HAPPY BIRTHDAY ETHEN

I'm a little late in posting this.......November 23 was Ethen's 8th birthday......This was a picture of him as a "mad scientist" Our first "grandson". He is strongwilled like his momma, but gentle and tender at the same time. What a joy he has been and will continue to be to us......I can remember being there when he was born and the all the joy that came with experiencing his birth, looking at him through the glass window of the nursery as he lay there sleeping and trusting that we would take care of him, that God would take care of him. Because of him, his mama learned to trust in God and saw God move in her life.....Thank you Ethen for making us your Nanna and Pappa. We love you so much and miss you. We couldn't imagine life without you for you have made it "grand".

A New Chapter

Reading Marme's blog got me to thinking about the crossroads in my life.

• I remember when I got married, to the most wonderful man I might add, not only did I have to adjust to being "one flesh" but had to do that in a strange land. We moved right away to San Angelo TX and then to Maryland....all in the first year we were married. Lots of adjusments., as we moved from there to the Phillipines and then to Nebraska and then back to San Angelo...The constant moving every 3-4 years caused me to have to learn to trust in God



• Then there was the birth of our first child.....How exciting it was. To look into her eyes and count all her toes and fingers and just love her for who she is.....she is the best thing that has ever happened to us.....Then there was the birth of our second child......another crossroad as I had to learn how to love two children instead of just one.....It wasn't hard though, as I think God enlarges our heart each time.....
• I remember the time when John got orders to go to Korea for a year, unaccompanied. That was a difficult time for us, but also another growing time. I was mom and dad at the same time to a 2 year old and a 7 year old. Everything I was involved in came to a hault as they became my main focus. I learned what it was like to be a single parent and would not want to ever have to do it again. I wouldn't of made it without the Lord. I got over many fears that year and learned to rely and "trust on God" more.
  
• Then there were the crossroads of watching our children grow. Taking them to school and hoping that they would be alright without mom to control their day. Trusting in God to take care of them as they became teenagers......and hoping they would pursue the destiny he had for them.


• One road, (though there are many), was when we found out we would be grandparents for the first time. Excited but sadend at the same time. Hoping and praying I would say the right words and wanting so desperately to help my daughter......God helped us through that rough time (crossroad) I learned a lot about myself and about trusting God. I wouldn't have traded that time for anything. It was a valley and a hard one to walk, but I know I didn't walk it alone. And neither did she......We are so much closer now than before and what a blessing our Ethen is. He has brought so much joy into all of our lives.....Oh and lets not forget about Seth......We couldn't imagine life with out these two precious ones....For they are a part of us and will continue the cycle of life......



• Perhaps the hardest and most recent one was when Sam went off to California to pursue his destiny..............I think that was the hardest. All my fears came crashing in....can he live there without "me" It is such a big place......We don't know anyone there. Who will help him when he gets into trouble? another road to cross. God so sweetly reminds me that He is everywhere and will take care of him.....and that He did. Another trust lesson. Then he got married.....Another crossroad for me as I had to find how I fit into this plan of being a "mother-in-law" It wasn't so hard when Angela got married, but it sure is hard the second time around.....Even though I love her dearly and believe she was a blessing sent from God to our son and to our family it still is hard at times. Maybe it is because they live so far away. It is so hard to have both children gone and living so far away..... I miss them.....I miss our talks and the times they lived at home.....but I know that they are both doing what God has called them to do and I am proud of all of them.



• This brings me to the "new chapter" in my life.......Another chapter on trusting God. In March of 2008 we will be moving to a new location.......John is being transferred to Michigan. Right smack dab in the middle of the great lakes. I know it will be cold, but that is okay. don't mind the cold. It will be an adventure, not sure I like adventures......I like to be comfortable if you know what I mean. I definitely don't want to leave my friends...(another trust lesson) but I know that God will have good things in store for us. His plans for us are of good and not evil.....We have lived in San Angelo for some 20 years and of that 20 have been at SAFA for 2 years. God brought us there not only to grow us but to heal us. We have experienced such tremondous healing and acceptance, not for what we can do, but for who we are. We have eperienced a part of God that we wouldn't have expereinced anywhere else. He is real in our lives and I can see his hand in everything in our life. I am so thankful for the precious friends (you know who you are) that He so carefully placed in our lives for they are instruments of His hand in our lives. You will hold a special place in my heart and those that come after you I am sure will have a hard time measuring up.

I think it is good once and a while to ponder on the past and take a look at what God has done. I have learned so much in the past 20 years, more so in the past 2 years. God is so good and He never does anything that would cause us harm......I am choosing to think upon this move as a "new chapter" in my life and am trusting God to grow me some more and carefully place new people in my life to accomplish that purpose.

Thanksgiving Memories

It has been a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.....Lots of memories have been made. John and I have the most truly amazing wonderful friends. We spent the day with Randy and Tonya. At first early in the a.m. I was a little bummed because I missed my kids terribly.....I did talk to both of them though before we went to Tonya's and they called me....amazing. I know they missed being with us as well. We had a great time with Randy and Tonya.....They truly are a gift from God to us....The food was great, she is a great cook, the company was awsome...We fellowshiped, ate, watched the game, planned our strategy for Friday, ate some more, talked with Ryan some more and then played Rummycube. I absolutely love the game. Love it so much I just think I will have to go buy it,....After a couple of games of that we said our goodbys and went home only to wake up at 4:30 to go, yep, SHOPPING. We met at Old Navy and shopped until we couldn't any more. We got everything on our lists and found lots of great bargins. I am done Christmas shopping......Actually I shopped mostly for me. The kids get checks in the mail....It is cheaper to send and easier for all concerned. At any rate, thanks Tonya for the memories, I will never forget you or Randy. Thank you Jesus for the wonderful friends you have sent to us......Life is so much sweeter and easy to live when you have great friends.

They are moving AGAIN

Yep, Angela is moving again. I think if there was an award to be given for the person who moved the most, she would get it hands down. She just can't seem to stay put. I think she just likes to pack and unpack and likes a good adventure. This time same city, same state, just a better house. The apartment they were living in was too small, no washer and dryer, (this meant laundramat every other day) and a crazy lady lived below them. She really scared Angela, so bad that Angela filed a complaint with the police on her. At any rate they found a 4 bedroom home, victorian style with a basement, backyard and a tree for the boys to climb......It is much bigger than the one they are in now. Oh and the best part, you guessed it, a LAUNDRY ROOM. No more laundramat for her. !!!!! I am excited for her and can't wait to go see her. I miss her so much......

A REYNOLDS CHRISTMAS

Here are some of the Reynolds' Christmas Traditions.......

• I always put up the tree Thanksgiving weekend. Also decorate the house at the same time and make sure that every room has some Christmas in it......Outside lights also go out at this time.


• When Sam and Angela were little they had their very own tree decorated just for them. The tree got passed down to Ethen and decorated with ornaments just for him.


• The week before Christmas is when I do my baking......my favorite cookie to make just happens to be my Dad's favorite. It is a chocolate butter cookie with nuts....yummmmm


• On Christmas Eve, when I was growing up, we would have a fondu for the evening meal and then we were allowed to open one gift that mom would hand to us....When I got married we changed the tradition sort of, no fondu, but we do have Lasagne for supper and then snack all night on cookies, and watch Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol, but it has to be the one with George C. Scott.


• On Christmas Day, since it is Sam's birthday, every year for the last 25 years we watch White Christmas.....this is because when I was in labor it was the only thing on in the military hospital and that is what we watched. For lunch we have left overs and snack somemore........


• This last year I started a new tradition. I bought an ornament for my daughter and my daughter-in-love. I told them both that each year they will recieve a special ornament just from me.......


• We always go out for breakfast on Christmas day after we open presents......The kids really looked forward to this and so we just kept it up.


• On Christmas morning when I was growing up we opened the rest of our presents one at a time.....My dad would play Santa. Not all of our gifts were wrapped. Santa always came and left stuff under the tree. When I got married we still did the same thing no wrapping some stuff and just putting it under the Tree. The surprises on their face were just priceless. We would open the rest of our presents one at a time and then get ready to go out and eat breakfast. One thing we did different is we would take turns who played Santa each year. Usually we would let Sam do it because it was his birthday.....and we couldn't remember from year to year who played last.


• My favorite thing was to see all the wrapping paper on the floor and everyone having a good time.

These are just a few that I can remember for now.....I'm sure there are more. Christmas is my favorite time of the year. It's the time the child comes out in me........it is the time when familys spend time with one another, just being with each other......it is a special time.