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!! 

 

Thankful for the Music

We think we have found a church finally.  It’ll be nice to get plugged back in, start meeting some people out in this area.  I loved the music.  Their band included a violinist, which just adds a beautiful touch.  It reminded me how much I love the sound of strings…maybe I’ll dust off my violin.  I miss the days when all us girls were playing, when our home was constantly filled with music.  Ari has started playing Viola again and has joined an orchestra at school. I hope to see one of their concerts this Spring.

Joy Dare

39.  Cozy fireplaces.

40.  Flickering candle light.

 41-43.  Three Gifts found in Christ, Love, Sacrifice, Mercy

44.  Peppermint mochas.

45.  Sleeping kitty curled up in my lap.

46.  Sweet violin music.

 47.  Reminders of what once was.

48.  My camera.

49.  Afternoon with a friend.

50.  All the beautiful women in my life.

51.  Rainbows…saw one out the back window this morning!
And, no, this was not my view, though wish it were!  lol!

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

She’s "21"

When your children hit certain milestones, one often wonders where the time disappeared to.  With Ari’s 21st birthday, there was no exception.  I’m amazed how fast we have come to this time in our lives and sometimes wish I could push a magic button and stop time.  She’s a special young lady, with a heart for God, and compassion for people.  We spent the weekend visiting with her and her husband, Anthony, and Beki.  The weekend really didn’t go as planned, life rarely goes as planned!  But, regardless, we had a nice dinner downtown at the Springfield Brewing Co. Restaurant to celebrate. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you ever feel like you could just be swallowed up in sadness?

I miss my girls so much, things just aren’t the same without them around.    You know what’s the hardest,  it’s missing out on the everyday things…

hearing their daily stories, talking and laughing together, just knowing if they are ok or not.

 

Sometimes I feel like I’m just sitting in a dark room waiting for little glimpses of light.  Waiting for a note or call that says…

 

“Hey, you’re not forgotten.” 

 

 

Introducing Colton

My baby sister had her first on July 27th, the same day as her own birthday!  Ari and I drove home to Ohio to meet him.  He fought his way here and she ended up having to have a C-section.  But, they are doing great.  Congrats, Allie and David!  I had the privilege of taking his formal newborn portraits as well!