Year in Review

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

New Year's Eve with a POP and a SPARKLE

We like to get Luigi's take-out for dinner on New Year's Eve and later we went outside to send off 2015 with a...

...POP...

and a...

...SPARKLE... 

Goodbye 2015!

Holiday Visit

Pappy visited today and we call this the holiday visit all rolled into one: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Lana's birthday and my birthday!

 

Arboretum

The girls and I spent a mild, sunny afternoon at the Arboretum.  We walked the "12 Days of Christmas" display in order all the way from the partridge in a pear tree to the 12 drummers drumming.

 It was not crowded at all and we had a great time walking the grounds!

Lana's 10th Birthday

Rise and shine birthday girl!  Today you are 10!  I love that we always have the whole day together since you are always out of school!  

Birthday lunch out at Genghis Grill.

Your dessert request: Andes chocolate mint brownies

Make a wish

Chocolate on your lip!  

 We love you so much Lana!  You are a light of sweetness, kindness and compassion.  You are a mix of silly and serious.  We pray for you to have a wonderful year ahead!

Tornado

The day after Christmas we started as any other day.  Tim was on shift and the girls and I were getting ready to leave for church in the early evening.  Tim called to tell us we should probably stay home because severe storms were coming.  Around 6:30 we heard the warning sirens and we headed into our pantry (safest room in our home).  We played Old Maid, talked with Tim on the phone and heard all of the weather reports to stay sheltered.  After coming out and seeing the news, it was almost unbelievable that an EF-4 tornado came down 10 miles away, and an EF-3 tornado was 7 miles away from us.  After knowing our imminent danger was over, I wanted to keep the girls night as normal as possible, getting ready for bed and turning off the news.

In the morning, the coverage of the damage was staggering.  We are praying for all of the people who have been affected by this disaster.  

The Krodle Foundation is assisting a fire department inspector and a retired firefighter whose homes are destroyed.  Tim has been helping them and organizing crews to clear the rubble and sort through the debris.  

Click here to see heartbreaking damage as well as the goodness of fellow brothers helping:

Pictures of tornado recovery

We will continue to help, pray for the families and live our lives for the glory of God.  We trust in Him and draw strength from Him.

Merry Christmas!