Emotional Moment on Christmas

After it was all said and done....stockings, breakfast, opening presents.....Mark decided to reflect on this Christmas and spoke to our brood of children. He made it known to everyone that this was probably our last Christmas that we would all be together. Andrew and Nettie will both be turning 18 in a few months. Andrew is contemplating going into the Armed Service which would most likely mean that he would be gone over the holidays next year. Nettie will be off conquering the world and lighting it on fire and breeze through the holidays next year! Our family is changing....changing for the better but the reality is that it is happening! It's hard to believe this special time of year that family comes together will be different next year! Can't believe my babies are growing up. I know, that there will be holidays that our family will get together but the structure will be forever changing. I cried on Christmas this year, knowing that my family was sharing a special moment. I am thankful for cameras that capture moments in time so that we can reflect on Christmas' past. Skyler had tears in his eyes just like me! He understood what Mark was saying. I saw it - don't know if he saw me noticing him! :) Our family is special and I want the traditions to stay......but as I look ahead to the future....I see wonderful things ahead. Change is suppose to be good.....change is hard to accept. I raise my glass to Christmas' of the future......what will be in store for the Mendenhall family........

Finished a book in 3 days or less

My parents bought me the book "I, Alex Cross" for Christmas. I started reading it on Sunday and finished it this morning! Great book! Fast paced. I couldn't put it down! Thanks Mom and Dad for a great read! :)

Happy Christmas Birthday!

Mark turned 42 on Christmas day!

Happy Birthday!

Christmas Day 2009 in Pictures

Merry CHRISTmas!

Merry Christmas from the Mendenhall's!

Good Friends...

It is so wonderful and I feel so blessed to have as many friends that I do that have stood the test of time. I shared the evening with my friends Mindy Hall Bloom and Jill Vunder Fuller who I have been friends with since Elementary School.

We laughed, cried, joked, teased, had great conversation, enjoyed each others company, good food......great memories!

Between the 3 of us - there were 13 kids running all around my house! I love getting together with friends!

When Mark took these pictures, we couldn't stop laughing!

We had such a wonderful time!

Sunset

Sunset looking west from our balcony!

God's beauty!

Megan's 12th Birthday

Megan turned 12 today! She started out with breakfast at Mimi's Cafe. During breakfast, she received a phone call from Beema and Papa wishing her a happy birthday!

Her best friend, Katie, showed up at our house to spend Megan's birthday with her!

She was been wanting, begging for an earring on her ear for months. We told her she could get it on her birthday! So, we headed to the mall and yes, she got her earring!

We had dinner at BJ's! The food was delicious! We all sang happy birthday to Megan and they gave her a paazookie! It is sort of a cookie pizza with vanilla ice cream on top! YUM!

Tommorrow is Megan's birthday shopping spree in the mall! (Was not going to shop on SundayLOL)! Katie and Megan are looking forward to the mall!

Megan's Gingerbread House

Megan and her buddy at school made gingerbread houses....here is a picture of hers:

Christmas Tree

A few weeks ago, Mark and I took Briggor and Jade to the Christmas tree farm! Briggor was so excited. Mark was teaching Briggor the finer points of looking for the right Christmas tree. We ended up with a 10 ft Christmas tree!!

A moment in Time.....

I have been thinking about my grandmother a lot recently. Missing her especially around the holidays! When I was a little girl, my grandmother would spend a lot of time with our family now through Christmas. She would tell stories, laugh, cook (YUM!), bake....just be a grandma. I often wondered what it would be like if my grandparents were alive today. I have no grandparents. They have all passed away! But, I still have my memories of my childhood.

While out shopping with Mark over the Thanksgiving weekend, I stepped away from him to get a drink! I was behind an elderly lady waiting patiently for her to finish so that I may get my soda. I never saw her face. I never spoke with her. Just stood behind her. My sense of smell filled with the most beautiful fragrance! It overwelmed me! I took a deep breath and started to cry! The scent reminded me of my grandmother! It just wrapped itself around me - it felt like a hug that I needed! The lady walked away and the scent followed her. Again, I never saw her, never spoke to her.....

My grandmother wore a distinct perfume.....I walked back to Mark with tears in my eyes. He looked at me and said what's wrong? You just walked away to get a soda...what happened? I smiled and said everything is fine. We walked out of the store and I told him what happened. He just smiled. I just smiled. There were no words exchanged between us. Mark just knew how I was feeling.

What a wonderful gift from God that I received. God gave me one more memory of my grandmother. How blessed I am! A reminder that my grandmother still lives in my heart! The memories are treasures for me to hold on to and share with others. My grandmother has been gone for 20 years now. It is amazing to me that I still love her just as much now as I did back then. I miss my grandmother! I know someday I will see her again and smell that beautiful fragrance once again!