Our Christmas pics

Our view

I know I have told you/ showed you before that you can see Pinnacle Mountain from our house. This view is even better, this is right before you turn on our road. Depending on the weather, this view can look so different, and I enjoy getting to look at it all the time. I bet it looks prettier right now b/c more of the colors are changing. I just happened to have my camera that day and I could get a good shot of it.

My grandmother

I love my "Memommy" so much. Just her name is special, I never knew any other child that called their grandmother that. Both of my grandfathers passes away before I was born. My dad's mom passed away when I was 24, but she got sick when I was 6, and a lot of things changed after that. But my Memommy has always been there for me. She is going to be 91 years old next month. She still lives alone.....in this neat old house. This is the porch swing that she has swung me in since I was a baby. She made up the sweetest song that she would sing to me, my sister, and my kids while she swings. I always remember when I visited her house as a child, the last thing we did before I left was swing in the swing. And now all 3 of my kids get to do that with her.

My grandmother is so talented. She has made the most beautiful quilts....entirely by hand. She sewed most of my Sunday dresses I wore as a child and teenage. Every Christmas, she sewed me the coolest barbie clothes....I couldn't wait to open my gifts and see them. She knows how to make the best sweet pickles, broccoli casserole, and donuts, among many other things. She is so thoughtful to send me notes in the mail. I love getting mail for her. She bought me a subscription to Good Housekeeping when I got married, and has renewed it every year. I love that magazine, I read it front to back every month, and always think of my grandmother, and know that she also gets that magazine and she is reading the same thing.

I could go on and on with my memories of my grandmother. I have been so blessed to have her in my life for so long. She is one of the strongest, toughest, hard working people I have ever known.

These pictures are so very special to me.
These hands.....have done so much in her 91 years. To me, these hands are beautiful. These hands are so carefully turning the pages of a book that she read to my mother when she was little, as she reads to my girls.

The Draper school has a mascot!

Yes, we have a little small critter running around in our garage. The garage, that in only 3 days I have grown to love as our new school room. The kids love it...we all concentrate better in there being away from the rest of the house....not worrying about internet, tv, phone, or a messy house. That is until.....I thought I saw a little furry thing out of the corner of my eye. No, surely I was seeing things. Then Rachel announces....."I just saw a RAT"....right about the time Noah was spelling the word trying to teach her. And now....I have seen a little brown thing...I tried to get closer, and he jumped, and I jumped and ran back in the house....shutting the door leaving Noah in there alone. What kind of mother am I?? Aparently one that is really freaked out by a little bitty mouse! I tried leaving the garage door partly open today in hopes he would run out.....but no, Clay saw him later.

And we did our reading lesson sitting on the couch today....b/c I am totally freaked out.....and I know it is silly. We did go in there later on, and I was totally creaped out, and thought about it the whole time.

No, spiders don't scare me.....but little bitty mice do! And frogs too. They give me the total heeby jeeby's! And now, everytime someone goes in the garage I yell......SHUT THE DOOR!! I am so scared it is going to get in the house. I might would just have to move out!

Butterflies

We have some flowers growing in our yard....the first time ever our whole marriage....and look at the beautiful butterflies that like to hang out around them!

Static!!!!

The picture says it all!

Colored her head with permanent marker.....A week later she still had pink spots around her eyebrows.

Coming Home.....

Most of these are already on her blog, but if you haven't check it out...you need to. She has been blogging her thoughts and experiences all along, and has now published it. Her words about this experience are so beautiful.

It was such a life experience for me to be able to be at the airport and document her husband arriving to the airport with the kids. I cannot even express with words the emotions of the day. It is something I will never forget. Some of my pics were blurry....b/c I was having a hard time keeping my composure to take these pictures! I literally could not see through the viewfinder, so I was just aiming and snapping away. I have not been able to get the experience or her family out of my mind since. It is fascinating how how faith and prayer have brought these children here. You really need to read her entire blog.

The kids were so excited to see their daddy!!

Becky trying to hug as many as she could at one time!!
I LOVE this one!
It was amazing how all of her 7 children immediately bonded.

She has a beautiful smile!
Her new family. What a happy time!!
This is one of my very favorites.
It was awesome to see how many friends joined them at the airport! They sure are loved!!