time to get pictures and she was making a weird face but she was pretty thrilled about the donuts!

I thought that the donuts at the Anderson Girls Farm in Stanton were delicious but here is JAde showing you what she though about them!!!!

Little Bear Awakens!

2008-10-14T12:46:00.000-07:00

Here is Jade awaking from her nap and not to happy about it from the looks of things!!!! I actually took the picture not looking at her and then I looked back at the picture on the camera and saw she hadn't cooperated unbeknownst to me!!!

I thought that this was hilarious!!! Jade resigned to the fact that getting out of bed was gonna happen sooner or later anyways!

Pretty Amazing Grace!!

2008-10-07T10:52:00.000-07:00

I love this song, I think it is partly a love song, but I sing it with God in mind.God truly is Amazing and sometimes I forget that.

Pretty Amazing grace is what you showed me, pretty amazing grace is who you are, I was an empty vessal, you filled me up inside and with amazing grace restored my pride, pretty amazing graze is how you saved me and with amazing grace reclaimed my heart, love in the midst of chaos, calm in the heat of war, showed with amazing grace what love was for. You forgave my insensitivity, and my attempt to then mislead you, you stood beside a wretch like me, Your pretty amazing grace was all I needed.Stumbled inside the doorway of Your chapel, humbled and awed by everything I'd found, beauty and love surround me, freed me from what I feared, asked for amazing grace and you appeared.You overcame my loss of hope and faith, gave me a truth I could believe in you led me to a higher place, showed your amazing grace when grace was what I needed . Look in a mirror I see your reflection, open a book you live on every page, fall and your there to lift me , share every road I climb, and with amazing grace you ease my mind, came to you with empty pockets first, when I returned I was a rich man , I found your amazing grace to comfort me, pretty amazing grace, you overcame my loss of hope and faith, gave me a truth I could believe in you led me to that higher place, showed me that love and truth and hope and grace were all I needed.

MICHIGAN APPLE ORCHARDS ARE FUN IN THE FALL!!!!!!!!

2008-10-03T10:11:00.000-07:00

Lynette , Justin, Jade and I went to an apple orchard this last Wednesday. It was a lot of fun! But the Michigan fall air chose this last week to come and bite us so it was really chilly!!!!!

My little cowgirl!!!!

They have a corn crib with all this shelled corni n it that kidscan play in . I thought that was a really neat idea!

Its hard to get these two at the same time so hence the two different pictures!

Here we are!!!! See how happy this little girl makes me. I love her so much!

This is a really creative slide that they made. It was pretty steep and Jade went down it all by herself!! This was the face that crazy ride resulted in!!!

There was four little baby goats and lots of older goats!!! The babies were darling but we couldn't get close enough to touch them!

This is a really interesting duck that was there with her ducklings I am assuming but she has both color of ducklings and they all have really funny colored beaks that are really long! But they were darling just the same!

This was Jade's costume last halloween but I am selling it on ebay this week so I had to take pictures and man they were just so cute I had to post one!

Jade on a rocking horse that is outside this used store my mom and I go to occasionally! She loved it and loves to say horsey.

Jade after eating her peach yogurt. She loved it and lifted it up at the end and tried to drink every last drop!

Being so close to halloween, Jades recent obsession with my broom has led me to think she looks kinda like a little witch. And she acts like one too sometimes!!! haha not really!

This is a picture of my dad and Jade at a restauraunt late at night the night I got my car. It seems like an innocent enough picture. But really we had the craziest night either of us have had in a long time. Take to long to explain but this was almost the end of a very very loooong day!!

SO DISGUSTED!!!!

2008-10-02T08:13:00.000-07:00

I don't know about all of you out there, but I am so sick of this election year I don't know if I can take another 2 months of it!!!!! My heart hurts when I think that half my beloved country is willing to vote for a man that has the "qualities" of Barrack Obama!!!! It sickens me and terrifies me that people are giving their futures and their children's futures over to this man. What is wrong with America? I've been thinking of this for awhile. And what I believe that it all comes down to is America is sickeningly selfish. Where does selfishness come from? Well, from what I can tell, it comes from not caring about anyone , even God, more than yourself. And I think that is what we are seeing in Americans these days. God is almost a swear word. If you believe in God , you are a radical! If you are a conservative Christian, then you are almost equated with lunacy. And if you have morals, they would like to put you in jail if they could! If you believe that life begins at conception , then you are viewed as some horribly insensitive person who wants to take peoples "rights". If you dare say a word against homosexuality, or adultery, then you are considered a species of odd behaviour and for lack of better word a prude. All these things are things that are specifiacally mentioned in the Bible. But they don't like to bring up the Bible because that isn't even relevent to them. Its called wanting what I want and getting what I need out of life. All this is starting to take a toll in my mind these days I war with it . I think , is this truly how its gonna be from now on? We are the radicals and we are the ones that are insensitive and we are the unloving ones? That when you mention being a Christian you have to defend yourself as if you said you were a criminal of the worst sorts. I know that is what the Bible says, that in the end days you will not be popular if you choose to go in Jesus name. But , I grow exhausted of people treating Christians like they have some sort of disease. But everyone else who gets abortions and lives perverted lives , and cares nothing about anyone but themselves they are the normal ones and they are the ones that have brilliant minds and are really living the life of self discipline. People, seriously. The hardest thing in this world is to give yourself up to God and let Him work through you. So if you've done that , then congratulations!!!!!

Fun with the family!!!

2008-09-25T11:24:00.000-07:00

Jade going down the really fun slide!!!

She loves the swings!!! She goes wheeeeeeeeeee!

Here is Erin enjoying the grandkids slide!!! haha

Jade and Maria going down the slide with a little help from Aunt Erin and Aunt Mary.

Jade and Isabelle and Kacee on Grandpa's hammock!!

Ryan and Mary came home this last weekend and brought all the girls so we had a ball with them. We definitely have an ubundance of girls to play with!!!

2008-09-18T11:22:00.000-07:00

The stork is just bringing her now?! Haaa. This is about the only decent picture I got of an outing to Dutch Village that Karen and I went on yesterday! We went to Holland so I could take some clothes to a used store I go to there but alas the day was so nice and we were right next to Dutch Village ! So, we took Jade and we had fun reminiscing about the days of old when we would go there on field trips and had so much fun. Jade loved it too. She got to see baby goats and ride on the carausel. And much more. And momma bought her another purse that she really "needed". haa

These are some adorable if not a little to far away pictures of her in the too cute rain boots my mom got her. They have lady bugs on them and the day my mom got them it started raining and rained forever it seemed. So they were a big hit!

Kids love puddles!!!!

SPLASH!!!!!

Saturday , I had to go somewhere while people were looking at my house and so we went to the store in the pouring rain and it was actually pretty fun!!!!
As you can see by the purse Jade is all ready to shop!

Well, last week I was hurrying off to work and noticed my car thumping and bumping. So I stopped and sure enough I had a totally flat tire. Seemings I am of the female gender and have never tried to make mechanics known to myself, I was in a bad spot. So , that night my dad came and changed it for me and he wasn't having the best time with it either . BUT.... someone was there to help him, so it was ok!

2008-09-11T07:44:00.000-07:00

So here it is!! 7 years ago today, our great nation was attacked by ruthless killers that payed no mind to the fact that their victims were moms and dads, and somebodies loved one. I was just a kid in school then.
I knew that it was an awful terrible thing but I never thought that it would affect me in the ways it has. I never thought that 7 years from that day , my husband would be a part of the United States military and that he would soon be helping fight this war on terrorism as it is now called.
And as I write this I am thinking of all the people I know and I can't think of very many people that haven't been affected by September 11th in some way. Our country has changed in many ways since that day. Security is something we think of in the highest regards. Gas prices are sky rocketing. And hearing about soldiers in the news at night has become a routine with us Americans.
And then this year ,here we are as a country about ready to make one of the most important choices in history. Who our president will be. In the days following 9/11 , I was so thankful that President Bush was our President. And through the last few years he had guided our country and kept us safe from harm.
So it is with great alarm that I think of Barrack Obama possibly becoming the president of the United States and My husbands Commander in Chief so to speak. For he has spoken that he will take the troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan if he is elected. Mindless of our protection.
So on this memorial day for September 11th, I find myself praying and hoping that McCain is elected in November. Because as Obama's ads run it would be " more of the same" and I personally would be quite happy with 8 more years of no attacks on our country.

2008-09-09T13:50:00.001-07:00

Oops! Here are two pics that I wanted on here and I forgot to get them on here the first post.
Here is my dad and Jade. Jade is wearing a flannel night gown my mom made and gave to here. She looked so cute in it and she was definitely ready for bed!!!

And this is Jades little friend that she has at church . Her name is Aubrey. She is two months younger than Jade. And they play in the nursery together.

2008-09-09T13:14:00.000-07:00

Well, first of all I want to say Happy 21st Birthday to my husband!!! I love you Nick. Hope you have a good day today!!

This is our kitty that Jade and I got yesterday. I thought the both of us needed some cheering up. So this was my solution. Jade absolutely LOVES him and I think that kitty likes Jade quite a bit too as far as kitty's and 1 year olds go, he seemes to be quite tolerant!!!!

Jade got up from her nap and immediately found out how to get the kitty to play with her! Just toss a string around!

She had so much fun. And she walks around saying "no" because she wants the cat to come to her!

The kitty's momma is supposedly half persian and Himalayan, but I don't think baby inherited the looks!!

My mom's birthday was yesterday and we celebrated it on Saturday with Jeremy and Melissa and Emma. So here she is with the cake that my dad got her. It was really pretty and very yummy!!! Of course its an Arnies cake so of course it was yummy!

This picture is for my friend Lynette. She bought this outfit for Jade. Sorry she wasn't smiling.Believe me, she was not in the mood but I thought she looked so cute I had to take a picture anyways!!! Thanks Lynette!!

Here we are happy to be together again while he was here!!!!!

Nick was so happy to see her again and he had a great time pushing her on the swings and helping her go down the slide. He loved doing that with her.

Picture in my parents back yard as the sun was going down so thats why it looks like this.

And here is the slide!!! Jade is in love with it but sometimes she needs us to give an encouraging wee to make her let go. Haa

2008-09-05T10:32:00.000-07:00

I just got these pictures from Nick. One of his buddies snuck a phone up on the plane and used it to take pictures while they were on their way down in their parachutes!!! Pretty cool! Gives you an idea of what it looks like from the air while they are parachuting!!

The parachute all opened up.

Headed down there!!!

Nick just graduated from airborne today and is headed to North Caralina to finish up on all his training. He had 5 jumps all together and now that phase is done!! Yay! One more down!!!

2008-09-05T09:17:00.000-07:00

Here is Jada with her adorable cat hat that my mom bought her. Her smile is priceless!

Here is Jades clown ice cream and then the clown that ate the ice cream ! Ha! She looked like one when she got done!!! Jade and I went with my friend Lynette and her son Justin to the ice cream shoppe in Sparta after Justins first day of school!!! It was a lot of fun!

Jade eating the delicious corn out of Grandpas garden and loving it! She was so excited when I gave it to her!

This is Jade and my Uncle Jim's Lab. She loved the dog and was giving it hugs and kisses. She says "woof woof"!

Jade and I at Ryan and Mary's vow renewal in Vermont. It was a lot of fun but both Jade and Maria were ready for a nap hence the look on her face and the bottle being clutched.

Here they are!!!! So beautiful!

Here we are on the way to Vermont for the big occasion! The ferry is really neat and I think that Jade really liked it too.

Holly and I stayed at the Hotel Saranac for a couple of nights when we were in New York and after my trip to Georgia, Ohio , and New York, I was so sick of carrying luggage so here was the solution. Jade seemed to like it alot. She cried when she had to get off!

Here is Jade in the pool in Ohio after I got back from seeing Nick. In case you haven't already guessed. I went to Holly's in Ohio and stayed the night ans she kept Jade and I went on to Georgia to see Nick for a week and a half. Then I came back and stayed a few more days and then her , Jade and I left for New York . Then I came back again got my care and went back home to Michigan.

Here we are in Georgia on the night that he had to go back. Trying to make the last few hours not to sad!!!!

This is Nick's graduation from basic training. We were both glad it was over mainly so that we could talk on the phone again and not just rely on letters. And the chances of seeing each other more frequently. Definitely a happy day! Although it was so hot while I was there, his graduation was at 9:00 in the morning and at about 10 it was already almost unbearably hot!!

2008-09-02T09:11:00.000-07:00

I'm so happy! Nick finally got to come home and see Jade and I after having been gone since April 16th! It was over four months that he and Jade didn't get to see each other. That is something that made us both so sad, so we jumped on the chance for him to come home on Labor Day weekend , even if was only for 2 days. After a flight being missed and many tears he did eventually make it into our arms. And for the next two days all was as it should be. Its days like these that are far and few between but they give me hope for when we can be together again. Each time that I get ready to say goodbye , I think that I've done it before so it won't be as hard this time. And each time it seems harder. So, I pray and I pray and I pray . And eventually, I get settled into my routine again. I can talk to him on the phone now, so that makes it so much better. So , here we are with our little family.

The hot Georgia sun has made Nick about 10 times tanner than us!

It's so nice to be a family again!!

Nick isn't the best at posing for the camera as you can tell he is a little out of it! ha

Here's my little family again and I love this picture!

I'VE ARRIVED ON THE BLOGGING SCENE!!!!!!!!

2008-08-20T13:09:00.000-07:00

Well folks. I've been trying and trying to get my blog set up and I am progressing but I will hopefully soon have pictures up. Maybe I'm just not that smart but this site seems to be a little tricky to manuever. So, alas , I will see you all soon with pictures and ramblings!