Happy New Year

We wish you a New Year that is filled with much joy and love, lots of time spent with family & friends, and peace to no ends! Happy 2015!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

We enjoyed our family Christmas together a little early...unfortunately it was without Reese Webb (Ft. Hood, ARMY)

L-->R Terry & Allison Webb...

Jared(santa hat) & Alysha Bratcher, Harper(4 yr,) 

Cadden(4 yr) & Holstein(2 yr)...

Adam(holding baby Brax) & Alyssa Webb, Braxton(9mo)...

Travis(cap,) Jack & Kate Dowty.

I hope you all have a relaxing and enjoyable Christmas with all your family & traditions but mostly remembering what exactly we are celebrating...the birth of our precious Jesus Christ. 

Travis' New Path

October 29, 2014 marked one year since Travis' horrific motorcycle accident in Amarillo, Texas. Travis has been driving a school bus for AISD since this school year began. Besides driving a regular school-to-home route, he also picked up a lot of field trips and such...mostly for high school teams going to sporting events.

On November 8, 2014, Travis drove a swim team to Lubbock for a meet. We had already planned to pick him up and have lunch and hang out until the meet was finished and he had to drive them back to Amarillo. About the time I expected to hear from him saying he was ready to be picked up, he called. Instead, he told me there had been an accident...a pedestrian ran in front of him and was taken to the hospital. Once I had clearance, I drove to the scene of the accident. 

First the motorcycle accident, now a bus-to-pedestrian accident...both times, Travis has been delivered to Lubbock! Praise God I am in Lubbock too!

As it turned out, the man chased his dog into a very busy street and unfortunately paid the ultimate price with his life. The front corner of the school bus had shattered glass and dents from the impact. After several hours, the investigator reassured Travis that he had done NOTHING criminal. The girlfriend of the man, a couple of witnesses and Travis all said the same thing...the man did not yield to the bus. (Lubbock Avalanche Journal) 

As Travis remained on leave with the bus company, he started waiting tables again for the restaurant he was with before the motorcycle accident last year. What else he had been doing I was unaware of...

Today, on December 15, 2014, my first born...my 24 year old son swore into the ARMY. Travis will leave for Fort Sill, Oklahoma on January 12, 2015 for BCT (Basic Combat Training.) After that, he is told to expect to go to Lackland Air Force base in San Antonio, Texas for his AIT (Advanced Individual Training) as Dental Specialist. 

He is VERY EXCITED!!

I am excited! I am proud! I am surprised...pleasantly! I am not sad...I am not scared! God has carried Travis through quite a few less-than-desirable situations, most of which he chose, in the last 5 years or so...and I am certain God will be with him in his new, positive chapter of his life!

Furry Visitors

We had some visitors the other morning... That is actually our neighbors shed these 2 cute furballs are chilling on and I'm pretty sure at this point, they wished they had already escaped the sunrise.

I think they were under the impression they needed to lay low and maybe our 2 eager dogs would not be interested in them...HA!

After putting our precious pups up, I think they felt safe enough to escape...cautiously!

 Very cautiously!

 Surely they weren't scared of me and my little ole camera as I stood there in my nightshirt and slippers. No worries little cutie, I will not be chasing you today!

Back To College

Weekend Road Trip to Stillwater, OK

October 9-12, 2014

In case you don't know this, I graduated from Oklahoma State University (Bachelors of Animal Science, 1996.) It has been about 7 years since I have been back on campus so this trek was long over-do. When I was attending OSU, we were too broke to afford to attend games so THIS was my FIRST football game to support the Cowboys...also referred to as Pokes!

On our way, we passed through Amarillo and saw Travis. He is totally enjoying driving the school bus for Amarillo ISD.

Next came OKC...seeing how I was attending OSU when the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Building occurred, I was sure to plan some time to stop and visit the memorial and museum since I had never seen it and I am always up to showing the kids some history.

Overlooking the chairs that represent the 168 lives that were lost

Tree of Life

The Reflection Pool

If you get the opportunity to visit the museum, I highly suggest you do so!

From there we took in a little bit of downtown OKC, specifically Automobile Alley, where Jack and Kate enjoyed their first meal at the Hideaway...amazing pizza joint!!

After a scrumptious meal, we drove the 50 miles to Stillwater!

Next day was GAME DAY!! Had to get some OSU gear before heading into T. Boone Pickens Stadium.

Great game! OSU 37 v Iowa State 20

After the game, it was time for Eskimo Joe's and their famous Cheese Fries. What would a trip to Stillwater be without eating at the famous Eskimo Joe's? 

The perfect weather begged us to walk around campus and see where "mom" spend most of her time in college. I had to show the kids Theta Pond...a beautiful spot on campus. A memorable spot for Travis. When he was 4 years old, Travis fell in the pond in the dead of winter. He was quickly yanked out and rushed to the truck to strip down and wrap him in my coat.

 Of course I am telling the kids this as we are walking up to the area, then proceed to show them where he was standing & fell in. Jokingly, I said, y'all be sure not to repeat history. Well, not a repeat but something similar...Kate stepped in a very deep mud hole!

She was not real thrilled about his but Jack & I thought it was rather humorous!

On another note, while we were on campus, we found my truck. Actually, Terry has been in search of a 1950's model Chevy to re-do. He is rather handy that way, in case you didn't know...see my earlier post on the Farm Table he made. Of course this one was not for sale but it sure did look like something I imagine for Terry & me. Think I can talk him into ORANGE?

Gotcha Day

I want to introduce you to Holstein Zane Bratcher...

Holstein is 2 1/2 years old!

He is feisty!

He is snuggley!

He is talkative!

...and he is ours...our grandson!

Officially adopted by Jared & Alysha on September, 18, 2014.

And this is our little princess, Bailey Harper Bratcher...

She is 4 1/2 years old!

Harper is shy...in the beginning!

She is girly!

She is nurturing!

...and she is officially our granddaughter!

Adopted by Jared & Alysha on September 18, 2014.

You may remember...or may not...our first grandson was adopted exactly one year ago on the same day (Cadden's Adoption!) This is Cadden as of today...

So now this family is official... 

And as their GiGi, I do solemnly swear to love, spoil, tickle, and kiss them for all the rest of their days!

Where Did Summer Go?

Jack finished up the 9th grade in the top quarter of his class and Kate won multiple awards for her 3rd grade performance in Mrs. Litsch's class.

Buddies: Cambree, Kate & Kate with Mrs. Litsch

Sidekicks: Kate & Kate

Jack's California Banded King snake died unexpectedly earlier in the spring. After lots of looking around, he found a different snake...a San Luis Petosi King snake. This guy is beautiful! 

Kate T. went to camp for the first time ever with Kate at Hidden Falls Ranch. Although a little bit hesitant, she had a blast. Best part of all, she gave her life to Christ!!! I am exited to know I will see both of these sisters in Christ in heaven someday.

camp bunk mates

While Kate was at camp,Terry, Jack and I had an "enlightening" evening hearing Marcus Lutrell (Lone Survivor) relive his very real survival story. Not only that, but we also got to experience the music of Josh Wilson...one of our favorite Christian artist's!

My 14 year old niece, Kylee, was blessed by her parents surprise of a horse for her birthday. When we were visiting in Arlington, Kylee took Jack and Kate to meet Meg and do a little horse-back riding. A horse is something Kate has wanted for a couple years now. This only added to her strong love for horses.

Kylee saddles up Meg

Jack rides pretty well

Kate could get used to this

During the course of the summer, Adam & Alyssa came over for several cook outs AND, best part of all...Braxton (our newest grandson) came with them! Not to slight the parents any, but really...who is the cutest! :-)

This GiGi has been very privileged to babysit this little "pickle" on several occasion...but they could never be enough! Braxton is a joy...and these first time parents are simply doing a fantastic job!

Auntie Kate loves to help babysit!

Just after school starts, Jack will turn 16. We found a clean truck that will get him around safely and he has been putting lots of hours in behind the wheel. I could get used to being chauffeured around.

Terry introduced Jack to a bow and arrow that he is now strong enough to work. THIS could be a new-found love for Jack...which would be just fine with this mama for the next 3-5 years if that was his only "love"!

However, fishing for fish and crawdads has definitely filled lots of summer hours this year. Not only that, but he ventured out to boil and season his catch...Kate & Jack have found a new, yummy crustacean they like to eat. Ewwww!

And how about these cuties? Don't you just want to eat them up? We always look forward to getting together with our 3 Little's...they bring total and complete joy...and exhaustion to us!!

Harper (4), Holstein (2) and Cadden (4)

Jack and Kate spent a long weekend with Travis at his place in Amarillo. During that time, they visited their Nana & Papa. It had been over a year since they were last together.

One of my very dear friends, Jennifer Axelrod, came for a long weekend in July. We spent hours visiting, taking walks, getting caught up and being spiritually fed by Beth Moore. Yes indeed...a fantastic time was had in too-short of a weekend. 

A little volunteer work together as a family!

Sandbox play time!

Pool time with the little's and Alysha!

Just before school started, after many months of waiting patiently for hair to grow out, Kate got her 4th grade haircut. This year, she intentionally grew 10 inches to give for Locks of Love. This is an organization that makes wigs for children with cancer. Not only did she gain a cute hairstyle, but Kate is contributing to putting a smile on another child's face.

Alysha, the little's and Jack & Kate

The first week of school has come and gone for us. Jack is busy with some interesting classes for him and lots of football practice. Kate, as usual, could not wait to start 4th grade. I hope everyone else had as good of kick off to this school year as we did!