Yes, I'm still alive!

I know you were all wondering if I had fallen off the face of the earth.  Well.....I'm alive!  We have been through viruses, flu, and other assorted maladies in the past couple of months.  I was thrilled to be able to leave work today and see sunshine! 
Fall & Spring are my favorite seasons.  It has been gorgeous over the past couple of weeks. (minus the rainy days) Nathan's spring break was awesome and we got to visit the family in Oklahoma for a couple of days. 
Other events that we have enjoyed.....the Mother/Son dance in Bonner Springs for Valentines day!  Nathan asked me to take him and I melted into a puddle of goo.  How could I say no?!  He and I set off on our "date" and he was so excited.  We went on a scavenger hunt, did zumba (yes, I said zumba...in a dress), and had fruit dipped in a chocolate fountain.  He gave me a rose at the end.  It was awesome!

My little man is sure growing up fast. **sniff, sniff**  Noah got to hang out with Daddy while we were gone.

Noah is my constant shadow.  He wants to help in the kitchen and with the laundry.  He's also going through a phase where he's afraid to go upstairs or downstairs by himself.  We've been working on that.  You'll notice above that he likes us to spike his hair.  "I look cool Momma"  I love these little ornery boys! 
Now we are preparing for summer.  It's Chris's busy season with the kids.  Camps, VBS, and special activities.  The boys can't wait for camp.  They want to go with Daddy for a week.  Since they're getting a little older, I told them we probably would.  They get "Daddy withdrawals" when he's gone for a whole week. (I think he gets "boy withdrawals" too!)  We'll have to see what other exciting things will happen.  :o)  I'll try to keep you up to date with the happenings.  Happy Spring!

Welcome 2012!

Well....it's been about 6 months since I sat down to write.  I figured I had better update everyone. 2011 was an okay year but it definitely had it's down points.  We found out in early November that my Mom had a cancerous brain tumor.  It affected her eyesight and her ability to walk easily because her balance was off a lot.  We had 3 options....chemotherapy, surgery and do nothing.  None of them were great options.  She probably would not have made it through surgery.  Chemotherapy would have prolonged the inevitable...maybe, but she would be sick and lose all her hair.  It still would not have saved her life.  She chose to do nothing and spend her remaining time with her family.  Momma wanted quality time, not to be sick from treatments.  The doctor warned us that she would eventually start to have seizures.  We hadn't seen any evidence of this yet.  We spent a week in Little Rock trying to understand what had caused her eye sight to become so limited and solve other problems.  We had no idea that we would go home to prepare for the end of her life.  She seemed in good spirits considering all she was dealing with.  My Momma was a woman of great faith and she knew her Savior.  She listened to her favorite tv preachers daily. 
On Christmas day, she started having the dreaded seizures.  They began at 9:00 in the morning and she went home to be with her Lord around 1:30 in the afternoon.  Momma just wanted to see her Lord and her sweetheart Loren for Christmas.  She got her wish.  Loren went to heaven earlier in 2011.  I know where my Momma is.......do you know where you will be when it's your time?  I hope so!  I can't imagine not having that hope of eternal life with Jesus.  I have the knowledge that I will see my Momma again someday!  I miss her terribly but I will get to be with her again.  What a relief to be able to say that!
We are hoping for a great 2012.  I am trying to get my priorities in line and be the woman God knows I can be.  I hope you are doing the same.  I want to celebrate in heaven with my friends and family and I want one of them to be YOU!  Don't hesitate to let people know about your Savior.  It may be their last day on earth and you could help them to get to see Jesus too. 
I love you all and thank you so much for the support and love you have shown me and my family.  We consider ourselves blessed to have such wonderful people surrounding us.  I hope we can all encourage and lift each other up this year and enjoy doing God's work.

Hebrews 12:1-3
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

I know Momma is waiting to see all of her kids, friends and family.  I just imagine she's dancing in the presence of the Lord.  She always did like to dance.  Did I mention I got my orneriness from her? 

I love you Momma!  See you soon!!