Happy Birthday Jude

Gorgeous flowers and cake made by Bill & Ellie
Birthday Hug!
My best birthday present EVER!

Frosting face kid

Ellie & Josh going down the slide

Our weekend began when we arrived home from Charlottesville on Friday night. Saturday night we had Trudi and Doug for dinner - we were able to enjoy a combination of both deck dining and inside as the evening was cool but clear. Sunday (my birthday) was a lazy day in the morning .. lots of chair time with Ellie. For dinner Bill made a cookout feast with burgers, dogs, salads, chips and a wonderful chocolate birthday cake. We were thrilled our whole family was here - Grammy, Papa, Aunt Maureen, Uncle John (with Jack), Aunt Lisa & Josh, Aunt Mimi and Uncle John! Here's just a couple shots of all the fun we had today. Thanks everyone for coming - it was the last birthday party on that deck!!

Home Sweet Home

This is the sign we saw our last morning in C'ville!!

Bill & I returned from 6 days in Charlottesville, VA last night - a week full of house hunting, preschool searching, finding a new bank, a new insurance agent, and all the other wonderful things that come with moving to a new city. We wish we could tell you we're secure in knowing the house we have a bid on is the one - but after our offer was accepted the inspector found items that need addressing prior to the contract becoming final. So we are currently awaiting the response of the current homeowners and their either acceptance or denial of our request for items to be addressed. In the meantime we are so happy to be home! Our bed, our car, our coffeemaker, etc.... and of course we were SO happy to see Ellie! She spent the week with Grammy while we raced around C'ville. Grammy, Papa and Ellie surprised us at the airport - and Miss Ellie came tearing through people to get to us as we made our way through the airport toward baggage claim. We're so happy to all be together again!

Best Prayer I Have Heard In A Long Time ...

chinese symbol for patience

Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night may be a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children. Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly could be a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.



Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is probably a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares. Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress may be savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.



Heavenly Father, remind us each day that of all the gifts you give us the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love.



Working for God on earth doesn't pay much, but His retirement plan is out of this world.

Outdoor Fun

Ellie practicing her golf swing!

We're spending lots of time getting ready. We had an awesome moving sale - staged the house in time for appraisers and realtors - and next week we're off to Charlottesville for our house hunting trip. We're very excited to visit our new office, find Ellie a pre-school and of course, find a HOUSE! Here's a few pictures of Ellie enjoying her backyard...

Happy Mother's Day

Up where they walk

Up where they run

Up where they stay all day in the sun

Wandering free

Wish I could be

Part of that world

We've moving to VIRGINIA!

These are the gorgeous flowers that Bill and Ellie gave to me when it was announced I got the job! Two dozen roses! They are amazing - and yes, the flowers are amazing too!

It's been quite a roller coaster ride, so here's the scoop. I've taken a promotion into management with the State Farm office in Charlottesville, VA. And, yes, Bill will have a guaranteed job too. The great part about moving with State Farm is the 'trailing spouse' incentive. He has an interview with two different departments this Thursday both interested in him! We're at the very beginning of our journey - so we'll keep you posted with our house hunting trip, finding Ellie a new day care and the overall pandamonium of it all!