IDK LOL OMG

    

Recently, Paul and I took our vacation to South Carolina.  It was the first time Paul and I left the kids for longer than 3 days.  Audrey and Faith stayed home with Nolan for the 9 days we were gone.  Faith had some tears on the first day when we called home but I think it was Audrey who missed us the most.  If her text messages to me are any indication.  It is a wonderful thing; this invention of unlimited texting for one monthly fee.  So now I can keep track of my teenage children in a not too invasive way.  And somehow I think they share more with me in a text message than they do when they are speaking to me.  Not to say we aren't close because we are.  But entering into their technical world of messaging just seems to really work for me and them. 
     So here are some messages I got from Audrey while we were away.  I won't write my messages.  I'll just leave it to your imagination.  But boy does she make me smile.  :)

Woahh thats huge, can fit ur plaid big butt on it  :)


Oh fun ishhh. haha, yepp

Okeedokee.  I miss faith.  And grover,  and you.  And paul.  And my house.

Awh  :(

Lucky ducky

oh well.  I had sheperds pie for dinner u be jelous  :)

And i get to sleep on an air matress, so ha !!!!!!  you wish u were me :)

Go buy some.  rich millionaires.  On vacation !! Spending there money watching big tvs. 

Grrr.  when u get back, I expect a big steak!

I loooooooooveeee you maaaama  :)

No Im not madd.  But i want steak.

Holly & camel get presents & I dont?

Its quite dfeucfjugfal not hott here


:)  that is prettyyy

how do you make brownies

no.  I MISS YOU :'(

Yayyyy

:::::::}}}}}}}

Yeep!  Dude.  I miss you.  Its not normal around here.

Im not glad u left : (

I love the otter:)

:(((I want a penguin

and some have rain & others have vacation away from their kids

I love you too:)

Yay for Blank messages

Missing you

and my very favorite one of all...

OK mother, we learned our lesson.  you can come home now and stop pretending your on vacation.

 I love everything about Audrey, but especially her toughness and her ability to tell it like it is.  She never holds back and she's not afraid to say things.  Sometimes to get a laugh and sometimes to make a point.  She is so strong.  Sure she has her emotional times and she cries and needs her mom.  And then she will just put someone in their place because she is so darn honest.  I admire her thick skin!  I love her honesty.   And this just describes a tiny part of who she is.  But every text message I receive from her and every honest emotion she expresses,  makes me see what an amazing and strong girl she is.  I love you my Audrey Rose!!!!  NK

Exploring in the woods of Franklin, Vermont

Today, I went snowshoeing in the woods behind my Dad's house in Franklin.  I was with my sister Susan and her dog Jack and Faith.  Faith didn't have any snow shoes but she did fine.  We wanted to see what we could see.

Looky what we found.

An old car in the woods surrounded by various garden tools tractors and piles of old glass bottles.

Just trying out my new ride.

One tractor had been there so long, that a tree grew right up around it.  It looked kinda cool.

  It was so beautiful and the snow wasn't that deep anymore  so it was really easy walking through it.  We didn't find as many animal tracks as we did the last time we went but we did find some possible animal caves.

Anybody home?

It's never boring when you're exploring!

Faith is looking a little nervous!

Don't worry Faith, the bears are hibernating....
somewhere else..

This tree was neat.  All I could imagine here was a giant, with big knees.  :)

 So it was a fun adventure walking in the woods with my family.  We never know what we are going to find.  I can't wait til our next trip!

All About Grandma

     I am so excited.  My sister told me about this website called Bookemon where you can write, illustrate and publish your own book.  So for me who has yet to become a published author, I can at least use this tool and get it done by myself.  So I had a good time writing a poem about my Mama.  Typed it out on Bookemon and added some fun cartoon illustrations.  Enjoy!
         http://www.bookemon.com/book-profile/all-about-grandma/111180

Winter in Vermont

     Wow, what a winter.  I have lived in Vermont since January of 1997 and it seems like this year, it never ends, theres never been so much snow and that it's never been quite so cold.  But maybe I say that every year?  In any case it has been a long one for me.  I venture outside a lot more this year, snow shoeing in the woods and on the golf course, plenty of shoveling and looking for photo opportunities.

     Grover has been a great motivator.  Just seeing his hopeful face and tail wagging when he sees me putting my boots on forces me to brave the cold!

Faith loves playing in the snow even though sometimes it was too darn cold!  But who can resist it when the snow is waist high in the backyard and there are piles as high as the house!

     We didn't get to do as much snowmobiling this year.  Paul's skidoo broke down back in December and then when he was driving mine he was going so fast that he blew a piston on Christmas day.  So we finally had them all fixed and ready to go by February!  Luckily theres still plenty of snow left to sled on!

     All we have to do is check out our snowometer at our living room window.  It lets us know how many snowmobile rides we have left this winter.  

                  As you can see by looking at the picture we have plenty of winter fun still ahead of us!
Even though I am not the biggest fan of winter, I still look at the beauty of the whiteness and creation all around me and marvel at my God who made it all!  It is a wonderful display of his artistry~his masterpiece!

So this is the surprise we are expecting......

    

So the bit of news that I received a few weeks ago can now be shared.  My daughter Holly is expecting!  My little girl is having a little one.  She is going to be a Mama.  Mama is going to be a grandmother.  Perhaps if I write this out I will believe it.  It has been a couple of weeks of being stunned, surprised, overwhelmed and just trying to figure it all out. 
     So that is what I was talking about when I said that life is full of surprises.  That is what I had to bring to Him in prayer.  And so far He has been faithful to help me accept the fact that my daughter is going to have a baby.  All that comes with this is quite overwhelming but thank goodness we have about 71/2 more months to adjust to it. 

     So this part is for you, little grandchild who is going to be a part of this family.  First a verse because you will see that Gramma Janet loves Bible verses.  Jeremiah 1:5 says:  "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart."  And this is the first verse I thought of to remind me that EVERYTHING that is happening right now is in your hands.  Every head, every heart, every life was created by you and for YOUR PURPOSES!  Life in its tiniest form is growing as I write this.  God is the creator of ALL things!  So this is meant to be.  

     My prayer is that You Father will cover Holly and this little one with the shadow of your wings and protect them.  Say to them " This is the way, walk in it.  (Isaiah 31:20)  God knew Jeremiah but He also knew each and every one of us before we were born!!  How comforting this is. 
And so I will repeat this verse from Isaiah:  "He tends his flock like a sheperd.  He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart."  He gently leads those who have young."  There is no need to worry; this says it all.  ( For you Holly, Love Mama)

Life is Full of Surprises

     I got a bit of news today.  And a bit yesterday.  Very surprising and almost overwhelming.  At least it could be overwhelming if I let it be.  Circumstances can do that to you.  An accident, a sickness, a bad day at work, an unkind word from someone, an unintentional slight from an acquaintance.  Many times, you experience things that hurt, confuse or surprise you so much that you are not quite sure what to do with it.  Well, maybe you shouldn't do anything.  Maybe you just need to stop, think, absorb it.  Most importantly, you might just need to bring it to God in prayer.  So I did that.  Went to my room and curled up with my Bible and my notebook.
     I'm sure you might wonder what it is I am talking about at the moment but I won't share that.  Down the road I will share some of these things that have happened that have required me to Let Go and Let God.  My hands are tied.  There is nothing I can do about some situations.  He is ever so gently teaching me that in this season of my life. 
    Years ago, I would have responded to crises out of pure emotion.  Got on the phone and started ranting to anyone who would listen.  Complained, moaned and groaned.  Now I find, that if I get some news that is upsetting; I am not that surprised.  I feel calm.  I feel the need to go to Him in prayer.  To read the word and see where it leads me.  What kind of answers He will bring me to.  And He always does.  He is so faithful like that.  And I am so grateful for that. 
     Just last week He was leading me with a few verses.  Things that brought me to realize that He is in control.  I wrote them down. In  Isaiah 31:20, part of it says "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying,  "This is the way, walk in it."  I know that He was telling me to listen to His still voice.  The voice I can only hear if I am staying in the word and prayer.  So when I was presented with my surprising situation this week, I knew what He wanted me to say and do.  He made it very clear to me.  So I was strong enough to say what I needed to say to a certain someone.  And know that it was right and ok and just what He wanted from me. 
     And then this verse was given to me:  "He tends His flock like a sheperd.  He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart.  He gently leads those who have young.:  Isaiah 40:11  I and my children are part of his flock and He will take care of us.  Let Him take care of you also.

New Years 2011

     Happy New Year!  2011 is here and this morning I was reminded in my devotions of the three things that God has been showing me this year.  Stand up, Be Obedient and Be Humble.  Stand up and do not shy away from things that scare me.  Stand up for what's right and speak out what I know to be truth.  Stand up to those who intimidate me and be kind to them because I know that He is the one holding me up. There is no fear in perfect love.  Therefore with Him behind me I can do and say what He wants me to without fear.  This could mean sharing His love with some of my very difficult patients.

 Be obedient to the Word and be careful to follow my conscience.  This will keep me accountable to myself and to HIM.  This also means to be obedient to those in authority.  Setting a good example for my children and those around me. 
 
      Be humble.  A very difficult one.  This is for when I know I am wrong or have wronged someone and need to make it right.  This is confession.  This is taking a back seat when someone else has needs that I have to help meet.  This means that things may be inconvenient for me.  I may have to give and give and not receive.  This is what He wants from me.  Even writing a blog to share with others makes me realize that I have to remain humble.  To write what He is showing me to write and not worry about what others think.  To especially not look for praise from men.  It should be enough to have the approval of my friend; my King!
    I wrote in my journal this verse this morning:  Romans 14:13 " Therefore let us stop passing judgement on one another."  After that I wrote
Be Kind
Be Accepting
Be Loving
Kind of seems like He is giving me things in threes lately.  It all goes together for me in what He wants from me.  Isn't this one of the hardest things in life?  I think that throughout each day as I come into contact with different people, I am asking, judging watching, considering and gauging others.  It is just natural for my mind to automatically categorize people.  Are they happy?  Are they sad?  Should they do that?  Why aren't they doing this?  Why arent they working harder?  Why don't they care more? 
     Instead of just accepting!  Jesus accepted people where they were at.  I must try to be more like Him and not consider myself better.  To try to be as positive, loving and accepting as I can.  In this way I can enjoy the freedom, peace and joy of the holy spirit that He wants me to experience!
     I can only lean on Him to help me to accept others and to look at them through His eyes!  Remember He loves each one of us the same!

Snowshoeing

Grover and I went golfing...I mean snow shoeing today.  I don't even know how to spell that.  About 20 degrees on this December day.  But the sky was blue and the sun was shining.

 A little difficult to take Grover out running lately.  Too icy and snowy out.  But yesterday when I went down into the basement, I noticed a couple of pairs of snow shoes up in the rafters left there by Jake.  I've never even tried it before.  So with a little help from Audrey's friend Isaac... He showed me how to attach them to my boots.  I was ready, and off I went.. into the wild blue yonder...I mean the Enosburg Golf Course.

Not very difficult to maneuver at all.  And with my trusty ski poles, I got a real cardio workout!!

Here we are at the 13th hole!!

As you can see by his tracks, Grover doesn't just run through the snow; he leaps, he bounds, he hops like a rabbit!  But he always comes back when I call him.  I think he likes this better than running on his leash.

  The wind was blowing, the snow was sparkling but I was cozy in my skidoo suit.

I'm really a summer girl.  You'll never hear me complain in the heat or humidity.  I love to run and bike and swim.  But theres something about the beauty of snow.  Clean, white, crispy, crunchy brilliant lightness.  Hiking here in this beautiful setting reminds me to appreciate all of the seasons.  I am especially grateful that God gave me Grover.  My babies are grown up.  I never thought I'd have a dog.  And I never thought I'd take so much delight in him. :)  But here we are and we so enjoy a good walk together!

It also reminds me of how He sees me.  Psalm 51:7 says: "Cleanse me with hyssop and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow."

Christmas Party 2010

Mom and Dad actually look great in their Christmas attire.  Look at those dainty little trees on Mama's sweater.  Oh and that color!

    

      We had an amazing time at Joe and Jen's house for our annual Christmas Party.  Once again I am overwhelmed by how our family has grown.  There must have been about 70 people there this year.  Eventually, we will have to rent out a hall to fit everyone in, says brother Mike.  But I think Joe's house is big enough to handle all of us for a few years more!

                                                                           

The yankee swap was loud, and greedy as always.  Every year, it seems like the family gets more and more creative with their gifts.  There were some real sought after ones such as a basket of ghiardelli chocolates, a couple of lush blankets, a marguerita gift basket and of all things, a Justin Bieber, life size cut out poster!By the way, I won the Beiber Poster!

In addition to the yankee swap, this year we added a new feature to the Christmas Party,  Wear your ugliest( although I think they are kind of pretty in a weird sort of way)Christmas sweater contest!  Almost everyone participated with the exception of a few grinches,( Joe, Allyn!)  The proud winners were:....

Kelly and Dwight the winners!

So, just another crazy, fun filled time with my beautiful family!

                                                                                               

                                            Aren't they handsome in their decorated sweaters?

                           Jane and Mike should have got an award for best dressed couple!  Check out those green polyester pants!         

The girl behind the scenes: planning for the amazing ugly sweater contest>  Love the gingerbread man belt!

                                       

These sisters are having a good time!

Leah and Kalyn

Santa was even there!

Pretty girls relaxing!

                                            Looking good!                           

Pre Party sweater warm up!

They're too sexy for their sweaters!

She is too cool!(Mary, only pic I had and I had to include you)

Looking lovely in their holiday finest.  Don't worry Adam, I'll buy you a Christmas sweater for Christmas! :)

Merry Christmas to all and may Santa bring everyone a new Christmas sweater!!

Love Janet