Surprise and Thanksgiving!!!!

Well, our little family is all back together again and we're continuing to enjoy time together with the fam! Had a great Thanksgiving! There were about 20 of us! We feasted royally, chatted, and watched the teenagers play a rousing game of zip-zap... craziness!!!

We have so much to be thankful for... wonderful family (who we actually ENJOY being with!), more good food then we can hold, a new adventure before our little family, our LORD who is so good to us and patient with us... we are so blessed!

Now for a few pics from the last couple days.

So, I showed up at the airport on the 23rd to pick up my hubby... and what a surprise!!! Who was that handsome guy with the beard???!!!! :-)

Security Checkpoints and Thanksgiving

This is Stephen -

I promised some friends that I would post about my airport security experiences this trip. I had been "wanded" and then "patted down" about 4 weeks ago according to the new standards. I have been patted down by Marines and Israeli security before, been fine. This last "pat down" made me feel violated. It was sexual assault.

The short story about this last time was that I passed through without any additional searching. There was no naked scanner at this airport, so the only recourse if you need additional searching is the groping procedure. I have heard from 2 good sources that as long as you don't trip the metal detector, you will have a greatly reduced chance of getting groped. So I took off all the metal I could, even things I normally keep on like my glasses and wedding ring (sorry My Love!).

You could still get randomly snagged, but the chances are reduced. The rest of the trip I was pretty sick and have been recovering.

We can still be thankful for the air travel we have, the peace we enjoy (compare this country to any muslim country), and the professional law enforcement officers that are on duty.

The Proof!

And here he is folks! Sitting up all by himself! Thank you Aunt Melly for specially taking and down loading these pics! And don't miss the longer post from earlier today, or Stephen's great one from yesterday!

Here are some LONG overdue pictures from the currently West Coast part of the family. Enjoy! Thanks to "Aunt" Melly... these are all ones she had already down loaded.

And yep folks, all those official announcements my dear hubby made are true.

My brother David is a happy man! I'm happy too! And I think they will make a super couple! Welcome to the family, Amity!

Hil truly is sitting on his own and is continuing to be a happy, content little sweetie. Seems to enjoy his new skill!

And yes, Lord willing, we are going to be embarking on an adventure to a new part of the country! We will miss our dear Virginia friends, but are thankful for the new opportunity!





Learning to play video games with Aunt Amy!

Treating the world to a rousing "reading"!



New Friends!


... and I wonder why they call her "The monitor junkie"! :-)


Good Job, Uncle Caleb!



And Stephen, Honey, I enjoyed your last post!

It's Official!

There have been a few official things happening in our lives. Here is a few:

1. My brother-in-law David just got engaged to a lovely, young, long-time friend named Amity. Congrats to you both! May you serve the Lord with gladness!
2. Hil turned 6 months. He can sit up all by himself. I wish I had a pic!
3. I have accepted a job offer and we are moving north, into Yankee territory! We are moving to the State of New York. I at least hope people in New York have a little state pride and can sing their state song. Not so in VA. There is a little meeting of like-minded believers in Jesus Christ who we will be able to join as well.

When I put in my notice with my boss this week, he came and gave me a slip of paper that said the following:

My first job was working in an Orange Juice factory, but I got canned. I couldn't concentrate. *This is just a classic one-liner that everyone should memorize and use at appropriate times*

Then I worked in the woods as a lumberjack, but I just couldn't hack it, so they gave me the axe. *tough way to go!*

After that, I tried to be a Tailor, but I wasn't suited for it--mainly because it was a sew-sew job. *Your singin' my song, brother!*

Next, I tried working in a Muffler Factor, but that was too exhausting. (Is Gpa Sush laughing yet???!!)

I attempted to be a Deli Worker, but any way I sliced it, *can you guess it?* I just couldn't cut the mustard.

I studied a long time to become a Doctor, but I didn't have any patience. *no comments needed on this one folks. the next one is better."

Next, was a job in a Shoe Factory. I tried but I couldn't fit in. I became depressed and soulful. *ba bom - bom tsaaH*

I got a job working for a Pool Maintenance company, but the work was just too draining. *whacka whacka whacka*

[can you even handle any more people........?]


I got a job as a historian, until I realized there was no future in it.


*My sides are hurting! Stop Stephen, STOP!*

And for the Grand Finale..............


Finally, I realized my calling. I have been working as a Professional Fisherman. Because I found I could live on my net income.



The End.



The really scary thing is that my 2.5 yr old daughter is more slap stick than me! Don't say I didn't warn you!

CA moments

As my dear husband mentioned in his post, the kidos and I are in CA enjoying a visit with my family. It had been over a year since I last saw many of them. We're having a very good time, but I sure do miss my wonderful man! He's planning to join us in about three weeks... that that's a long way away!

As you can imagine, C and H are enjoying all the attention and are very loved my Grandma, Grandpa and all the aunts and uncles! Here are a few pics to prove it. :-)


These first two have a story behind them. Stephen told my sister, Melissa, that she could keep Hilkiah until he is 14 but he had to be able to work on cars when Stephen got him back. So, she got that project started very quickly!!! :-) Perfect timing, as Grandpa had a mini van project going on that day!







Would appear Hil got the volleyball gene! Check out that set!!!!!