Johnny Update

Hi, Johnny did great last week. He had to have 3 different noisy roommates, but he did okay. He was able to get home from the hospital on Thursday, so that was pretty much record time for clearing that drug from his system. He looks great! Thanks for your prayers. This week, they'll be going to the clinic for a few days all day. These treatments aren't easy, although he handles them as though they are. He's a wonderful young man with a great testimony for the Lord.

Johnny

Hi, please pray for Johnny, as this is the week for Methatrexate (sp?). He will be in the hospital most of the week as they administer then clear this drug from his system. Johnny is looking great and doing fine. He has a wonderful support system, especially his brother, Joey. Joey is a super young man, too, and is so caring. Thanks for your prayers on their behalf.

Chrissy Leaves for PCC

Chrissy's plane had a takeoff time of 6 a.m. today. Theron is going tdy for this week, so flew down with her. They left at 3:30 a.m. to pick up another of the girls from our church who ended up on her plane, too. So, we all look a bit tired and sad in these pictures, but who doesn't at 3:30 a.m.? haha Theron got her back to school and took her out to lunch. She called me a bit later and sounded fine. Please pray for her, and all the other college kids going back this week. Pray for Mary, too, as this is the first time the twins have ever been separated for more than a week!! They will both do fine, but adjustments aren't always fun even if they are necessary sometimes! After much prayer and counsel, Mary decided during her first semester that God wasn't calling her to be a nurse, although she did fine in all of her nursing classes. She felt led to do something with music, as her flute is a very big part of who she is. Mary will be getting a job here in Fredericksburg now, and then head back this fall to earn a degree in Music from PCC. The way the schedules are laid out, nursing and music majors don't overlap much, so the classes she needs for music won't be offered until the fall. We are very excited for both of our girls as they follow the paths God has laid out for them in their lives. I have to admit, though, I sure do miss Chrissy tonight!! :(

Winter Wonderland

Well, we finally got measurable snow here in Fredericksburg! It was only about 2.5 inches by the end of the snowfall, but that was good enough. It was so pretty, and we were so thankful that Chrissy got to see a blanket of snow before heading back to Pensacola next week. The only bad thing about it was that Theron got stuck at the airport all afternoon waiting for the flights to clear for takeoff to get home. He's home safely now, though, so all is well. Our neighbor's tree and our side yard
Two of the trees in our front yard
Close up

Our side yard tree
Our house
Another view of our house
Our deck and shed
My favorite tree winterized

A few more of the trees in our backyard

Crazy Teens

Okay, so I don't have little cute babies to take pictures of, so you have to look at my pictures of silly teenagers! haha Joey and Johnny came over to our house about 2 weeks ago and hung out for the evening. Here are a few shots I took: Johnny and Mary messing with her computer
TJ acting goofy

Chrissy worrying abouther crazy brother

Mary worrying about her crazy mom

Joey acting coy with Chrissy

Sam watching the game with me while Johnny and TJ tease Nicole and Virginia online

Johnny is doing better

Just a quick note to let you know I just talked with Darlene. Johnny is feeling better this evening, and may even get to leave the hospital tomorrow. He'll have another treatment if his numbers are okay, then head home for the weekend. It has been a really rough week for them, but God has been with them each step of the way. Talking with Darlene, I always come away from our conversations feeling even more comforted by God's love for them (and us). Thanks for your prayers and emails.

Ringing in 2008

Bill, Darlene, Theron, and I went to a Japanese steakhouse for dinner while the kids hung out at our house Then, we headed to the Bryans' home for the rest of the evening's festivities. Bill & Theron watching TV, waiting for Darlene and me to give them

the go ahead to set off the fireworks. They just couldn't wait until midnight, so we let them set them off around 10. They were pretty awesome!!

TJ picking on Chrissy
Johnny picking on Mary
After the fireworks, which drew all of the neighbors outside to see what was going on, some of the neighborhood girls hung out with our girls at the Bryans'.
The Three Brothers from Other Mothers

Darlene lecturing me about something, as Bill looks on
Me and Theron...not sure what I was doing!
Me and Chrissy in the kitchen (hate this picture of me, but loved it of Chris)
Toasting the New Year in with Sparkling Grape Juice
Getting the juice passed out

Christmas Day

We spent Christmas Day with the Bryans at their home. Bill's mom was visiting from out of state, so we got to get to know her, too. I gave the kids my camera to take pictures for me downstairs and these are some that they took. Next time, I'll make them pose for a few for me!!

TJ, Johnny, & Joey playing with their Nerf guns

TJ, Mary, & Johnny being goofy

Johnny taking a picture of TJ taking a picture of Johnny

TJ hitting Johnny in the eye with a Nerf dart
Chrissy being shy
Chrissy, probably hearing more jokes about her height (or lack thereof)

Johnny Update

Hi. Just a quick praise and prayer request. Johnny is in the hospital tonight. He is doing better than this time yesterday. The chemo treatment really got to him this time as his numbers were so low to begin with, so when they hit him on Monday they dropped way too low. They ran tests on him last night and today and tonight he is doing much better. He had really bad headaches, etc. yesterday and finally had to be taken to the ER last night. They are giving him antibiotics as he seems to have some kind of infection, but they think they got it quick enough. Darlene is keeping me posted so I'll let you know how he is doing tomorrow. She is so strong in her faith, as she is praising God for being so good as to have it that she was so near the hospital last night when things started getting scary. She said she was sitting in the ER at 2 a.m. thinking about how good God is and how He is taking care of Johnny. Her faith in God is inspiring and really helps me in my walk with the Lord. Thanks for your prayers on their behalf.

Christmas Morning

Samantha
Chrissy and Mary
TJ

Christmas Eve Morning

Our family tradition is to go to Cracker Barrel on Christmas Eve morning. It started many years ago in Sarasota when I was a teen. Theron and I have continued the tradition with our family, and Lisa and Bruce have, too. This year we were able to go together. We did our family get-together afterwards at our house, instead of doing it that evening.

Bruce, Lisa, TJ, Mary, Chrissy, Samantha and Bethany at Cracker Barrel
The view from the other end of the table, this time, with Sam taking the picture instead of me.
I finally just asked the waitress to take the picture. Theron was sick and not able to go to the restaurant this year. We missed him, but he was able to enjoy our family time at home. He just didn't want to cough on everyone in Cracker Barrel. I told you he is very thoughtful!!
TJ and Sam
Lisa and Nancy

Bethany

This is Bethany, Chrissy and Mary opening gifts.

Here is our Christmas tree in the family room.

Chrissy & Mary

Samantha opening her gifts

December Happenings

We had a busy December, just like everyone else. :) Here are a few pictures of some of the goings on in our life!

TJ got promoted to Sergeant in JROTC.

Samantha was in the Christmas play at church. It was great...they all did an AWESOME job!

Mikaela & Michael hanging out after church.

Aren't they so cute??