Electronic Gremlins

In November, our 5 year old Panasonic HD ready flat screen TV wouldn't turn on. So we lost our main television in our family room through Christmas, until my mom was gracious and generous to purchase us a new one. A week after that, our computer was infected by a debilitating virus that required some serious doctoring to get it back up and running. Then after Christmas, our coffee maker fritzed out, and we had to get a new one of those. Then, this past weekend, our 3 year old washer stopped working. The internet is a wonderful and scary place. I found out that our washer is equiped with a lint trap (didn't know that) and it was full of GUNK! I have no idea how a pair of underware, a AA battery, a pencil, and change got in, since our machine is a front loader machine, and how anything can get around the gasket, is beyond me. But, once it was all cleaned, I guess the rush of water through the filter and into the pump (which has been laboring pumping the water out of the washer, because of all the GUNK in the filter) burned out the pump. So, now a repair man will be arriving tomorrow to look at our 3 year old washer. But the other stuff I read about our particular washer, all the unhappy people out there with the same one as us, and the terrible problems they've all head, just scare the dickens out of me! I'm grateful I haven't had those problems, but I'm fearful of the problems we could have in the future. I'm about done with the electronic items in our house, the ones that should last us 10-20 years, failing us as this time. Is nothing dependable anymore??

It's Valentine's Day already - I can't believe it! This year has been flying. Sorry you haven't heard much from us lately, it seemed like I was recovering from Christmas through the month of January, and before I knew it, it was over. Katie turned 4 last month, and we had a wonderful party for her with her friend Ava. Their birthday's are days away from each other, and they've been together in daycare since they were months old. It's nice to have friends like that, unfortunately, we've discovered that when they go to Kindergarten, they will be going to two different schools. But we've still got some time until that point.

Patrick is still doing indoor soccer, it's getting to be a bit much for us, especially with me taking 2 classes this semester. I have classes on Thursday nights, and Patrick has practice on Wednesdays & Thursdays and a game every weekend. This weekend, Valentine's weekend, we actually have TWO games!

Jay and I watched the movie "Fireproof" last weekend, and it really helped us to see where our marriage is, and where we would like for it to go. If you haven't seen the movie, I encourage you to watch it, especially with your significant other. It truly opens the opportunity for communication and how you are feeling about your relationship. We see that we are on the right path, sometimes walking at different speeds, but still wish to remain on this path together, and must allow God to work more in our relationship. The good thing is is that we've found a church, (finally!) that we truly want to become members of. I really think we are on the right path, and look forward to years ahead of us.

I hope that you have the opportunity to spend some time with someone that you love this weekend.

Welcome - 2009!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas season! My New Year Resolution is one of communication - I'm trying to journal more, I'm trying to blog more; I've realized how fast time is going by, and I'm not documenting enough of the wonderful moments that we live in every day. So, if you received our holiday card, with the address to this blog, I'm so happy you stopped by, and please continue to do so, as I'll continue to update with the happenings in our families life. I'm even hoping to learn a thing or two about myself - reflection can always be a good thing.

Our Christmas was a very nice one. Grandma & Grandpa from Connecticut came to spend the holiday with us, and it was so nice to have them in our home. I know the kids really enjoyed seeing and playing with their Grandparents. We drove around at night and looked at the Christmas lights, around our neighborhood, and then again over at The Lights on St. Paul, who have an absolutely amazing light show, and this year, the first year, it was set to music. Just wonderful to be able to have something like that in our town that we can take part in. My mom did some absolutely wonderful cooking while she was here. We expected 18 for Christmas Dinner, and we had the works! Mom make a Turtle Cheesecake, that had melted caramel and melted chocolate, as well as a Pumpkin Cheesecake, and a tasty Apple & Cranberry Ginger Pie. It was really nice to spend time with her, and Jon, and having them here really make the holiday that much more special.

I was able to take some vacation time this Christmas, while Patrick is off from school, I've been off as well, and spending time with both Patrick & Katie has really been fun. We've played with the Lego's they received, as well as the Lincoln Logs, Kenx. The weather has been really nice this past week, so we've been able to play outside with our neighbors and burn off some energy!

New Years Eve found us with our very good friends, Jane & Matt Schulte, their son George & daughter Ellie, and Susan & Chris Douglas and their daughter Julia. The kids have known each other since Jane, Susan and I attended the Mommy & Me classes after the kids were born. It's always a wonderful time when we get together, there is always good conversation, and best of all, wonderful friends to celebrate the next year of our lives with. We truly feel blessed to have these families in our lives.

Over this holiday week, Patrick lost another tooth, this would be #2, and we had to call both Grandmas and Daddy at work. The toothfairy was kind to him, giving him one gold $1 coin, and Jay and I think he's being such a good big brother, and we are so proud of how he's growing, we each gave him $1. Katie keeps wondering when her teeth will come out, it's funny to see her want to be the same as her brother, but I still want her to be my baby!

So, here's to your New Year, may 2009 be filled with blessings and happiness.

12 Years Ago

Nobody knows our journey - where we've been or where we're going. Nobody knows what we know about coming together, working it through, believing in love. Nobody knows what we know about thundering storms, peaceful skies, and soothing each others souls. Nobody knows the beautiful heights of our journey. But we do. And I love every step of this journey with you. Happy Anniversary.

Happy Holidays!

Last week was the Christmas program at the Child Care Center I work for, it's always a wonderful thing to see the children dressed up in their costumes and singing. Patrick, this year, got to play the role of Joseph, and Katie was a sheep. Since I'm a teacher, I had to stay with my class, and couldn't enjoy the program like all the other parents. Jay videotaped it for me, and his mom was there to take pictures. They were so cute and they knew all the words to the songs. It's a wonderful thing to know that they are finding their own love for Jesus, even at this age. We've started to attend a wonderful little church here in Wichita, the church I believe that we will make our church home. It's incredible that we haven't found it until now, after 7 years of living here. God has a plan, and if I just stay on HIS path, and try not to follow my own, I've found that we always get to the destination much sooner! It's called Westwood Presbyterian Church, and the Sunday school program is outstanding and the kids are really loving it.
This month has been really crazy, our 5 year old HDTV wouldn't turn on just before Thanksgiving, and we have had to discover our downstairs more and more. I enjoy having my living room free of toys - since the kids are down their playing more and more, and I've enjoyed being able to have a little quite time with Jay, so I don't think we are going to replace the TV up here, or if we do, it will not be playing kids shows! Then on Tuesday, our computer attracted a virus that just made it impossible to turn on. It's at the computer doctor right now, and I'm hoping that they can fix it. I don't want to have to purchase another one right now, although, now's the time to buy if we have to. We do have my laptop (which I'm using now), and if we need to, we'll just get by on that. I'm very happy that I've uploaded almost all of this years pictures already to Kodak gallery, so they are saved, and I have November & December on my flash drive, so, I've not lost the photos, I may lose the original files, but the photos are safe. Thank GOD!

Merry Christmas!

I'd like to tell you a little story... I booked our family pictures this year, with Sears, just to make things easier, I could get all the holiday cards ordered through them, and it would be all done. I planned what everyone would wear, shopping for just the right color and pattern. I prepared the children a day in advance, letting them know what we would be doing Saturday morning... going to get our family pictures taken. I spend 45 minutes Friday night, flat ironing my hair, so I wouldn't have to do anything but touch it up Saturday morning, so I could concentrate on making sure everyone else was just so. Saturday morning, we woke early, got the kids fed and dressed (of course with a little bargaining... Yes, I'll give you a fruit-roll-up if you promise to put the shirt on after you eat it! and Yes, you can have ice cream when we get home if you are good!) So, off we go to Sears, we decided to arrive a little early, just in case there was a chance we could get in quicker. Nope, they were 5 minutes late in getting us into the studio. I explained to the photographer, who was clad in her special work t-shirt, which you could see her black bra through, along with the tatooed eyes on her back, and her work ripped up jeans. She had several piercings in her face, which were very difficult not to stare at. I told her exactally the pose I wanted, which they happened to have a large 26x30 of right there in the studio. I thought, piece of cake, I've told her what I want, it's very simple, no problem. WRONG! She didn't know how to pose us, she didn't know not to put my head in front of Patrick's (cause a few people might want to see him in the pictures as well!), she didn't know that if someone blinks, you should probably take another picture, and she's using digital, so it's not like she's burning up the film! The pictures she presented to us were terrible. We walked out of the store without purchasing one. I was so dissappoined. We were all set, all dressed, PERFECT - and it was a complete waste of time. So, a good friend of mine allowed us to come to her house, and she took our family picture - it was quicker, faster, and less painful than all that prep and hub-bub! Lesson Learned!

It can't be turkey day ALREADY!

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I wrote in this blog... time has really flown this month, between Katie's dance lessons (ballet & tap) and Patrick starting his new soccer team, along with my class, our days, and evenings have been filled! Our neighbors are even asking where we've been because they've bearly seen us. This Thanksgiving season has me reflecting on this year, and how quickly it has passed. When I was a child, I prayed for the days to move faster to get to this time of the year, and they crawled by. As an adult, I wish for slow, pleasant days, but they seem to pass quicker and quicker. My son says he can't wait to be 6, and I say over and over, "enjoy 5 - it will go by faster than you think"... I remember being told this as well, and I guess I didn't heed the advice either.
The first song on my playlist right now, really gets me into the Christmas mode, and I think I could listen to it all year long. I was really upset with the local radio stations this year, as they started playing Christmas music mid-November, and it was part of that "Don't rush things" attitude I have... let Halloween have it's time, then allow Thanksgiving to come and go before we start jumping into the Christmas season. But, whenever I hear this song, it moves me to tears. It's powerful emotion reminds me that this holyday season is about our Savior, Christ Jesus, and the celebration of his birth to this world, which gave us life. I pray for the safety and health of your family this Thanksgiving, have a wonderful day, eat plenty of bird, then get on the treadmill! Until Later.... - Bonnie