{Spring Break with Ava}

Sorry, we're running behind!!


We were SO excited to be able to have Ava during her Spring Break! Kaleb and I met Ashley in Frederick Sunday night (Eater Sunday), and we had her until Mom, Kaitlyn and I met Ashley again on Saturday to take her back. It seemed like such a fast visit, but we had a lot of fun and are thankful for the time we had with her!

She is reading EVERYTHING!!!!
She loved sitting in Nana's room in the little rocking chair reading all kinds of books!
If she's not reading, she's writing, coloring or drawing!
She's so smart!!


Playing in the sand! We felt bad, because it was pretty chilly and rainy most of the time she was here, but that didn't really stop her! She'd be freezing cold, and still out there playing away!!


She was so excited to play with all "my kids" and she was so sweet and good with them!
Marlee is NOT fond of strangers, but just LOVED Ava to death and laughed and smiled whenever Ava came in the room!


Flying her kite!
There wasn't all that much wind, but Katrina helped her get up somehow!




She was SO excited to help Katrina make a Wacky Cake for Pappy!!



We love you SO much, Ava, and can't wait for your next visit!!

{Kaitlyn}



Happy 19th Birthday, Kaitlyn!
Love you so much and hope you have a great day!

 

{Kaitlyn's Graduation}

Note:
Some how this post got started a long time ago, and then forgotten about, until I was going through the "draft" folder on the blog! I am SO sorry that it's taken this long, but I guess better late than never! At least, I hope!!


Graduation was June 1, 2013.
We had been on vacation in Virginia all week before Kaitlyn's high school graduation, so we went straight from VA to Laural, MD on Friday.
Kaitlyn had rehearsal to attend Friday afternoon and then graduation on Saturday near Baltimore.
We were SO blessed to be able to stay with Dad's cousin, Vivian.
She went so far above and beyond in every way, to make our short stay so enjoyable!
We still can't believe everything she did for us!







Vivian had put out so many cute graduation decorations for Kaitlyn!
It was so sweet!


Dad and Uncle Paul - grilling.

We were also very excited that
Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Paul were able to travel up for the weekend as well!

Vivian had made a TON of food for Friday night, and everything was amazing!!








Blowing bubbles in the house!!

Graduation Day
Walkersville Christian Family Schools
Class of 2013





Giving her speech




Receiving her Diploma


Walkersville Christian Family Schools graduating class of 2013







After the graduation ceremony, we all went to dinner with several more of Dad's cousins.



It was about 9:00 Saturday night by the time we got everything packed and ready to go.
The five of us kids drove home, while mom and dad had to go on to New York for a business meeting they had to attend on Monday!

It was a busy, rushed weekend, but we loved every second of it!
The graduation ceremony was beautiful and we had an amazing visit with lots of family!

July 29, 2013

Because of a lot of scheduling conflicts, Kaitlyn's party was moved to the end of July.
It worked out perfect, though.
The weather was fabulous. Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Bob, as well as Uncle Paul, were able to be here, because it was the day after the Wagner reunion! And Dad's Aunt JoAnn, and Uncle Eugene also dropped in, which was wonderful!




LOTS and LOTS of food!!!!!

 

A family friend made and decorated all of the cupcakes!!

 

There we 50 friends and family here to celebrate with us.

 

 

 

 

 

It was a wonderful evening, full of fun and fellowship.

 

 

 

 

{Happy Easter 2014}

 

 

 

"...And, behold, there was a great earthquake:

for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven,

and came and rolled back the stone from the door,

and sat upon it.

His countenance was like lightning,

and his raiment white as snow:

And for fear of him the keepers did shake,

and became as dead men.

And the angel answered and said...Fear not ye:

for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

He is not here: for he is risen, as he said..."

Matthew 28: 2-6

 

 

Hope everyone has a wonderful day!

 



{Ava}

 

Happy 6th Birthday,

Ava!!!!

 

 

We LOVE you SO much and hope you have a great day!

 

 

{Kent}

 

Happy 29th Birthday,

Kent!!

 

Love you SO much!!!!

 

 

{Brayden}

 

Happy 3rd Birthday,

Brayden!!!

 

 

Love you lots and hope you have a great day!

 

 

 

 

 

{Is The Jar Full?}

 

 

A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him. When class began, wordlessly he picked up a large, empty jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks right to the top; rocks about 2" in diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was full?

They agreed that it was.

 

So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them in to the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. The students laughed. He asked his students if the jar was full?

They agreed that it was.

 

The professor then picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

 

"Now," said the professor, "I want you to recognize that this is your life. The rocks are the important things - your family, your spouse, your health, your children - anything that is so important to you that if it were lost, you would be nearly destroyed. The pebbles are the other things in life that matter, but on a smaller scale! The pebbles represent things like your job, your house, your car, etc. The sand is everything else - the small stuff. If you put the sand or the pebbles into the jar first, there is no room for the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your energy and time on the small stuff, material things, you will never have room for the things that are truly important. Pay attention to the things that are critical in your life.  Spend time with the people that you love. Play with your children.  There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party, and fix the disposal. Take care of the rocks first - the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just pebbles and sand."

 

At the end of the professor's demonstration, one of the students took the jar (full of rocks, pebbles and sand) and added a full glass of water. The water was absorbed by the sand.

 Moral: Whatever your life is filled with, there will always be room left for more, if your priorities are straight.

Question:  Where is God and a personal relationship with Him on your priority list?
When He is truly first, all other priorities should fall into proper perspective. 


{Tim K.}

 

Happy Birthday, Tim!

Hope you have a great day!!

 

 

{Safety}

Dad came home late Monday night, and pulled into the house.

Normally, he goes straight to the building to park, so we kind of wondered what was going on, but we didn't really think about.

 

Then he came in and got the Shop Vac.

 

 

Come to find out (if you know dad, you realize that may have taken many questions to get all the facts!), on his way home, a tractor trailer crossed the center line of the road and smashed dad's side mirror! Of course, it ruined the other guys mirror too, but thankfully it wasn't much, much worse!

It could have been horrible! Dad said it happened so fast, there was no time to think or react at all.

 

 

It's been pretty warm here, so dad had is window part way down when all this happened.

A lot of the glass from the mirror, then went inside the truck.

Miraculously, dad wasn't hurt by any of the glass that came inside!

 

 

We're SO thankful for how God protected him!!

We pray all the time that God will keep him safe on the road, but you just don't really know how serious it is until something happens!

 

"...but safety is of the LORD."

Proverbs 21:31