Alyssa's a Teenager!

Our number three daughter has just turned thirteen.  She is now older than her two sisters were when she was born.  (Victoria was 11 and Jessica was 12) That seems like a lifetime ago.  From the first minute we knew Alyssa was on the way she has been a blessing to our family.  Her kindness, personality, and good nature have always been like an oil on troubled waters with all of our ups and downs.  She sees everything with enthusiasm and enjoyment.  Well, almost everything.  Not the most enthusiastic about room cleaning...although her room is looking better. :)
Jessica took Alyssa out to get her ears pierced, took her to lunch, and then took her jewelry shopping.  How sweet!  Alyssa's birthday fell directly on Thanksgiving day this year.  We decided to do her birthday cake on Sunday afternoon since there were so many pies sitting around on Thursday.  She didn't mind, that's just the way she is. Praise the Lord!  She has seen someone saved every week for the past few months.  We're so grateful for Bro. Josh and Mrs. DeAnna, Miss Sharon Carstens, and the other bus workers who encourage her each week.  Her Sunday School teacher, Mrs. Dickerson, gave her a beautiful pink Bible and it means so much to her.  During the service I noticed that she kept looking at her wrist.  Her Aunt Marsha and Uncle NuNu gave her a charm bracelet.  It is beautiful and she was so pleased.
Lord, I thank you for Alyssa and for the people who set the example and show their love for her with their kind words, actions, and thoughtfulness.

"Grateful"

Today I'm sitting and typing (resting). I love the Thanksgiving holiday but my feet and back are always sore the day after!  Scott and I got the notion to paint the living room last week.  Ha! We're not 20, 30, or 40 anymore, we are just plain dumb.  We energetically chose the paint (my brother's home color), prepped the room, moved furniture, etc.  Then Scott edged the room and painted on Monday.  Peter and Krisha Gabucci visited with us on Monday and just walked through the mess, bless their hearts!  We had a wonderful two-hour plus visit, it could have been longer!

 Room Before, above, Room after, below

The paint dried, we slowly moved the furniture around and hung up the last picture on Wednesday afternoon.  All this plus babysitting Emma, preparing the rest of the house, food, decorations for Thanksgiving.  Somebody, please keep reminding us we're not 40 anymore!  Ha!
When all of the family and guests arrived and made themselves at home it was all worth it.  I always love it when all have their plates and are seated at the table.  There's no feeling like it - very blessed.
Our daughter, Victoria, and her husband, Leonard, hosted their first Thanksgiving dinner with guests from the base.  German ovens are small, so they cooked steaks instead, with all of the other trimmings.  I am very proud of their hospitality and effort for others.
This was our granddaughter, Emma's, first Thanksgiving.  We are so grateful that the Lord has allowed them to live close by (around the corner) and that they are so faithful and active at church.  We can see the family several times a week.  She was sick this week and at the hospital ER and doctor's office, but she made it here for Thanksgiving day.

(Martin, Jessica, Emma - Thanksgiving day, 2012)
About 8:00 p.m. I started to log my calories on my calorie counter app.  After breakfast, the appetizers, etc. the calorie bar chart went from blue (calories remaining) to bright red (calories over).  For fun and honesty and I decided to go ahead and log every bite I could remember taking.  Well, now I know why we only have Thanksgiving one time a year!  I only had one bite of dessert and I still logged in enough calories for a family of four! :)

We were so honored to have a street full of cars and tables full of guests at our home for Thanksgiving. We may not always have this opportunity and we are so grateful to the Lord for His blessings and kindness to us.

"Chubby Bunny Kimber"

Victoria sent a photo of our three-month-old granddaughter, Kimber Layne.  Her friends gave her a baby shower, for which I am very grateful.  While at Ramstein Air Force Base it seems like they have made some very sweet friends.  Kate is pictured with a dear lady, Corinne, who seems to always be there for Victoria.
You would think that seeing pictures would help you stop missing your family but, for me, it makes me miss them even more!  I do pray with greater fervor and I guess the Lord knows that I need to!

"Blessed Beyond Measure"

We might be feeling a little creaky and old, but there are some benefits to getting older!  I'm just posting a cute series of pictures of our granddaughter, Emma, eating her first whole cupcake!