Life

It seems that every year at the fair one of the 4-H groups puts together an Ohio State booth. JoAnna is putting on her best disgusted face. Her mama brain washed...er...um...trained her little Michigan fan well.

JoAnna riding "Catching Air" with the Satterthwaite's grandchildren.

MMS had a bonfire and hayride in October. We had to take 2 trips on the hay wagon. Lydia is the young lady hiding her face.

JoAnna was able to hitch a 2nd ride, she loves spending time with her friend, Hannah.

Lydia and I enjoy sewing together. We work well as a team...she is so much like me. I look at her and see me--all over again--with her daddy's eyes, chin and teeth.

JoAnna helping me make soup for dinner on one of the first cold fall nights. She loves to help me in the kitchen.

This past weekend we helped a family from church put up some wood for the winter months that lay ahead. JoAnna and I were in the storage shed stacking the wood.

Lydia worked to bring the large chunks of tree over the creek (if you live in this area of Ohio that word in pronounced 'crick').

Caleb helped with loading and unloading that large chunks of wood.

Paul and BJ were responsible for the work party. Paul and his wife, Jenni, will enjoy the fire wood this winter.

October 20th

Today is the day I remember my sweet Christopher's home going. 3 years ago on this day Chris' brother, Tim, raced across the country side with his parents, in their car. He was intent on getting to Good Sam hospital in Zanesville, Ohio, so that we could disconnect Chris' life support. When we left the ICU that night the nurses on duty were all crying. The next morning one of them called me (though she said that she wasn't supposed too, but felt she had to) and told me that the whole ICU nursing staff was touched by Chris' story in the short time he had been there. They were the most touched by the MMS guys who went to sit by his bed (even though he was in a coma) and read Scripture, talk to him, sing to him, joke around with him and pray with him. The character of Chris' visitors was an evident testimony of Christ.

I created this video tribute for my dear Christopher, who even as I type stands in the very presence of Jesus Christ, his Savior.

Houston

We spent September 23rd through October 2nd in Houston, Texas. The company was wonderful, the weather beautiful and the time priceless. The best time for me was the time I spent with Stephanie. We sat on her new covered patio and enjoyed warm breezes and cool evenings. Priceless. We also traveled around a bit and did some fun things.

We journeyed to San Antonio to check out the Alamo. It was fun to learn the history of this famous battle. Did you know that Ohio had a part in the battle of the Alamo? Apparently the city of Cincinnati sent two cannons (named the twin sisters) to the fort before the battle started. We also enjoyed the Riverwalk...it was a Friday night and all the lights were pretty as we walked along.

On the way home the Lord had His protective hand on us. Stephanie and I were deep in conversation when she noticed that her gas gauge was below "E". We were on a long stretch of road that doesn't have gas stations and we prayed that the Lord would keep us going until we found a place to stop. When we finally pulled into a station I asked her how big her RAV's gas tank is. "14 gallons," she told me. We all watched the gas pump display and when it kicked off at 14.027 gallons we were all relieved that the Lord had literally kept the car going.

Another thing we did was visit Space Center Houston. Aunt Stephanie and JoAnna tried to figure out this cool looking game. Unfortunately, all they figured out was that it didn't work - "Houston, we have a problem."

Caleb wanted to see how much he weighed on Mars. He says he doesn't remember how much it was.

Lydia and JoAnna wanted to see what an actual moon rock felt like.

On our tram tour of NASA we saw this astronaut in training.

This is Apollo 18, it has never flown on a mission. It was pretty impressive to stand next to. I was surprised at how massive it is.

These are the initial booster rockets for Apollo 18. Just breaking free from gravity takes a great deal of fuel and power...WOAH!!

After learning about space we drove to Galveston. The girls enjoyed finding pretty seashells they could bring home as souvenirs. We also saw a really cool part of the Lord's creation. We saw good size sea birds flying along and all of a sudden one of them would just fall out of the sky. He would crash into the water and come out with a fish in his bill. I have pictures, but my zoom lens was back at the house, so the birds are too far away to realize what is going on.

On our last day we went to the police station from which Tim worked. Stephanie explained that a new captain, who had never met Tim, heard so many stories and good things that he suggested that they give this gym a name. It was officially named the Timothy S. Abernethy gymnasium.

Tim's picture was also added to a special wall that honors fallen officers.

Right before Tim died he found out that he was going to be going to Bomb Squad School. Stephanie told me that Tim had finally found his calling - what he was created to do. She took us to see the Bomb Squad and we enjoyed learning about what they do. Before we went to see all of the cool equipment they took our picture with the dynamite blaster. Stephanie is ready to blow us all up!!! Maybe it's time for us to go home. : ) After the Bomb Squad trailer we were able to see the SWAT team truck and trailer. Then we were taken back to the hostage negotiation trailer - it was pretty impressive. I really enjoyed learning more about what they do. Truly amazing what these men are trained to do to protect us.

The SWAT team was just back from a call and they invited us in to see their armored vehicle. JoAnna is trying to open one of the many holes in the side of the truck.

Trip to Michigan

Since a picture is worth 1,000 words I thought I would "say" more in this blog...lots of pictures!! One of the best parts of the trip was spending time with my brother and his little boys. A few months back I browsed the realtor.com website looking at houses in my home town. I found a house that I thought I would like to live in. Unbeknownst to me my brother saw the same house and he bought it. On this trip I was able to see the house that I had "admired from afar."

When we head north we always get excited when we see this sign...we know that we are half way to Grandpa and Grandma's house.

JoAnna and Brendon on the swing set in my brother's back yard.

Caleb and Logan playing with my brother's i-phone.

Pere Marquette Beach

JoAnna playing in the sand

Lydia building a sand castle

My mom, Lydia and I took a bike ride one night. Maia sat right there in the basket the entire time we were out riding...about an hour.

Me and my beautiful children

Caleb

Lydia

JoAnna

My brother, Tom, and his sons Logan and Brendon.

Grandpa May and my mom. Grandpa celebrated his 96th birthday last month. I was able to be part of the birthday celebration with my family. I sure miss them all - I wish I could go home more often.

Raspberry Pies

Last spring we planted blueberry and raspberry bushes in our yard. They tie for my all time favorite fruit. The blueberries won't be ready for a few summers, but we pick over a cup of raspberries a day. I started freezing them to make a pie. This evening we are having the Heath family for dinner and I decided to use our berries to make a pie to go along with my homemade pizza. We also made a blackberry pie with berries that I had in the freezer.

JoAnna getting the butter ready to make the crust.

Notice JoAnna's apron. Lydia and I made it last week. We have material cut out and ready to make aprons for ourselves, but time has not allowed us to work on them. We have packed our aprons to go to MI with us, and hope to work on them while there. Mom, if you're reading this get your sewing machine out.

Lydia getting her sugar ready to put into her bowl of raspberries.

My faithful helpers.

Tea Party

Today JoAnna asked if we could have a tea party. I picked up the ingredients to make my "famous" chocolate chip cookies...at least they are well loved at my church. After supper JoAnna set up the dishes and we had cookies and "tea". We debated whether to ask DeeDee because last time she made a pig of herself and ate almost all of the cookies...lets just say she had chocolate all over her face and she needed a bath.

JoAnna, DeeDee, Maia and I around the tea party blanket.

DeeDee's Surgery

Many years ago Lydia had several Lollipalooza dolls and she staunchly refused to let JoAnna play with them. JoAnna wanted a doll like them so badly. Around Thanksgiving in 2002 a supporting church invited us to speak and afterward they invited us downstairs. They had a light supper and then showered the children with piles of gifts. One of the first gifts JoAnna opened was a Lollipalooza doll--she was pink and white with pink polka dots. Chris had a hard time prying the doll's box out of JoAnna's hands to "free" the doll from her ties. On our way home we tried to think of a name. Chris decided that we should call the doll Delightful, after the name of the church we had just left. JoAnna tried to say Delightful and it came out as DeeDee.

DeeDee has been loved on and taken all over. She was forgotten at a church one time...Chris turned around and drove back to get her. Dee Dee has endured several surgeries, to repair all of the love she has received. One time DeeDee complained that she didn't have a belly button. Well, lets say that while JoAnna slept I cut little pieces of pink felt and rolled them into "belly buttons" and sewed 10 of them all over DeeDee (on her ear, her foot, her behind, etc...). JoAnna didn't appreciate it, so they were removed...DeeDee was disappointed.

JoAnna and DeeDee at the back of the bus in Colonial Williamsburg.

We went on a field trip to see the Charlie Brown exhibit in Cleveland. JoAnna is playing the piano and DeeDee is watching her...like Snoopy watches Shroeder.

DeeDee driving the house boat on our houseboat vacation.

This week JoAnna performed surgery of DeeDee's neck. I taught her how to blind stitch and she sewed up the ripped seam. (DeeDee tells us she had a "brain tumber" removed.)

Here's the 'patient' after her surgery. We think she will go on to keep JoAnna happy for years to come. She is laying in the cradle my grandfather made many years ago--for my cousin and I to play with.

Catching up

JoAnna Turns 8

This is a picture of JoAnna the day she was born. She was born 8 days before Caleb's 7th birthday. We told him that JoAnna was an early birthday present. Dr. Prior gave us a special gift that morning. JoAnna and I almost died in childbirth and Caleb is holding a miracle in his arms. When Chris died I truly realized that the Lord was watching out for me the morning of JoAnna's birth, b/c Caleb and Lydia could have been orphans.

JoAnna with her pink princess cake.

Caleb Turns 15

Caleb has always been his own person. He is very much like his father, he doesn't care what other people are doing he chooses his own way and what he wants. One year Grandma asked him what he wanted on his birthday cake and Caleb responded, "I want a pineapple upside down cake!!" I think we were all a little taken aback, b/c we were thinking "cake with frosting." Not Caleb. He wanted his favorite.

Caleb, several years ago with his first pineapple upside down birthday cake--made by Grandma.

This is Caleb's 15th birthday with his pineapple upside down birthday cake made by mom. I told him that if he didn't smile I wouldn't let him get his driver's permit...thus the funky smile.

School Gets Under Way

We started school this week. Some people think it's a little early, but I like to be ahead. When things come up I like to be able to say, "Let's take the day off and go." When we are ahead I can do that, with no stress. I also enjoy being able to take the week off when my parents come down. It is too hard to get school done when the children want to play games with grandma and grandpa.

I caught Caleb snuggled under his daddy quilt reading one of his school books...notice that Tessa is getting in some quality snuggle time.

Lydia concentrating on her Teaching Textbook Math 7 program. She is already 4 weeks ahead and it is only 4 days into school. Today a look of realization came over her face and she asked me, "You mean, if I finish all my work by Christmas I won't have anything to do for the rest of the year?" I told her, "Yep. You finish the work and you're done." One of the best parts of home schooling, in my opinion, is when the student 'gets it' they can move on and they don't have to wait for the rest of the class to 'get it'.

JoAnna with her science book. After I took this picture we read our whole weeks worth of science and she wanted to read more, so we did. We are learning about mammals. Let's hope we actually finish science this year.