2006 - More Memories As We Countdown

 

Our family did a major remodel. For several weeks, Aubree's room was the kitchen. Once they started on the floors and tore out the kitchen, we had to go. So, Aunt Karen took us in for over a week.  The three of us moved in.  We couldn't play the whole time since Karen had to work.  The kids and I took walks in her neighborhood.  They danced to the Wiggles.  They enjoyed sitting in front of her fireplace.  When Bryce was younger, he started calling bedroom shoes "good night shoes."  And he needed some like Aunt Karen's to be able to wear outside like hers.  So, Aubree started calling them the same thing.  Aubree even slept in her "good night shoes" at Karen's house.

 

They were tickled to receive their Valentine books from Aunt Karen in the mail.

 

Thanksgiving always bring good family memories.  This Thanksgiving was hard because it was our first one with Granddaddy. 

 

Aunt Karen and Memaw get their hands messy making Christmas cookies. 

 

The girls at Christmas

 

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. ³⁰ But even the hairs of your head are all numbered."  Mat 10:29-30

2005 - Special Times

Aunt Karen always fixed special breakfasts.  One favorite was pancakes with M&Ms. Cold weather brought hot chocolate in cute little Bryce and Aubree size mugs.  I enjoyed our visits because we did yummy take outs.  We learned pretty quick it was tough to go out to eat with two toddlers, so Logan's fixed our dinner!  The kids could eat, then we could enjoy our dinners in peace.

 

Even though Bryce and Karen favored when they were babies, Karen and Aubree have the same strong willed personalities.  Karen constantly tells Aubree - I know what you are thinking, don't try it because I have already have, etc.  I guess you could say having Karen as a sister helped prepare me to be Aubree's mom.

 

We visited Aunt Susan in Gainesville. This picture was taken at a Butterfly Garden. Then, we spent a few days with Karen's childhood friend who has children close to Bryce and Aubree's age.

 

This is from a weekend trip to Aunt Karen's.  One of the times Bryce went, he was able to participate in Operation In As Much where their group sorted potatoes.  He was excited because it was an activity he could do.

Karen loved when they visited at before Christmas to help decorate the tree.  She only had to do the top part.  The bottom part was well decorated.

^"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. ⁵ Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; ⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Phil 4:4-7

2004 - Vacation Memories

Summer Vacation at the Outer Banks.  I love the look on both of their faces.  We loved the pool time together. Karen visited Roxboro many times to see Bryce and Aubree.  We were able to go to the Outer Banks with friends during Karen's Spring Vacation.  I won't tell you that Karen let Aubree roll off the bed after I told her to be careful.  I wasn't very happy.  Even with Jesus in our lives, our relationship wasn't/isn't perfect.  But because of Him, we are (pretty) quick to forgive.  And we can laugh about those times later.

 

Fun photo opportunity during summer vacation.

 

We don't have city water.  It's no telling how long he played in the sprinkler.  I seem to remember some kind of potty bribe that included a trip to the dollar store to buy some floats during this trip.

   

 

Did I tell you what an awesome aunt Karen is?  Every so often, we would meet Karen in Raleigh and she would take one or both children. It was a great memory making time for them and a great break for mom and dad. This particular time, Karen experienced some Bryce's stubbornness.  It snowed in Greenville.  We had no clue, so Bryce didn't have gloves. Bryce insisted on having gloves to go out in the snow.  NOTHING else would do.  She even tried socks which worked in the past for us. Being the awesome aunt she is, Karen risked life and limb to go buy them for him.  Then they made "snow ice cream."

 ^"Even youths shall faint and be weary,

    and young men shall fall exhausted;

³¹ but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;

    they shall mount up with wings like eagles;

they shall run and not be weary;

    they shall walk and not faint."   Is. 40:30-31

 

2003 - Proud Aunt Again

Fun vacation memories from Myrtle Beach - cold pool water, hot sun, aquarium, doughnuts.

 

Whenever Karen came to visit, she brought Bryce clothes, toys, or books.  She bought him and ECU Little Pirate t-shirt.  She had a t-shirt made with "Big Brother" when we found out we were expecting another baby.  Karen was able to go with me to an ultrasound appointment.  After picking Bryce up from Mama Lou's and Papa G's, we went strawberry picking with mama.  Bryce ate more strawberries than he picked.

 

Since Aubree was a scheduled C-section, life wasn't so crazy when she was born.  Newman and I had to be at the hospital very early, so Karen spent the night with us.  Then, she and Bryce came to the hospital a little later.  We were all very blessed when our red haired, blue eyed Aubree Dawn entered the world screaming.  Aunt Karen bought her coming home outfit, too.

 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,

    the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—

¹⁶ the people dwelling in darkness

    have seen a great light,

and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,

    on them a light has dawned.”

¹⁷ From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Mat. 4:15-17

2002 - 13 More Days....

Bryce's first birthday.  Karen helped and continued to help prepare for birthday parties for several years.  She loved helping Bryce eat his first birthday cake. 

Bryce sucked his fingers like his Aunt Karen - his third and fourth fingers.  His 6 week old picture even looked like her.  We loved visiting her in Greenville.  That summer we drove to Atlantic Beach with her and watched him whine when his feet touched the water.  We spent the Fourth of July together watching fireworks in Roxboro.  Family time is the best.

Karen is now a home owner - she bought her duplex.  What a proud moment.  Whenever we visited with her, she loved giving Bryce a bath. I liked it, too.

"You keep him in perfect peace

    whose mind is stayed on you,

    because he trusts in you.

⁴ Trust in the Lord forever,

    for the Lord God is an everlasting rock."

   Is. 26:3-4

2001 - Proud Aunt

When Bryce was about six weeks old, we went to visit Karen at her apartment in Greenville.

As my due date approached, Karen "nested" more than I did.  She would call and tell me what she was cleaning or organizing.  I was probably sitting down reading or cross-stitching. As soon as we called to let her know we were on the way to the hospital, she was already packed and on the way.  She almost even beat us to the hospital.  Well, maybe not exactly, but it was close.  She stayed with us during labor along with our friend who is a doula.  Karen kept the family informed of progress for hours and hours.  Her help and support of me was invaluable.  She became aunt to Bryce Thomas.  During the pregnancy ultrasound, we did not find out if we were having a boy or a girl.  So, Karen bought a coming home outfit for each.  Silly girl!  She was so excited.  After Bryce was born and everyone left, she stayed at the hospital to help get us settled.  Needless to say, Newman was exhausted and kept falling asleep.  I must have been running off of adrenaline and talked and talked and talked.  And bless Karen who was just as exhausted as Newman, she listened to me.  Then, she drove back to Roxboro.  She says she has no idea how she got back home.  What a sister and what an aunt!

Along with working full time, Karen attained another goal in her life in December.  She graduated from ECU with a Master of Arts in Education - Low Incidence Disabilities.  We were able to attend her graduation.  Another proud moment for us all.

 

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Ps. 37:4

"My son, eat honey, for it is good,

    and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.

¹⁴ Know that wisdom is such to your soul;

    if you find it, there will be a future,

    and your hope will not be cut off." Prov. 24:13-14

2000 - Sisters

Christmas 2000 - Looks like we've gotten too old to sit on the floor.

Earlier this year, I visited with Karen in Greenville.  When I came home, I remember telling Newman that we had nothing in common.  We out to dinner, and we had nothing to talk about.  We had the kind of awkward silence that is very loud.  Thankfully, as time progressed, God began drawing Karen back to Himself.  Her focus in life changed. She started attending a church.  She was involved in their Singles Ministry as well as Music Ministry.  In those recent years, God had been changing my heart, too.  As our relationships with God deepened, our relationship with each grew as well.  We were finally sisters again.  But even more important - sisters by the blood of Jesus, seeking to follow Him and His will.  We talked on the phone and enjoyed our time together and found common interests.  Later this year, a prayer was answered for Newman and me. We were able to share the news that we were expecting a baby.  Karen was going be an aunt.

 

^" For “Whoever desires to love life
    and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
    and his lips from speaking deceit;
¹¹ let him turn away from evil and do good;
    let him seek peace and pursue it.
¹² For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
    and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

I Pet. 3:10-12