15/365 They're Buds

14/365 This is Florida?

My debit card has been getting a lot of use and it is not costing me anything. I guess up north they probably have something fancy for cleaning off the snow and ice but down here my debit card works just fine.

13/365 Must be time to go home!

I have a love/hate relationship with computers. I love them when they work and I hate them when they don't. I have no idea how I accomplished this but maybe it was just time to call it a day!

12/365 He has a girlfriend...

I am not really sure when it happened but he has grown up. Michael was 12 when Mike and I got married. A lot of people mistakenly thought he was younger than Katie because she was taller than him. That is not the case now as he is taller than me! He reminds me so much of his dad. Just like him he has had me twisted around his finger since day one. I realized today that sometime in the last five years he has become a young man. He has a girlfriend (Amalise) and it is fun to see a different side of him. I know this year will bring a lot of changes - graduation and boot camp to name a few. One thing that will never change is the way I feel about him.

11/365 Lonesome...

I began my Master's in Social Work one year ago. I was nervous and did not know what to expect. I had not even finished my Bachelors yet. Our program was long distance. Our professors drove from Tallahassee and taught us at UNF. Classes were Friday 6-9, Saturday 9-5 and Sunday 9-2. We met once a month for three months for each class. I loved my classmates. We came from different backgrounds, many different undergrad degrees, covered a wide range of ages and yet we all had a common goal and a desire to make the world a better place.

Our program is now online and I am feeling lost without my buddies.

10/365 The newest addition to my reading list.

Mike and I took a trip to one of my favorite places today, Barnes & Noble. I sometimes think I could live in a bookstore. especially now that they have cafes in them. I only needed one book for classes this semester which is nice but I don't think it will be a pleasure read.

9/365 Daddy's Baby Girl

Daddy's baby girl is planning her wedding. We visited the Hilltop today to check out the wedding and reception areas and possible menu options. It's hard to imagine a spring wedding when the high today was 37 but we used our imaginations.

8/365 No cobwebs here!

It's been a long time since my fireplace has seen this much activity. This week starting a fire has been the first order of business when I get home everyday. It's not that the house is cold, or even that the fake fire logs put out that much heat. It's just the good feeling I get from having a fire going and sitting next to it with a cup of hot chocolate and a good book. I have been known to turn the air conditioner on, or open the windows when it is chilly outside so I can have a fire in the fireplace. That has definitely not been necessary this week and for now I am really enjoying it.

7/365 City Lights

I have always loved the Jacksonville Skyline. When I was younger I would go downtown to Friendship Park and take pictures. Tonight on the way home as I was going south on 17 I noticed the lights and I had to go back to get pictures from the Ortega River Bridge. This spot is one of my favorites. I love the quaint little drawbridge and the magnificent view of the city.

6/365 Tough Competition

She doesn't ask for much, doesn't take up too much room and she doesn't steal the covers.

The cutest Santa ever...

Landen Smith

5/365 The Magic Pot

I am really enjoying my crockpot. This morning I got up at 5:00 am and put supper on to cook. Tonight I got home at 6:00 pm and all I had to do was fix a plate! I am already wondering what I can put in the "magic pot" tomorrow.

4/365 I love cats...

Toby has discovered the pointer on my computer screen. I probably should be concerned by how entertained I am. Oh well, it does make for a good way to relax at the end of the day.

3/365 Time to Organize

We took Christmas down today. Not my favorite thing to do. I am one of those people who still enjoys sitting in the dark with only the lights on the tree to illuminate the room. Mike and I took a trip to Walmart in the hopes of organizing our collections of snowmen and Santas. Combining two households made for a lot of Christmas decorations and we are still trying to figure out what to keep and what to get rid of six years later. All of the bins are now safely in the attic and I think we have made some progress.
I wish there were bins for all the other things in my life that I would like to organize...

2/365 It's a Date!

I can see now this is going to be harder than I thought. I was already thinking tonight as I curled up under the covers that I could always post tomorrow and date it for today but my husband wouldn't let me so here I am.

I don't know when it happened but I have become a real fan of wings. It could be due to the fact that I worked for three years in a sports bar or possibly the fact that I met my husband serving him wings but whatever the reason Mike and I are always looking for a good wing place. Since Players closed I have been hard pressed to find a place I like as much. Baxters in Middleburg are good but not exactly conveniently located for us. Tonight we made our way down to Green Cove Springs and checked out Dicks wings. We were not disappointed! Hot wings on a cold night were a hit. We will definitely have to make our way down there again.

The very best part about eating wings with Mike is that he likes the drums and I like the flats.

1/365 Traditions

We celebrated today with a very traditional New Years Day meal. Collard greens, black-eyed peas and rice, cornbread and a pork roast. For a little while my house smelled just like my grandmas did when I was a child. Traditions are important to me. They remind me of years past and connect me to wonderful memories of family and friends who are no longer here. I hope my children will be able to recall memories from their childhood as they carry on the traditions with their families and create memories for their children. The connections to our past are precious and help us to make sense of the present.

Taking on the 365 challenge...

A dear friend of mine took on the challenge to post a picture and blog every single day last year and in two short days she will have fullfilled the challenge. The year was an interesting one for her, to say the least, and although it was difficult at time, the posts she has now to remember the year by are very special. I have decided to take on the challenge myself this year. I don't know what to expect, for none of us no what each new year brings but I do know that it will be full of love and laughter and special moments with my family.

So many things to be thankful for....

It has been such an amazing year that I really don't even know where to start. I am thankful to all who supported me in realizing my dream of graduating form UNF. I know that I could not have done it without my family and friends who encouraged me along the way. We had two high school graduates in the family, Josh and Jenny. It was an exciting time to see them reach that milestone. I am grateful for the blessing of my children. They all fill my life with joy. We had a new addition to the family with the birth of our grandson Landen. He is my sunshine. We have had so much fun with him these last six months. Amanda's husband Steve will be coming home soon and we can't wait (especially Amanda, she has been such a trooper). I am so glad that he is part of our family. Jenny had an exciting year as she and her boyfriend Josh are engaged and planning to be married in April. Josh is still making music and leading the youth worship at Fleming Island Christ Church. Katie has had a good year following in the tradition of her brothers and marching in the band. Michael is looking forward to graduating in the Spring and going into the Navy (I think that is the service he is looking at this week ;). Chris has made his way from Alabama to California and seems to like the west coast. He has a job and seems to be content. I just wish it wasn't so far away. Shawn has also made his way to California and I am not sure we will ever get either one of them back on the east coast. I am thankful there are finding there own way but I sure do miss them. Matt is finally enjoying the college scene at UCF. He and Ashley rushed a Christian Fraternity and Sorority and they have been extremely busy. My brother Adam is finally getting married and I am so excited for him and Scarlett. She is a wonderful addition to our family (and she is a seminole too). Dad and Anita are enjoying the fellowship of their church and as usual blessing everyone with their generosity. I am grateful for their new life in Christ. Mom is still working. I am beginning to think she will never retire and just take it easy. I am thankful she has a job she loves and that she is across the street when I need her. Mike and I are doing great. What a precious gift he has been to me. He is working at CVS in the pharmacy and looking forward to the day I have a paying job and he can go to school. I am in the FSU School of Social Work graduate program and I am thoroughly enjoying it. Of course I don't like doing the papers but I am learning so much and have made wonderful friends. I am currently interning at YCC (Youth Crisis Center) as part of my program. I am a therapist intern working with youth who have been placed in the residential program. The goal is to help the youth and family get through the current crisis and connect them with services. I will finish my internship at the end of December or the beginning of January. This has been a wonderful opportunity for me to see what it is like to work with youth at risk and I am even more certain this is where I want to be.

We have close family friends who have been tested this year and I am grateful for a God who is faithful to them. I am so thankful that God spared Mr. Gould so that we can enjoy him and his friendship for many, many (many etc.) years to come. Mrs. Gould finally has a job where countless children will be blessed by her talents. My sister in Christ Meryl has been through a horrible tragedy and God has been there for her all along. Her strength and faith have been a source of encouragement to me of God's faithfulness.

I am overwhelmed at how God provides for my family and friends and can't wait to see what He has in store for us next year. Because I know:

Roman 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation , will be able to separate us from the love of God that is is Christ Jesus our Lord. NIV

Hard to let go...

She was my comfort when there was none...

Sadie Rose 7/03-7/09

Two new Eagle Alumni

Josh and Jen graduated from Fleming Island High School in May. We invited friends and family over to celebrate with a Luau.