The Big Move

In September, my husband and I decided to that he should try for a job in the overseas.  It was a huge step of faith for me.  I was never comfortable with the idea of moving overseas, however, with our children grown and moved out, I've had a shift in my opinion.  So, he applied, interviewed, and in November we found out that he got the job!  It's exciting beyond words.  I've been a mix of emotions...scared, anxious, excited.  But, I'm seeing this as a wonderful adventure for us.  It's time for me to stretch a little, well, a lot!  We will begin the process of preparing to move soon.  The next few months will be a whirlwind.  We've researched a little for housing, but won't really know what to expect until we get there.  But looking has been fun...making it seem more and more real.

We've started getting the kitties ready for travel...microchipped and vaccinated.  Now, hopefully that health certificate will come through completed correctly and on time!  I've been pretty stressed about all of this working out.  I do not want to have them quarantined...ugh!  Frosty will be going to live with Beki and her three kitties.  I'm praying he fits right in.  My biggest regret is that with his age, 16, I may not see him again and that just makes me want to cry. 

 

 

Our girls are excited for us, well, at least very excited about coming to visit us.  I have mixed feelings about leaving them.  I know they are adults, but I still worry about them.  Just keep telling myself..."just a phone call away."  I believe God has opened this door for us.  I have no idea what to expect or what our future is going to entail, but I'm trusting Him to continue guiding and directing us.

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

Easter Weekend

The kids came home for Easter weekend, which was a really good break for me.  Got away from the computer and business related stuff and just had some fun family time.  Ari talked us into going to our favorite BBQ joint down in the Soulard area, Bogart's.  They have some pretty awesome BBQ.  If you've never been, you really must try.  After lunch, we took them to Laumeier Sculpture Park and walked off some of that great meal.  We went to the Saturday night Easter service which allowed us to sleep in and relax Sunday morning.  Later that day we took a walk down along the river.   The weekend turned out to be really nice with the sun shining brightly on Easter morning!  That was really a gift because the day before I commented on how it just doesn't seem right that it should be dreary or rainy on Easter, a day we celebrate new life and new beginnings.  We sure wish Beki could have been here with us.  Being her first holiday away was not easy for me and I hope she knows how much she was missed.

 

 

I didn't carry my camera with me this day, so I ended up using my cell phone!

 

Ummm....oops, didn't see this one until it was too late!! 

 

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.

Valentine's Day

Valentine's...a day of Love.

A day to be thankful for all the loves in our lives, but especially for the one that stands by my side daily.  The one who is my best friend and confidant.  The one who loves me regardless of my mistakes and flaws. Who is my strength when this world overwhelms and who encourages me when I lack self-confidence.  Thank you, John, for choosing me.  Love you with all my heart!

Joy Dare
61. Valentine's Day
62.  My husband-for 30 years of his love

Going Fake

Christmas trees...those beautiful, wonderful smelling, green things we bring into our homes every year and decorate with sparkly lights and glittery ornaments.  Ours usually gets picked out the day or so after Thanksgiving and stays put until the branches are stiff and half the needles have gone missing!  For many years, my hubby has tried talking us girls into a fake tree.  Oh, you know...

less mess, 

no clean up, 

won't die, 

save money

...the list goes on.  Traditions are hard to break, so we've stood our ground and not given in.  Well, with both girls gone this year, I lost the battle and gave into the fake tree.  Then came home and cried over the fact that 46 years of tradition just flew out the window.

 The week before everyone was coming home for Thanksgiving, I wanted to have the decorations all up and the tree decorated.  Our first Christmas hauling up the huge box of Christmas tree "parts."  We got it together and I unfolded all the branches, still pouting about the fact there was no pine smell filling the house and threatening to take it down, pack it back up, and take it back.  I put the garland and the lights on and waited for Beki to get home to help decorate...one tradition I didn't have the heart to break.  It's together, it's beautiful and I can, honestly say, it's kind of grown on me the past couple of weeks.  It actually, almost looks real.  But just in spite...I might leave it up until Valentine's Day!!!  HeeHee!

I played Santa Claus and traveled 3 hours to see Ari and deliver their Christmas presents since they won't be home this year.  While I was there she said she had to give me part of my present so she could explain.  She handed me a small tissue wrapped gift.  Inside were a couple green candles.  I could smell the pine needles before she had the chance to say, "Do you know what it is?"  She knew how disappointed I was and bought me pine scented candles to burn so I could still enjoy my fake Christmas tree. 

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