Christmas 2015 through Present - "Happy Highlights" Part 2

Matt made it here for a few days over Christmas.  I was a happy mama!

So Star Wars happened this winter - and Hannah did some art to go along with it.

Star Wars in a theatre in Centennial, CO

Matching T-shirts!

This is literally the view I had for almost two weeks.  Jacob and Hannah sat at the island on their computers playing computer games.  It. Was. Awesome.

Out for breakfast at Over Easy

Jacob getting in some cuddle time

Took Jacob and Hannah shooting while he was home for break

The bad part.  Saying good-bye.

There he goes... back off to school.

My beautiful girl on a sunny Colorado afternoon.

Indy just looking cute in his t-shirt

August through Hannah's Birthday 2015 - "Happy Highlights"

Hannah's summer of shooting with friends

Portrait of Ginger by Hannah

Visit from Grandma and Grandpa

- Royal Gorge Train Ride on Grandpa's Birthday

Jacob and his Air Force buddies/roommates

Vacation to San Diego

Matt at Wind n Sea Beach

DISNEYLAND!!!!

Hannah at Disney

Matt at Warner Bros. Studio

Our "Mad Men" house in Los Angeles

The Snowblower Incident (aka Danny broke three fingers putting his hand in the snow blower)

Another licensed driver!

Thanksgiving in Arizona

- visit to lake by Granite Mountain

Hannah's 18th Birthday!! (details left out as the day was, shall we say, not what was expected... and I am trying to post only the happy stuff...)

Jacob before Air Force parade 

Hannah and I getting coffee on our way out of Prescott for the long drive back home.  Our first official road trip together!!

Beautiful views

Driving help

Our company in the back seat...

The rest of 2015

The rest of 2015 after the August post - what happened to it?  It was a period that was extremely difficult, some of it too painful to write about.  To dwell on.  It is a season to simply try to put out of our minds and move on.  It is a period that reflects great change, and if we were a tree, one that involved precise and extensive pruning.  We were "cut back" by difficult circumstances and were left with gaping cuts, wounds, and no leaves or anything beautiful to show.  Just raw bareness. 

We are in the process of recovering from that pruning, and the wounds are just starting to heal, and we have  yet to see re-growth of the leaves and fruit, but are beginning to have faith that someday they will return.

Those months from August until now were the months filled with our move from Maryland to Colorado, and though some things here are beautiful and wonderful, it was still hard to leave so much behind and start over.  Hard to leave our dream home.  Our friends.  The life we knew.

But God is faithful - and I have seen some good things come from the move - and I know that God is at work and bringing us "back to life" so to speak.  I know that it was His will for us to move here or we wouldn't be here - no matter the circumstances.  I trust that He has a reason - and that it will all be revealed in due time.  I know that eternity is far more real to us when we face trials of any kind, and I have a firmer sense of living for eternity and not for today, which is just a fleeting breath.  

I want to "catch up" in a broad sense some of the happy highlights of the rest of 2015 so I can move on and begin to post again.  So, my next post will be just a quick - very quick - catch up of the rest of 2015.  With just the happy stuff.  

Annapolis with my favorite daughter

Hannah and I made one last trip to Annapolis to get some coffee mugs from our favorite pottery!  I also wanted to select some piece made from colored glass from a different shop to take some Maryland memories to Colorado with us.  

We had a successful day.

 Many memories at this Tavern...

 We had a beautiful, sunny day.

 Of course we had one last crab cake eggs benedict at Chick and Ruth's.

Happy Birthday Matt!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful first-born Matt!  There is so much to celebrate and encourage about this man - I hardly know where to begin.  He has worked hard to get closer to his dream of owning a gym of his own out in the sunshine state - California - and is actually moving there one month from today!  He is being bold and adventurous and going without having really anything lined up, just getting in his car and heading out there - something this mom would never have had the courage to do.  He does have income from training clients online, but the rest is up to chance and his diligence.  I am so proud of him and so excited for him.

And what a HUGE help and support he is being to us as we prepare for our move!  Not only is he taking our dog for a couple of weeks in his second story apartment in Baltimore, he is going to drive him out to us in Colorado in a car we needed to get out there!  He cannot know what a huge help this is to us, and a burden off our minds.  He has proven over and over to be a loyal and faithful and helpful son, in the way he has served us, the way he has made it a priority to pop in on special family occasions, birthdays and holidays, and if he can't be there he always is first to send a special text.  I cannot say how much I am going to miss being near to him... just can't go there without getting all choked up... but I am cheering for him all the way, and praying for a safe and happy trip as well as great success out in San Diego!  

Love you so much Matt!  

Happy Birthday!!

Day of fun

In the midst of all the craziness of packing, Jacob and Hannah got a fun day at Hersheypark with their friends, Emma and Robert.

Celebrating Matt's birthday!

Today we celebrated Matt's birthday with a crab feast followed by a movie at iPic!!  Awesome, fun, relaxing day.  So nice to have him home and have Maryland crabs one last time.  Love my firstborn son so very very much.  He is heading out to CA soon to try and make it in San Diego - a dream for him - so excited to see him living his dream!