Fall and Winter Update

So much has happened since September!

I made it back to the states at the end of September and stayed through first week of November.  The first couple weeks, I was with my mom to help out while she continued to recover from her illness.  She is doing much better and continued to get stronger over the past few months.

 I drove back through St Louis, where I visited a few friends.  Then made my way on to my daughter’s house.  I got to see their new home for the first time.  And was there to witness the birth of my granddaughter, Hadi.  She came a couple weeks early, but that meant I got to spend extra time with her.  I enjoyed 3 weeks with her and her sister and it was so hard to leave!

A few days after getting home, we flew to the UK where we attended a dinner at Gonville and Cauis College in Cambridge.  It was a true honor to get to go.  We spent the rest of the time visiting friends. In December, we had several visitors and spent most of the time visiting German Christmas Markets, which I’ll get into in more detail with another post.

Our daughter, husband and the 2 grands came out to spend Christmas with us.  It was wonderful having them here.

    

 

   

 

In January, we made a trip back to the states to visit family and get caught up with our medical appointments.  We arrived at Beki’s right before a winter storm rolled in and ended up snowed in for 3 days.  We saw Ari and Jerret in St Louis along with friends in the area.  Our last stop was Ohio to see parents and siblings, good visits, good dinners, and a Walleye hockey game.  My cup is full!

We’d been home 5 days and John had to leave for the states, which meant I stayed in Germany by myself.  It’s really weird and a bit scary being in a foreign country by myself.  I laid awake the first night anxious and running through the what ifs.  It’s these moments that I continue to learn to lean into my faith. 

In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. Psalms 4:8

When you walk with Jesus,you are truly never alone.  I’m going to make it through this week.  I may not leave the house, but I’ll get through it!

It’s all going to be alright!

 

Ornaments With a History

A few years ago, we decided to buy a fake tree.  Instead of the annual trek to the Christmas tree farm, we now unbury the tree from the basement and haul it up a flight of stairs.  I miss the whole picking-out-the-special-tree-affair along with the cold air, hot chocolate, and wonderful smell of pine trees all around.  So right after Thanksgiving, it made it up to it's place of honor and this year I had the privilege of decorating the tree; a job I did mostly by myself while complaining to my husband that I really didn't like doing this alone.  His reply, "But, you're so good at it."  Neither of the girls were home to help.  You can only imagine my feelings, sentimental to say the least.  And if decorating a Christmas tree by yourself isn't emotional enough, with most of the ornaments I pulled out of the box, I remembered a story or an event that brought tears to my eyes.  He really doesn't know what he's missing out on by not helping with the decorating...a trip down memory lane.  Our Christmas tree tells a story, a story of our life together.  Each ornament is a placeholder for a season in our life

   .....a memory,
   .....a moment.

I thought I'd share a few with you...some of you will remember.  We've made many friends during the years, some of which we have never seen again since they or we moved, but you are not forgotten.  We hold each of you dear in our hearts and treasure the moments we shared.

Our first Christmas tree was made up of mostly hand-painted wooden and ceramic ornaments that my mother-in-law and I painted.

 

Our First Christmas Together ornament from our best friends Noel and Jill Bell while we still lived in Ohio.

 While in California, my mom sent this to me saying how much it looked like my 2 year old sister, Alison.

 

These ornaments I made out of Sequoia tree pinecones and sent to each family member with a tag that said from The Nations Christmas Tree.

 

And one to represent our time in Maine from Karen and Rick Chapman.

 

This was from Grandpa Jack for Beki's first Christmas.

 

A friend in Nebraska, Anne, gave me this during my quilting and sewing years!

 Another set I made during my quilting years.

 

This one is from my piano teacher, Ms. Barbara Baker, while taking lessons in Nebraska.

 

A dear friend, Marlene Kniesche, and I and our girls made these angels in 1997.

While in Illinois, I really got into photography and Tonia Ham found this beauty for me a couple years ago.

 

Kristina Garr had an ornament exchange one year and this Santa came from Lisa Bader from overseas.



  The Barbie/Princess ornaments are Beki's...she'll always be my little princess!

 

Hand-painted glass ornaments from my sister-in-law, Beth.

Snowball ornaments from Anthony and Ari's wedding.

 This pretty hand-painted ornament was from my cousin Mandy and Brandon Powers for participating in their wedding.

 

...and, of course, the precious ornaments from our babies that I still proudly hang each year! 

Honeymoon Island Beach

Had a wonderful time visiting my friend, Michelle, and her family in Tampa this past week.  We packed the week full of talking, drinking coffee, Disney World, hockey games, and the beach.  It all came to an end sooo fast!  I will surely treasure this time I had with her.  We headed to Honeymoon Island beach on a partly cloudy day, but it turned to storms fast.  We made a quick exit when the lightening started around us.  I'm pretty sure it was monsoon season as we got torrential downpours almost every afternoon/evening. 

Time with Friends

Most of you know, one of my favorite places to go is the Missouri Botanical Garden.  I promised a friend of mine who is moving soon one last visit.  We spent the afternoon with her parents and the kids.  It threatened to rain all morning, but once we got there, it was beautiful. 

Being retired military, I'm used to people coming and going in our lives.  But, it's never easy and saying goodbye to this family is no exception.  We have grown to love them and their beautiful babies...each a miracle in their own way.  We will sure miss them and hope to see them again.  Our prayers go with you as you begin a new chapter.

 

 

Never Too Old for a Tea Party!

I had the privilege of attending a tea party for a couple of very special young ladies who were turning 5 in July.  It was adorable and the girls had so much fun dressing up.  Their momma did a wonderful job planning, down to the beautiful, yummy cupcakes, which by the way were made by a neighbor of hers who is opening a cupcake and coffee shop down on State St. in O'Fallon, IL near the old opera house.  Can't wait to go back for a visit and try them out!  Happy Birthday, Girls!