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...The greatest news during this season of JOY is Ben and Ali's announcement...
...Every good and perfect gift comes from above...James 1:17...
...Two miracles instead of one...Two special lives have just begun...
...Heavenly Father, we thank you for your marvelous gift. During this time of waiting, we ask you to protect and nurture these first stirrings of life. We ask that you grant Ben and Alison your wisdom and love in the days ahead...Amen
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...Our little bunny princess and YaYa have a very special bond...
During the first trimester, YaYa has not been able to pick up or carry the bunny... To help the bunny understand, we have told her YaYa's belly hurts....Every night she has prayed for YaYa's belly...
We now have explained to her that YaYa has a baby in her belly...two babies..!.
...Does she understand?...Probably not...BUT, she continues to pray...
...and we are thankful...
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BELIEVING in the magic of Christmas...
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Sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can't see...
In His Image Pajama Photos...
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...Christmas 2014...
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...helping Nonni hang the stockings...
..."laughter is timeless and dreams are forever"...
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holly, jolly week-end...
...a visit to Nonni's classroom...
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...happy girl to be @ Poppi & Nonni's home...
...calling Mamo...
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...entertaining herself while waiting for dinner and a walk down Bristow's Main Street...
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...Zainy Zelma's...
...buy a charm bracelet w/ one charm and collect more at each Main St store you visit....
...Poppi is the bunny's charmer...
...all the charms Poppi collected for the bunny's bracelet...
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...Kemp's Drug...
...perfect spot for pic midst their beautiful decorated Christmas trees...
...perfect spot for pic midst their beautiful decorated Christmas trees...
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...a peek in the Santa house...
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...a rest stop in front of the Purple Penguin...
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...enJOYing the evening in Bristow's Town Square and Train Depot...
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...the ice rink...
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..lots of storytelling...
...Christmas, Santa Claus, Rudolph, Frosty...
...Baby Jesus' birthday...
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...it's a mini powdered donut...AND, if she wants it, she gets it @ Nonni's house...
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...Then, it's on to the Mid America Stockyards for a real country breakfast...
...After we ate breakfast, we ventured in to the cattle sale arena...
...the bunny hollers "Oh, my goodness...cows, and more cows"...
...wondering if this little bunny will grow up and raise cattle...
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...dazzling lights @ the Rhema Light Extravaganza...
...rain was in the forecast but we tho't we could beat it...we obviously didn't.... the bunny had just bumped into a daycare friend, Lucas, and suddenly we got bombed w/ huge drops of rain...Paul had not even had a chance to park the escalade before the downpour started....
...Our plans were to eat at Bonefish but since we were soaked and cold, we decided to grab a quick bite at Arby's...the bunny had fun running through the rain and she tho't Nonni looked funny...
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...the bunny princess had so much fun making her gingerbread house w/ her mommy and yaya...
...next Christmas we may try making a castle...
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...my sister's daughter, the youngest out of all the nieces & nephews of mine, graduated from OSU...
...proud of Abby...but, BOOMER SOONER, 58-23
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...the end to a busy week-end...
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Christmas programs...
...The holiday season would not be the same without Christmas programs performed by children...It is one of my favorite activities during this season...I have many memories of programs my girls sang or performed in at the First Baptist Church, Bristow...
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...the bunny's daycare program...
"Birthday of the King"
...Toddler 2 class singing: Lullabye of Love...
...the bunny started out w/ lovey in hand...
...then gave up lovey and took off vest to sing Bells are Ringing and Melody in My Heart...
...she left the stage when she saw Joseph, Mary and Baby Jesus walking down aisle...
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...sitting beside her bestie during the refreshment reception...
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...2 of Paul's g'kids in their program @ First Church of God, Sapulpa...
..."Wrapping All the Way"...
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...These programs were truly a JOY...
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Collins Elementary...
...Unbeknownst to me, my 3rd grade class earned the most $$'s selling the World's Finest Chocolate bars ($3,000.00 plus)....so, this was my surprise treat...the money booth...it was NOT easy...I came out with $16.00 and a busted lip....lol...
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...Christmas Party...
How sweet it is to come together as a "working family" and celebrate...along with filling our tummies on delicious food and treats, we had an awesome time exchanging ornaments...and playing the game Left, Center, Right with Emily W winning the big $$'s...lol.
I look forward to hosting this party every year with the exception of 2014 when I wasn't available...This night, December 18, 2015, was a bittersweet evening for myself and a few others, meaning it was our last Christmas party...We will be joining the ranks with others in the retired teacher's world...While I look forward to enjoying my retirement when this school year comes to an end in May, I will miss my co-workers and the classroom setting...and, yes, our yearly Christmas party....
...our sweetheart couple...
...(never realized the television was left on until I saw these pics)...sorry!
...Left, Center, Right...fun game...
...a piece of the party that was left in my tree...
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Tis the Season...the love of family makes life beautiful and your heart full of joy...
...this little is getting "too big for her britches"....
...she popped her keys out of her purse and wanted to start the car...so, we used auto start...
...the girls w/ their dad's brother, Roger, and wife, Debbie...
...being a little bashful...
...loving her musical unicorn...
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...walking w/ YaYa...
...warming up to Aunt Debbie...
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...cake pop from Starbucks...
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...being spoiled by YaYa...she is letting her open an "early" gift...
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...this little bunny lights up being w/ her poppi close by...
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Christmas w/ Paul's kid & g'kids...
...sisters...
...Paul's 6 g'kids...
...Elliot, Lucy, Wyatt, Raynie, baby Clara, & Maja...
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Christmas Eve...
...Thank you Father for this night and all it represents...
...Thank you for the many reasons we have been given a Merry Christmas...
Father, I pray we keep smiles on our faces because our hearts are missing our bunny princess tonight... I pray that she is at peace and enjoys a special time with her daddy and his family...
Amen...
...my beautiful daughters...
...excited for two...twins!...
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...cousins....missing Bobby, Kelly, and Brent...
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...my sister and her g'son, Jareson...
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...playing Left, Center, Right...
...and the winner is...Ricky, Abby's bf...
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..Thank you Father for the hope and peace you bring and the love and JOY you give...May you light our path as the Holy Star lit the way for the wise men...
...After everyone left, the house got too quiet so we decided we would go to the First Presbyterian Church Christmas Eve service....
...Paul's son and family lit the Christmas candle....
...we were blessed...
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Christmas Day...
Paul, Lindsay and I picked the bunny princess up at noon and immediately headed to my sister's house for Christmas lunch with Ali & Ben and my mom...
...This litte bunny princess is a happy, happy girl...
...she was so excited to see her mommy when we picked her up...
...Mamo gave all her great g'children a leather Bible w/ their names engraved on it...
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Christmas Day @ Poppi & Nonni's....
The bunny's mommy had written Santa a letter and ask him to leave her Christmas gifts at her Nonni's house....and that HE did....
...kisses, kisses...love, love...
...this little princess blesses my heart with JOY...
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Christmas 2014
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Christmas 2013
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...It took a long time for winter weather to arrive and, when it finally came, it was wicked....to tornadoes in Texas, blizzards in the Texas panhandle and New Mexico and flooding and a winter mix in Oklahoma.
...Ruidoso...wish we were there...
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...this is her mommy back in the day...
...she is proud of her piggy tails...
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...talking to an ornament...sweet!
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...kissing 2015 'goodbye'...
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Gender????...
...I don't see the envelope in the tree...
...I think they are keeping a secret...
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.......Thank you Father for guiding us through every season of the year....May every day glow with JOY and happiness for you and your families, as well as mine....
HAPPY NEW YEAR
from our 5 acre woods......XOXO