UPauntie on Xanga

PEACE~~ To all who enter WELCOME~~ From my heart ENJOY~~ Yourself within GOD BLESS~~ When you depart.

Weblog

Sunday, 03 January 2010

This is really strange. the post about my uncle only shows up if going through facebook. I tried to copy it and paste it again then. If I do that then both postings show up. How weird is that? Any suggestions?

Tuesday, 29 December 2009

Christmas time is always a wonderful time for the Don Williams family here are a few highlights. After numerous delays Beth arrived in Marquette very early on the 23rd ( 2 AM), Matt picked her up at the airport and they crashed at his place for the rest of the night. They picked Kimi up at her place and surprised me at school. While helping get the little ones ready for their program I felt a hug that was too tall for a kindergartner and there was Beth!!!

As always the program was little kid cute!

Christmas Eve Matt was preparing his chili and the oven flashed a huge blue light, the bottom burner burned out!! A quick visit from the appliance repairman revealed it was fixable but the part was not available. Beth and I packed up the cookie supplies and met Nikki at Kimi's place to do the baking.

We brought the cookies back to our house to decorate ( oh, note the new kitchen!!)

That evening we played a new game (a yearly tradition) this year's game was Wits and Wagers, so much fun!

Don has always ended the evening with The Night Before Christmas, even with adult children we all want to hear the old tale. All the children stayed here for the night ,however, not all in the same room as in years past.

Christmas morning was fun as usual!

Nikki LOVED her Snuggie!!

Kimi was so happy with her new rocking chair and blanket.

Grandpa got and outfit from Jackson, camo pants and a shirt that reads "Granpa's or Bust!"

Matt got a charcoal grill and the grill fixin's from Grandma Joyce ~~Nikki still loves her Snuggie!

Bethie with her UP necklace.

Steve with his tie and work gloves~Nikki still loves her Snuggie!

The Christmas meal making was an adventure, Matt cooked the ham, potatoes, and rolls on the grill and it was wonderful. After the reading of the Christmas Story from the Bible we settled in to conversations and reading.

Sunday the Bishops came over for a pajama party.

Each Christmas and Birthday we give Hunter a Craftman tool and Gabrielle a charm. This year Hunter got an adjustable wrench (and a real football) and Gabrielle got a ballet slipper charm and a stuffed doggie.

Nikki also got the lovely vest one of the gifts that appears to someone at various times.

Beth and Hunter playing a Cranium book game

Last night we had a shower for Kimi

This is a diaper wreath! It is so cute!

Puppets from Great Grandma Mills

Beth made this wall hanging for the nursery!

Now we are enjoying our time together and waiting for the baby to join us.

Happy New Year to all.

Sunday, 20 December 2009

Saying Yes, yes and yes

Yes, this was one of the longest weeks I have experienced. Yes, I lost another loved one, and yes I rode, once again on the back of my angels, while God cradled me and I looked on. Yes, I was called on Monday to visit with her while she was laying in her bed almost to heaven's door, yes she looked so small and yes, I walked her part way to heaven.

Yes, I attended her service, a beautiful one at the Catholic church. yes, she was Methodist and yes it was amazing to see the doors of the Catholic religion open it's arms and take in this lovely women.

Yes, I walked in her house for probably the last time, yes I said good bye to some of her family whom I won't see again and yes I cried when I walked out the door and she wasn't there to send me off with a wave of her hand and a kiss on the end of her fingers.

Yes, I loved this women, yes, she gave me so much to hold on to as I walk through life, and yes, I will miss her deeply.

Yes, life went on . . ., yes, I survived the week before Christmas with a substitute teacher (who isn't a "teacher") and a room full of anxious, rowdy, kindergarteners. And yes, Jayney will be back from visiting her new grandbaby to teach with me the last three days before vacation!

Yes, after an exhausting week Nikki and I organized Kimi's apartment, yes, we both had energy to do this on a Friday night in December, ( a real feat after a week in an elementary school) yes, it is done and feels cozy and like a real home now. And yes, Kimi was thrilled when she came home from work and saw the finished home.

Yes, I have a wonderful husband who does the laundry, yes he tucked be in to bed at 8:30 last night so I could heal and yes I love him dearly.

Yes, my sinuses flared again and I slept away the cookie baking day. Yes, I am blessed with the ability to be flexible and a family who is understanding, the cookies will wait until this week. And Yes, I was able to get to the walk in clinic today.

Yes, I found this in my pocket prayers on a day when it was deeply needed:

Bless my time in the darkness
that it may simply be
a waiting within
a chrysalis.

And I will emerge
anew
with the warmth of the sun
to dry my wings.

by Barbara Davis- Pyles

Yes, this final week brings our other children home,

and
Yes, we will celebrate His Divine birth, a festival of the human heart. A time when more people think of peace and love toward one another. A time when the heavenly forces inspire us to shift our focus toward one of joy, and healing.

Wednesday, 16 December 2009

Celebrating two special women

Nikki, turned 29 today. She has blessed us in every way and we are so please to have her as our daughter. We love you sweetie!

We also, celebrate the life of our dear friend Vi Morin who went home to Glory last night. She was one fantastic 91 year old. A grandma to our kids, a keeper of Noah while I worked, and a great friend to Don and me. We talked to Matt and Beth on the phone tonight and sat around the table with the others telling stories about this wonderful lady. We feel the void but are blessed with the memories. We love you Vi!

Wednesday, 09 December 2009

Kinderism: We have a new girl from Bulgaria, Eli, in our afternoon Kindergarten class,, she speaks no English so I asked another Bulgarian student, Yoana, to tell Eli that she could get a book from the Library. Yoana looked at me and said, " you just have to tell her ...." and said the words in Bulgarian! Needless to say I had no idea what she said, much less could I repeat it so I quietly took Eli's hand and led her to the books.

i thought I would be blogging this morning, I was certain "the storm of the century" was going to bring a snowday resulting in staying in my robe late in to the day, drinking coffee, fire roaring at my side, and blogging. Kimi even stayed all night last night and we had cookie fixings ready to go. But . . . Ha, the storm skipped the Keweenaw and hit every place else. We did get snow but not more than we could handle. Don's 4 wheel drive truck got stuck in the driveway tonight, the snow was hip deep (his hip) in several spots. We are suppose to get more snow tonight and get hit hard starting Thursday night. I know better than to count on a snowday!

Noah is curled beside me, and the fire is starting to warm things. I think I will be lazy tonight and probably regret it later but sometimes we just need time with each other and nothing can beat that. The house is set for Christmas and now the baking, wrapping and letter writing begins. I also have orders for cornbags and Santas.