I love old pictures...and home decorating.

but I'm only "good" at one of them...(can you guess which one it is? I'll give you a hint. it's not decorating...)

Happy Veteran's Day....this is my handsome Grandpa, Gaines Greenhill. He served in the US Army. If only my Grandma was alive to give me all those details I wish now to ask about...take it from me, folks, if you have elderly relatives alive, ask QUESTIONS!!

here is my Gramps and Gram with my mom and dad...so fun to glimpse them in the olden days, and having fun to boot. wish I knew what they were giggling about.

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I'm feeling very nostalgic today. beware, this post is going to be allll over the place....

I'm in a redecorating mood...how to go about it, well, that's the tricky part. I usually just decorate with pictures. But I've been inspired by a friend of mine...who has mad decorating/color skills...

David and I went out on a little date last night. He says it's like a "guys" space. whattt? We are searching for a bound remnant for Mel's room, which got us looking at other stuff for the home. We are wanting to cozy up our upstairs...which is a big open space that needs some warmth. (apparently all of my scrap pages and pics on the wall aren't cozy enough for him)...we found a really great area rug at Target, with reds, whites, blues, browns, etc and we are in love. glad we are on the same page with color. The treadmill died so we get to take it out today. I kinda don't like exercise equipment up here but hey....We also found a media table for our DVD player etc that is cool...wall hangings, other stuff to make it look more cozy. So much to do, start small. take it easy, girl. Shades on the windows, touch up the paint. Back in the late winter, he decided he wanted to change all of our interior door trim so he yanked it all off...it's still off. I've even done my part and painted the new stuff, but I can't put it up myself...(I'm essentially talking to myself in this paragraph, k?) ok, I've just totally worn myself out for the day. ha ha.

so much overwhelming stuff. nice deep breath...I will do what I can.

not sure what the above pix have to do with all this nonsense? me either. nostalgia makes me want to decorate. go figure.

For today, I will focus on Mel and Moll's room, touching up trim so it will be all ready when we find that perfect remnant TODAY! cement floors are chilly in November. I will update the progress...Hope your Thursday is fantastic. I know mine will be. (power of positive thinking)

Ghosts of Christmas Past

Christmastime 1998...Mel's first. I miss these little rascals. Such great faces...such bright futures. man. where did these little people go?

I'm gonna guess that this is my 6th or 7th Christmas...awww. Oh, to be a kid again, even for just one moment.

The li'l goofball in the red striped shirt is Becky (she looks like one of the Jackson's). We'll go around the table behind her...Aunt Nan in teal shirt (my Dad's sister), her son, Jon, you can see my head right behind him, then Gma G, Uncle Frank (married to Aunt Nan), my Dad, Aunt Mimi, Andy, Jenna (Aunt Nan/Uncle Frank's oldest), Tom, making a weird O face, and Aunt Darlene, who is married to my Dad's big bro, John, not pictured here for some reason. My Gma knew how to set a table...I will strive to be like her. I did buy a cute CLOTH snowflake table covering for this Christmas...and will put some neat o mosaic candles on it. But the plates will most likely be Chinet and the decorations are more like Charlie Brown Christmas....haphazard strings of random lights, Nutcrackers, and no bird chirping in my tree. We will sup on traditional Lasagna...Cappucino punch and whatever baked goods are left from our day of baking (which will be today)....sounds very Martha Stewart, doesn't it?

Oh Christmas TREE! I miss that bay window.

Soooo, are you all ready for Christmas?

I am, almost. Mom's calendar won't be done till just before the new year...I'm ready for some party time...

Tomorrow (ahh, can't believe tomorrow IS Christmas Eve), we will head to Illinois mid morning. Stop in to visit Aunt Linda and her brood....Kara and her fam are in from SC and will be moving to Jolly Ol' England in the late winter...so it's a must...lotsa cool peeps at that house! Then we descend on the ol' log cabin in Georgetown for an afternoon of mistletoe and merriment. Well, definitely merriment.

We will then visit a local church (here in Indpls area) upon our late evening return for a lovely candlelight service...important to focus on why we celebrate what we celebrate and that is Emmanuel, God With Us.

Hopefully the kids won't wake up too early. It's not like they are getting anything besides a lump of coal in their stockings...I'm kidding...I have a couple of things for them...and then my fam will be here mid afternoon for more moonshine and merriment...er, I mean, mistletoe and merriment...followed by an evening of delight and fellowship! A good time is sure to be had by MOST.

This will probably be my last post till after Christmas, so Feliz Navidad, Mele Kalikimaka, Merry Christmas and God bless YOU.

oldies & reflection

I've probably blogged this picture before but it's one of my favorites...My parents were so young and fresh...Tom was so innocent (and still pretty much is) and I was such a sweet little blob of new life...awww. Does this ever amaze you, Mom, Dad?

Class of 1991...Lake Orion High School...Marching in to Pomp and Circumstance with Nick Steffens. This smile was in an effort to hide my emotional tears. That song always makes me cry. even to this day.

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I'm feeling nostalgic today. The end of summer does this to me. Heck, a lot of things do this to me. Can't help it when there have been so many changes in my life, our lives this year. And it's already August 20th. Where does the time go? Wasn't I just that 18 year old kid, embarking on LIFE??

Still feel like it...so thankful for the people that God has brought into my life and the hard lessons I've learned even this year...in many aspects...

You know what I've walked away with? it's simple.

Jesus Christ is the only CONSTANT. The only STABLE. The only FAITHFUL. The only MERCIFULNESS. The only CALM in the STORM of LIFE. The only SHELTER.

I've been checking out blogs that I used to visit today...that is why I've come to these conclusions today and why I'm putting them here. I don't want to forget. Just when you think you can trust, care, open up...God sends something, someone, that brings you back to HIM.

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A few things to be thankful for:

David - amazed that I get to be a part of his EXCITING life...(he pushed me into the pool today...with my clothes on...payback is sweet)

Will, Ethan, Melanie, Levi, and Molly

My family, immediate and extended...so many awesome people...

Friends...too many to name, and some of them fall into the family category: Becky, Tammy, Randy, Jennifer, Carolyn, Jennifer, (not a typo), friendships that have been renewed thru Facebook...a large list. one that is too big to put on here...

A cozy, functional house...and that pool to boot.

A great church body to learn more about God with, fellowship, encourage, grow...

Upcoming fun - King's Island, Holland, MI, our trip out west, watching David's company/patents take off....

Happy Thursday to you...time to visit the YMCA! God Bless you...

Oldies but goodies...fo sho

The following pix are way cool...while digging thru my mom's closet one day...I found my Grandma T's old scrapbook...

This picture right here is why I like to scrapbook and label pix...who are these people with my grams...she is the older girl on the left...we'll call her "Legs"...so from now on, when I say Legs, this is who I'm referring to..

Legs and a dog...

Here is Legs with a friend that is shaped more like me. Fun-sized, short stature...emphasis on FUN!

Legs is the gal sitting on the carriage with the ethereal white dress...how down home can we be?

Grams, aka Legs..is the second on left...lovin' the flapper dress. Beck, these legs look a lot like yours. wow! I do believe that my great-gma is the chick second from right...

Legs was alllllllllwaaaaaaaaays a water gal...loved finding this because this is one of my most vivid memories of Grandma. The Grandma with the pool (or the Gma with the Wolfie) as opposed to my dad's mom, who was the Grandma with the Lake. what I'd give for some warmth and swimming right 'bout now.

Legs, going for a drive!

Legs, in one of her peppier outfits. hee hee. I joke.

The face in this pic? so my mom. and what is significant about this? Gma was an extraordinary pianist/organist. She passed the piano gift to mom, skipped Beck and I and we pick up with Mel! Mel, this is why you MUST stick with the piano. for the Great Gma you only knew on this earth for 18 months...now I must dig up pix of Legs in her later years at the ivories.

Young Legs with her momma. Joanne and Christine.

Legs is the little gal in the middle of the group...her mom, I think, is right behind her. I'm guessing that the other older gal is an aunt??? and that little bitty baby? cute bonnet. wish I knew who you were, oldie.

Legs is the little gal on the right...couldn't tell ya who that little dark kid is...but the lady is my Great Gma.

I love walking down memory lane. It would seem I live in the past. I am an old, old soul in a lot of ways...love the big band music, love the modesty that was so important back then, love the "innocence" that came with that time in America. Christine Lorimar, my Grams, was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island (yes, that is ONE of the nifty 50)...and from there, I'm guessing she ended up in Michigan.

I wish so much that I'd sat and pulled memories from her head...took that for granted, assumed she'd be around a lot longer than she was. Thought that stodgy Scotch woman would outlive all of us. She died rather suddenly on Sunday, November 7, 1999. She was 87. dang, I miss having a grandma.

that is it for tonight...hope this finds you warm, healthy, full of joy...and not completely snowed in. Like me.

My name is on the Stressed List

here's a little blast from my past...

I'm the sweet little peanut, showing off my new legs in the church directory photo. I have an amazingly strange hair line here, do I not? Which parent do I most resemble nowadays? Mom, why didn't I get your nice, dark hair? no pressure...just curious.

My mom said right before this pic was taken, my big brother, Tom, messed his clothing...my mom made mothering look so easy. (thanks a lot mom :) big smile)...she's a natural...maternal, patient, funny, calm, and stylish shortly after giving birth to boot!

It's funny to look at this picture and try to imagine what thoughts were going thru these young pups' heads...both 25 here, two kids, small town living...what were you thinking Mom, Dad? were you happy to have your perfect little family...one pesky boy, one adorable girl...? (who turns thirty stinkin six tomorrow evening at 8:40 pm). I always enjoyed my little arm reaching out to Tom, and his body language is so like, "whoa, no way missy...you are not welcome here"..thankfully he somewhat likes me now...kinda. love ya Tommy

I am so thankful that you kept going on the childbearing front, parents...not that just having Tom would've been bad...but Andy and Beck are pretty cool and I'll tell ya straight up, if it wasn't for Beck, I would've lost "it" long ago...not that I'm holding "it" together so well...but you know what I mean. thanks guys. I love you! All FIVE of ya!

Ok, sorry for the memory post...I am stressed out....when I'm stressed out, I hurt my neck easily...it's my injury from the war...it's funny though. every time I am stressed, whether I notice the stress or not, I have neck issues or lose my voice. weird. I think my family wishes I'd go ahead and lose my voice now too.

I have mounds of Christmas prep to do today...so off I go to rally the troops...malling with Beck, mailing my cards FINALLY, slowly and steadily pounding my head against the wall of life...

Hope you are embracing the holiday, choosing JOY and loving every minute of your life. nice deep breaths. in thru your nose, out thru your mouth....there ya go. nice and easy does it.

I'm going to go throw up now. :)

David wanted me to post this pic for the family back in Illinois...this is the flat panel telly...pretty stinkin' amazing. I have yet to sit still long enough to watch anything on it...though it is wonderful while on the elliptical...

drumstickin' it...

I will keep this brief, as I would like to get to bed tonight whilst the two little spuds are sleeping...but I wanted to get these posted for your viewing pleasure, followers. Dad.


little rays of early mornin' sunshine...this was not too long after Becky threw her Frappucino all over us...she went to shake it up and forgot the lid was OFF. look on the seat behind her...there's the proof. Mel's number is covered in peppermint mocha frappy too...kinda funny. Beck, we think it was pretty darn funny...pls know that.

the self-portrait queens...look closely between my hair and B's chin...and you can see Mel peeking thru...she is self-portrait queen in training. our apprentice.

my loving hubby of 15 years...isn't he cute?

I just realized how truly short I am. I'm not short..I'm fun-sized. got it?

cool, cool.

really cool cool...'twas so very cold but not for long...once we started jogging a bit...I sweat like the beast that I am.

bustling with activity and excitement...

pretty early morning exercisers...

anticipation...we were listening to Dave Calabro, sportscaster from channel 13...as he spoke and then opened the event in prayer...not just any prayer, folks. he prayed to the Heavenly Father and in Jesus' name...it was pretty cool and made the event just a bit more special to us.

we, of course, opted for the LOOOOOOOOOONG course. my legs are jello tonight...

E. is the little blackclad figure to the left of the 3 mile marker...the big black box is a speaker...it's cute how the residents would play music for us...it never lasted long, as we kept walking/running...

ahh, sweeet relief...the end is in sight...

Jerry Gobbler...a real live turkey

this pic is cool to me and i want to remember why...in the dead center of the pic, way up the road, you can see the mass of people...so cool, the turn out was amazing...I don't know the stats yet but if you go to tuxbros.com, you can see our times and the stats on today's event.


Jeff did the 4.5 mile run in record time for him...26 minutes. youch. not too shabby.

Melanie finished in 54 minutes...you GO, girl!

David and Will did it in 56 minutes. Way to go, guys!

Beck finished in 1:08 minutes.

E and I were in last place for our group at 1:13 minutes...much better than last year but we have a goal to get in under one hour next year.

Beck, I was impressed at your endurance...I thought I would be able to stay neck and neck with you...but having to tinkle, being much more ancient than you and all those other excuses I could enter here were all working against me. Good JOB, sis!

What an AWESOME memory to make with my family...I am so blessed to be a part of such a cool group of cats.

Thanks again, Mom, for getting up so early to be there for Mollsy and Levi...

Good night, folks.

Beware of sap...

I'm feeling rather melancholy right now...bear with me, k?

the original four...November 27, 1993 and November 27, 2008...Jeff was David's Best Man and Becky was my Maid of Honor...funny how that stuff still rings true. well, at least for us. can't speak for jeff or beck...leave me a comment if you agree, kids.

so we didn't get the line up exactly...the fact that we all still see each other is pretty quaint, I think.

but on to other things...I will delve into the Drumstick Dash a bit later...it's my turn to get all nostalgic about today...which is many things, but first and foremost, it's the day that I married Davey boy 15 years ago. this....is wild to me. I still feel like that 20-year old girl in my head (but then of course I see pix of myself and realize that I am still the same in spirit but not physically) that stepped out on a limb to marry this "renegade" dude...out of the system, student of the Bible, not afraid to say what he was thinking or stand up for what was right...me being the dippy, goofy, giggly sheltered girl I was...when I first laid eyes on David, (he had a beard and those BIG glasses)...I asked my friend who the lumberjack was...almost one year from that date, I was his wife...and a little over two years from lumberjack impression, I gave birth to his first son (Lumberjack Jr.)...wild.

It's been good. It's been hard. It's been rich. It's been most definitely a wonderful, wild ride...

And in spite of the hard times, I'm so thankful for God's gift of David to me.

I'm sitting here listening to my cheesy song list...making myself cry.

David and the 3 big kids left after dinner at my sister's this evening. They are going over to his family's home for a couple of nights...I'm home alone with Levi and Molly. I'm dingdongdead tired...sore from the Dash, weepy, verklempt, lonely...so here ya go...how depressing. sorry for that.

I was driving home from Beck's house just a bit ago, Levi and Molly were both sawing logs in the back seats. I saw different houses with loads of cars in the driveways...knowing that people were celebrating Thanksgiving, playing games, overeating, spending time together...and I felt like Kevin in "Home Alone" when he saw all the happy families celebrating in his neighborhood, or Buddy when he realized he wasn't actually an elf...and that sad, sappy Christmas was playing in my head...I miss those 4 loud people.

I guess it's maybe time for me to go to bed.

Happy 15th Anniversary, David. You were one of the best decisions I've made in my life.

Happy Thanksgiving to YOU....thanks for stopping by and for putting up with my sap. I 'preciate it.

Mom, thanks for watching Levi and Molly so we could do the Dash...for the scrumptious feast...for the time and effort that you and Beck put into that. Sorry, B, for the mess the kids made and for emitting a Grinch-like attitude to Piper...in spite of that, We are thankful and full. I love you all...

The year that I was six...

why are you looking at me? I think I'll stick my fingers in my mouth. sheesh. someone was (is) a dork. I remember those pj's too...I love my hair. I think I'm going to go ahead and cut Mel and Mol's hair this way. (I actually think I'm 4 or 5 here) this little kitchen was sooooooo cool!

with cousin Dawn (I'm the short angel, not much has changed :) ) and Mary and Joseph in the church Nativity...

uh. duh. I was practicing for my Deliverance days.

These are some pix from my sixth year, which was celebrated around Christmas, obviously, since I'm a December baby...

trying to grasp that I am the same age in these pix that Levi is right now...I felt so much older and grown up at six than I'm sure he does or he seems...I had this thing with being embarrassed by anyone singing to me or having EVERYONE look at me all at once...

pretty sure I still have that phobia. maybe not a phobia, just makes me uncomfy...how are you supposed to hold your face, who do you look at? what gives with all that singing and such?

I remember this moment right above here, almost perfectly. Do you have any moments from your childhood that if you sit still enough, you can almost transport yourself back? this is it for me...getting all warm in my itchy plaid vest...and being horrified that my entire family was looking at me. garsh.

Well, that's all I got in the picture area today...trying to get my desk area organized, cleaned out today. tonight it's a visit to the Y-M-C-A...with my loving sissy...to work out and have some fun...pretty uneventful, just the way I'm growing to like it. Yah for uneventful.

I think I need a power nap.

Ready for this?

On days like this, when it's so lovely outside, it's hard to imagine that this stuff is coming.

It's fun. for a time. (till Christmas, then it's drudgery)

It's not fun when you have to load a very strong-willed baby into a car seat, buckle her down, which is almost impossible since she's wearing a big, puffy coat...all the while, getting muddy, wet snow every. where. I'm not quite ready for coats, hats, scarves, mittens, runny noses...ahhhh.

so let us enjoy the blowing, falling leaves that end up in our doorways, on our carpet, in our hair...for his days are numbered. This may be that last day. yup, I think it is....

sledding is quite fun though...we have the perfect yard for it.

You all know I'm not complaining in any way...I am so blessed to be a mom, to be able to go here and there with my gaggle of kids...so blessed that I have a husband that works his tail off to enable us to do the cool things we do. I'm feeling very insightful. Thanks for letting me share.

o wait, this is my blog. I get to do that here.

Happy Thursday to ya!

Parting words: Psalm 56:1, 3, 4 - Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me (that is not a typo). What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God will I praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me. King James Version, 1611

A very Levi Post and a Happy 6th B-day to you!

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday, dear Levi, Happy Birthday to YOU!!

there is no particular order to any of these shots.

"On the day that you were born, the angels got together and decided to create a dream come true!" ~Karen Carpenter, singer. (though you know I don't believe the angels created you, I just love the song!)

Levi, you were such a beautiful little newborn! chubby cheeks! poufy lips! dreamy!


6 years ago, RIGHT NOW, I was waiting for YOU! and hurting quite badly, too, might I add??

You were born at 1:00 pm, Thursday, October 31, 2002. We found out on July 4, 2002, that we'd welcome our third son. It was our first ultrasound EVER so it was quite neat to see you and give you a name, get to know you a bit before welcoming you so rapidly into the world. why is it that seeing the baby on the ultra. screen helps in this? you resemble a little baby bird here.

You. are a coffee thief.

you are the king of the pouty face. you have some big, red, puffy, pouty lips, my young son!

here u are with Aunt Beck and Miss P...back then, you weren't too sure about her. Now, you love her to pieces (mostly) and call her "honey"...ya know, since she's your "wife" and all. (we DO live in Deliverance)

First day of preschool.

Loving on Princess Leia, er, Melanie (I told you we had a Leia thing over here...Star Wars geeks. was not Mel's face the most perfect thing here? where did this beauty come from?)

Happy Easter, Magnum.

first day of Kindergarten, 2008

Tom, I don't know what happened to this shirt. I am so bummed!

You are a good big brother to Molly. mostly.

You are a Grandpa's boy...in fact, you fell asleep with him last night (I was out with B. and you, Mel and Moll were with Mom and Pa)...I think he said he tickled your feet and rubbed your puppy head...and bam! You were out!

Biker Babe

Last year, some of our friends got you the movie, "Meet the Robinson's" for your 5th birthday. how very nice of them.

Here you are with your "wife" Piper...you guys crack us up with your husband, wife, honey talk. (from what I hear, though, kid, Piper has a boyfriend at school and another at her Nana's church...be warned. :) )

school pix 2007

what have I, what have I, what have I done to deserve this? name that song.

July 1, 2007...a few short days before your world, as you knew it, was rocked! but I looooooove your face in this pic, dude. you are so dang cute!

unadulterated glee.

Baby's first Christmas....you were a challenging baby. to say the least.

this pic above and the pic below were taken the same day...I miss these little snuggly, pacifier levi days. sometimes. he reminds me of Molly in this lower pic...must be the eyes.

Googly eyes #1 and Googly eyes #2.

Well, it's obviously Tiny's Birthday today! It kinda snuck up on me but I've been having a "week" so that's my excuse. Did these pix make up for it? hopin' so!

Levi, you are such an awesome boy! Some of our favorite things you say include the following:

"That was a close one"

"That's a great idea"

"Will you lay down with me in your bed?"

"I thought you were my best friend"...when he is up for a spanking.

"I need to play with the phome" (which is how he says phone, to no avail)

"shut up jerk"usually to Ethan, occasionally Melanie, never Will...I think he got this from a show..but we are working to correct this one!

You were my quickest delivery...though a planned homebirth...and the middy's almost missed it...yo' daddy almost got ya! Yikes. I remember with you, very vividly thinking that that was my last shot at childbirth...I was DONE! You were born at 1:00 pm on a lovely, bright, colorful Halloween day, under the watchful eye of Mary Ann, Julie, apprentice Holly, Grandma, Daddy, Becky, Jennifer, Will, Ethan, Melanie and Jeff, who remained outside till you got here.

Thank you for letting me relive this day. I think it's important to recapture each of your children's arrival on the earth, so you remember why you keep them here. tongue in cheek, people, I have teenaged sons. :)

Levner (horrible nickname), you had one scary moment after another right off the bat...spina bifida occulta? ultrasound on spine when 4-5 days old. no....just a hairy tuft at spine bash. whew.

circumcision on day 8? yeah, let's get cyanotic and have a harsh reaction to the painkiller. (I think I'd have a harsh reaction to a needle right "there")...Doc Countryman thought it was your ticker. Oops, let's have an ultrasound on that too....nope, heart is wonderful. Grandma Young finds out through kinesiology that you had an adverse reaction to the pain meds and we need to flush it outta yo' system FAST! glad your grandma studies natural health.

Just a generally fussy, challenging baby but it didn't last long...you started sleeping thru the night at 6 weeks EXACTLY. You stopped nursing at 3 months. sniff sniff. You chubbed right up and became such a contented, laid back little fella. so much so that you didn't crawl till you were 12 months and you didn't walk till nearly 18 mos. it's safe to say that you were completely pampered and spoiled by your big sibs. Grandpa was pretty partial too. I love you, Levi Taylor!

Can you believe that today is the last day of October? OMGoodness. you know what's up next? thanksgiving. but before that can even have it's day to shine, we start getting bombarded with Christmas. start breathing deep now...Embrace the holiday, embrace it. Choose JOY! I can already feel my chest caving in.

What are you dressing up as? Are you trick or treating? I think I may let the kids go for a bit with some friends of ours, in their neighborhood...just for the memory's sake of it...we've never really T or T'd so we shall see how this day progresses.

Until then, chow!