A belated post.....

I have had this to post for a while now...and lost it....it came back from cyber land, so I wanted to post it! Above is Ron and my cousin John...Pittsburgh Penguin hockey fans!!! And...more importantly....family!

Me and my mom's oldest sister, Aunt Marilyn...she reminds me so much of my grandmother!

My dear friend, Dawn...who happens to be my cousin Kim's cousin...multiple blessings!

My cousin Kathy, me and Kim

Oh, how this girl makes me laugh!!!!!

We have a large extended family on both sides. Lots of birthdays! We enjoyed celebrating my brother-in-law, Tommy's 30th birthday over the weekend. Yesterday, was my cousin Kim's birthday....so the kids and I headed over to see her last night.

Kim is married to my cousin, John. She and I have been close and have grown so much closer over the years...she is so special to us! All the kids enjoy being together, as well. Ron and John have a close relationship, too, going to a men's bible study every week, watching hockey and enjoying the same music and concerts. We are so blessed to have close family!

Kim has had a rough couple of years, recently, with a rare auto-immune illness that has required her to be on multiple drugs, chemo which made her so sick and made her lose her hair...and has seriously caused us to think we may lose her numerous times....and has caused us to value family even more.

Kim laughs....and makes others laugh as well. And, she laughs at herself more than anyone! She has taught me so many things about trusting God thru illness and pain....thru laughing through the pain and exhaustion because...(as she says) what else can you do?! To value my husband and children more than anything outside of our home...activities, commitees, commitments....nothing and no one is more important than family...starting in my own home.

We are having a sad time right now....along with the tragedy with the police officers, we've had news over the weekend, that our much loved Great Aunt and Uncle are not doing well...his Altzeimers is so bad, that he is now in a facility, and could go at any time....his wife, my Aunt Helen, is lost without the love of her life...they have been married for over 65 years, and other than when he was in Africa during WW2, they've rarely been separated.....it's breaking our hearts. They have been such an incredible example to us of a selfless, loving marriage.

With all the illnesses, and sadness...we feel the need to celebrate family even more right now....to be together...to simply spend time together making memories...and I thank God for the opportunities to do that.

So....Happy Birthday to....Tommy, Kim, Elizabeth, Michael Patrick, Rhonda and Pammy.....all of our dear family (and special friend).....who has a birthday this week! We are priviledged to be able to celebrate your lives...and how special you are to us!!!!

Sunday

Hello :)
I am so happy the blog is back!
Didja miss us?

Today was kinda crazy: Meghan and I actually woke up early (dont faint readers!) to get ready for church; that meant we could have a leisurely breakfast of banana bread and milk so we wouldn't starve :P After our friends the Skiles picked us up (Mum was staying home with Ronnie/Anna), we were on time! The sermon today was amazing; all about the good samaritan but not focused all on the story. Mr Pierson talked about the importance of loving ones neighbors, even if they are hard to love and ways to serve and help. Awesome worship too, and one of the songs I adore: O Happy Day! I posted the lyrics here:
Verse 1:
The greatest day in history, Death is beaten
You have rescued me
Sing it out Jesus is alive
The empty cross, The empty grave
Life eternal You have won the day
Shout it out Jesus is alive
He's alive

Chorus:
Oh happy day, happy day
You washed my sin away
Oh happy day, happy day
I'll never be the same
Forever I am changed

Verse 2:
When I stand, in that place
Free at last, meeting face to face
I am Yours Jesus You are mine
Endless joy, perfect peace
Earthly pain finally will cease
Celebrate Jesus is alive
He's alive

Bridge:
Oh what a glorious day
What a glorious way
That You have saved me
Oh what a glorious day
What a glorious name
I am trying currently to learn the chords to that on my guitar... I love the chorus! If you have never heard it, look it up to listen to it; it is an amazing, happy joyful song.

After church, we came home and ate a salad after changing. Then my neighbor and her daughter Grace came and we went to Grace Christian Dance Recital because alot of my friends were in it. I am doing dance next year, so I wanted to go. It was great; so many beautiful dances, and all the smiles :) My favorite would have to be the irish step dance performed by (among others) my dear friend Bella, who was phenomenal. All in all, the performance didn't disapoint in the least.

Now we're home, watching Anna's new movie BOLT, then head off to bed! Glad to be back in the blog world again :) LOL, oh and if you want a background made, go to: http://blogbackgroundsinc.blogspot.com

Photo memories.....

Crazy Chloe cat....I like this picture!
Look at that smile.....Ty is irresistable!

Meghan followed a tradtion in our family and made this years "Lamb cake" for Easter...she even piped tons of stars on to make it look like wool.

Proud Dad! (tired Meghan)

Proud Grammy....she made them for years when I was a little girl, then I made them for years....now Meghan has take over....next year Sara wants to make one too!

So close cousins! Sara and Tina are only 11 months apart...and so close!

Anna 'helping' Ty ride her little car.

My beautiful Mom!

My niece, Lauren...it was so nice to spend time with her home from Penn State!



Our "sister" picture...I think maybe we should try for a better one....hmmm....

Cousins...the girls.....

Some of the guys...doesn't Shayne look like he is having fun?!


Pammy's 39th birthday....1 more year till the big '40'!

My Dad and Pammy....

Easter morning....Princess Anna!

Sara, pretty in pink.

Our 'blueberries', Meghan and Ronnie....he insisted on wearing his suit!


Ron is playing hockey on an adult instructional team once a week...he is loving it!

He is a big guy...playing defenseman
Our favorite model!


Meghan's piano recital yesterday....she played so beautifully! When she played "Fascination"...one elderly woman started singing along! She really blessed them!


Anna yesterday...minus her tonsils and adnoids. She loves the stuffed rabbit her aunt brought her...she named it cotton candy.

And....I was so pleased with this meal! Ron and the kids loved it, too....especially Ron! Venison and blackbean burgers, on a bed of jalepeno vinegar romaine lettuce...topped with guacamole, and salsa...with steamed broccoli as a side.

~Couldn't find any pictures on here of my crazy cousin Kim...must be on Sara's computer....I really wanted to put the pictures of her and her family....but more to come! I enjoyed posting these pictures....Ronnie and Anna helped me pick which pictures to post. More coming.....~Sue~

It's Procrastination!

Before I scurry off to write some very belated letters to my friends, I wanted to take this opportunity to write on our 'resurrected' blog! :)

Lately, between Easter, Anna's surgery and everything else, I've been feeling very hurried and busy. Like there's not enough time in a day. I realize this is from a whole bunch of different things that were all my own choice: waking up late (9 a.m to 9:30), not having at least a very basic plan for my day, staying up late reading and dawdling over my few chores that are required of me. I need to prayerfully consider what I do each day; instead of leisurely sipping a cup of coffee in my jammies with sleepy eyes at nine-thirty in the morning I should get up, (early!) get dressed, make bed and then get coffee and do devotions. The Lord directs my steps, however, it is up to me to make good choices for my day including having a good attitude towards work, schoolwork, the speech I'm starting for school, and/or any interruptions that come.

My intentions are great....I've tried setting my alarm early, even placing it across the room so I have to get up to shut that annoying beeping sound off, but most times I do that.....I crawl right back into bed for two more hours. Regrettably my daily devotions have been on the back burner. Now that the weather is so nice and warm (more like HOT!) the lovely birds have been singing in the trees through out the neighborhood, their 'dawn chorus.' Since our room is at the front of the house, close to a bunch of bushes, shrubs and a tree, I get a front row seat for the dawn chorus. At five or six o'clock on a Sunday morning, after tossing and turning from a stuffy nose all night, it is NOT PLEASANT! TO HEAR!! :) Ahem.....anyway, maybe this rather boisterous 'dawn chorus' will get me up and out of bed but not to just lean over and shut the window. :)


Please pray for me that I have a desire to get up early in the mornings to spend time in the Word and the desire to do my utmost best through the whole day for the Lord-and not to be lazy and slothful! In my opinion, my behavior has been the world's 'typical teenager on summer vacation' behavior-not a daughter of the Lord behavior.

To close....between Anna's surgery and preparations for that with making special foods, and finally finishing up the schoolwork I was very behind on, the past two weeks have been so busy and kind of crazy but now finally, the Lord has granted me peace, and a vision for productivity for my days, but most of all, a desire to more fully know and treasure Him.

Satan is a liar! (and teasing is MEAN!)

Hello!

Funny name for a blog post, isn't it?! Well....satan IS a liar! I was feeling as if our blog meant nothing to anyone....and my writing was a waste....I also felt pressured to post often....well, after much prayer and some time off....I miss it! I miss writing! I also have dear friends and family out of town who miss seeing pictures of my children, and keeping up with our daily lives...these friends and family are who I blog for....and for myself, as I find that writing is another creative outlet for me, and I enjoy it. Also, maybe, just maybe...something I write might be of benefit to someone...whether it is a recipe, or inspiration for a craft.....I find I get inspired by seeing/hearing cool crochet or sewing projects....healthy recipes or meal ideas...and my family benefits.

All of this to say....the blog is back up! I will be posting some pictures of Anna and the family soon. Anna had her tonsils and adnoids out on Thursday....after being at the hospital since 5:30am (and waking up at 4am),then coming home at 7pm...she was exhausted, and was up most of the night in pain. Praise God, though, she slept all night last night, has been drinking and today she ate good...and she has been playing outside and with Ronnie all day so far, she is acting much more normal. (her voice sounds like she inhaled helium, though....makes me smile!)

Off to make some carrot juice...and hopefully, get either Ronnie or Anna's clothes/seasons switched(since it is in the 80's this week!) before making dinner. My sister Lori is bringing Anna a movie "Bolt" that she loves on dvd...and Ty to distract her this evening. May you have a blessed Sabbath enjoying the Lord's blessings! ~Sue~

Last post....

Well...after much prayer and discussion, this blog will be closing. I will leave it up for 1 week, then it will be gone. It was fun and creative in the beginning, but, I'm finding with my fibromyalgia...I'm having lots more bad days, and when I'm having good days, I don't want to be on a computer....Our family is even letting our answering machine pick up instead of us answering, and are only checking email once a day in the evening. Too many interruptions to our family...makes life stressful when I am already in pain and fatigued. We are changing eating habits to more raw fruits and veggies....of course, these take time to be prepared....we are putting in a large garden....again, lots of time involved...and we are convicted to use our time more productively. So, thank you all for the kind comments and interest in our family. May the Lord bless you all richly! ~Sue, Meghan & Sara~

The Old Rugged Cross

        On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
 the emblem of suffering and shame;
 and I love that old cross where the dearest and best
 for a world of lost sinners was slain.

 So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
 till my trophies at last I lay down;
 I will cling to the old rugged cross,
 and exchange it some day for a crown.

 O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
 has a wondrous attraction for me;
 for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
 to bear it to dark Calvary.
 (Refrain)

 In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
 a wondrous beauty I see,
 for 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
 to pardon and sanctify me.
 (Refrain)

 To that old rugged cross I will ever be true,
 its shame and reproach gladly bear;
 then he'll call me some day to my home far away,
 where his glory forever I'll share.

~So I'll cherish, the Old Rugged Cross..... 

---

A little respite...

A little respite from blogging...spending a lot of family time, and so many birthdays this week! Lot's of pictures to post after Easter....I'm so glad we're blessed with so much family around us on both sides!

May your Easter celebration be blessed! ~Sue~