Zach's Solo Performance

Just wanted to share Zach's recent viola accomplishments. At Solo & Ensemble competition this year he received a "1" for his performance. He has come a long way in just one year. We are proud and are definitely bragging. Click the picture of Zach to see the video of his performance. (You may have to click it one more time when you get to our Picasa page.)

Zach Solo - 03-31-09

That was a little too close!

Well as the economy continues to decline, it finally hit a little too close to home last Friday. Todd's company, whom he has worked for since we moved here in 1997, laid off about 25 -30% of their workforce. Two of our friends as church, one whom Todd hired almost 10 years ago, were included in the layoffs. Todd was spared, for which we are grateful. Both of our friends happen to be in our small group at church, so it has been difficult because you feel elation and grief at the same time. We now have 3 families in our church (that I know of) that have been affected by job loss.

For us, it has been a wake up call that nothing is certain. We will continue to live below our means, build up our Emergency Fund (thanks Dave Ramsey!) and strive to live before our God with open hands, as faithful stewards. All our possessions are His, not ours. We are only the stewards. Although the ownership of Todd's employer assured the remanant that the cuts were deep to avoid having to do it again, nothing is every certain; especially in our weary economic state.

God has been so amazingly gracious to us and we deserve absolutely none of it. That's His grace. May we (& you) strive to be faithful in serving God with our time, talents and resources; not to gain anything from Him, but to bring Him all the glory He deserves. Jeremiah 29: 11-13

Freezing in the New Year

Happy New Year!
Well I guess the new year is well underway being that January is almost over. We are deeply entrenched in our cold, cold winter now. Today it is a balmy 18 degrees and snow predicted on and off for through Wednesday. It's been almost 12 years now that we've been here, but I just can't seem to get used to it! Can't take all the southern warmth out of me!

The kids are deep in school, loving and hating it as the same time. Zach is doing well. He is involved in something called DestiNation ImagiNation (DI) after school two days a week. I'm not sure I could explain what they do, but let's say that it involves creative problem-solving. This allows kids to use their imaginations to solve a given problem or idea or circumstance. If you don't know Zach very well, this is right up his alley. He does well thinking outside the box and even better when he's challenged to do just that. To find out more about DI, http://www.idodi.org/. He'll start up volleyball again soon. He continues to excel at viola and piano, especially piano. I joke that I'm grooming him to be my personal accompaniest. That will be awesome!

Abby is continue to blossom and grow. She really doesn't have much use for school other than a place to socialize. She does however seem to me to be pretty good in math. We'll see. Her energy wears me out. She does not like to do things by the book - ever. She wants to do things her own way. Ahhh...the balance as a parent to learn the line between crushing your child's spirit and funnelling that rebellious nature into positive things. She's a well-behaved child with an enormous heart, but man, she wears me out!!!! Abby is taking ballet and will participating in her ballet school's ballet on June 19, "La Fille Mal en Gardee". Abby and her class will be yellow chicks. I'm not familiar with this ballet, but Abby is excited. Ballet moves a little slow for her, so most of the time she complains that she doesn't like. She does however do quite well at it. We are making her stick with it for the whole year and will make an evaluation at the end of the year as to whether or not she'll continue. You can visit her school here www. balletnorth.com.

Todd & I are continuing to be busy with work and our ministries at church. God has been very gracious to us this last year. We look forward to a wonderful 2009 filled with many wonderful experiences and fun memories.

Merry Christmas to all. We are trying to stay warm and dry, but Mother Nature is not cooperating! Snow, sleet, rain...and everything in between, with a few frigid, arctic temps thrown in. Most of our friends and family will be much warmer than we this Christmas. Enjoy your time with family and friends and always remember our cause to celebrate this time of year - Jesus Christ. Without God's gift to us in the form of His Son, we would truly would be a forsaken world. Praise God for His everlasting kindness and mercy to those who choose to accept His Gift of salvation. God bless you all and Merry Christmas!

Fun in Branson

Here is our pictures from our trip to Branson this summer. We really had a great time. Todd's mom & dad were there along with his brother Troy's kids, Cole-16 and Sami-11. We rented a pontoon & tube for one day. Very fun. We love being on the lake. Then we went to Silver Dollar City for three days. Our kids really love that park. Our condo was on Table Rock Lake and our unit was lakeside. Overall it was extremely relaxing.

Click on the picture to view our album.

Updated Dining Room

Well here is our partially updated dining room. Amazing what a coat of paint can do! The pictures don't quite capture the true color. The color is Olympic paint from Lowe's, Spiced Vinegar. Looks a lot like Gulden's Spicy Brown Mustard. We really like it. To finish out the room we'd like to paint the French Doors, replace closet doors and door to basement, and paint the floor boards. All the woodwork will be the color of our kitchen cabinet, an off-white. Later down the line, we'd like to put in wood laminate in the living room, dining room and kitchen.

Click on the picture to see more before & after photos.

Dining Room Before & After

Oh My Goodness!!!!!!!

That was my remarks as looked out my kitchen window to see this tiny little head pop up. We indeed had an unwelcomed guest in our back yard. After the hoo-ing and ahh-ing was done, I told Todd to kill it! He tried, but it was much to fast and after about 30 minutes of "playing", the critter slithered away never to be seen again. Since Zach is so enthralled with snakes, he grabbed his camera and got some great shots of the slimy beast. And yes, that snake is climbing up the side of our house using the middle part of my window to squeeze its way up. We think he was trying to get to a bird's nest which is in an exhaust vent right above that window. He had to find food elsewhere that day!

It took me quite a while to calm down after that one! We learned that it wasn't poisonous and probably a brown or black racer.

Enjoy!