family visit

We spent the day together driving to Baltimore and visiting with family.  It was a planned trip to see grandparents who live in Florida.  They were up north for medical reasons, so we traveled to see them.  We enjoyed a delicious meal at Phillips Restaurant.  But, more importantly, we enjoyed spending time seeing my family.  The kids were able to see their grandparents and talk with them for a short visit.  I made a mental note to go back to Baltimore with the kids on a nice day....there is much to see!

Grandma Leah, Andrew, Grace, Charity, and Grandpa Tremper

Then, we traveled to see Dan and Jocelyn.  We were so close!! :)  We enjoyed visiting with them and just chilling on the couch!  I always learn new electronic information when I see them, and this time was not any different. This time I learned about Apple TV.  It seems quite amazing how it all works....but, then again, we are in the 21st century!  Then after watching The Lorax movie, we drove back home.  It was a good day! :)

Good Friends

Ronda, Lydia, Emily, and Christopher Webb

God has allowed our family to get to know and love another special family!  This family has opened up their home to our family, but more importantly, they have opened their hearts to our family!! We have enjoyed many outings together, many meals together, many hours of rehearsal together,many hours in the car together, and many hours of just hanging out together.  We each have gained a special friend through their family. We were able to share a little Christmas together this year too. :)

Grace, Lydia, Charity, Emily, Christopher, and Andrew

We love you all!!! Thanks for sharing your lives with us!!!

Christmas 2013

Merry Christmas to everyone!  Yes, it is 2014 now in the month of January, but I am just getting time to sit and record some thoughts from Christmas now. :)

It was a challenging Christmas this year because we were not all together on Christmas Day.  But, we spread the celebration out over a week or so between family and friends! :)  We had a group of family come to the house on the 28th for some good old family time. :)  Ham included! yummmmm....it was delicious!! :)  We had dinner, played games, talked, and just enjoyed each other together.

So, I can't find the other pictures now....I have some from when everyone was here in my shared photos, but I can't get them.....gotta love this computer stuff! oh well, Merry Christmas!!!!  I will try to update again soon!

Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with 5 of my 7 children and my 2 daughter-in-laws! :)  I cooked a turkey and potatoes and stuffing, and cranberry sauce and corn.  One of my daughter-in-laws brought the green bean casserole. :) But, it wasn't the food that was the best part!!  I enjoyed seeing everyone around the table just relaxing and having fun talking together!

Thanksgiving table 2013! :)

The boys played downstairs and the girls visited upstairs before dinner. I think that the youngest son enjoyed beating his older brother at wii basketball!! :)
I love these kids so much! They are all growing up so fast!!  I can't wait to have all of them together soon including the other two guys!! :)  I have so much to be thankful for, and I thank God for His blessings on my family.

School changes

We have stopped homeschooling this year and the kids are all going to a school for their age group.  Grace has started at the local high school, and Andrew and Charity are both going to the Christian school at our church.  There are lots of adjustments going on, but the kids are doing very well. :)

Grace started school a week after the others started, but she was very excited even if it was VERY early in the morning.  She takes the bus that comes into our development, but it comes at 6:41 in the morning!  This is going to be different!!!

Andrew and Charity on their first day of school. They were thinking about a great idea of taking a picture every day all year to see the changes. However, that only lasted 2 days......then reality hit and to stop and get a picture every morning was not very practical.  We are typically getting some things together at the last moment. 

Grace's hair

So, I had promised Grace that we would get her hair done this week......and of course, the week came to an end.  So, we went out today to get her hair braided. I left her at the salon while I came home and did some other errands.  Then Charity and I went to check on her 4 hours later......she looked good, but only about halfway done.  So, we hit the Walmart and came back again.....uh.....nope, not done yet.   So, we went to get something to eat and come back......still not done.  ok, we just sat there and waited....they closed the shop, and around 9:30 this evening we finished and came home.  Grace is hungry and tired of sitting and having her hair/head pulled.  But, she looks great! 

When she first got up, I thought to myself, "what has happened to my little girl?"  She looks so grown up!!  Thankfully I didn't have to do this one myself.  8 hours of braiding!!!!  Wow!!  Well, worth it though to not have to do her hair for 2 months! :)

interesting thought...

Tonight as I left work, I realized that I was feeling guilty for going home!!  Now, mind you, I left when I am supposed to leave!  But, the last couple of months it has been very hard for me to leave work on time due to the load of work needing to be accomplished.  So, even though the day was busy, I completed what I could and left on time.  As I walked out the door, I spoke with a co-worker and told her how I was feeling.  She simple said, "Don't.  We all worked hard today". 

WOW!  What a revelation!  Nursing is a 24 hour job.  I can only do the work that is able to be done in my shift's time.  But, many times, I am trying to complete a task (and the charting) so I don't leave it for the next person!  There are many things that are required of us when we admit patients, and that is what I struggle with.  I don't know where to draw the line and leave stuff for the next person to complete.  Hopefully, I can keep this mindset. 

I can make a choice to not feel guilty!!  I did do a good job today!  I worked hard!  I did the best I could do with my patients.  So, I need to leave it there.  Brain training.....hard work!!