Holiday Fun

We spent Thanksgiving in Myrtle Beach which was a treat this time because my mom came along and Kiara got to spend time with her sister who lives in South Carolina.
And now it's time to make some Christmas memories... Here's our tree and mantle this year...

Thankful List

My friend, Kim, inspired me to write about the things I am thankful for. So now I take time to reflect on the things that add richness and meaning to my life...The blessings that I sometimes take for granted.

First and foremost, I am thankful for my relationship with God. Knowing that He loves me no matter what... that is a love that surpasses anything I could expect from anyone else in the world. I am thankful for His grace and mercy.

I am thankful for a husband who has been committed to our marriage for twenty years. I appreciate his easy going personality (even though sometimes that very character trait annoys me). I am glad that he doesn't take things too seriously and helps me enjoy the little things in life. We have had many great memories together for which I am grateful.

**Note: I navigated to find a picture to go with this part of the post, and can you believe this is the first one I came to??? See, I told you he was laid back!!

I am thankful for the opportunities I have had to travel. Although we haven't done it much lately, I find joy in reliving the cruises, overseas adventures, and just weekend getaways I have been able to experience in my life.

I am soooo thankful for my family. My mom, my brother, and the memories of my dad who still lives in my heart.

Paul and I are especially grateful for the best gift God ever blessed us with... our daughter, Kiara, who joined our family through adoption eight years ago. We love that she is an independent young girl who doesn't feel the need to conform. She is willing to be her own person even if it makes her different from others. (See the picture below... and, no, she doesn't have actual piercings... yet). She is happy and loves to have fun... and she makes us laugh. Yes, we do have our rough moments... but it is all outweighed by the closeness we share with her... our only daughter who we prayed over twelve years for the opportunity to have as a child to raise.

I am also thankful that we have managed to hang on during this hard economic time in our lives. We trust that God will provide for us everyday. Just when things seems bleak, God sends us another renter for our investment house or a full weekend at the B&B. I am glad Paul has the opportunity to have a job that he loves-- owning and running a business.

(Recent picture taken of us in the Tea Room at Keysville Station.)

While it's scary at times to be self employed, it makes our faith stronger and gives us a sense of freedom we didn't have working full time corporate jobs... which brings me to the next thing on our Thankful List... I am thankful I only have to work part time right now. It is perfect for me! While I may need to change that soon, I am glad for the chance to slow down a little over the past year.

I am finding that my list can go on an on. I'm thankful for so much... friends, our community, my health...

I encourage you to make your own Thankful List. Putting it into words just does something to evoke the true emotion of gratitude which we should all have... even if only once a year...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE!

Kiara's 12th Birthday

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Coolest Cat

Keysville Station recently hosted a benefit for the local SPCA. There was stew, raffles, a bike give-away, items for sale, and a pet photo contest. Kiara entered Bo with this photo which won for the category "Coolest Cat". He really is a neat kitty. Ellie is turning into an old lady cat, but she's still my girl-- always cuddling with me. Peeper, our black cat, is another story. He has been doing naughty things around the house and is now banished to a room at the building. We're not sure what we are going to do with him. Paul says this is not a good time of year to find a home for a black cat. Maybe after Halloween...

Online Class

I am taking an online class now for teacher recertification and am realizing how quickly technology can surpass me. I thought I was pretty on top of the latest tech trends (after all, I AM taking an ONLINE class!)...but I'm finding there is something new to learn everytime I blink. Just when I am getting used to all the tools on my new cell phone and Facebook, here comes another new technological wonder... Our last assignment is to subscribe to three RSS feeds. I am just now finding out what in the world these are, and now I need to find some good ones. So if you know of any out there worth subscribing to, please e-mail me!

Full House

Getting ready for two full weekends in a row at the B & B! There's gonna be a lot of cookin' and cleanin' goin' on!

Piedmont Pictures

Kiara hiding behind a tree at my mom's pond.



A view from my mom's pond.

A local winery.

Amish family near our home.

September Post

Well, it's starting to feel a little more like fall now that school has started for pretty much everyone. It has been strange starting so early when a lot of other people still had a summer left.

We just had a wonderful weekend with Paul's sister, Bev, and her husband John. They drove all the way down from PA to see us, and it was great hanging out with them on an awesome Labor Day weekend. After they left, we drove to Lynchburg to see "Grown Ups" and to get Paul some shoes.

Today, Paul went "pickin'" (getting stuff to resell at the Antique Mall) in Richmond while I stayed home cleaning and working on my on-line class until Kiara got home. Tomorrow I start my next seried of parenting classes which will be held near where my mom lives, so I'll spend the night with her afterwards...

That's the extent of my exciting life in the country. Hope you didn't fall asleep while reading this. Hello? Wake up.....

Gettin in the Groove

Kiara is into her third week of middle school, and it has been an adjustment for all of us. The B & B has picked up business lately with two full weekends coming up. I am still working part time an also teaching parenting classes. (Then I come home and try to do all the things I've taught and, I admit, sometimes I fail miserably.) I have been more involved with Facebook lately and plan to switch over from communicating through that instead of a blog. So, if you're not a FB user yet, I encourage you to join on in and "Friend Me".

Parents

This evening Kiara and I were watching t.v. together after school when a commercial came on for the new show featuring the father and son who used to build motorcycles together. They apparently could not get along and the son left the show and opened his own shop. After hearing the struggle of this adult son in dealing with their seemingly irreconcilable differences, Kiara replied, "Maybe we should take him in for foster care until he has things settled."


It got me thinking how blessed I am to have such wonderful parents who always supported me throughout my life, even into adulthood. My parents were always my best friends. I am so lucky to have had a great relationship with my dad while he was here, and I am also blessed to have my mom still here to share my life with. I love my parents!!!

Saturday at Keysville Station

It's a hot one today... 103 degrees. But that doesn't keep the fun away at our Antique Mall.
Kids touring the Keysville fire truck. Wishing to turn on the hose for some cooling down!

Motorcycle Poker Run stops here! Restin' in the shade of a bike.

Lunch is ready followed by fresh baked cookies from Polar Xpress Ice Cream Store.

What Have We Been Up To?

Hangin' out with friends...
Enjoying beautiful views from our yard as we spend time outside...
Fun times during a visit with my brother, Scott...

Canoeing down Briery Lake...

Field Trip and Graduation

I was a chaperone on Kiara's field trip to Monticello, home of Thomas Jefferson. The views were just gorgeous, as you can see from the photos below.

The next week, Kiara graduate from elementary school. My little girl is growing up! Here are two pictures taken on the "Big Day".

Kiara in her graduation dress. Take note... it's not often you see her in a DRESS!

After the ceremony with her "beau".

From Preschool to Middle School

Kiara has one week left of elementary school. I can't believe she is about to become a middle-schooler!! Seems like yesterday I was taking her to preschool. She is certainly picking up all those preteen traits. I've dealt with children up through age 11 all through my teaching career, foster parenting, and helping w/ friends' kids... but this is a whole new territory for me. Pimples 'n boys 'n hormones 'n girl feuds 'n texting 'n drama 'n eye-rollin'. What's a mom to do? No, really... I mean it... what's a mom to do????

Kiara at age 3- sweetly and innocently holding a kitty.

Now at age 11 torturing our cat, Bo... at least it's a reprieve from torturing me!

Tractors

Tractors are a big deal in our small town. Last year we had a tractor parade that went down Main Street...


A few weekends ago, our Antique Shop hosted an Antique Tractor Show...

We don't have any fancy restaurants, theatres, or even a Walmart... but we do have us some mighty fine tractors!

Two Times in 2010

2010 isn't even half way over, and we've had the opportunity to go to the beach twice already! Is this a sign of a great summer ahead? I hope so! This last trip was over Spring Break where we stayed in my sister/brother-in-law's Myrtle Beach condo. Thanks, Eileen and Phil for lending us your vacation rental! You guys are awesome! Here are some picture highlights from our trip...

We were amazed at how many campers there were next door. This is one view from our window.

Kiara watched the fish and turtles in a pond on the complex of Myrtle Beach Resort.


Kiara and Paul look for treasures on the beach.


Paul relaxes after a good meal. (Just kidding! This was a baboon we saw at a local zoo. I loved the expression on his face. The back side of him made an interesting picture, too!!)

Beach Pictures

The girls focus intently on their DS game which refletcts onto their faces.

We see who's really in charge...

View from our balcony.

Friends forever.

The gang's all here at VA Beach.

Favorite family shot.

A Quick Hello

At my mom's now and thought I'd change the background on my blog. Tired of seeing those snowflake and opted for spring-like pastel polka-dots. I'm so ready for spring! Went to the beach last weekend with friends and hope she posts pictures on her blog so I can link to her site. My friend, Kim, just started her own blog so go on over and check it out sometime! (Just click on her name in the last sentence and it will bring you directly to her blog.)

Getting ready to watch a chick-flick with mom now. Gotta treasure those girl times whenever I can. Every moment is precious...

Pictures, Finally!

I don't know what I did to make my "add image" button finally work, but it did... so here are some pictures to post while I can. Who knows what will happen next time I try. Would add more but I have to leave for work now...

Snow Pics

My brother is helping me figure out why I can't post pictures from Blogger on my computer. It works fine from his laptop (see 2 pics below of my mom and him). He seems to think I might have a virus or maybe one of my settings is off. I'm hoping it's just a setting problem. We're still working on it. Technology is wonderful when it works!