recent phone pics

a healthy lunch, for once

windblown dog, gorgeous Chattanooga day, on the walking bridge

sleepy, snuggly puppy, as usual

the baby bump is officially here (she's going to kill me for this...)

lovies from my love, just because

an amazing start to a Monday morning

history repeats itself

My parents took a nearly identical trip to our upcoming one in 1980 when my mom was 23 and my dad was 26!

 Andy and Mollie, Lahaina, Maui, 1980

Sunrise at Haleakala Crater, Maui, 1980

I'm playing this song on repeat today

wishlist for Hawaii

sunglasses - necklace - tunic - dress - wet things bag - striped hoodie -  floppy hat - swim suit - tiered skirt - floral top - toms - green espadrilles -  red wedges - field jacket - lounge pants - cargo shorts

a cool reason to watch the State of the Union

I just received this email from our pastor's wife, Shawn, about her brother Brian who lost both of his legs while serving in Afghanistan:

Dear Friends,


I wanted to send an update on my brother Brian and also make an announcement perhaps you already saw televised/ online yesterday. I just received a phone call informing me that Brian and Brianna were invited to the State of the Union Address tonight at the Capitol. Brian will be sitting with Michelle our First Lady and Brianna will be sitting with Biden. While at the Capitol my nephew Magnum will be cared for at the White House. You can watch it tonight at 9pm. and check it out at this link for a video feed of the announcement. http://www.fox17online.com/news/fox17-president-obama-invites-local-01252011,0,3129685.story

Many of you know that back in November Brian and Bri were invited to the Vice Presidents home for a Thanksgiving dinner but I'm not sure if you saw the picture of little Magnum and Daddy. http://www.zimbio.com/Brian+Mast/pictures/pro.

On Christmas day his story was featured on the front page of the Grand Rapids press our home town with a follow up and picture on his new super hero legs as my son Quinn likes to call them. http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/12/army_sergeant_brian_mast_finds.html
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/09/family_thankful_after_critical.html

We have continued to see God's favor and love being poured out on my brother through encouragement and honor and blessings that are grand!

I continue to be amazed at his progress and his perseverance mentally and physically. Two weeks ago he participated in a Soldier Ride in which he biked with his hands down in Miami/ Keys to support and benefit the Wounded Warrior project. Last week he received honors both at Bragg in North Carolina and in Savannah Georgia. To name a few he was honored with a Purple Heart, a Bronze star, given a commendation for Valor that was a recognition from before the accident and in Savannah he had a ceremony in which he was excepted as an Honorable member of the Rangers.

Brian has undergone 10 surgeries and has undergone and will continue for many months intense physical therapy at Walter Reed Medical in Washington. He is doing incredible, absolutely incredible with the great feat of walking again! Brian and Brianna have quite a journey ahead of them. But they have begun this journey as Heros! We are so very proud of them!

Thank you for your prayers and love shown to my brother and his family. Without this support he would not be where he is today.

We love you all.

Shawn & Frank Ramseur

Aloha

Last night we booked a trip here:

to see:

Road to Hana (where my Aunt&Uncle live)

Sunrise at Haleakala

Black Beach in Maui

The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua

Yep, we're going to Hawaii!

Why?

David has a few vacation days that are going to expire soon.

We want to visit all of the 50 states.

I have family in Hawaii.

It's a killer Valentine's Day present.

We.Can.Not.Wait!!!

weekend rewind

Friday:

dinner from the best new pizza place in town and Catan with the Bogensbergers and Becca

Saturday:

David- study till you drop day

Emily/Jodi- shop till you drop day

Sunday:

church, Worth work with Lynn, impromptu dinner partay with the best company, most hospitable husband (he did ALL of the cooking: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes [his signature dish], corn casserole, rolls and salad. He. is. the. best.) and cutest kids

RIP Buckley

The Bourke family lost a member of the family last week. Our old dog, Buckley, "went to a better place" after being with us for 12+ years! He was a sweet dog, and he will be missed!

Sweet 16

Tuesday was John Bryant's 16th birthday.

Holy cow.

We met John when he was 10, and man have we seen change in this kid! I love all of the Bryants equally, but John and I have always had a special bond. He was just so stinkin' cute when I first got to know him, and at some point I made the statement that "I want to put him in my pocket". It's weird to say that now, but he was a little boy then! Over the years, John has made every effort to "stay in my pocket". One of my favorite examples took place in the Wal-Mart parking lot. He was tormenting Hayden (one of his favorite past-times), and I was telling him to stop. He did stop and then, with a look of concern on his face, immediately said to me "Am I still in your pocket??" Precious, precious John.

My other all-time favorite John story will melt your heart. We were staying with the kids for a weekend while Kevin and Lynn went out of town. Everyone was in bed upstairs (2nd floor) and David and I were watching tv in the basement. All of a sudden, David jumped up because he could hear John crying (which was impressive to me because I didn't hear anything!). He ran upstairs to find a sad, sick John because he had forgotten to take his prevacid. He was sick all night and David slept on the floor beside his bed (melt my heart again). At one point, John stopped crying long enough to ask David, "will you pray for me?". Just writing this story out brings tears to my eyes! Love him.

So, here is a post of more pictures of John Bryant (and Patty and the rest of the gang) than anyone will want to look through (other than me and David... I wrote this post when I was bored at home and had lots of time to look through all the pictures on our computer). They aren't in chronological order, and blogger sucks and won't let me align them just right, but here they are. Happy sweet 16, Johner. We pray the next 16 years of your life are as wonderful as the last 16 have been!