Happy Mother's Day

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To My Mother who means the world to me.

Thank you for all your time and attention over the years which has helped me mature into the individual I have become. Thank you for your love and concern when things werent always the easiest, and when it would have been so much easier to just give up.

Life without you, Mom just wouldnt be the same, and for this, I want you to know that there isnt a day that goes by that you arent loved & thought of.

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I have always enjoyed our many outings together, our laughs, and our tears at times. Each and every moment will be cherished for as long as life is.

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Thanks for EVERYTHING over the years! As much as it isn't always acknowledged, it certainly doesnt go unnoticed!

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With Love

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Here are a few pictures of our little celebration of Mother's Day(well 2 days later).

We all are on the same weekend & at 3 different facilities, but Mom works day shifts. This led to not seeing her on Mother's day so, we all decided to wait until our day off to have her open her gifts. In the meantine, they were left for her to admire. :)

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Mom was giving a little lecture as to how these arent good for her, even though they ARE one of her FAVORITE candies;)

Mom & I

Mom & Ange

Mom & Ashley

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAY ASHLEY!

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My lil sister absolutely loves a REAL pinnapple, and states she has asked for several years to have one bought for her, so this year Mom did just that:) As soon as she saw what it was... she had a meltdown. This is just one of the "fun/random" gifts she got.

It's hard to believe my youngest sister is 21! Another milestone has been reached- (in reference to my previous post) ! REMINDER: It's not how quickly time passes thats what's most important, but what IS IMPORTANT is what we do with the time we have!

Thank you for the memories you have helped create in our family. As life continues on, strive for the very best that life has to offer. You can succeed!

Life & the passing of time...

When I think about life and all that it entails, I am reminded of the passing of time - Early lessons learned, discipline from those who love us more than we know, which helps mold/give structure to our lives, developing likes and dislikes, having creative imaginations, increased responsibility and so much more. Life has a way of unfolding in ways we never dreamed of, based on decisions we make throughout life.

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Early years bring much excitement to reach "certain" year milestones. We look forward to becoming a teenager, getting our permit/drivers license, graduating from highschool, picking a career and going to college to study it, getting married, etc. So many milestones we look forward to! Humanly, we are excited for the future and what life has to offer us, but as I look back... I also am reminded at how quickly it has passed. Are we so excited to reach these milestones, that we dont breathe in the flowers of today?

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My life has brought me to a point where Im about to start another chapter, reach another milestone. I find that Im attempting to smell the "flowers of today" so much more than previous days, because these flowers will never grow just the same again in such a short while. This brings great emotion that is so hard to explain! So many emotions felts all at the same time so, because of change, it's very difficult for me. How can one be sad, somewhat nervous, sentimental to what you've always known, but at the same time... be excited to reach out in life, look for new possibilities, and watch yourself grow even more into who you were always meant to be? Again, life has a way of unfolding in ways we never dreamed of, and because of this.. Im excited to see what the future holds.

*It's about time*

Glad to have my sister back home again! Over the years, we have grown close, having gone through some mountainous times, which have helped us become who we are today:) Through it all, we have truly gotten closer as sisters. :) So glad to have you back!

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We can't choose our family, but we can choose our friends.
Thank you for your friendship that continues to grow!


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Our CDCF group, meets on a regular basis..(twice a month), so tonight we decided to try something different. We all met at The 99 Restaurant for dinner together and had such a fun time:) Here are just a few snapshots of the evening... as some people that I WONT mention... hate the idea of the camera coming out. It's ok, some day you will thank me:)

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!

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Give Anyways...

I can be very moved by music, and never know the artists in which created it. That part of music has never stuck with me, or I havent cared to remember, so having been given a bunch of music from my sister, this song started playing...
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Being that it's another Saturday night, at times my mind goes to Sunday morning responsibilities- helping out with the 3-5 year old class. I wonder who will be there, what cute things will come out of their mouths, and most importantly what they will take home with them from our class. Sometimes, we have just a handful of children, and other mornings we'd have more than we sometimes feel we can handle, especially when some misbehave!
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Being an assistant, I dont have to prepare a lesson plan very frequently, but there are occassions in which I have. Sometimes, I wonder, truly wonder if they get anything out of our 45 min classes. God has been faithful to remind me/ show me at times, and very recent... just how much these precious children absorb! Children that will just sit there while the rest sing about the Bible and the characters that express the Bible, and then say "Do it again, do it again!" To hear later, they take those little songs home with them and sing these songs, brings such comfort to me.
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Each one, created by God, to grow up and have a desire to have a personal relationship with him, starts in the early years. As much as we still wonder what our products will be, I am reminded that he is faithful! So, as I walk into the church doors and downstairs to my little class, I will give everything that I have, and when I don't feel I have a lot to give.. I will be reminded to give anyways!

Every penny (+) counts

It amazes me those that throw away change like it has no worth ! I have to admit, there have been times when I found that change was more of a nusaince and took up "bulky" space in a wallet. For me, I don't like to carry it around for a great length of time. I'll pick the perfect combination of a couple quarters, nickels, dimes and a few pennies if needed to save from gaining LOADS of change from a transaction at the store, but other than that... I hate carrying change around. I've gotten to the place where I throw my change into a glass-like container, visible to the eye as more accumilates.

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This past week, I decided seeing it was getting near the top, I would take time counting it all out. Never realized just how much time it would take to count change and place them in their designated wrappers to ship off to the bank. Fumbling around with the wrappers and my fingers for a bit, I finally seemed to get a system down which helped the process move along at a quicker pace.

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In the end, if for nothing else... I've found that as quick as change accumilates, it's worth saving your pennies (+) for a rainy day!

$89.00 later

Dental Visits are NOT fun!

My mom has always stressed taking proper care of our teeth growing up, and for that I am truly grateful for so many things I've been saved from having to go through up until now. Every 6 months, every year, we would faithfully go for our cleanings and be praised by the doctor at how all 3 of us girls' teeth were without cavities. This all came to an end in October or November... and since then I have been in that office more than I ever wanted to be in 2 months! From being told I had a cavity at my 6 month cleaning, to having it filled, to thinking I had an abcess in THE SAME tooth 1 month later, to having it confirmed and starting on antibiotics (which I reacted to), to being told I had to have a root canel - (now having gone through 2 phases already, having a wisdom tooth pulled because it was coming in sideways right next to the tooth Ive had all the issues with, to having to now go back and get stitches removed, and then yet another time for phase 3 to finish the root canel with a post and crown in a month. I am forever done with the dentist until my next 6 month, and this actually is scheduled for April.

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All the while, this was and still is all new to me never knowing what to expect.

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Ive concluded going to the dentist just isnt fun!

Happy New Years

After much debating...(mainly due to the potential noreastern on it's way- which passed us by) I decided that this year I was heading north for the "Bickford" bash since it's been 5 years of poor work scheduling that I haven't attended. Thanks to Brad & Melissa for opening up their beautiful home to host the party. Unfortunately, I didnt make out too great with the work scheduling because I left early New Year's Day to be back to fulfill my holiday responsibilities and weekend rotation.

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Either way, fun moments were had and more memories cherished!

Make a Smilebox greeting

Christmas

Christmas was a bit different this year, in the sense that this Christmas was everyones' holiday to work & Ange wasn't going to be home. This has happened one previous year where we were unable to celebrate 12-25, but I have actually grown to like it better this way for some reason.

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Christmas day, we headed over to Grandpa & Grandma's, where we had a delicious Christmas dinner and spent some time with family before leaving for work.

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Now, this next week will be filled with some more family fun. Uncle Earl and his family will be staying with us.... and then heading north where we will all meet for New Years. Looking forward to being with more family, seeings it's been 5 years since I have attended the "Bickford" New Year's Bash- due to work scheduling.

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Looking forward to a Good New Year Ahead !!

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The Act Of Celebrating...

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A couple months back, when trying to decide what to do for my co-workers this year, I decided to do something different and make an assortment of cookies with candies. Today, on my day off... after some hustling around town, I came home and spent several hours with the oven and this being the end result. There were actually more cookies I had planned on making, but needless to say became a bit tired along the way. Enough was enough!! :)

And then placed them in a cute little tin for each employee...
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CDCF was hosting the Christmas party tonight with plenty of delicious food, even if the pizza wasn't exactly how it was ordered :) Unfortunately, everyone wasn't in attendance this year, but we did have some guests from out of town stop by. Very nice to see you guys! Don't stay away :)

Thanks for such a nice time all. See you in 2010!!

There's Peace When I Leave It In Your Hands

Life can throw many curveballs and is never guaranteed easy. Humanly, we try to do what we feel is best, but sometimes that just isn't enough! Recently, I have found this to be true.

I find myself quite frequently asking why, or how come, when, how long do I have to wait, where? So many unanswered questions, that humanly seem difficult to handle at times. It's during these times, I find myself going to God with a heavy heart, a heart that cries out. I know God hears and understands, for there have been several times he's PROVED himself true, just this week. The key is trusting him for his perfect timing & leaving it in his hands.

When we do this, there is Peace! Nothing is Impossible with God!

The Christmas Season is upon us once again...

Christmas is a time to give!

God gave his son to be born in a manger so that He may be the Light of the World.This season, bright lights, colorful lights are seen all around us - Pretty, but temporary! Let's take hope in the true meaning of Christmas, and shine our lights for others to see!

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This year, our CDCF group has decided to reach out to the City Mission in Schenectady. This next week, we will make contacts with several people that are hungry, struggling financially, and looking for answers! We have offered to help with their Christmas store where bundles of gifts were donated to help people in need. As a group, we also have a collection of gifts over the course of several weeks that will be donated in helping others. My heart goes out to so many people, people in need, people less fortunate than our own!

We, as a group will bring our lights to GIVE to others.

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May we all do our best this Christmas season to Love, Give, and share the Joy of Christmas!

Election Day...

November 3, 2009

Dad was up for re-election for his 3rd term as councilmen for our Princetown Town board this year. He's put in some very long hours campaigning door to door over the past several months, after his long work days, juggling family events, church, board meetings etc. So, when the scores came in that night for all that ran for election, dad won the most votes of the town people of all who ran for board positions, allowing him to serve another 4 years for our town board.

I recieved a text message from work stating the news and was overjoyed! When I think about Dad and his accomplishments for another term, I am ever so proud!!

CONGRADULATIONS DAD!

Happy Birthday Mom :)

Just a bit behind times, but I thought I would go ahead and post some pictures anyways. With the siblings scattered to Syracuse and Cincinatti, our times we can actually all be together again are such happy times:) This occassion was for mom's 50th! Mom made it plain and clear months ago she DID NOT want a party, and continued to make it clear as time go closer just in case I had decided to go ahead with it. Mind you, I thought about it a couple times, but in the end wanted to abide by her wishes. Instead, I decided what was most important was to have the whole family together to celebrate. I decided to fly Ange home as a suprise, and boy did it turn out to be a suprise. Not only for mom but I was also able to pull it off with dad too! My plan right down to the very detail unfolded in such a way, I was estatic! :) So, that weekend prior to Mom's birthday, mom wanted to head to Glens Falls to attend the River Rats first away game for the evening. During this time, we also decided to have her birthday dinner in Glens Falls, seeing after Sunday, Ashley would have to return back to school, and we wouldnt all be together on her actual birthday. Mom was under the impression we were just going to grab some fast food prior to the game, but pulled into Outback, one of her favorite restaurants (and mine too) ;) We had such an enjoyable time that night and was sad to see it come to an end..

After Ashley left, Ange and I continued to gather gifts together, bake a cake and work long hours on a scrapbook that we had been working on for over a month. It was difficult at times communicating our ideas, shopping for pieces to themes that werent in certain stores of a given area, gathering the perfect pictures, making prints and pulling everything together for her special day. I love scapbooking, and also loved the idea of creating something mom would be able to cherish forever and in the end, was just so excited to watch her open the big red gift bag:)

It is amazing how you can be so stressed, feel under pressure and overwelmed.. at the fact that everything may not just come together in due time, but then in the end... just feel so amazed and relieved that it did. This is exactly what happened.

So, Ange was here visiting for over a week and we all had such happy times together. Miss having my siblings around, but know that when the family comes together again, we'll have some more happy times.

"Clap Clap"

:)

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