The Statue of Liberty

Too tired to actually blog, but I want to use these pictures for class and this is the easiest way.  I'll come back to this - Spring Break maybe?

Life With Lucy And Cyrus

I'm beginning to realize that Life with Lucy and Cyrus is our ordinary life!!

A little over two weeks ago, I sprained my ankle - not just a little sprain, but stay off of it for two days (RICE) then wear a boot and then a brace kind of sprain.  That translates to two weeks of me not walking the turkeys and I missed it.  A lot! (I went yesterday for over 45 minutes and my ankle seems to be okay.)

Hubby and the boys were good to walk them - okay, sometimes the boys walked them a little quicker than they should have and sometimes there were complaints, but they did take up my slack. Aunt even walked them once. They got to run at Dad's once or twice. 

We went there this afternoon and oh, how they love to run there!  I love to see Cyrus bounding out of the tall weeds!  He always has his ears perked tall and somewhat reminds me of a rabbit.  Tonight, Hubby and the boys kept commenting on how Cyrus stunk.  Who knows what he rolled in in the field? The dog wash was already closed, so we tried what we used to do with Flash - put\him in the shower.  He didn't mind too much and it made the necessary difference in order for him to crawl in bed with L. Of course as soon as he was finished, Lucy had to get in on the action (I had already washed her face yesterday since Cyrus peed on her while we were out walking in the park!!!!).  Now we have two clean, better smelling doggies!

In the past two weeks the dogs have also torn up both the dog beds and the cushion to my porch swing (I had even tied it down to try to prevent that!).  My neighbor said she saw them do it and they had a great time!  I'm sure with two preschoolers and her own dog there's not much she could do to discourage the turnkey's fun.  Of course Lucy and Cyrus have destroyed both of Drake's toy ducks and Drake has torn up his dog bed too.

Our other neighbor paid us a visit today because Lucy visited him in his yard (Did I mention our neighbor is an avid gardener?)  Thankfully he is a nice neighbor and he and Hubby found Lucy's hole and that's taken care of.  This dog is tough on fences!!  Thankfully, Cyrus is much too smart to follow her in any jailbreaks.  Obedience school is in the very near future!

Finally L. gets in on a picture with the turkeys.

They kept me company when I couldn't move around because of my ankle.

Life with Lucy and Cyrus

Hubby and M were away for the week, so L and I were in charge of the dogs the. whole. time.  Mostly me - but L really was helpful!  In the evenings, Cyrus enjoyed chewing on Monkey Man.

At some point he has also enjoyed chewing on the footboard of M's bed!  I got him a nylabone to help with the chewing thing.  He won't touch it.  When Lucy was inside she was in M's her bed.  (And yes, I'm certain that it was Cyrus not Lucy that chewed on the wood.) I did wake up a couple of mornings with her in bed with me.  I guess she only likes sleeping alone so much. That dog!

I/we did manage to take walks every day.   Their favorite part is watching the ducks/geese.  I'm pretty sure Cyrus wishes he could fly!  The beginning of the week had wind chills below freezing, while the end of the week was in the 60s! I'm thankful for better walking weather - the next 10 days is forecasted for the 50s!

Today we were all (Hubby took 1/2 day) off for MLK day so we took the dogs (affectionately referred to as turkeys) to dad's to run.  It took absolutely no convincing to get them to explore, run, wrestle, and look for moles.  We'd love to do that more often - or maybe build a house there to give them the space????

I wish we could get the dogs to pose together for a picture.  Maybe when they're older? And slower/calmer? That's life with Lucy and Cyrus!

Life With Lucy and Cyrus

For the record, we're dog owners again. Just when we were used to having clean tile...we realized we wanted a dog - our family loves having one around. This was quickened along when one happened to find us.  We couldn't find her owners and no one claimed her so we're the proud owners of Lucy!

Lucy has helped us find every spot in our fence that needed securing!  I guess when the fence was first installed close to ten years ago, they took a lot of short cuts fastening the bottom.  Hubby however has gotten it all fixed now (we really appreciate all the time he took in such cold temps. to take care of this).  Hubby also decided Lucy needed a friend. So, we found Cyrus.

Qualifying to get him from the rescue was quite a process, but it has been so worth it!  We are loving getting to know both of their different personalities.  The dogs are getting along great too - when they are outside they spend the whole day wrestling and chasing - it's quite entertaining to watch!

As I write this, Lucy is in M's bed asleep - she's all about what's in it for her.  She's not much of a snuggler, but she'll give kisses and she will rub around our legs like a cat!  Cyrus is a snuggler and kisser!  Trust me, I've gotten woken up several times this way this week!  He lays his head across my neck - that must be a border collie trait because Jazzy used to do that too.  Right now, he's asleep right next to my chair.  Also, must be a border collie trait!

We're so thankful to have them both and look forward to many years of walks, ball playing and having them as part of our family.

Christmas Letter 2014

2014 has been a year of change…

Devon has been working at Oklahoma Wesleyan University (our Alma Mater) for almost five and half years now.  In late summer he moved from the online program to be the director of a brand new program, the Masters of Arts in Apologetics and Theology.  Devon still enjoys running and flying.  He and I celebrated our 19^th wedding anniversary on a cruise this summer to Cozumel and a few other places.

I’m still teaching in Owasso.  This is actually my first year ever not to move a school, grade, or room!!  But, education is always changing!  Our state standards changed and at the beginning of the school year I had 27 first graders.  After a new teacher was hired, I am down to a more manageable 21.  Hmm…I’m trying to think if I do anything besides school…..I’m on the Alumni Board at OKWU and I volunteer in the church nursery.  Other than that, I try to keep things going for the boys and at home.

Speaking of boys – they are becoming more and more independent.  Micah got his driver’s permit.  He will be 16 next April.  He’s still enjoying his leadership activities at church and school.  He was accepted (by way of a lengthy application) to go to Truth and Peace this summer. Truth and Peace is a week’s worth of leadership training at Welch College in Nashville and then a week’s worth of serving at the Free Will Baptist Church’s National Convention in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Levi’s big change was school as he started eighth grade at Rejoice instead of Owasso.  He hasn’t been exactly pleased with the change, but we can see some positive outcomes from it.  Levi is a social guy and he’s made friends quickly.  He also played football for the first time and did well.  Since Rejoice is a small school, he played both offense and defense. This summer Levi was quite the entrepreneur and mowed several lawns in the neighborhood. 

We’ve been blessed this year with wonderful family times, new friends (and seeing longtime ones), and fun times traveling.  There have been down times too, but we keep pressing on and relying on God in all times.  Perhaps our biggest family change was losing our dog of almost ten years, Jazzy.  We’ve found our family misses having a dog in the family so even as I write this we are in process of adopting again. It’s like having a baby in the house again!

Whether you’re local or someplace else, if you’re ever nearby, please let us know – we’d treasure the opportunity to get together. We hope you have a wonderful Christmas season and a Happy New Year!

Devon, Annette, Micah and Levi

Hebrews 13:8 (The Message) For Jesus doesn’t change – yesterday, today, tomorrow, he’s always totally himself.

We camped in June with Devon's brothers and fams - the boy in the flag shirt is my nephew.

I'm calling the spot in the park where we took the pictures Jazzy's Ridge.

I had trouble choosing pictures to put with this letter because most of the pictures are already in my blog or on facebook (or both) already.  Please take the time to click on the other months to see highlights from the year if you'd like.

On the Home Front

Outside my window… leaves are scattered across the yard.  There is a for sale sign in our across the street neighbor’s yard.  Once they leave, I think we’ll be the ones on the street who have been here the longest.

I am thankful for… medical care, warm sweaters, an involved Hubby, and holiday plans.

I am wearing… jeans and brown cardigan sweater

Some plans for the rest of the week… M. is working a dinner theatre tomorrow night.  Next week L. has a dentist appoint, M. is (hopefully) getting his driver’s permit, we are packing our shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child and Thursday night is Literacy Night at school.

I am hoping … to feel well and have a productive weekend.

On my mind… my children’s spiritual life.

Hearing…. Hubby’s pen writing and the heater.  It makes a scratching noise because of the desk surface.  Every now and then I will hear him talk.  He’s on a conference/video call, but he’s using earphones so I don’t hear everyone else.  I also don’t hear J. the dog – there have been many times on the spot of the post where I mention I hear her snoring. She was usually asleep nearby whenever I was working on the computer.

I am praying for… hunger for God.  I’m also praying for a couple of friends who are going through cancer treatment.

From the kitchen….. barbecue pork (one of our favorite’s with green chile) is in the crockpot for tonight.  I need to write a grocery list and plan for next week.

Around the house… bits and pieces that need put away. 

One of my favorite things…. Going to church with my family and running in to people we know when we’re out – especially Aunt and having an impromptu snack.

                                                               

From my picture journal…

One Last Walk