Growing up Meyer!: January 2023

Monday, January 16, 2023

Out with the Old, In with the NEW year...

“Out with the old, in with the new?!?

This year we are all about "Out with the Old"...but as we get older, it just means the stuff. The excess. The junk taking up space in our home, minds and heart! Looking forward to a new beginning to take the wisdom from the past and plant our feet more firmly in the ground.

Want a piece of advice? Of course you don't, but when I look back at the start of 2023, I want to remember the motto and see if we held fast to this or drifted away!

Do it NOW! Whether work, a phone call, a hug, a bathroom break, the gym, a hard conversation, a prayer...it doesn't matter. Taking care of it TODAY will work for His good!

It doesn't take much to realize that if you just DO IT NOW...the stuff gets done, the heart gets changed, the prayers get sent, the people feel your love and more!

We ended 2022 at our fav HULU cabin as Chinook Estates is estimated to arrive when it arrives!!!

Happy NEW YEAR from this crew!

We always start of trip off with a walk down Chinook...this spot never gets old!!

There were years I spent wondering what life would look like and thinking that it was just about me...I can't believe the plan that GOD had in store for me and this amazing partner He placed to do life with! I pray for my children and I pray for their future partners...so many Bible verses that lead you to know that we need a partner for life and how to be a better partner. May we both continue to serve Him first and each other next!

How best to RING in the NEW Year....attempting a homemade lasagna! It was awesome and it might even become the tradition!

One boy fishing...One boy whittling sticks! Two boys happy!

Welcome to 2023...this clan was off to a SNOventure with sledding, horses and fun outside!

Back home for painting and cuddles and naps and lake life!

In the years that we have been going to the lake...I think I am still amazed each trip how much time we spend outside...it doesn't matter the weather, it's just an "outside" kind of place.

Last walk before heading home and we found this amazing Red Tail Hawk.

That's a great beginning to the NEW YEAR...and hopefully how we spend many more years to come!!!

Answered Prayers and a Reason for the Season

To the old and the new and the backwards and the forward...this month uploaded in reverse so I will start with the NEW and move to the OLD...but it's a new year so does that make it forward or backwards?!?!

December and the start of 2023 brought snow and family time, near goodbyes and hellos that had not been had in awhile, performances and celebrations and lots of reasons to celebrate the real reason of the season!!!

We ended 2022 at our favorite spot...the lake! We aren't closer to having our own place, but we sure live like it is our own favorite spot. Patience is a virtue, right..it's also a fruit! We need to be so grateful for the ways that our patience is opening our hearts in this time/season of waiting!

The NEW Year is for a new post...so for now, I'll take a trip down December's memory lane!

Over the mountain...and off to visit Rich's mom!!! It was a great visit and way to wrap up 2022!

Huge perk ...a hotel with a pool! These kids were so excited to swim in December!

A Christmas blessing that GG was able to come to my parent's on December 23 after a full week at Overlake and very uncertain times.

This place became a part of me this year and I'm so thankful for the 113 times I opened this door and pushed myself (sometimes to breaking) and never gave up!!!

This lady and I have lots of quality time...and I am so proud at the BIG girl she is becoming. Truly growing up before my eyes.

Christmas dinner was a Meyer family night out at McMenamins...it had been a year or 2 since we had spent the night dining out and it was such a special tradition we were able to bring back in 2022.

Ho. Ho. Ho. Merry Christmas!

A very special Christmas present...not sure which "kid" was more excited!

Christmas morning...Santa did things a little different this year, but I think all the smiles show that these kids were happy!

Christmas Eve with Grammy and Papa and the cousins!!!

Christmas Eve service at Canyon Hills.

My little kitchen helper making the cheese ball.

Sweet surprises from Team Andreotti.

Prepping for GG to come home.

And then this guy is onto a new adventure with the orthodontist!

Happy Birthday Papa....when it's a winter wonderland plus a week with mom at the hospital with GG, it was a mini birthday celebration for papa!

And there is the SNOW of December...the 2nd round.

Off to the Warm Beach Christmas lights...the season was different with the unknown with GG, but we tried to keep up the traditions and smiles!

When you buy the crazy snuggie for the girls that they don't need...but hey, they are only little once.

Another night...different Christmas lights out in Carnation.

And a sleepy carload of kids...it's like melatonin for the kids.

We thought that it was God's time, but GG is a fighter. So thankful that we got to visit and pray over her...and for each day we have had since this day.

Snowglobes, Hot Cocoa and friends from the past...a fun way to kick off Christmas break.

Christmas Chapel...Millie got to perform with choir and...

also recite Luke 2 with her class.

Leighton has a fun Christmas party with her class too and mom got to become a living snowman!

All dressed up for the last day before Christmas break.

Bam...let there be awesome party lights! It just keeps getting better back here.

This was the fitting and molds day...and LJ got to assist.

Christmas Sweater Day.

And another Christmas spirit day....all the ugly sweaters, red and green and more!!

Cousin Katelyn was in the Nutcracker...so the girls went to enjoy the show!

The Heritage Christmas program was pretty amazing this year...with Griffin as a Shepherd and Millie as the lost sheep...these kids worked SOOOOO hard and it was just the cutest!