good sport

I bought this necktie for Yahtzee for our "family" Christmas photo. Doesn't he look like he just loves it? =)

fun night in nashtown

Josh and I are both pretty big fans of the music of The Cranberries. Josh has really come to love Dolores O'Roirden's solo album, so when he heard she was doing a show at a small venue in Nashville, he made sure we were there.

thanksgiving in 'pah' part v: alumni game

Why is it that when you are young, you want nothing more than to be older, and it seems that you will never arrive to that point anytime soon? Then when you actually get older, you wonder where the years (and your physical conditioning) have gone so quickly? While home in PA, I had the opportunity to get together with a few girls I went to high school with and attempt a little b-ball action. Fortunately there were a few girls on my team who were conditioned enough to help us keep up with the high school team. We only lost by two points! These pics are not very good at all. The lighting inside the gym wasn't the best for picture taking, but hubby did pretty good with what he had to work with. Here I am before the game. As you can see I am still breathing properly...oh yeah, and the brace is a precaution. I had surgery on my knee a few years ago as a result of some intense Tae-Bo. (I would love to say it's a sports injury - sounds so much tougher, but, yeah. It happened b/c I was kicking the air over my head. Woo-hoo!)



Here I am right before attempting a 3-pointer that didn't go in. In fact, I didn't score the whole game!! Just a tad different from my high school days!



This one is right after there was a tie up with the ball. Apparently my dribbling skills are just as good as they were back in the day...(that's not a good thing)



Two of my awesome fellow graduates of 1998 and their kids. Tracy and Lily and Katie and James. A few years ago I started doing this thing where I shut my eyes anytime a picture is taken...thus the silly look on my face.



So I made a fool of myself running around on the basketball court, but I enjoyed so much getting to spend some time with some great friends that I haven't seen in years! Hopefully this is the start of staying in better touch as I am very bad at that.

thanksgiving in 'pah' part iv: cookies/buck

The first day of hunting season was always a fun day for me growing up. My dad and brothers would go hunting, and I would stay in and make Christmas cookies! We always had the day off from school b/c, well, it was the first day of buck season! Hel-lo! This year I had fun making cookies with Dreama and Kimmy while Robbie Jr went out with my brother and dad. Congratulations to my growing-up-way-too-fast nephew, Robbie, on his first buck!!



The girls were pros in the kitchen.




Well, ok, so the first batch we made from the wrong recipe and ended up with a sticky mess that wouldn't roll out, then when we found the right recipe we were out of butter b/c we used it in the first recipe.





After a few phone calls to my mom who had gone to work, we finally were able to whip up a tasty treat!



These are a few of my favorites from my batch....

thanksgiving in 'pah' part iii: cute kiddos

I am so thankful that I was able to travel with my mom across the state to see my brother Daniel and his family. Josh's parents had picked him up on their way through from NY and took him to MD to see friends and family since he will only be able to be there for a short weekend over Christmas. So, to get him back we met at Daniel's in Leesport. Somehow, after I've come away from a visit there, I always have a million pictures of their kids, and not any of Daniel and Kate. It's not that I don't love Daniel and Kate, it's just that their kids are so darn cute! =) I mean, check this out:

a profile shot; a little distracted by sesame street




The kids LOVED uncle Josh! Madelyn went through a phase where he kind of scared her, but now both of them couldn't love him more!~




Elijah is two years old. Him and I were "fighting" over Josh. We were going back and forth: "My Josh!" "No, MY Josh!". After doing this a few times he got this pitiful look on his face and he said to me, "But I love him!" Speaking for Josh, if that doesn't boost your ego I'm not sure what will! =)

and how could I forget, buddies, Sampson and Simon...



Unfortunately, no pictures of my brother and Kate, but like I said, their kids are so darn cute!!! Sorry, Daniel and Kate, you know I love you though. ;)

thanksgiving in 'pah' part ii: back woods fun

The day after Thanksgiving my dad said he needed to sight in his gun for the "big day" (hunting season opening day). I have always been one to follow my dad everywhere he goes. Josh and I went along, fully intended to shoot a couple myself! =) I hit the bullseye from 100 yards..not bad, eh? =) We also shot one of my dad's pistols, but my camera was messing up so we didn't get any pics of that. So this is what we do in these here back woods o' pennsyltucky. =o)


Our target was down by the tree line...




Linin' up the sights. This was a little difficult since I'm right-handed and had to use my right eye, which is VERY bad since I didn't have my contacts in...




My daddy...

vision thief

My brother's vision thief has struck again...here is his update.

thanksgiving in 'pah' part 1

I LOVE flying! I am always excited to get on a plane and take off flying high above the clouds. There is just something about it, being up and surrounded by a part of God's creation that you aren't normally surrounded by on a regular basis. This picture was snapped from our seats somewhere between Nashville and Pittsburgh, PA. Home! We had an awesome time with my family during this special holiday. We were able to see my brother, Robbie, and his family, my parents, my aunt Reba, my very amazing friend Amanda, and numerous other family and church friends that I have not seen in a very long time!We had our Thanksgiving dinner a day late, on Friday. My dad had to work on Thanksgiving, and my brother and his wife have her family over to their house on Thanksgiving Day, so this just worked out best for us. In this pic is hubby Josh, dad (Vern), mom (Lois), niece (Dreama), niece (Kimmy), nephew (Robbie jr), brother (Robbie sr), sis in law (Donna). I am so very thankful for my family! Josh, I am thankful for you b/c you fill my life to overflowing and I am happy just being with you. You make me want to follow God and be a better person. Dad, I am thankful for you b/c you have shown me what it means to love unconditionally, to work hard, and to stand strong on my faith and beliefs. Mom, I am thankful for you b/c you have shown me what it means to be determined, to never give up, and to know where my strength truly comes from. Dreama, I am thankful for you b/c you demonstrate what it means to truly care for all of God's creatures, and also what it means to put your whole heart into something. Kimmy, I am thankful for you b/c you remind me of the importance of laughter. Your giggle can make anyone smile. Robbie jr, I am thankful for you b/c you show what it means to care for family. Most big brothers would write off the younger ones, but the way you obviously love and treat your sisters is something those other big brothers should take note of. Robbie sr, I am thankful for you b/c you have always loved me, even when I was a brat to you, you still treated me with gentleness and kindness. Now with a family of your own I see that love and gentleness come out in different and stronger ways. Donna, I am thankful for you b/c you not only put up with this crazy family, but you have also graciously become a part of it, and have brought such great happiness to my brother, giving him a beautiful and amazing family! I am also, of course, VERY thankful for those of my family who are not pictured here. I would not be what I am today if it weren't for all of my family. I love you all very much!!!!

a lifeway thanksgiving

Ok, so I didn't quite make it for posting before the end of the week like I said before. Now that I've got my pictures downloaded and edited on my computer, posting blogs won't be such a chore. I won't post them all at once as there are a few I want to show. There are several from Thanksgiving so bear with me as I know we are mere days away from Christmas now! Actually, it's my blog and you chose to read it, so deal with it. Heh heh.

In this picture are most of the people I work with in our Telesales department at LifeWay. I am very thankful for these people! When Josh and I moved here back in April, I had no idea what I was walking into. These are some of the most caring people I've ever met and they truly made me feel at home and like I belong there. God has blessed me beyond what I could have imagined in giving me a job here....and now Josh works here too! He works in a different department, but we are very blessed and thankful to God for how He is providing for us!

Our department is split into two teams, and before we had our meal, there was a contest held to see who could come up with the best version of some sort of Thanksgiving mascot. My team just happens to have a myriad of talent, I must say. When you put that many creative minds in one room, the results are well, rather amazing. My team held our own version of the Thanksgiving Day Parade. Our mascot was...drumroll please...the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turkey. Here's a picture, but if you are just dying to see some live footage, click here. Yes, we really are that crazy...but we sure do have fun!
The other team played the song, "Baby Got Back" and changed the words to be relevant to our job...it was so funny! The picture will have to do it justice b/c I couldn't get the video to work for me.

brother update

For those of you who have been asking, here is the latest update on Daniel's issues. I have other pics and things to post from the Thanksgiving holiday so I will hopefully get to that before the end of the week. Between a crazy week at work, trying to settle back in after being gone for 10 days, and setting up Christmas in my house, it's just a tad crazy! I love the Christmas season though. It's one of those busy and crazy times that you don't mind are busy and crazy b/c it's so much fun! We are looking forward to a fun time in Maryland this year with my in laws. Anyways, more updates later!