Happy New Year!

from the Heckel's. (This is the kid's Christmas picture, taken at Creve Couer park)

I've been gone so long and had blogging on my mind, yet soooooooo much has been going on that I'm a little overwhelmed about posting about all of it. I'll do my best to recap the last couple of weeks for ya, and then we'll start the new year fresh, o.k.?

****Christmas**** We had a great time with family. Spent the 23rd in Springfield, IL at my Aunt and Uncle's house with my mom and Leon. Then went down to DuQuoin to spend the next couple of days with Matt's mom and Mike. Christmas day we went to Carterville to set up camp at Aunt Linda and Uncle Bob's house. But in between all the traveling, so many wonderful memories were made.

This was Kate's first year to really enjoy and understand Christmas. I think I've told you before about her love for baby Jesus. (so much in fact, she thinks she wants a baby to grow in my tummy like Aunt Laura and we'll name him Jesus, but that is NOT happening! :) It was so neat to have all the traditions we've done with the other 2 seem fresh and new again. Leaving out the cookies and carrots for Santa and the reindeer was a big deal. And Christmas morning, it wasn't the fact that the tree was surrounded by presents that thrilled her, but that the plate was empty! So she starts screaming, "He Came, He Came"... really precious. At least to her mom. To the rest of the adults in the house that had very little sleep, it was a little to early and loud. :)

Backing up a bit, we got to spend Christmas eve with Matt's Grandpa Charlie who is 91 yrs. old and whose health is failing. He is a dear man. So gracious and caring. Witty and smart. He has definitely aged quickly these last few months, so the time spent with him was particularly special. We'd appreciate your prayers for him and his wife Wyona and Matt's mom as they deal with some tough times ahead.

On the topic of family, while we were in Carterville with Matt's dad's side on Christmas day, we were shocked into a sense of reality and perspective. Matt's dad Steve had been having chest pain for over a day and was refusing to go to the hospital. Long story short, on Christmas night around 8:00 Matt took his dad to the emergency room where they determined that he had had a heart attack. (they aren't sure exactly when) In those moments, time kinda stands still and is burned into your brain. Matt said he felt like he was dreaming, that the dr. couldn't actually be saying that his dad had had a heart attack. Steve was admitted and the next day tests showed 99% blockage in one of the major arteries and a small blockage in another off-shoot. By God's grace and mercy, they were able to clear the blockages using stints and tests showed no damage at all to his heart from the heart attack. We are so thankful for the prayers for him and so thankful to our Great God for his care and grace. Steve was able to come to Hannah's birthday party Wednesday night. Unbelievable!

Yes, my first baby is now 12 yrs. old. What a beautiful young lady she is becoming, if I do say so myself. Unfortunately at the time I dont' have any b-day photos because, prepared yourself -----

my camera is broken! yep, dropped it right on the ceramic tile and compressed something or other according to the guy at the camera store. So she'll (I'm sure it's a girl) be heading to the camera hospital for some surgery and rehab. I'm at the mercy of friends and family for pictures at the moment. I feel like I've lost a limb or something. Just weird not to be taking pictures all the time. If we weren't' doing all this remodeling, I'd take the opportunity to upgrade, but I guarantee that's not happening.

***Remodeling update***photos courtesy of mom and Leon, who deserve some sort of giant prize for all their help. We are so grateful!

As of Jan 1, here's what's new:

*we got the o.k. from the city to continue, and will need an inspection after the electrical/before the dry-wall

* new siding

*a gate on the south side of the house leading to the backyard (courtesy of Leon;)

*freshly painted and semi-put together master bedroom

*freshly painted and semi-put together girl's room. Complete with long awaited bunk beds.here they are almost done...now their room is a yummy green color (so cute!)

*French doors and windows in the new family room

While we were gone, Clay knocked down the wall between the kitchen and the new family room. Major change! It's all open now, seems so big. So I came home to not only the mess I left, but to what looked like a bomb had knocked thru my kitchen. Hey, it's all good. It is definitely coming along and is taking shape. I can picture it finished, which is a vision I have to keep in my head so as not to lose my mind. I'm having a much harder time with the disruption of the mess than I thought I would. I thought, hey, my house is messy most of the time being so small with 3 kids. I was wrong. This is different. But I am learning to let it go. It's necessary. And in a short time, it will all be done and you all are invited over! Can't wait!!!!

This is going into Blogger's record book for the longest entry ever. I'd better stop there. I will be much more punctual with my posts now that I'm home and the holiday's are over. Blessing to you and yours this new year.