Day 365 - Project 365

Our daily bread......and so much more.....

A reunion and a celebration of a brand new car!



Time with two of the sweetest nieces in the world!



A New Year's Eve train ride/dinner date with my best friend!

Project 365 - 2011 is officially in the books!

Day 364 - Project 365

Do you ever imagine the Lord's delight when we're just about ready to walk into a big ol' surprise that He knows will just tickle us? This morning we started our walk along the Riverwalk when we noticed a cute Sheltie coming towards us - little did we realize that the Sheltie was attached to our dear friend, Jessica!! She was taking a walk with her uncle and baby Henry and Max. Such an unexpected sweet reunion! Jessica continues to weave in and out of our lives and every time we get to spend time with her it's a huge gift! Today I am thankful for surprises!

A Christmas Wordle

I am still figuring out Wordles but I think they're one of the funnest things ever under the category "simple things that amuse me" (of which there are many!) You just copy and paste a bunch of text into the Wordle box and click on "Randomize" and it arranges your words in all kinds of different colors, fonts, etc. The words in this wordle are some that came to mind as I continue to reflect on the great time we had in Michigan!

Day 363 - Project 365

Date Night! Sweet Joe gave us season tickets to the UTC Mocs Basketball games - we really enjoy going to those! Small crowd but big win for the Mocs!

Day 362 - Project 365

We all slept till we woke up - no alarms needed this morning! Very laid back morning except for a trip to the insurance company and body shop. We have a rental car, covered by our insurance, until Calmesha is back in commission.
After the girls went to the grocery store to grab some food for their hotel room we all went downtown to have lunch at Sticky Fingers and then they went to the Choo Choo to get their room and a schedule for the conference. So glad they're in the same city for a few days and praying the conference blesses their hearts!

Day 361 - Project 365

Oh, the road trip back to Chatt we'll never forget! We met Carly and Kinsey near M-6 and M-37 so we could caravan down here together. The girls were scheduled to attend a Campus Outreach Conference and the timing worked out perfectly to travel together. We were only on the road for about an hour when the wreck occurred (D.A's first ever in all those years of driving!) So much to be thankful for as I wrote in the post last night including the car being drivable - it was a bummer keeping it under 65 MPH as the semis roared past us over and over.

We had constant communication going between our two cars which was lots of fun. When they saw the first billboard for Fricker's Chicken they commented on it and we surprised them by pulling into one for lunch. They were such good sports the whole day/night and it was a LONG day/night. Kinsey wasn't feeling well so Carly drove the entire trip! Such sweet girls! When we got to the Court they fell into bed!

Day 360 - Project 365

Why did I never think far enough ahead to the amazing addition of the great nieces and nephews to the chaotic, wonderful fun at the Cnossen party?! The cycle of life continues! Sometimes I think I see Mom peeking around a corner at us with beaming approval on her face as we laugh - we laugh so much and so hard! As we talk and encourage and tease and join hands to make an extra large circle of love to thank God for His many blessings. She and dad would just love it all so much!

Unbelievably, yummy food, tons of it, and the GAME - a large pile of red, green and white wrapped gifts - whose value is not in the dollar amount they cost but the fun of rolling doubles and grabbing one from the present mountain and later stealing from each other as the kitchen timer ticks away. I love my sibs so very much and their offspring and their offspring's spouses and all those babies - so many beautiful babies!

The annual cousins picture is one of my very favorite pictures every year - such a visible testimony to God's covenant faithfulness and amazing grace! The only sad thing about this picture is that Joe is not in it :-( He wasn't able to get off from work to come North but we did Facetime with him from the party - ah, technology how I love thee (most of the time :-)

After Nancy's we ran out to Alto to visit with Bre and Dan and Bre's folks and sister - more laughter, good conversation, and free entertainment provided by the puppies!

We're never able to see everyone we want to see in this busy season but we had a quick visit with Adriann and Earl - another couple that we love so much!

It is all alot of Love to process and I am thankful for a quiet night tonight on the Court to post a few pics and reflect on the days past that were such a gift!

Day 359 - Project 365

On Saturday night, Christmas Eve, we packed an overnight bag and headed out to Middleville to watch for Santa with Mike and Renee. It was so wonderful having time with the two of them. I love that we are not only brothers and sister in laws but good friends - what a blessing! It's been our tradition since Mom passed away to spend Christmas morning with them and their family - their kids are so precious to me - have I ever mentioned that I LOVE being an aunt?!

The kids met us at Peace Reformed Church and it was a really meaningful service. Lots of neat conversations with various church members - so many dot to dot connections - including seeing my brother Tom's pic on the missionary wall :-) After church we had our annual delicious brunch and then present pandemonium with the four grandkids and Josh :-) One of our traditions is that Renee gets everyone matching p.j.s and they were perfect this year! We didn't get a group pic in our jammies like we usually do:-( But I am wearing them right now and so is D.A. even as I type:-)

After a wonderful time at Mike and Renee's we headed over to Wyoming to have the V.W. Christmas at Doug & Amy's house. More amazing food, laughter, thoughtful gifts, and catching up on each other's lives. One thing I love about these big family gatherings are the times when Crew and Sohee find us, a familiar face in a crowd, and hop on our laps for a quick hug and kiss. I LOVE being a Grandma! So thankful for the current good health of Mom and Dad! The family continues to grow and we are thankful for their example of faithfulness and joy in serving Jesus! Just typing up all these Christmas posts makes my heart sing with gratefulness!

Day 358 - Project 365

Saturday was another full day of visiting and catching up! We stopped by the Youngbloods mid-morning and Dan and Bre came too! Great conversation, much laughter, fun presents exchanged! They are some of our dearest friends!



Unbelievably, it worked out for all our Dutton friends to meet at Bob Evans for breakfast on Saturday. We had to split the guys and gals we were so many. I never thought everyone would be there on Christmas Eve morning. We had a great time of catching up exchanging news of kids and grandkids, current hobbies, future plans, and more! This is the group of girlfriends that elicits the quote by Claudette Renner every time I'm with them....."I often think, how could I have survived without these women?"

And in the afternoon I went to Denise's house - one of my very first kindred spirits - before I even sat down at the table we had discussed so many life issues and as was true 36 years ago when two young girls became roommates and forever friends, the heart connection was instantaneous!

Later in the afternoon Dale and I went to a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service which was absolutely wonderful. My heart was so full as I reflected on the coming of the Savior and all of the gifts He so graciously lavishes on His kids. Including the gift of enduring friendships!

Day 357 - Project 365

Our Christmas visit to Michigan via Indiana was filled with so many precious moments reconnecting with loved ones. Bonnie and I have been friends since she was a little girl - she used to ask to sit with us at DURC on occasion - and we have stayed in touch through the years. She's a junior in highschool now which is just crazy! I am thankful for her friendship!

Gratitude

I refuse to have this be a POD after such a wonderful Christmas weekend but I did want to put it on here to help me remember how blessed I am to be writing this from the GTCA and not a hospital bed. Road conditions really started to deteriorate not long after we set out this morning for TN from MI and Dale lost control of Calmesha on an icy patch. We spun around and the front of the car hit the guard rail and then we were facing oncoming traffic. A very scary thing was that our sweet nieces, Carly and Kinsey, were following us to Chatt, and could easily have hit us but they managed to avoid us completly! After checking the Camry over top to bottom we determined that all of the damage seemed contained to the front of the car and it was still drivable. We did take it a little easy the rest of the way home since D.A. felt the car did better when he kept it below 65 MPH.

It all could have been so much worse in so many ways and tonight my road trip weary heart and body is so incredibly grateful!

Day 356 - Project 365

After a long, rainy drive we arrived safely in Indianapolis for the night - glad there was room in the inn. Love these Nativity candleholders on Tara's table and their tree is beautiful too. So begins a long weekend of celebrating Christ's birth with a bunch of folks we love so much! Tomorrow morning we'll head up to MI!

Day 355 - Project 365

It was a fun catch your breath with surprise moment when I walked into the office this morning and found this beautiful Gingerbread House on my desk and a note from one of our sweet female leaders! I have never started the tradition of making these so it was extra special to be the recepient of such a special one! I love all the little details on it so much!

Cute mailbox with the flag up - letters to Santa going out no doubt!


And look whose boots are peeking out of the chimney!

So much detail! Jacqueline says she makes one every year and chooses someone to give it to - I think she's a master craftswoman!


Even a little campfire - so cute! I am blessed by that job over and over!

Day 354 - Project 365

I love the glow of the Christmas tree so much! I'm always sad when it's time to put the tree away - it just makes the house so cheerful and cozy.

My whole day changed today when I decided to take an unexpected day off from work - totally off! And I'm so glad I did! I feel so much more ready for Christmas than I did 24 hours ago. I even had time to scan a few pics from Christmas Past - not without a catch in the throat from days gone by and dear ones gone. My first few Christmas holidays after mom and dad were gone were so so hard - what a grace that time is a kind healer - we just could not live with that deep of pain for the rest of our lives.

Christmas brings back so many memories. Now that a little bit more dusting and packing and wrapping is accomplished I can revel in them as I catch my breath and remember what and Who this is all about.

Day 353 - Project 365

FB Alert yesterday from my friend Melissa who lives downtown that there was a giant man made of letters near her complex! I had to go check it out! Sooooo cooool! And no title plaque yet - I am so curious what it's name is! I saw some partial phrases scattered throughout......hmmmmm....I think I need this in my yard somewhere!

Day 352 - Project 365

It was the kind of conversation I anticipated when I asked Tim to paint "Eucharisteo" on my wall. Corey was helping me make cookies for dessert when he tried to sound out the word above him - to no avail :-) So I told him how to prounounce it and that it was a Greek word which means thanksgiving, grace, and joy all rolled into one. He said, "So it's like Thanksgiving and Christmas all in one word." And I said "yes".

I think that's a beautiful way to put it.

Tonight my Eucharisteo list is long - this day held blessing upon blessing from start to finish, not the least of which was cooking Sunday dinner with my friend, Corey!

Day 351 - Project 365

D.A. says that Christmas doesn't come until you've experienced a Smoky Mountain Christmas - I guess we're ready for it to come now :-)

Day 350 - Project 365

I talk to myself alot when I'm unpacking the snowman collection.....they're just so cute and smily! It's a good thing I usually do this when I'm home alone.

It's been a really busy November/December and I'm definitely not decorating as much as usual but the snowmen are a non-negotiable!

I tend to buy a new one every year or receive one as a gift and it's so fun to be surprised by an unfamiliar face that's been packed away for a year. We've also started to buy one from special places that we visit which has been fun.

This is a simple, sweet part of December decorating!

invitations

the invitation to Silence came and I was filled with images and memories of this special time and place





I took inventory of my heart and found with a startled joy that I had learned to find Solitude without going away





so I said to my friend who tends to shy away from stillness...."you go and I'll stay"....I said it haltingly and prayerfully and left the offer in mid-air





when he came back he brought me this gift of a prayer and a Christmas Tree Cross he had fashioned (I can picture the woods)

I am thankful I trusted my heart's whisper

Day 349 - Project 365

Tonight was the annual Hullco Christmas party and we had such a good time! We missed last year because we were in Hilton Head and that was the year D.A. was named Employee of the Year - he found out when we got home from vacay :-) We were talking about this crazy journey of moving to and living in Chatt when we got home tonight and how the Lord has taken such good care of us in so many ways, including our jobs.....jobs we love and look forward to going to every day! Below is a picture of us with Daniel and Pat - two of Dale's favorite installers :-)