Christmas Greetings

Friends and Family,

It's been a simple year here for us.  After being in the new house a full year now, we are getting used to our new surroundings.  Love living in the hills of Missouri...what beautiful falls we have here!  The homefront is quiet now that both girls are off on their own.  Believe it or not, it's been almost two years since the wedding.   The newlyweds are doing well.  Ari graduates from Missouri State University this December 13th with a degree in Organizational Leadership and Communications.  She's glad to be done with school and hopes to land a job soon.  Anthony recently interviewed for and accepted a new job.  They are moving the end of December into a new apartment and are excited to be starting the next chapter in their life.  Beki started her 2nd year at Missouri State as well and is busy, busy, busy with classes, sorority, and her job.  She spent the summer home with us, but chances are that will have been her last summer home as she and friends want to get into an apartment this next summer.  She announced that she'd love to go to law school and is pursuing a degree in Criminology. 

The empty nest has been good to us this year, we did a little traveling.  John's family met in June in the Outer Banks for a wonderful week on the beach.  Soon after the beach, John had a 7-week trip to England in July and August and after Beki left for school, I joined him for two and a half weeks in Cambridge and London.  After 27 years of going there, John finally got to show me all the places he loves in England.  In late September we headed out west to see Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park.  Due to the government shutdown, we weren't able to see Canyonlands which was disappointing.  We ended up spending a couple extra days in the Colorado mountains.  Check out the blogs archive for beautiful photos of all our trips this year.

October and November have been a blur of visitors.  Its been a lot of fun to share our new home with family.  John still works for the US government, but is looking forward to a day when he can "retire" and do something he loves like working in a national park!   I continue to work with my photographs and blogging.  I've had a small bit of business this year.  In June I kicked off my Etsy shop where I sell photographs, canvas prints and baby items for photographers and moms.  It's been enough to keep me busy around all the trips.  It was very exciting when I sold my first canvas print! 

I've fallen in love with a crazy little black kitten...Ebony. 

She's our newest addition and has filled our quiet home with lots of activity and mischief.  Sapphie, our 12 year old cat, has had a bit of a hard time adjusting, but I'm sure soon they will be friends.  Frosty, who is now 15 years old, is still with us but his age is showing as he is losing his eyesight and hearing.  Poor boy! 

This has been a year of JOY for me and I've discovered so much through my photography and counting my blessings!  I hope to continue through next year.  God has been good to us and we continue to be grateful for all His blessings.  May you all experience Christ's love this Christmas.  Blessings to you all this new year! Merry Christmas!

Love,

John and Aimee

It's Her Birthday

Nineteen years plus 9 months ago today, my life was forever changed when God saw fit to gift me a beautiful baby girl.  Before I knew of her existence...

He knew her...
He weaved her together...
He placed in her a compassionate heart...
He gave her beauty and grace...
He painted the midnight sky in her eyes...
He placed sunshine in her smile...
He knew the plans He had for her.

 

On this day, I fell in love with a child placed in my arms.  She stole my heart.  This girl brought joy into a room like no other.  Everyone who really knows her, sees it...singing and dancing her way through life, looking above the negative, seeing the good in others, touching the lives of those less fortunate. 

On this day, may she realize how blessed she is and how much she has blessed others and how much she is loved.  May she see her true path in life and know the peace that surpasses all understanding and experience joy unspeakable.  You will ALWAYS be my Baby Girl! 

Happy Birthday, Beki!

March Going-Ons

March has kept me pretty busy.  Beki came home for Spring break and spent a week home.  We did all the fun girl stuff...chick flick, lunch, shopping.  The school year is quickly coming to an end and it won't be long before she's home for the summer.  It happened to be my birthday week, so I was really glad to have her home to share it with me.  We went to dinner on The Hill, Charlie Gitto's.  The food is incredible and I ordered one of my favorites, the lobster bisque.  Everyone really blessed me this year.  Mom sent me a bird feeder full of Easter candy!  I got a fun set of paper weights from my sister.  John bought me two new photography editing software programs.  Knowing my weakness for chocolate covered cherries, my sister-in-law sent a sweet little package. 

But I have to say, the thing that meant the most was the simple card from my daughter that said no matter what, she'll always need her mom.  Our children grow up, move out on their own, and sometimes, we are left not really knowing our place.  Not sure where we fit into their new, busy lives.  We go days sometimes weeks without hearing from them and we wonder if they even remember.  Do they realize how much they are missed?  How hard it is to fill that void where they once stood?  So, it really does mean the world, when they take the time to let us know we are still needed.  It's been a hard year of adjustments for me, but it's finally starting to get a little easier.  The quiet days are growing on me and I expect there's a reason for this reprieve, this time to just be still.  I have a feeling my life is going to change dramatically over the next couple of years. 

Been doing a little more decorating, finished up our family room and this week, I painted Beki's bedroom.  The house is slowly getting to where we want it.  Eventually, I'll get our bedroom painted and probably the main area of the house and then the basement.  There's plenty still for me to do.

We got a couple of nice days among all these cold March days, John and I took a little walk through the sculpture park, played with the cameras to see what we could come up with.  I tried a few in black and white.

And spent one afternoon at Forest Park.  It just felt really good to be out in the sunshine.

Christmas Greetings

Dear Friends and Family,

It's that time of year again.  Thanksgiving has passed and it's a mad rush to get everything done on our holiday lists.  And we're no exception.  The past few days have been a flurry of browsing and buying and card making.  In all the busyness of this time of year,we hope you all take time to relax with your families, make memories, and enjoy the season.

It's been an incredible year for all of us.  I'm not sure we could have squeezed in any more major life events! A lot of you started the year out with us celebrating Ari and Anthony's wedding on January 1st.

 

 Everything came together beautifully.  It was a wonderful wedding.  They are quickly approaching their first anniversary!  The wedding was followed by Beki's Show Choir competitions and performances which were amazing and very high energy.  Senior prom was in April and that was bittersweet as it was not only Beki's last prom but ours as well.  

 

 John and I also snuck away for a little R and R at our favorite getaway, Sedona, Arizona.  We can't get enough of this place.  It's our little piece of heaven here on earth. 

 

In May, we watched with pride as our last walked down the aisle to receive her diploma with honors. With tears in my eyes, I realized that life was never going to be the same...we were at a turning point that all parents face as their kids are about to embark on their own journey.

In June, we put our house up for sale and had it sold within 6 weeks.  We moved Beki in at Missouri State in August.  She is attending the university on an academic scholarship.  She currently is studying Math Education with a minor in Spanish.  That was probably the hardest thing I had to do all year...say good-bye to my baby girl.  John and I spent a month in limbo living the city life in a very urban apartment in the Central West End of St. Louis enjoying the city life.  Though as much as John would have loved to continue living like that, I was ready for my own home.  In September, we moved into our new house in Missouri and a week later, we took a ten day trip to Zion National Park.

 

John also applied for a promotion within his agency and we recently found out he got the job.  So, we are now settled into our new home, trying to get used to the new area, finding a new church and just adjusting to the idea of being empty-nesters. It's been quite a year of transition and I think we are both ready for things to settle down and become "normal" again.  

May you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  God Bless.

John, Aimee and Beki

 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
                                                                                                                                   Luke 2:8-12

Move-In Weekend

Just a few pictures from Beki's move-in weekend at MSU. 

 

 

 

Empty Nest

Well, it's been two weeks today that we dropped off our youngest at Missouri State University.  It was, quite possibly, the hardest thing I've had to do.  Beki was ready to go and super excited to get moved in to her dorm.  We helped her get set up, bought her the new TV.  On Saturday, we picked her up along with Ari and took them out to lunch.  I tried really hard not to cry, but saying good-bye was just too hard.  So, with tears flowing down my face, I told her how much I'd miss her.  This just doesn't seem fair to me.  Us mom's get the bad end of the deal, spend 18 years raising them up and sacrificing everything for them only to be left empty-handed.  I am excited for her, though.  We've done our job and am confident that she will be fine.

 

 

It's going well for her.  She decided to try to get into a sorority.  They recruited the first week of school.  She was bid on by her #1 choice, the Sigma Kappa's.  Haven't been able to talk to her much, but can tell she is really excited to get to know all her new sisters.

 

 

So, John and I are adjusting to the quietness.  Couldn't have ever imagined this day when the girls were born, but it snuck up on us anyway.  How does one go from being a full-time mom to nothing? Well, after two weeks, I'm beginning to get used to the silence, unfortunately, with the help of the TV...lol!  We've been consumed with packing and moving, so that has been a welcome distraction however stressful. We are temporarily settled into a 900 sq. ft. apartment in St. Louis and are adjusting to the city life.  What do you think of those concrete floors and plywood ceilings?  Hopefully, we will close on our new home end of September and begin the adventure of our new life! 

 

Saph and Frosty are also getting used to the new place...making themselves at home!  :o)