Reminiscent of New Years Eve 2016

We settled into my parent's home just in time for the holiday cheer this December. I realized that I've only lived away from my parents home for just under a year and a half which is a rather humorous fact. Christmas was always an exciting time of year in my parents home. We had the biggest, best tree, with perfect decorations and presents that were so plentiful that the tree skirt was nowhere to be seen. The best was plugging in the lights at night and basking in the glow of their twinkle. And then..... we stopped doing presents and Christmas trees. No more glorious smell of pine filling up the house. No more presents on Christmas morning. December just wasn't the same.
Not to mention I had strong negative emotions tied to Christmas. One of the last years we celebrated Christmas traditionally I was in a courtship with a guy who I'd been quite infatuated with for a number of years. We'd been courting for a total of three weeks starting in the beginning of December and then on Christmas Eve he wouldn't talk to me and pretty much ignored me the whole night. By Christmas morning he acted like nothing had happened and was jolly and merry with the whole family but he didn't really interact with me much. Finally by Christmas evening I asked him what was going on. He told me he wasn't going to break it to me on Christmas but since I asked he was breaking up with me. Of course that ruined Christmas for me and since I was young, "in love" and it was my first relationship ever it was heartbreaking. It amuses me now to think about but Taylor Swift came out with her version of "Last Christmas" and so that really came my melancholy heartstrings a song that resonated well with my sad spirit. Oh, the teen years! 
As it happened that was probably one of the last years that my family really celebrated Christmas in the traditional manner. We stopped doing presents as it had grown to be a financial burden and we discontinued doing a Christmas tree as well. We still got together with family and had a special meal together but it wasn't the same. At least that's how I felt.

Fast forward to 2016. I met Jeff in February at an organic farming conference. We barely spoke but we kept bumping into each and so at the end of the three day event we swapped info and later found each other on Facebook. We messaged a little on Facebook and then didn't talk again till November. Jeff messaged me asking if he could stop by for a visit and stay at our farm on his way to his family's home in Canada. Of course I said yes and we began messaging frequently after that. The more we messaged the more we discovered we had in common and things grew serious. We were sharing life stories and discussing future desires. By the time he visited it was not so much a question of did we want to be in a relationship but when. 

Two years ago today Jeff cornered my dad as he came out of the restroom during a Christmas Eve party with my mom's family. He asked my dad if he could court me and as he and my mom had already discussed the issue and knew my feelings on the matter he gave Jeff his permission. I think that's the best holiday season I've ever experienced. The excitement and thrill of getting to know Jeff through messenger during Thanksgiving, having him visit just before Christmas and then beginning a courtship with him on New Years Day. That's enough to make any woman's heart full of joy! The funny part was that my dad assumed Jeff informed me of my dad's consent for us to be in a relationship and Jeff assumed my dad had filled me in and I was clueless. When we woke up the next morning, New Years Day 2017, my parents sat us down and were talking about the seriousness of being in a relationship and marriage... etc. I thought maybe they were taking matters into their own hands since Jeff and I had been talking so seriously the past two months. Then over breakfast they said something about announcing it in church and by that point I was freaking out. I thought they were going to scare Jeff off for sure and that they were being rather forward! So I was opposing all of their suggestions and felt quite uncomfortable. My dad did announce it in church that we were courting and that was actually the first time I was informed of our courtship. Quite a surprise, though a very pleasant one. Oh, life is amusing isn't it?!
 
The rest is history. Needless to say the joy and bliss of the Christmas and New Year season has returned and is much more beautiful than I could have ever imagine. Redeemed and made wonderful by Jeff coming into my life. The hurts of past Christmas's pale and are forgot in the radiant memories of 2016 and 2017.
At last, 2018 has come to a close leaving blessings in it's wake. A new child, our first anniversary, and 20 acres of land that we can call our own till the end of our days. It has been a good year.

A Wild Month

November's been a whirlwind. From the big Thanksgiving feast, to a ton of various appointments and events each week, I've barely had a minute to sit a write.

Well, truth is, I've started writing for the local newspaper again. After taking almost a year off I figured I'd better get back into journalism before I get too rusty. It's fun because one of the editors of the newspaper is working with me so that I can improve my writing skills. To start things off I've supplied an article on gift giving for the December edition of the paper. I plan to read some books as well to see if I can sharpen my knowledge of the art. Words can make a great impact on the reader so I find it to be one of the most inspiring and powerful tasks I can set about doing.

I've also started a Facebook page for my photography. A few recent and impromptu sessions reminded me of how much I enjoy the hobby. I'm hoping that by advertising on Facebook will help me get more willing photography subjects. I'm not looking for paid deals, just more opportunities to gain experience.

It's officially been over a month since I quit my CNA job. It feels like much longer then that for some reason. The house is noticing my presence though and projects that have been neglected since I moved in are finally being completed. It's exciting to see things coming together.

Well... I'm headed to a coffee shop with a few of my old co-workers from the nursing home. We haven't had a chance to visit much since I "retired" so I'm looking forward to catching up with them. And there will be live music to top it off! I hope your November is coming to a warm and cozy close as mine is.

Pies, Pies, Pies.

I'm waiting for the kitchen space to open up. The little farmers have come inside from their chores and are just now eating breakfast, so I must postpone my baking endeavors until they've been fed. It didn't work out for the motley crew to feast yesterday so we're having Thanksgiving tomorrow and baking today. This arrangement works out wonderfully actually because of the three siblings with significant others. We miss my brother Daniel and Jacqui and their two boys but we heard they had a nice day of Thanks in AZ (where they live) and are headed to the mountains today for a mini vacation. Channing was gone yesterday to celebrate with Rachel's family. It will be a beautiful day when I can call her my sister, but I'm excited for now to have her come today/tomorrow to celebrate with my family. 

In spite of the fact that we're baking today, we are also having a family gathering with my mom's two brothers. One family will be coming from Minnesota and will be sharing tomorrow's festivities with us. Then there's my other Uncle and his family who live across the valley. We can see their house from ours and it is a pleasure to have relatives so near. Yet, as our families have grown it makes it difficult to fit everyone into one house on thanksgiving so we haven't had thanksgiving with them in a few years. Tonight we'll all eat soup... something easy with minimal prep and clean up. This is fine by me as it affords more time for visiting. Visiting is far more important to me than any pie or turkey.

Anyways, I know the rest of the world is frantically hitting the stores for some black Friday shopping, decking the halls and listening to the beloved Christmas melodies, I am relishing this Thanksgiving.

I like to think about the Pilgrims and the Indians. The hardships they endured, their different way of life, and their focus on God's blessing. They'd come to the new world to seek freedom. Freedom to serve God and to raise their families in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

William Bradford wrote this of the first Thanksgiving feast,
"They begane now to gather in ye small harvest they had, and to fitte up their houses and dwellings against winter, being all well recovered in health & strenght, and had all things in good plenty; fFor as some were thus imployed in affairs abroad, others were excersised in fishing, aboute codd, & bass, & other fish, of which yey tooke good store, of which every family had their portion. All ye somer ther was no want. And now begane to come in store of foule, as winter approached, of which this place did abound when they came first (but afterward decreased by degrees). And besids water foule, ther was great store of wild Turkies, of which they tooke many, besids venison, &c. Besids, they had about a peck a meale a weeke to a person, or now since harvest, Indean corn to yt proportion. Which made many afterwards write so largly of their plenty hear to their freinds in England, which were not fained, but true reports."


Gotta love that old English!
Until this year I had not read Abraham Lincoln's proclamation for the United States of America to set aside one day of each year for Thanksgiving. Not only do I love the eloquence of the words but the gravity of their meaning. How has America strayed so far from this state of reverence for our Creator?

I've shamelessly copied and pasted the proclamation from this website, which says, "The document below sets apart the last Thursday of November "as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise." According to an April 1, 1864, letter from John Nicolay, one of President Lincoln's secretaries, this document was written by Secretary of State William Seward, and the original was in his handwriting. On October 3, 1863, fellow Cabinet member Gideon Welles recorded in his diary how he complimented Seward on his work. A year later the manuscript was sold to benefit Union troops."


Washington, D.C.
October 3, 1863
By the President of the United States of America.
A Proclamation.
The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

William H. Seward,
Secretary of State

Happy Thanksgiving, my dear friends. May God bless you in this next year with the grace to appreciate all the good you've been blessed with and the strength to find joy in times troubles as well.

All In A Week

This coming week is going to bring quite a few challenges. We have election day, which means a good portion of the country will be severely disappointed. On top of which we have the time change which brings darkness an hour earlier, as if the shortening hours of daylight weren't enough to deal with. Then to bring things to the climax it could snow any day and the temperatures are bound to turn chilly and arctic soon. Yikes!

One the bright side, we have Thanksgiving to look forward to. My favorite holiday. We go all out for Thanksgiving. Family filling up every inch of the house, food covering every inch of counter space. I'm trying to be patient so that I don't rush the days by, but it's so exciting!

November has brought some joys as well as some disappointments. I was invited to a special event in Connecticut and would have been traveling with some of my favorite people, but as it would happen I couldn't get the time off work. Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to my friend Hannah's baby being born and getting to meet the new little life. Then there are friendships that I know are growing daily and my own life and character that continue to be shaped and sharpened into a better instrument to serve the people around me and  to serve the Lord. It seems that God knows our needs before we do and so of course has trials and treasures waiting around each corner to be dispensed as needed in our walk.

Well, it's time for the end of the day. I hope your November is warm and delightful, and that the trials of this next week don't bring you down. If you can't find a silver lining, be sure to sew one in. ;)

Philippians 1:9-11
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

What It Means To Be A Person

It was a Thanksgiving evening a good number of years ago, when my uncle decided that we were all sedated enough by the fullness of turkey, stuffing and pie, to trick us into taking a personality test. Indeed, we were too full to protest to sitting down in front of a questionnaire full of seemingly nonsensical questions, so we agreed to be Uncle David's personality guinea pigs.



In our vegetative state of mind we were quite certain that Uncle D. was full of it and this Dr. Phil phoo phoo was just another post-modern phase.

 

As each of us took the test and read our results we couldn't stifle laughter or the contemplative "ah-ha" moments. It was a little more spot on than we'd figured. Of course, Uncle D. was over our shoulders like the evil mastermind finally bringing into submission a whole planet of minions. Okay... well maybe he wasn't that devious and I'm sure he just wanted to encourage conversation and better understanding among the family (though I thought he'd enjoy that depiction since he's an INFP, aka the personality type that believes fairy tales are real).

Ever since that revealing day, personality typology has been a subject of interest in my family. I am guilty of convincing all of my friends, and most anyone who I think won't be too weirded-out, to sit down to a personality test. Some of the tests are better than others. If you haven't ever discovered what your personality type is, I highly recommend it. Or if you have taken it already, it never hurts to take it again. I discovered that my personality has changed (or maybe my understanding of who I am has grown?) since the night Uncle Dave enlightened us to personality profiles. This one, by Human Metrics, is my favorite right now. This test is based on the Carl Jung and Isabel Briggs Myers typology.



I must say, these tests and ideas are not the be-all and end-all. They aren't going to give all of the answers for your life or completely figure you out to a T. They're more like guidelines. Very good guidelines for understanding who you are better, what it means to be you, why you do things the way you do them... and so on. It's not about right or wrong. It's about who we are as people, and understanding who we are will give us more security and curiosity to go out and understand others better.

It's fun. It's not the end of the world. And who knows... it may give you some much needed peace about your personality as you'll discover that, in fact, you aren't horrible for being a babbling extrovert or an I'd-rather-be-alone introvert. Or for making detailed plans for your vacation... or doing just the opposite and throwing organized lists out the window in favor of spontaneity.

When I first took the test I was probably 15 or 16 and my result was an ESFJ. Now I'm an ENFP... (although I occasionally get ESFP).

I really like this website for an overview description of each of the 16 personality types: Keirsey Temperment Overview. It seems to give a decent, brief view of each type.



I also like this site for a little more detail of each type: The Personality Page. It gives a more in depth look at the different types.

These are just a few of the informative websites on the subject that are available out there. Let me know if you find some that you like better!

Anyway, it's good fun! Take the test if you haven't. Alas, I'm not done writing about this subject but it's 10pm... which is 30 minutes past my bedtime. I guess 7 and 1/2 hours of sleep will have to do tonight. :)

Thankful it's almost Thanksgiving.

The days have been full of milking cows mostly. My knees are hardly getting used to the exercise, although I think my muscles have grown from carrying around those heavy milkers. I do enjoy my job immensely.  The only thing that could be better would be milking my own cows in my own barn. I hope that will come in time.

I think we need a bigger house. Mostly so that we can invite more people to our thanksgiving feast. The head count this year is over 25 people... and will likely increase by the time we get to the big day. Thanksgiving is our favorite holiday. Not that Christmas isn't nice as well but more of the family can come to our Thanksgiving feast. I wish I could make all the pies. I love making pie.... But with my new job I'll only have four hours each day to accomplish things this week. Therefore I'll be making the apple pie. Most people don't really do apple pie justice. They make them flatter than pancakes... but what you need to do is pile your apple slices 5 inches high because when you bake your pie the apples will shrink down.


I'm getting excited already! Well, time for this girl to go get some things done. Coffee break is over.
We have a friend in the hospital, a relative who's in hospice and a friend's grandma who just passed away. It reminds me of how fleeting time is and how precious people are. Spend time with your family. Enjoy the time while it lasts. Be thankful for the abundant blessings we have in this life.
Hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

Born for Adversity

Someone once said, "Show me your friends and I'll show you your future." Well, I can't see the future but if I can judge what's to come in life by the quality of the friends I have then I need not worry.

The number of people who have reached out in response to my family's change of circumstances has been incredible. So many folks have reached out in encouragement, sympathy, empathy and hope for our future. It is hard to lose something you love... but it is never so difficult when you know there are so many people who are right there, ready to share your burdens.

Some days, when grief has taken it's toll, it is easy to forget how much help it is to have friends. What a beautiful thing friendship is. In this world it is easy to become distracted in the day to day plans, disconnected in the frenzy and leave those around us to worry about their own problems... while we drown in ours.
And yet I have been touched by the comments and messages and words from so many friends. It only reminds me that I am not alone in my struggles.

In fact, just knowing this relieves the load immensely.

I suppose after God designed the family unit and the relationships therein, he knew that there was one more aspect that mankind would need, to carry on through the tests of life: friendship.

It lightens the heart to know that one is not left to wade through the mire of change alone.

I've written on the subject of friendship a number of times in previous blog posts, but I'd like to take this opportunity to simply thank my friends... just for being my friends. I am so blessed. It is an honor and privilege that I do not feel worthy of, to have such wonderful friends as you all. I appreciate your companionship, your kindness, your support and encouragement.

Thank you.

Proverbs 17:17
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

2014: One Tough Year

It is the 31st of December, New Year's Eve, and so another year is coming to a close. It's been a really, really difficult year.... and yet at the same time I don't think I've had as many enjoyable days in other years as I have this year. It's odd how that happens isn't it?

Looking back there have been some big changes in these wee 365 days.
To start with my brother's engagement ended, which was a bummer to many, although everything happens for a reason.

Then my favorite cat, "Next Cat Stop - Twenty Miles" (a.k.a Cat Stop) died. The most rad cat ever.

Some friends gave us a bunch of kittens a few months after Cat Stop died... one of them was so cute and adventurous on the ride home, so I named it Shrapnel.

..."Capt'n Shrap" for short. Not a good idea though... be careful what you name your creatures because their names seem to come true. Shrap fell in a bucket of boiling water. Channing got it out pretty fast but it's hair started falling out and it died soon after.  =(

 Wax, the cat... 

...whom I have many nick-names for: Waxley, Waxford, Waximilian, etc.
But Cat Stop... never met a cat like it yet.... although I have befriended Wax now who is a pretty rad cat too. :)

Two friends from a family that attends my church decided to "come out of the closet" which was a big shock to the family and a sad moment for us all. We haven't seen them since.

Jake, our favorite royal fatness moved far, far away!!! I think we're still going through withdrawals.

 Meadow, Channing & Jake

                                                Jake, Jake!!!

My niece, Leela, left her family here on Earth for a better home in the sky with Jesus... 

Little Princess, Leela!

We held a benefit for Leela.... trying to raise funds for the medication to keep her happy and alive longer... but the disease she was diagnosed with had a 100% mortality rate. We cherished what time we did have with her.

Then around this Thanksgiving my parents decided to quit dairy farming after 21 years. We are shipping the cows either tomorrow or the next day. What are we gonna do without cows? For me it's more like identity crisis. I've been milking cows since I could start working.

 "Look at all this milk! I'm gonna make me a fortune!" - Mitchell and Webb

 Jersey's are the cutest!!!

Well... I fed calves before I was milking cows but milking cows was more to my liking. I would even get my friends to milk with me just to show them how awesome it was. Not sure if it worked but I tried to convince them. Haha!

 Myself, Patrick and Channing

It's been a hard decision to make, but I think my parents are super brave for taking this step. It's hard when your business and your home-life are connected. A person with an average job can lose their job and find another one. It's a different matter when you ARE the job. Being a farmer is a unique and important occupation. I guess my time being a farmer will make me an "AGvocate" for the rest of my life.

Nevertheless, the cows are going (although we're keeping 8 calves and 4 milk cows for now). It's really happening and who knows what will happen next. There are so many options. Obviously I still have my milking job at the neighbors so that will help me make the transition, but it won't be the same anymore. 

The bumper sticker I put on my car.

I guess I won't miss having to round up all of the cows who enjoy escaping on a daily basis! (....well, I'll even miss that a little.)

On the bright side... there have been a lot of fun and enjoyable moments this year.

I had my golden birthday and turned 22 in January! There was a casual birthday party where people played games and just visited. We took wax off of a New Glarus beer-wine bottle and rolled it around a napkin 'wick' to make a candle, lit it and they sang happy birthday to me! So random! :) ANDD... my good friends decided to give me a surprise party on my actually birthday!!! They brought gingerbread cookies to decorate and snack on! Good memories!

My very oldest friend (as in I've known her the longest),

 Sandy & I, (with KayLee who was taking the pic)

 out for my b-day.

 Making cookies with my family and the Forsters!

In April I went to the 40th Annual Viennese Ball with Channing, Hannah, Robbie & Courtney!!! Who doesn't love to dance the night away. ....and Hannah & were proud of ourselves as we found Channing a suit at a used store two days prior to the ball and tailored it to fit him!! He looked very sharp in it!

 This is the lot of us getting ready to leave for the dance.


At the ball getting ready to return home.... One. Last. Picture!

My friends Sandy, KayLee and I decided to start spending more time together so we'd get together on our birthdays or once every-other month.

Sandy, KayLee and I

My friend Hannah moved up around the end of March/beginning of April and she lived with me for a month. You should have seen my little bedroom with the two of us crammed in there!

We did everything together... milked cows, went shopping, did work, planted flowers, took walks... LOTS of stuff!!! =)

 Hannah and I milking cows in my barn for the last time.

We nick-named the milking parlor, "The Womb" ...since it's dark, warm and is the birthplace of Hannah's milking career! ;) hehe!

She moved out after a month of living with my family. She got an apartment and jobs on some farms not too far away so we still get together on occasion and we have a good time!

Hannah and her boyfriend, Mike, gave me a "So God Made A Farmer" sweatshirt just last night!!! =) ....I think I'm gonna wear it forever.

Man's best friend is his dog... so here's a pic of my dog Jess and I. She's getting so old!!

This Spring a friend gave us a baby goat. It was sick so we nursed it back to health. It couldn't even walk because it's joints were so swollen...

We decided to name it Goatleigh, and it's more like a pet dog than it is a barn-yard animal.

Now she's running around, eating everything in sight and is back to normal although she still has a slight limp!

There have been many enjoyable days of working at the neighbor's farm. Some mornings Hannah would bring me coffee. There was no milk at the house, and I usually take my coffee with cream, so we'd squeeze some goodness from a teat!! :)

All Summer while the weather was nice I would bring in the cows for morning milking. This one, red heifer kept following me around so I snapped a few pictures. I felt like "Mary had a little lamb" ....except for with a cow!

Hannah and I even planted flower's in the farmer's flowerbeds! He was a bachelor at the time so things needed a little sprucing up!! ...and my view while milking was much improved once the wildflower mix bloomed.

One day I saw a double rainbow at 5:30am on the way to milking for Tyler. Then that same day on the way home from milking for Tyler in the evening I saw ANOTHER double rainbow! It doesn't get much better than that!

 In July we had the Redneck Hay Wagon Dance! Got to hang out with awesome friends, and dance to our crazy tunes!! 

 Gettin' their groove on!!!

 Gotta love the Christmas lights!

Just a few of the crazy peeps!

One big improvement this year: My parents bought me a little ceiling fan!!!! My bedroom faces the North... so it's the coldest room in the winter with it's drafty, old windows, and it's the hottest room in the summer.... as even the humid Southern wind doesn't reach my little room. SOOOoo..... the fan makes a nice breeze and keeps me from cooking alive while I sleep at night. :)

...and in case you're wondering, yes, I still draw on my walls, and yes, my room is still a mess!

I had fun writing to my friend Christopher, who is stationed in Uganda, serving in the Peace Corps. Got away with sending a few letters with only one forever stamp on each envelope and then one day the post office figured me out and told me I had to start paying the $1.45. Hehe

I also called him early this year (January maybe?). He told me of all the banana plantations, the warm weather and about the people there and how they focus on family more than material things which is a totally different mind-set compared to most of us Americans. It was fun! ...but after we received our phone bill I decided letter writing was a cheaper option. lol
Nevertheless, I'm pretty sure Chris is enjoying himself over there. :)

As far as friends go, I was able to see a lot of good friends that live far away and spend time with good friends that live nearby.

The Gitto girls, Rebecca and I

 Got to spend time with Sarah, Sandy and Josie!!

 Courtney & I

The morning Courtney surprised me by riding 

                            a bike down to the farm I was working at!

My dad's family all came up for a vacation right around the time of Leela's funeral... so in spite of the sad events we had a wonderful time with relatives which really helped to cheer us all up.

 Some peeps visiting outside in the nice summer air.

 It's been 25 years since my parents moved to WI and bought the farm. This was the motel they stayed at when they first moved here!!

 Here's the whole lot of us at a Leinie's tour!!

Because my brother Isaac was no longer engaged he quit his job working for the frack-sand mining company and started doing concrete again. I ended up getting to see him more often and we had many awesome days of hanging out spontaneously. I even helped him on a few of his landscaping jobs!

Road trippin' with my bro!

Then I took an awesome vacation with my friends Matt and Sandy to visit our friends Courtney and Robbie!

 Laser tag group!!!

 Courtney& Robbie, Me, Sandy & Matt

Makin' waves!!!

Boy! did we have a blast together! ....quite literally, I suppose, because we did play laser tag on the first night for Robbie's birthday. :) We also went swimming in Lake Michigan which was epic as well.

My brother Isaac and I also spent Labor Day weekend with Courtney's family!!

Bonfire on the first night at camp!

Robbie, Court & I after swimming!

Packin' up and headin' home after a fun weekend!

Biggest Bestest News of the Year:
I've had TWO new nephews born this year! Oliver and Christian. =)

 Bradford (last year around his 5th b-day)!!!

 Meadow.... this Christmas with her missing teeth!!!

 Dexter on his birthday... with a gun, of course!!!

 Alice, already such a character!!!

 

Leela... we miss her so much!!!

 Oliver, just a day old with the softest skin ever!!!

Christian: the best Christmas present!!

I'm a blessed Aunt to have 3 nieces and 4 nephews. Bradford, Meadow, Dexter, Alice, Leela, Oliver, and Christian. Such a lucky girl, I am!

Anyways, I'm sure all of this info has made you bored stiff.... as stiff as the concrete my Dad pours. The picture above is a large manure pit my dad's crew poured at the farm my friend Hannah works at! Pretty neat!

ANYWAYS...........
With all of the depressing things that have happened this year it's hard to look on the bright side and be positive about the future.

I try to drown my troubles only to discover there is a cow on the bottle!!! (That's a joke by the way... alcohol in moderation only!!!)
 So as Mr. Rodger's says,

But really... the most important thing is the strength God's given my family to make it through these rough times. I know that He has a greater plan, His thoughts are higher than my thoughts.... and a little prayer and supplication with thanksgiving will give us the peace and calm to survive even the darkest moments. I know we're not Israel and God doesn't give us signs to follow.... but I don't think he'd mind us following this one....
So we just have to keep doing what this sign I saw said to do:

I'm sure I've missed a great deal of things that have happened this year, but one cannot blog about everything. So  with that I'd like to wish you the best for the coming year and share with you a neat version of "For Auld Lang Syne"....

My sister-in-law, Kendra (Leela's mom) said that this would have definitely been Leela's favorite version. So give this one a listen for Leela... for old time's sake.

So from our cute calf, "Bubbly"....

...and from my family, we hope your 2014 was a good year... and...

We'd like to wish you a Happy New Year!!!!