Prayers are so good......

Hey All,

Hope all of you are well and 2014 has started off wonderful! We've been busy getting in the swing of things with the move and settling into school and activities. We are really loving it up here in Maple Valley and have already made several friends, I think we'll be very happy here for a long time.

It's so nice how close we are to Portland, we've already had several visitors (friends and family) come stay with us. Mom was able to come for a few days, my best friend Tarisa and her boys and our wonderful friends Michelle and Brian and their kiddos as well came down a few weeks ago. We were able to do tons of sights seeing our Seattle......rode the monorail, saw the Space Needle, Pike Place, American Girl, etc. it was awesome!!!!

Nana and Lexi, hmmmm.....look who's getting so tall

Holly, Shell, Lily and Frankie

The Shorey's, so darn cute!!!!

It was also really fun to move here while the Seahawks made it into the Super Bowl!!!! This entire State was so pumped up and everywhere you went was support for the team. Our awesome new neighbors organized a Super Bowl Parade the morning of the SB and tons of people showed up to walk the streets with music blaring and blue and green everywhere!!!!

Daddy and Lily at the parade!!!

Holly and Lexi in the golf cart having fun!

We were also lucky enough to see some snow last night and this morning, so the girls are outside playing now. We maybe got a few inches, but Portland was slammed with snow and ice this week, it's been crazy......we wish we were there!

Little bug bundled and ready to play!!!

On a much more serious note, I'm asking for some BIG prayers from you all. Our sweet Gaga Lillian is not doing well at all. She was diagnosed with shingles about 9 days ago and seemed to be fine, however she suffered a reaction to some medication and was hospitalized. We've since found out that she has several different medical issues and will not be coming back home. We know that we probably don't have much longer with her and to be honest, it's really hard. Gaga has been a part of my life forever. Sometimes I just cannot imagine a world that does not have her in it. She's always been there for all of us and has been a wonderful grandma to Tj and I. She also loves my girls so much, it seems like just yesterday she was giving Lexi piggybacks rides through the house. It's very hard to see her so frail and unable to do anything and I know she does not want to live like this. I also worry for poor Mama, it's hard being an only child and making all the decisions, but she is doing a great job and I'm so proud of her right now. I just ask for continued prayers for Gaga and our family right now, I know that whatever is meant to be will be. I know Gaga has lived a great life and is 98 years old, wow!!!! How many of us can say we've had our grandparents this many years? If you still do, make sure to tell them how much you love them, because we won't have them forever.

A quote I read today has really stayed in my mind....."Your finish has nothing to do with how your face looks today and everything to do with how you LIFE looks on your last day."

One of my favorite pics, Lexi, Gaga, Uncle TT and Lily

Me and my Gaga

I'll do my best to post more updates regarding Gaga, remember to take time to hug and kiss your parents and grandparents today!!!!

Much Love- Holly

Welcome 2014!

It's been quite awhile since I actually sat down and wrote on the blog, so this one may be long!!!! We are back in the beautiful NW and I couldn't be happier! I even had to rename the blog, since we're not in the South anymore.

We moved back to Oregon for a very short time this year and have recently settled in Maple Valley, Wa for Jason's job. He decided to return to his previous company this year where he had been for 15 years and it is great. I haven't seen him this happy in several years and he is once again being treated well and appreciated. Georgia was a wonderful experience and I am so glad we were able to be there and experience life in the South. We made lifelong friends and the girls were able to get an amazing education there, if I had to do it over again, I certainly would. But there really is nothing better than being close to family again and being in the Seattle area, we are only a few hours from home.

We decided to make the trip back by driving this summer from Georgia to Oregon and I have to say, a cross country trip with your family is really a once in a lifetime event. We really had a great time and made it in just 4 days. We saw several states: Mississippi, Alabama, Kansas, Arkansas, Colorado, Tennessee, and several others. We even made a stop at Graceland and got to see Elvis stuff everywhere!!!! I think the kids won't ever admit it, but it was AMAZING and my "fun facts" for every state we went through were pretty cool too!!!!
There was nothing better than crossing over into Oregon though, it was such a relief to know we were home!!!

The girls have recently started school here in Maple Valley and really seem to be happy. Lily is making friends quickly and enjoying her new friends in 3rd grade and Lexi has started at the Junior High which will go through 9th grade. She is really looking forward to starting softball this year with a new team. I love Maple Valley a lot, it reminds me of Gresham and I'm also close here to a dear friend from my younger days, so it's been fun catching up with him and his sweet family. We also have moved to a great neighborhood were there are tons of kids and several parks nearby for the girls.

Our holidays were really busy this year between family and getting packed to move up to Washington, but it sure was wonderful to be at Mom and dad's for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's also been really good to spend so much time with Gaga, she's really getting older now and has recently moved into an assisted living facility. She really doesn't like it that much, but at least we know she always has someone to check on her at all times. She'll be 99 this year, so I think she's done pretty great all these years on her own!!!

Overall, I am really glad to see 2013 come to an end and start fresh in the new year. We've had so many ups and downs this year and I'm hoping that 2014 is filled with all happy and positive things for our future. I'm looking forward to a fresh new start here in Washington and hope all of you have an excellent year as well!