Twenty Nineteen Highlights

A picture glimpse from a few top moments in 2019.

 { Basketball }

Charlie began playing for McLendon Athletics last fall and continues to play on the select team. He loves the sport and works hard at becoming better. 

 

{ Graduation to Pre-school }

Our oldest graduated from Ebenezer Christian School and youngest began preschool this fall. 

{ Guitar }

Charlie continued to gain skills playing guitar and had the opportunity to play at his school chapel leading worship. His collection of pedals and instruments has grown quite a bit this past year. Myriam started guitar lessons as well!

{ Tim & Addi traveled to Cambodia in June. }

After graduation, these two flew overseas as Tim gave our daughter a first hand look to the ministry we support; the Life Giving Network. Eyes wide open, Addison experienced many firsts on this trip including the Great China Wall, smelly "fresh" markets and visiting the Killing Fields. 

{ Great China Wall }

{ Barbershop International Convention }

Tim and Charlie had the opportunity to share the stage together in the same place Tim won in 2005 with Realtime. Charlie had no nerves about singing in front of thousands of people and looked incredibly handsome as our little Man Cub sang tags, took in the events and road tripped with Grandpa Doug to Salt Lake City on the front end. 

{ Reclaimed book launch in August! }

{ Tim turned 40! }

Yep. My Love turned forty and celebrated with a motorcycle trip with buddies. I still brought poop emoji cupcakes and a toilet paper roll cake into the office to celebrate this huge event. My turn is coming this next year. 

{ Bryce Canyon with new running friends. }

{ Elements Hospitality Team }

I was given the title of coach as a dozen runners from the office ran the Grand Circle Trailfest accomplishing personal goals, team adventures and emotional finishes. It was such an honor to run this again and see others do something amazing.  

{ Drivers Permit }

Addison is doing a fine job learning the ways of the road. I prefer in town driving and tense up slightly when she drives over 35mph. Drivers Ed is complete and now works to fulfill all 60 hours of practice driving. 

 { Last child potty trained. }

This was sweet relief. Took some coaching but we have finally arrived in the point of parenting where no diapers are being purchased. 

{ Boat trip with Papa & Nana }

Other Highlights:

 Ministry travel

Almost finished house plans for a remodel in 2020

Summer swimming pool

Hysterectomy  

& the simple fact that we survived another year together. 

Happy 2020.

Summer 'N' Motion Wk. #11

The last week of summer is here. 

We thrived this summer thanks to the true winner being the $97 pool from Walmart. It kept us cool, kids busy and gave all of us plenty of entertainment watching the swimming techniques from all the kids... even Millie enjoyed the pool too! 

The week began with me still traveling in Nashville at the Christian Product Expo meeting hundreds of bookstore owners and promoting the newly released book. 

I was sad to miss Charlie's first day of school, but confident Tim nailed his first day along with Myriam's meet and greet at her school. 

Tim continues to encourage the kids with their golf skills and often is asked to get up at the crack of dawn to putz around before the day gets going. Charlie and Addison are really enjoying this sport which leads me to believe we'll have golfers before I have a child runner by my side. 

With most of the summer trips behind me, I was able to find time to begin the summer purge which still is happening. There have been multiple trips to Goodwill, the dump and consignment stores as things simply don't need to be here anymore. It feels so good to clear house... and closets of stuff!

Addison had her first day of high school which made Mom and Dad somewhat teary eyed but excited for the next few years for our oldest. She nailed her first day and found every classroom without fail!

Go Lions!

Myriam also had her first day of school seeing friends and some of her favorite teachers.

We pray this is a year of growth for all the kids. 

Here's more from our last week of summer...

{ New bike. New ride. Pup approval. }

{ Ran into Bill & Evie at CPE, local Connections Bookstore owners. }

{ Homestead golf lessons for the oldies. }

Summer "n" Motion Wk. #10

What a packed week! 

The kids are all enjoying summer but have been forced to think ahead in preparing for school. Charlie had a special date with Nana to pick out all his school supplies while 

Addi and I did more shopping for clothing options. 

All the hard work this summer with the book launch paid off when Reclaimed: Finding Your Identity after Marital Betrayal was released Wednesday! Tim and I were overwhelmed with the reviews and personal notes sent our direction thanking us for the boldness to speak up and share. I found myself exhausted physically and emotionally as Tim and I toasted with a glass of wine. 

Meanwhile, life moved on as Addison had high school orientation that morning and three of four kids had dentist appointments. Baylee also had her pre-school orientation this week where she already made friends and an impression with her teacher. This should be very entertaining to watch unfold as smarty pants may be bored but challenged to sit quietly and not talk all day long. 

Addison and a friend were commissioned to paint for their past teacher so they used the morning t paint and afternoon to meet up with friends to prepare for high school. 

Friday night, Tim and I were treated to dinner with our good friends, Kurt and Gwen before I flew out to Nashville for the Christian Product Expo. 

Yes, a packed week. 

I'm not sure the kids are ready for school next week but it's coming regardless!

{ More lake days at Auntie Missy's lake house. }

 

{ We have water babies. }

{ She's officially a freshman. }

{ Happy Birthday Reclaimed. }

{ Addison & Darla painted a picture together for their 8th grade teacher. Stunning. }

{ Self care post book launch at Mt. Baker. }

{ Really enjoying these ladies and so proud of their effort into training. }

{ Mountain Mama. }

{ Cousin sighting on my flight from Bellingham to Seattle. }

{ Enjoying Daddy's pre-birthday gift to himself. }

Summer 'N' Motion Wk. #9

The week on the boat continued for the kids as they went from island to island in search of the perfect shrimp to catch, pool to swim in and whales! Yes, they even managed to have some whale spotting's!

Baylee continued to talk her way through the week making up for the lack of conversation and filling the blank space with her own voice. Potty training went well and of course, so did her independent personality of getting things on her own. (pic of Bee drinking water) I often find her 

counter surfing and climbing the fridge grabbing snacks on her own. 

With almost all kids gone, I took advantage of the quiet time and focused on the upcoming book launch. This means lots of emails, creating social media content and continuing with network connections made for Reclaimed Ministry. Oh, and let's not forget I'm trying to train for the upcoming canyon race in October so plenty of running happening too. 

Here's the week in pictures... 

{ The boating crew keeping Papa and Nana busy. }

 

{ I don't know. I suggested a glass but Little Irish had other ideas. }

{ When friends speak your love language and make you a personalized dish of brownies: win. }

 

{ Bee and I enjoyed the fair on our own with 2 objectives: food & animals. }

{ These two were so excited to reunite with the rest of the sibling crew! }

{ I need to make an album of cute kid selfies. }

{ Friday Addi & Charlie went to the fair together ALL. DAY. LONG. }

{ The road trip to Portland begins... }

{ A quick road trip south to celebrate Tim's step sister Maria's wedding. }

 

{ The road trip trying to end... }

Summer 'N' Motion Wk. #8

Week eight was busy, stressful, and yet filled with celebrations on many levels. 

The first part of the week Charlie had golf camp at Homestead Farms which the kid is getting pretty good at and loves that he can share a sport with Dad. 

Early in the week, my ultrasound from the week prior, needed to be followed up with a breast biopsy. Needless to say, this brought on far too much anxiety and emotion that I was not wanting to deal with especially being a birthday week for myself. 

Tim, in typical supportive fashion, drove the stress case to the doctors and made sure that I had no lifting once home. I know deep within he was nervous as the doctors this time used language such as meeting with oncologists and further potential treatments. 

By the grace of God (and lots of prayer) we got results at the end of the day on my birthday. Negative. 

Thank you Jesus.

And yes, I celebrated a birthday as did Mom!

Could not have asked for a better gift than results that indicate no cancer. 

Papa and Nana invited the older three kids to a week on the boat which left Baylee alone at home with Mom and Dad. It's been awhile since there was only one at home! The three older kids loved their big kid time in the San Juans hiking, fishing, becoming captain and being spoiled by my parents. It is such a treasure to have such involved and loving grandparents in our kids' lives. 

Here's some more about our week in motion...

{ Surprise flowers from a secret admirer. }

{ Kids selfies that never get old - instant laughter. }

{ Birthday family lunch at Red Robin with our friend Bruce. }

{ Girl time getting our nails done. }

{ Myriam had about 50 different facial expressions during her pedicure
as the massage chair bounced her this and that way. Hilarious. }

{ Tim has become the giddy mole killer in our yard. }

{ My running cheerleaders Saturday morning. }

{ My Love. My date. }

{ Roommates 20 years later. }

{ Class of 1999. }

{ Surprise visit at Lopez Island - Bee was inside throwing a tired fit. }

{ Potty training success. }

{ Happy Birthday Mom. }

{ Kids are off to explore the San Juan Islands some more with Papa & Nana. }