HaPpY 13th BiRtHdAy Tyler!!

Happy Birthday to a great son! You're a very helpful person, when you want to be.:)

You've grown up alot this last year.....in height....you're taller than me....you're voice has deepened.....you think more grown up....

But you can still be silly....and you love to bug your sister. :)

Hope this year is an awesome one for you! Keep Jesus first. We love you lots.

A Simpler Time

Christmas time has arrived once more and this year I decided to try and go simpler with my decor. Now if you ask my sister, she will say she doesn't think it looks that way. But I did less than I normally do and didn't hardly decorate outside.

I will do a post later of my Christmas decor for the last 2 of you that I have reading.:) It's nothing special....

Besides, the whole reason we celebrate is because of the babe in a manger. His time was a simpler time. He didn't need lights or trees to celebrate His birth. He had the Angels!

Let's enjoy the season without all the stress of I have to get this person something or this person or this.... Not that I don't LOVE to shop and buy for people! The economy has kinda "made" me go back to a simpler time. Less gifts, more celebrating.

The snow helps set the scene for the Christmas season. Here, it's been snowing and blowing the last couple of days. Today, it's just sunny and down right cold.

It makes for a beautiful picture as this snow drift does....when taken from inside the house...

I enjoy the beauty as long as I don't have to spend too long outside in it. Have a great day everyone! Try and stay warm and remember the times when things were a whole lot simpler.

New season

The seasons are changing from the bright yellow and oranges of fall to...

The whites, reds, and greens of winter and Christmas.

These 2 recently started a new season in their life with a beautiful and sweet wedding. Congratulations to you, Jess and JoJo, as you start your new life together.

We also could be starting a new season in our life. Kinda scary if things work out. But trusting in God for His help.

Great grandma's quilt

It may not be new

or even very pretty.

But it was made by my great grandma around 100 years ago.

Probably stitch by stitch with her own hands.

That's why it's so very special. Because it was made with love.

Curveballs

Life has a way of throwing things your way that you don't expect.
That's what has happened to us. It could mean big changes....changes
I'm not so comfortable with. But could turn out to be a great thing
for the family. Please help us pray about this little "curveball" in this
ballgame of life.

Can't wait for this new family member!

For as long as I can remember when I was a younger, I loved horses. When it came time to blow out my candles for my birthday and make a wish, I would wish for a horse. I'd save my money to go on a trail ride at the state park. I dreamed and drooled over them almost all my life.You see, I was a city girl living in a subdivision and there was no way I could have ever had one. Then I married a guy with 2, a mom and her little one. Being newly married, we couldn't afford the upkeep of 2 horses, so we passed them on to other family members. Since then, it's been a dream to have one again. We moved to the country 2 1/2 years ago and now we have room.

Now the dream is a reality.

Meet Dakota.

Isn't she a beauty?

She has gotten more meat on her bones since this picture.

She seems like a real sweetheart.

Now we just have to get one of these....or something like it....and a fence so she can come to her new home.

See! Dreams CAN become realities!

A great find

A week or so ago, David and I took some much needed time away and went to beautiful Brown County, Indiana. The scenery was gorgeous and I enjoyed having some time away with just him even if it was just a weekend.

While we were there, we went to an antiques flea market. I had in my mind what I was looking for and how much I wanted to spend on it. I'm cheap, I guess and we looked through almost all the booths before I found them. I was looking for oil lamps. You see, we live in the country and the lights go out some. I thought they would be useful and also be a great addition to my decor.:) The first one I already had. The last 2 are the ones I just got. Love them!!

They say things come in 3's...

Things have been a little challenging for the Rauschenberger's lately. It started with my hubby slamming his finger in the tailgate of his dump truck....on a Friday. It ended up being fractured and badly sprained with many deep cuts and scratches. Thankfully, it is healing well.

The next Thursday, his parents were almost home after being gone since July and a semi driver ran them off the road into a guardrail in their motor home. They could have very well been badly injured because his mom is on oxygen and when they finally got stopped, everything was laying in a pile behind them. They had bought a love seat and I believe that is what saved them from being injured. His mom's window was gone and she was on the side of the traffic. They only had a few bumps and bruises.

Then, last Friday, David put his dump truck into the ditch to avoid hitting the back of someone who slammed on their brakes at the last minute. The gravel shifted and he landed on his side and slide for a bit. He wasn't injured other than a small scratch and some soreness. He was thanked by both drivers and the officer told him he did the right thing. I guess the insurance agent did too. I am so thankful to still have him with me and that noone was even injured. It could have been so much worse. If he hadn't been wearing his seat belt, he would have ended up hurt very badly, I'm sure. God has truly been protecting us. I give Him all the praise.

My forever love

19 years ago

I married my best friend

And high school sweetheart.

We were very young and have been through alot.

But I wouldn't trade it for anything. I love you, David.

Picture perfect

Life

isn't

always

perfect

as

a

picture.

But

it's

what

you

make

it.

So make it good.:)

*taken in Oblong, Ill.

HaPpY BiRtHdAy!!

Today is your 15th birthday.

We loved you bunches from the very beginning...

We love you bunches now.

You keep our lives interesting....in a good way. Without you, we would be boring.:)

Don't know what we'd ever do without you.

Love ya, Nik. Hope you have a FaNtAbUlOuS Birthday!!