Seeing my Sister and Driving to MI!

My sister Dixie holding Daraby


Although this photo wasn't taken that night- I wanted to show you how Dara sucks her fingers.
She is in Tyler's arms- my nephew.

It was a relief to get to my sister's home. Bad weather makes me on edge and Andrew gets to hear my rants at other drivers and at his gawking which leads to his weaving into one lane or another. My sisters little guys were racing cars and Andrew always loves that kind of stuff.
Tyler showed us his new aquarium and fish. That is really neat and I hope they live. As a kid we had a big aquarium and I can't tell you how many fish died. We either overfed them, underfed them or they ate each other. Granted they are beautiful and so fun/peaceful to watch. They set up the aquarium in their bedroom. If I were one of the boys I watch the fish and fall asleep.
That night we enjoyed hanging out with Dixie, Dave and the boys. We ate a great laid back meal of sloppy joes. Dixie loves Daraby and helped me with bath time and feeding. Daraby just cuddles up with Dixie and dozed in and out. It was very calming! My sister and my mom have similar characteristics. They are so good about just sitting down and holding babies. They concentrate on the baby and the baby's needs. Between Andrew and I, he is the one to sit and cuddle with Dara while I run around trying to conquer my list. Throughout our home you'll find lists- lists on the fridge and on the counter that tell me what I want to accomplish that day. I also write down what I've done that day so I can look back at night and see what I've done. Pathetic, I know!
Thanks Dixie and Dave for putting us at last minute notice. Nothing like family dropping in on ya and getting ya up early.
On Dec. 21 we left early in the morning to drive onward to MI. Did I mention we drove in a blizzard? Yep! It was crazy snowy weather that made visibility terrible. In Iowa we saw horrific accidents that sent chills up my spine. A semi-trailer was on fire, countless vehicles were in the ditch and rolled over, one semi and trailer went down a deep ravine and smacked several trees, and cars slid way off the road and sat stuck out in pastures. One accident really freaked us out. In the median two pickups were smashed under a huge 5Th wheel camper while other vehicles were scattered through the side ditches-overturned. All those vehicles must have slid around together. It was at that point that we talked to Andrew's family. They said the weather was bad in MI and all events were closed that night. Although it was only 3 pm we decided it would be best to lay low so we got a room off the interstate and hunkered down for the night. It would have been great but Dara decided to scream for over an hour straight. I felt so bad for the people sleeping next to us. We headed out early the next morning and avoided seeing our sleepless neighbors. We arrived in MI the next day at 5 PM. We were right on time for supper- we couldn't have planned that better. While we were dating and soon after we were married we were usually late for his Mom's meals. We are try not to be tardy but sadly we usually are.

Visit to South Dakota for Christmas!

Manger Scene at Capital in Pierre, South Dakota


Danni, Daraby and Denton at the Capital


Andrew and Daraby at the Capital

The three of us and Danni in the background talking to the nutcracker

Denton and Danni by the manger scene- I had to put this one in Danni cracks me up.

Long time no post= busy! To start it all off we traveled to Pierre to visit my parents the weekend of December 13-14. We had a great time with the entire family. When we got ready to go home there was a blizzard so we decided not to take Dara in the car through the blizzard so my Mom watched her for the week while we worked. Actually because of the weather and some gates getting worked on I didn't actually get to work as much as planned but it was a good week to get things done around the house and pack up for Christmas. Then Dec. 19 we drove back to my parents in another blizzard and got there late into the night. We were so excited to see Dara the next morning. It was a long time to be away from her. That Saturday my Mom and I went clothes shopping and then met the entire family for lunch at Perkins. We have so many family members that we book out the banquet center at the restaurant. Crazy. We enjoyed many laughs, good food and fellowship. Again Daraby was loved by many family members and cousins. From there we traveled to the Capital to enjoy the Christmas trees and decorations. There are two things we do every year during Christmas time that just make it very special. One of them is seeing the Christmas trees with my family at the capital and the other I'll write about later- gingerbread home building with Andrew's family. It just isn't Christmas without these activities. I think I would trade gifts for these special times.

The trees were stunning and it is very relaxing and peaceful to walk all four floors of the magnificent marble capital. It smells so heavenly and many different groups sing throughout the day that the trees are there. The rotunda lets the singing resonate throughout the entire place. I love it! It was Dara's first year so I'm happy we could get her there. Of course she won't remember it but she was enamored with the lights, music and activity. Her cousins kept telling her about the trees etc... So sweet.

Although it was a bit late we really needed to get on the road so we could get to MI. That night we traveled to Sioux Falls, SD to see my sister, Dixie and her family. Did I mention we had to drive through another blizzard?

Things I Enjoy!

The booties Alice made for Daraby.


One of the only decorations in our home.


My brother Darrell holding Daraby. He and his wife-Deb have six kids.

11 of us played Apples to Apples- So much laughter!

Sweet Sixteen- My Niece Dacey

I believe the little things play a big role in our life. "It has long been an axiom of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important," said by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It is the little things that we say and do everyday and conveys who we are. It is the life we live, when no one is looking, that matters. Perhaps that is what makes me tick everyday. This year like every year I have such high expectations for my life, marriage and child. I want everything to be absolutely perfect or as close to it as can be expected. Granted, I know that none of us are perfect and that we fall short of the mark by a long shot but the goal is still there.

This year as we prepared for Christmas everything went haywire. We hunted up and down the creek for the perfect tree to cut down but couldn't find him so we settled for a shaggy little cedar tree. When the tree decided to not stand upright and stay in the stand he got booted out of the house. Never mind it dropped off multiple branches and sticky green fuzz in the process. What a mess! All that to say we don't have a tree this year and we won't be putting up one at this point. At first it floored me that we wouldn't have the perfectly decorated home for Daraby's first Christmas but then I thought it through. What does it matter? Will she even remember? No!

It is the little moments that we spend with her, the moments we spend with others, and the moments we spend with the Lord. I love Faith Hill's new song, "A Baby Changes Everything." It is such a true statement for Andrew and I this year. Although Faith is singing about the baby Jesus -we believe the song has such a double meaning for us. Daraby has come and changed so much in our life. We will never be the same and because Jesus' birth, life and death we will never be the same. Gradually Jesus takes our lives and molds us daily into the vessel he wants us to become just like Daraby who gradually grows and we adjust our life accordingly.

For some people there are huge life changing moments that define who they are. For me it is the little things. It is the little eye openers, the simple truths, and the constant in the everyday. I love seeing the hand of the Lord in the everyday simplistic events. Yesterday, Alice my neighbor stopped by to say hi and drop off some booties for Daraby. She didn't care that I was in sweats, no make-up, and my house was a mess. It wasn't any big event but just a simple hello and check in. It is the simple little things: this week my mom is taking care of Daraby so I can work and catch up on things, this last weekend we sat for hours and played Apples to Apples with my family, this last weekend Andrew and I watched my family love on Daraby, and we sang happy birthday to my niece while chowing down on pizza. No big fan fare just living life the simplistic way.

So although we won't be putting up the tree, all the decorations and all the fan fare-Christmas will still happen. We will celebrate the Lord's birth, celebrate family/friends and celebrate the little things that make life happen everyday. After all that is all that matters. So let's extend a heart of grace this year for the imperfect people. The people that don't have the perfect sayings, the perfect clothes, the perfect body, the perfect gifts, the perfect spouse, the perfect children, and perfect heart. Remember to extend that grace to yourself. God knows you aren't perfect and that is why we need him.

More Pictures of Aaron and Jessica's Visit

Our smiling babe! She has been so happy on this hypoallergenic formula.


Daraby hanging out with Dad!

Daraby hanging out with Aaron. I didn't get many photos of Jessica- I don't know why. I'm a puts. I didn't even get the photo of Alice, Aaron and the buck. They all teased me that I didn't get the camera turned on. I think it was turned on but I didn't push down on the button long enough. Who knows?

The boys and their "kids."

I'm holding Daraby after her bathtime. She loves her bathtime now.

Aaron and Jessica Visit

The hunters go on horseback through the wildlife refuge searching for "big buck."


Andrew, Aaron and Jessica (and Abby)


Andrew and Aaron horseback after returning from the refuge.



Our friend Alice helped Aaron find the "big buck." Aaron shot him with his muzzle loader on Tuesday.






One more shot of Aaron with Mr. Buck.

Our really good buddies-Aaron and Jessica (and Brynn-their dog kid) came to visit us all last week. They arrived around midnight on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Sadly, I puttered out and went to bed while Andrew got up and greeted them. I'm not the best of hosts- I love my sleep.

In January, they are moving to Germany for a year so we knew they had to come visit us soon or they wouldn't be able to see our place for another whole year. We begged them and enticed Aaron with the "big buck." Thankfully, they came and we had a great time. It was so much fun to play games and catch up on life. Jessica is an absolute sweetie and loves babies. I had no idea she liked kids! Most of our friends that haven't had a baby don't really enjoy hanging out with one. Jessica not only liked hanging out with Daraby but would often pick her up and feed her while I cooked or did laundry. She was a great help. It is a good thing Daraby has been so happy lately. Jessica saw the best side of Daraby. One day, Jessica got Daraby to belly laugh over and over again. It was awesome!

Last Monday Andrew took the day off to spend with Aaron and Jessica searching for the "big buck." All three of them saddled up and took off to ride the wildlife refuge. In order to get to the refuge they rode through one of the buffalo pastures next to our home. As they were riding the buffalo surrounded them and made Aaron a more than a little uneasy. Most of you would be a bit timid as well. In the end, Andrew shooed them all away so they could get through the gate and out of the pasture. While on the refuge they saw a couple of bucks that were too far away to shoot. In the process of riding around they collected many deer sheds. They came home with antlers tied to all their saddles. (You can see some of the antlers tied to the horse Aaron rode in the first picture. The gun is tied on as well.) They came home tired, a bit chilled and deer less.

While they were out riding our good friend and neighbor Alice called and invited Aaron to hunt her property. So on Tuesday morning Alice took Aaron hunting. She knows these sandhills like nobody else around here. A couples hours into their hunt and they found a buck. Aaron snuck up on him and shot him. They were so excited! Jessica, Daraby and I drove over and saw the buck already hanging up in the tree. It was a proud moment for Aaron! Thanks Alice for guiding Aaron around your place and helping him find the "big buck." He along with Jessica thinks you are the wonder woman! Aaron teasingly called Alice his gal. She likes guns and likes to hunt what else do you need.

That afternoon we took the deer into town to get checked in. Aaron and Jessica took me out to eat at this little cafe in town that I've never gone to since they are only open during the day Monday-Thursdays. It was quick and easy. Afterwards I took them around town and introduced them to everybody- well almost everybody. I think it took them by surprise how involved everyone is here. We need each other to live out here. Friends are more like family.

All in all we had a great time with them here. Every night we had game matches. Jessica and I took on the boys. Although we lost by a couple of games in the end we held our own quite well. Granted we don't cheat either. :) During the day Aaron and Jessica took walks through the hills, took pictures, helped us with chores, watched morning tv, drove through the scenic areas, saw lots and lots of deer, and played with Daraby. One day we drove through the refuge and came back home a different way. It was a big circle over 80 miles. It was very peaceful, sunny and enjoyable. Jessica got some great photos. Aaron jokingly said a person could kill someone out here and nobody would ever find the body. It is pretty desolate but no one has killed anyone recently that I know of. Jessica and Aaron did really well with being in the middle of nowhere. They left Friday night so Aaron could get home to work/plow snow Saturday night.

Thanks Aaron and Jessica for coming out. We had an incredible time. We love you guys and loved hearing about life and your future plans in Germany. We know the Lord will bless you, grow you and love on you while you are away. What a wonderful opportunity to expand your horizons! We will miss you lots! Our home has been so quiet since you left. (Thanks for loving Daraby while you were here that meant so much to me to have the extra help.)