Gift #399- Capt. Reid "Eeyore" Nannen

Captain Reid "Eeyore" Nannen

United States Marine Corps  

15 October 1981-  1 March 2014

Impressions of a Pilot

Flight is Freedom in its purest form,

To dance with the clouds which follow a storm;

To roll and glide, to wheel and spin,

To feel the joy that swells within.

To leave the earth with its troubles and fly,

And know the warmth of a clear spring sky;

Then back to earth at the end of the day,

Released from the tensions which melted away.

Should my end come while I am in flight,

Whether brightest day or darkest of night;

Spare me no pity and shrug off the pain,

Secure in the knowledge that I'd do it again.

For each of us is created to die,

And within me I know,

I was born to fly.

Gary Claude Stoker

Reid, Sarah, Curtis, Betsy, Peter, & Baby Isla on the way

October 31, 2013

Gift #398- Joshy Poshy Puddin' Pie

That is the nickname that his baseball coach gave him a few years ago.  It has kind of stuck.  This base is so small, that a lot of people know him as Joshy Poshy.  Josh is home-schooling this year.  I use the term "home-schooling" very loosely for those of you who know me well.  But I sure do like having him around.  

Gift #397- A Five-Month Old Firecracker

Avery Grace - 5 months

I know that the more accurate word to describe how I feel when I see this little  face is "blessed".  And I know that I am- way more than I deserve.  But sometimes, when I see her little smile, the word that comes to mind is "lucky."  As in: "I am so very lucky that she is mine."

Gift #396- Superbowl Monday

I am grateful for this fun group of girls.  We watched the Superbowl together at 9am on Monday morning!  Instead of wings and salsa, we had fancy coffee and blueberry muffins!  We also had some of Jamie's famous breakfast burritos.  I chose to cheer for the Seattle Seahawks as I really liked the color of their uniforms.  I had also watched a very touching Duracell commercial about one of their players.  So my choice of whom to root for really was obvious.  :)  The Seahawks won!  The burritos and coffee were delicious!  And the company was even better!

Gift #395- Bathtime

I truly believe that if you want a little taste of what heaven will be like, then you should hold a tiny baby after her warm bath.  As far as gifts from God, this is most definitely one of my favorites!

Gift #394- Having an Artist in the Family!

I noticed that the sign to Macy's office said "The Artist is In" (as opposed to "Do Not Disturb").  And I thought that I heard some giggling through the door.  I also heard Macy telling someone to "Be Still" several times.  After a few minutes, a smiling Macy emerged from her little room under the stairs with a portrait of her brother Sam!  Sam was very proud too!  He came and showed it to me and said "Macy really is an artist".

This is most definitely fridge quality artwork!  It certainly made this mama smile!

Gift #393- Ukelele Kate

Happy 8th Birthday Kate!  Keep practicing that ukelele.
I want you to play for me when I get home! 

 I love you!

Gift #392- Thumbs

I know that "Thumbs" might sound a little odd to count as one of my gifts.  But, I bet, that if Avery Grace could talk and tell us what she is thankful for, she would definitely say "thumbs".  I have never had a thumb-sucker before!  It is adorable.  I know that I will be singing a different tune in 15 years when I get the bill for the braces, but for now, it just warms me up!

Gift #391- Having a Sister

(Macy- 8, Avery Grace, 4 months)

I think that I might have already counted "Having a Sister" as a gift.  But I think that it is definitely one that can be counted over and over again.  I love these sisters!

Gift #390- Birthday Twins!

Happy 8th Birthday Sam and Macy!  We started your day with donuts shaped like 8's  and eating from the Red Plate!  We ended with Kikutei, presents, and Baskin Robins Ice Cream cake!  It was a wonderful day.  Both of you said that you actually did feel a little bit older.  Don't get too much older!  I would miss your little gapped-teeth smiles.  

Gift #389- A Rockin' New Years Eve

Happy 2014!

Emma, Erin, Macy, Emerald, and Sam

This year, we had some of Macy's friends over for a New Year's eve bash.  They played Dance Party and ate junk food until midnight!  They toasted in the New Year with sparkling cider in champagne glasses.  It was a happy way to ring in 2014!