Sunday, February 21, 2010

Happy Birthday, Aaron

What a sweet baby!


Lots of theme birthdays


Lake City


Another First Day of School


Basketball


Graduation


Another graduation


Wedding


Uncle "Anin"

Happy Birthday, Aaron!

Aaron, was born on President's Day, 1977. We were so excited and from that moment on he has brought us great joy and laughter. He learned to read by the time he was 3 and amazed us at how much he understood. He was a sweet baby, toddler and a great older brother (well, maybe we shouldn't talk about how he and Danny would throw Adam off the trampoline or how Aaron would swing Adam by his legs and his head would hit the couch!!!) and is a loving son.

Smart, knows what he thinks (and is not at all afraid to tell you!) loves God and desires to serve Him with his life. There were so many pictures and I wanted to get them all in here but will have to save them for a video at the next milestone birthday.

Speaking of pictures -

Love the first one, one of my old YL kids took this while Aaron was still in the hospital nursery.

The next picture is just one of many of the theme parties that we did for birthdays.

We have so many memories of our yearly trips to Lake City and I cherish every one of them and the fun we had every single year with grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and whoever else decided to come.

The next picture is one of the last first days of school. Every year I would go up to the school on the first day and take pictures of the boys and their teachers - even in high school. I even threatened to do it when we took them to college, too!!

The next picture is of Aaron's (and because it was such a small school, Adam's also) basketball team. I have such great memories of taking the guys to games and getting to watch them play together.

The next pic is of Aaron's graduating class. Yep, there are just four.

Another milestone was his graduation from seminary. That was a crazy year - broke my foot, moved to Colorado, planned a wedding, flew to graduation and back home and back for the next picture- Aaron and Leslie's wedding in May of 1999.

The last picture is so dear. Aaron loves to read (he and I would fight over reading the cereal box at breakfast). His sweet nephew, Burke, is following in his footsteps as you can see. Burke, loves his Uncle Anin (not quite got the Aaron yet).

I am so thankful for all the memories that I have of my firstborn. He is a blessing to us in so many ways and we love him more than he will ever know. Thank you, God, for such a son.




Monday, February 15, 2010

A Perfect Valentine

Beautiful Table

Chef Melissa


Sweetheart Steaks


Yummy Food

It has been awhile since I have posted anything and this seemed a wonderful way to start again. One of the leaders in our Young Life club, Kristi, got together with my campaigner girls and it was decided that they would have a personal chef treat us for Valentines Day.

Wow! Could there be anything better or make you feel more special and pampered than having a sweet, loving and competent chef come to your home and prepare delicious and beautiful food, serve you and your good friends Mary and Dave Carlson at your own table and clean up the mess afterwards??? Chef Melissa could you come live with us and cook our meals?

It was all perfect and as I wrote on the caringbridge site, God in His wisdom and goodness, sent a chef that had lost her husband 8 years ago. We got to talk while she was preparing the food (she was here from 2 until about 7) and really had some great conversation about a lot of things during that time. As she was leaving, she gave me her card, hugged me and said, "You can do this, call me anytime if you want to walk, talk,...".

I am continually amazed at how God orchestrates all the details in our lives. Kristi, the YL leader that had found Chef Melissa, had told me that she had emailed several possibilities but had gotten an email from Melissa and knew that she was the one. I had supposed that the connection was Young Life but was so glad to have someone that knows where I am right now and where I will be. It was such a perfect gift and we are very grateful and loved every minute of it.

Grace - getting what we don't deserve. I am always amazed by it.