Our Christmas Letter & Happy New Year!

                                       Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

This will be my last blog for 2025, and I wanted to close with our family letter for Christmas. In a perfect world, I would’ve gotten Christmas cards sent out to family and friends, created a Christmas photo card, and done a million other things, but that didn’t happen in 2025! Instead, I’ll write our Christmas card digitally, and we will welcome in another year tonight. We are so thankful for all that God has done and will continue to do in our lives. 

Dear Friends and Family, 

2025 was a year of many events and happenings in our family. Like yours, we’ve had some amazing experiences, some difficult challenges, and some trials along the way, but the faithfulness of God has never faltered or wavered. Lamentations 3:22-23 states that “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” I am thankful for the steadfastness of the Lord’s faithfulness. 

Roger continues to work for the forestry service. We are thankful for the flexibility of his job as it allows him to make most of the boys basketball games, and he coached the boys soccer team for the 2nd year in a row. The boys soccer team won 1st place in their conference this year, so that was especially exciting! Roger continues to enjoy flying, and sometimes he wishes his job involved a bit more of that, but we are very thankful for his job. Roger stays busy with teaching the boys about car maintenance, enjoying golf with the boys and tea parties with Emma, as well as continuing to lead our family with quiet faithfulness and steadfastness. 

Sarah transitioned to teaching art this year at our Christian school, and that is something that we are all thankful for this year! As much as she enjoyed being the librarian and doing art last year, it was a lot, and we are thankful to the transition of just art this year. Sarah teaches art to 4K thru 12th grade, so she stays busy with making lesson plans and trying new ideas. Sarah was the assistant coach for Middle School girls volleyball this year, and that was a fun new challenge for her. She stays busy with art classes, ball games for the boys, meals, laundry and all the other things that make up “mom life”. Also, Roger and Sarah celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary this year! Time really does fly! They are looking forward to getting away for a few days together in January for some much needed time together. 

Garett graduated from high school this past spring, and that has brought along both challenges and delights as we transition from parenting a teen to an adult child! He is still desiring to pursue his aviation degree, but he is currently pondering a few different options. He continues to work for the Gutterworks Company as he moved to work with them full time over the summer. As parents, we are so thankful for the co-workers that Garett has in his employment. We are thankful for two Christian men that Garett gets to work alongside of every day. Garett has faced challenges this fall as he realized that being a graduate out of high school is not as fun as one might think! He has started to attend a small local church, but our prayer would be that Garett would find some deep friendships that would encourage and point him to Jesus. 

Chandler is a senior this year in school, so we are preparing for our second high school graduate! (Mom is not ready!)  Chandler knows that he would like to attend college somewhere, and he has visited Liberty University. He really enjoyed the college days there, but the cost of college is quite high, and Chandler is prayerfully considering his options. Chandler enjoys working with his hands, and he appreciates outside work and play. Please pray with us that he will have wisdom regarding his college decisions. Chandler had a great senior year of playing soccer as he closed out his high school season with 30 goals for the season and 25 assists. Now he is playing his senior year of basketball! 

Wyatt is in 10th grade this year, and he enjoys all the sports, but especially basketball!  Wyatt is not quite as interested in school as his parents would like him to be, but he does ok. Wyatt is taking piano lessons this year, and we are thankful for his growth in that area. Our prayer for Wyatt would be that he would make good friendships and that he would have wisdom about what God wants him to do in the future. 

Travis would prefer to be anywhere but at school, but he works hard at it. He played soccer also this season, and as the youngest Robertson boy playing sports, he puts up with a lot from his brothers! He enjoys anything outside and in the dirt, and he loves to annoy his oldest brother…hopefully someday they will be best buds! Travis provides a lot of humor for our family, and we are thankful for his lightheartedness. 

Emma is in fifth grade, and school is hard for her. She enjoys school because she is a social butterfly, but school does not come easily for her. She enjoys babies, Barbies, and Legos, and not so much playing sports much to her brother’s chagrin. Emma is Sarah’s grocery shopping companion, and Emma goes with Sarah almost every Saturday to get the grocery shopping done. It has provided for one on one time for them, and they are both thankful for that. 

In closing, we also took a family cruise last March to celebrate Garett’s high school graduation. Everyone had summer employment, and we are thankful for God’s provision of work there. The boys had the opportunity to go to Teen Extreme camp at Pensacola in June. Travis and Chandler attended soccer camp at Bob Jones University (Chandler was the  Camper of the Week there. Wyatt was unable to attend due to a badly sprained ankle). The boys took a trip to Wisconsin in November for deer hunting, and they stayed at Sarah’s parents home. We celebrated Christmas at home this year, and we’ve savored lots of moments and time together. As we age (quickly!), we are realizing just how fleeting these moments as a family are in our lives. 

As we look towards 2026, we pray that you will find grace and peace in the presence of our Savior. We truly have the greatest gift in our salvation in Jesus, and that is a gift that is freely offered to each one. 

Blessings, 

The Robertson Family 

Thanksgiving!

 Well…A, B, C, skip a lot, and Thanksgiving is here (and gone!) My dream and ambition of keeping up with the alphabet and naming things we are thankful for drifted off somewhere over the course of the last 16 days of just being busy with life. Just know…we are thankful!

Photo credit: freepik.com

We traveled to the western part of the state last Saturday to have Thanksgiving dinner with my aunt and family. The boys kept on driving towards Wisconsin for a week of deer hunting and to spend time with my parents. Jen, Emma and I put up a few Christmas decorations at my Aunts house, and then we went to the mountains for Saturday night/Sunday. We had a great time visiting with my aunt, her grandkids, and just relaxing in the mountains for a few hours. We did some walking, talking, and just sitting around enjoying the mountains. It was so good to get away for a just a bit before coming back for two crazy days of school.

It’s just been Emma and I this week at home, and Emma has loved every moment! We’ve cleaned house, taken several bags to thrift stores, put up Christmas decorations, and of course, we went to school on Monday and Tuesday. 

On Wednesday, Jen, Emma and I went to the beach as it was about 73 degrees here! It was a beautiful day at the beach, and we enjoyed a long walk on the beach, time at the park, and we visited several thrift stores. We intentionally went on Wednesday as the weather has turned significantly cooler the past several days! 

The boys enjoyed their week in Wisconsin, but I think they are all tired and ready to come home! Garett got three does for the freezer, and Wyatt got one. This was the first year that Chandler didn’t get any deer, but that’s the way that hunting goes sometimes. Travis would’ve liked to have shot a deer, but let’s be real, he went to Wisconsin so that he could get out of school! Roger said that the boys put wood in the basement for my dad, did several community service projects for some folks in the church, and they got up early every morning for hunting, so yes, they are tired! 

I have missed the boys and Roger a lot this week, but it has been so relaxing and refreshing to be at home and get things done at home. (I hope the boys don’t notice how many items have vanished to the thrift store! Just Kidding!) It’s been a good week, and I am reminded of how much I have to be thankful for each and every day and not just at Thanksgiving. Jen, Emma and I grilled out hamburgers for Thanksgiving dinner. There was no way that we were going to make a turkey and all the fixins for the three of us, and since none of us are crazy about turkey anyways, that worked out just fine! I called our friends, the Mortvedt’s in Alaska on Thanksgiving day, and it was so good to just listen and visit with them. They’ve remained our friends for almost 13 years now, and I just really appreciate all their wisdom. I should really call them more often as it blessed my heart to speak to them. I was also reminded that we are all getting older, and it’s been almost thirteen years since we were in Alaska- time really does fly by! “Life is a vapor”, as the book of James tells us, and the older I get the more I realize that!

Roger and the boys left Wisconsin this morning to head back to North Carolina. They were planning on staying around to hunt one last time this morning, but since snow was in the forecast, Roger decided to get on the road. Garett is driving back a vehicle that my parents have given to the boys, and Roger is driving the mini van. Roger said that they probably didn’t get above 50 mph until they were somewhere in Indiana. Once the snow started coming down, the roads became snow covered very quickly. Roger told me that Garett did a great job driving the stick shift car on the roads, and that they passed about 19 cars in the ditch. I am thankful for the Lord’s protection, and the boys are somewhere in the state of Ohio for the night. They’ll have about seven hours to go tomorrow, but hopefully, without snow! 

Photo credit: Chance Howard 

We are certainly blessed to live in the United States of America. Almost every day there is something in the news that is heartbreaking, discouraging or just plain evil that is happening in our country. I am thankful that regardless of the craziness and chaos of this world, God has never relinquished His control. That doesn’t mean that I am going to just sit back and let “everything be what it will be”, but I can rest in the fact that God is in control. However, as long as I have breath, I plan to praise God and be a thankful American. (I will also vote, exercise my right to amendments, and raise our children to be involved and thankful Americans, Lord willing). 

The next few weeks til Christmas break are going to be crazy in so many ways. We have been busy with what feels like 1000 ornaments in our art room, but it’s probably closer to just about 500-700. Let’s just say that there are ornaments everywhere, and I have to constantly remind my students to watch where they are stepping or putting something to dry. Someday, I’d love to have more shelves for drying ornaments and projects, but for now we just shuffle, slide, and shift everything from each class. My goal is always for each student to make two ornaments as many children come from split homes. I don’t want them to have to choose which parent they are going to give an ornament to, so we make two. It makes for a bit of craziness, but thankfully, I have an amazing art assistant, who just rolls her eyes and keeps on hot glueing or making piles for the next class. I am so blessed to have Kaycee in my art room. God knew that I would need her organizational skills! 

Emma is going to be in the elementary Christmas program which is going to be in just a few short days! She’s in the choir, as she didn’t want to try out for a speaking part. I am sure that all the teachers and the music directors will be happy to have that performance behind them. 

We will be having an art exhibit for the Middle School and High School students on the last day of school, so my mind has been busy with what that will look like for my students. It can keep me awake at night (so can a lot of other things) but I know I will be excited when it all comes together and is behind us. There’s always something! 

As we wrap up November, and we head into the busyness of December, I want to make sure that I am intentional this month. It’s so easy to get caught up in the “doing” of this month, that it can be easy for the “reason” to take a back seat in my life. My sister, Jen, bought me a devotional book on Advent for this month, and I am going to work at being intentional in my time to really study out Advent. Don’t let this Christmas season just become one of busyness and activities, but let’s be intentional with our days! 

Photo credit: istockphotos.com

Day(s) # 7, 8 (Oops!)

 I do not love combining three days into one post, but at this point I also realize that if I don’t do some combining, I may not make a comeback! :) 

The past few days were busy (obviously) because I didn’t get on here and give a daily thanks update. On Friday, the boys had their first basketball game. Chandler was gone to Liberty University for the College for a Weekend, but Wyatt played in the game. It was actually a bit of a boring game as the score was 76-9. (We won.) It’s exciting to win, but those games are definitely not very fun for watching! 

On Saturday, the boys all played in a golf tournament for church (except Chandler). The golf tournament was originally scheduled for back in October, but it was canceled due to rain. It was moved to Saturday, which didn’t work for Chandler due to the Liberty weekend. Travis and Roger ended up being on the same team with two other guys. Travis was happy to be on a team with Roger, and Travis is not flashy or showy, but he is very, very steady! Their team ended up winning the tournament, so that was very fun for them! 

Emma and I went to Fayetteville to work in a Holiday Fling Festival with some friends that we work for in the summer and other events. I wasn’t sure about taking Emma as it was going to be a long day, but since Roger and the boys were gone and Jen and Chandler, she came with me. She was a pretty good worker, and she stuck with the tasks on hand. She was happy to go home, and so was I! It was a 11.5 hour day of working at selling chocolates, caramel apples, and about everything that can be covered in chocolate! I think I can put on my resume that I now can dip caramels and chocolates, which I can, but I’m surely not amazing at it! 

Chandler enjoyed the weekend at Liberty, and I am thankful that he had the opportunity to attend. He was the one that set everything up as far as the meetings for financial aid, several other meetings, filling out the application, etc. He really did take the initiative on this, and we were thankful for that. He told me today that he was happy that Aunt Jen was able to go with him to the meetings because he didn’t know what questions to ask. I was very thankful that Jen was able and willing to go with him to the college, as that helps us get a better perspective. Oh, there is just so much to think and pray about here! We are asking God for great wisdom and direction. Jen said that she was very impressed at the parent meeting when the college made it very clear that their mission was to either help your child have a relationship with Jesus Christ, or help your child develop and mature in their relationship with Jesus. I’m not sure what God has for Chandler, but I do know that if this college is God’s will for Chan, God will make that clear. He will provide for all of Chandler’s needs just as He always has for ours. 

Ok, back on track for the last few days that I’ve missed. 

Day # 7 (The letter “G”)

Grandparents- this was Garett’s word for today. He said that he is very thankful for his grandparents on both sides. He also said that he is thankful for the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms (so guns.) We are thankful for that as we need some deer meat in the freezer! 

God- this one goes without saying, but in case anyone was wondering, we are so thankful for the sovereign, Almighty God we serve! 

Google- Travis’s word for today. He said that he is thankful for the ability to search up and look for information quickly. I guess he is right! But I don’t allow the kids to use Google to search up their words each day. They have to do their own thinking! 

Grandparents- also Wyatt’s word for today. He doesn’t love hunting like the brothers do, but he is looking forward to going to Wisconsin to see Nana and Papa. We are thankful for grandparents. 

Grace- I am thankful for the abundant, never ending, grace of Jesus. We are studying the attribute of God “graciousness” in art class, and I am so thankful that God never runs out of Grace!

Gorgeous wife- Roger’s word. (Not sure I agree, but ya know!)

Generosity- I am thankful for the generosity of so many that have helped provide our children with their Christian education. I am thankful for those that give generously of their time, energy, and efforts to pour into our children and our lives.  

I am sure that we have many more “g” words to be thankful for, but my brain is kinda tired right now. And I want to catch up on the days that I am behind on!

Day #8 (the letter “H”) 

Home- Travis’s word for today. He said that he is always  thankful to come home. He is a little bit of an introvert, and often home is his favorite place to be. I am also thankful for our home. I’m not always as thankful as I should be like when I see a mouse in the house, shoes not picked up, laundry piled high, and everything else, but oh, how thankful I am for our home. 

History- Garett picked this word for today. We are thankful for our history, both as a nation and the history in God’s Word. History is so important to teach our young people, because those that “don’t know history are doomed to repeat it.” I am thankful for my sister, Jen, who works hard to teach history in a way that is engaging and fun but also teaches the importance of the subject. 

Heritage- my word for today. I am thankful for a Godly heritage. I am thankful that my parents worked hard to instill in me a love for God and His Word. I am thankful that they taught me to work hard, manage a budget, be creative and innovative, and enjoy the moments and memories. 

Hope- Emma gave me this word for today. She said that she is thankful for hope in Jesus and knowing that He has a perfect plan for her. 

Hospitable wife- Roger again. Although, this is something I do enjoy. I usually enjoy having people over in our home for a meal, or making meal for someone that is going through a hard time, or inviting people to stay for a meal or an overnight stay. I appreciate the opportunity to show hospitality to others, and I do think that hospitality is a bit of a “lost art” in our American culture. So many Americans (and Christians) are busy with working, making house payments, or lot of other activities, that we just aren’t as hospitable as I think we could and should be. We’ve been on several missions trips, and often people with a LOT less than we have are far more hospitable than we would dream about. Being hospitable is definitely something that I want to teach our children, and I think it’s probably best taught by being “caught” (observing it in person). 

Hot water- life is so much more enjoyable with hot water! Hot water makes cleaning so much easier, showers a lot more enjoyable, and I am very thankful  for hot water! 

We are also thankful for hamburgers, health, and a whole host of other “h” words that I can’t think of at the moment! 

I said that I was going to catch up today, but I’m not going to today. I’m going to wrap this up and be thankful for beds and hot water! 

Day #6 Giving Thanks (The letter “f”)

 Today’s letter was “f”, and there are a lot of words that start with “F” that we are thankful for in our lives. Faith, family, and freedom are at the top of the list, but we are also thankful for food, Fridays, friendships, finances, flowers, fields, and so much more! 

“Food”- Emma said that this was on her list for today, but she is especially thankful that God created FRUIT! 

“Freedom and Firearms”- These were both Garett’s picks for today, but freedom was also on my list for today too. We are so thankful to live in the United States of America, even when it seems like common sense and thinking have completely vanished from our culture! I am thankful for “elections” (a word that I forgot to add yesterday, but I am thankful for the opportunity to vote.) Garett is also thankful for firearms, as that makes deer hunting a lot more fun!

“Faith” -Wyatt’s word for today. We are so very thankful that we can cling to the Rock in the midst of any storms of life. Faith allows us to rest in the fact that God is working even when we don’t feel or see it. Faith in Jesus is what secures my eternity in heaven, and I am thankful for the opportunity to live out my faith. 

“Faith” Travis also chose this word for today, but it was in regards to the school at which the boys and Emma currently attend. It’s not perfect, and there are some things I’d change, but since we aren’t perfect either…it works! We are thankful for the opportunity to have our children receive a Christian education, and I am thankful for the opportunity to teach in a Christian school. Travis said he’s not always thankful for school, but he knows that he should be anyways! Well, yes! 

“Future”- I am thankful that God knows the future. Because of my faith in Jesus, I can also trust that He holds the future confidently for us. “Friends” - I am also thankful for friendships. This one has been a little bit of a struggle for me since we’ve moved, but I’m reminded that deep, meaningful friendships take time, energy and effort. I often miss my friend, Allison, in Maine, as we did lots of church and school activities together and could read each other’s mind across the room. We have some fun memories of many “terrible, awesome ideas” that we did together. Terrible because they were a lot of work and energy, but awesome because the end result was usually pretty amazing! I am thankful for my friendship with Roger. It sounds kinda odd to even say, but sometimes I feel like a lot of married people aren’t really good friends with their spouse. It’s work, for sure, but I am thankful that Roger and I are friends…best friends. We have made many friendships over the years in Alaska, Arizona, Wisconsin, Maine and North Carolina, and each one is a special gift to us. We are thankful for friendships. 

“Fantastic wife”- Roger’s word.  

Chandler is missing a word for today because I forgot to ask him about it this morning. He is attending College for a Weekend at Liberty University. Chandler and Jenn left this afternoon to head to Liberty for the weekend. Chandler is looking forward to seeing more about what the college has to offer, and we are looking forward to hearing about scholarships and how will we possibly afford this?! I told Chandler for several years that I didn’t think that Liberty would be a good option for us due to the cost of the college education, but then I was really convicted about my lack of faith in the whole thing. Just because I don’t think that we could possibly afford it, doesn’t mean that God is without the ability to provide for Chandler in this. Chandler went to Liberty University two summers ago to attend a soccer ID camp, and we were all really impressed with the college. I’m definitely not saying that is where he will end up, but it’s an option that he is exploring. I am so thankful that Jen was able to go with him to the college weekend, as I don’t really have days I can miss at school, and Jen will be able to help him remember to ask questions about many, many things! We signed him up for a college tour, a meeting with financial aid, the admissions office and who knows what else?! Chandler is not 100% sure about what he wants to major in, and sometimes I think he gets overwhelmed and discouraged about not knowing what God wants him to do. But we just keep encouraging him to explore options, pray diligently and keep talking through his ideas. He did mention to us about while back that he thought he might want to go into dental work. Umm, absolutely not! As Chan’s family, we adamantly told him that we thought this was a bad idea for Chandler! He likes to move very quickly, sometimes too quickly, and the thought of him rushing around in someone’s mouth is probably a really, really bad idea! He is currently thinking about a business major, but he thinks he also might like to pursue a trade option. Like I said, we have no idea, and we are all busy praying about it for him! 

Friday- tomorrow is Friday, and I am very thankful for that! Hooray! 

             

                                                        Family trip on a missions trip to Haiti a few years ago 

Day #5 Giving Thanks (the Letter “E”)

 ”E”?! Our kids were a little stuck on this letter today, and there’s not a whole lot of words that start with the letter “e”, but they figured it out. 

“Energy”. Emma’s word choice for today. I asked her why she picked this word, and she said that she is thankful to have energy to run and play with her friends. That’s a good reason to be thankful!

“Effort” This was one of my words for today. Especially as I teach a lot of students in a week, I am very thankful for those who put forth effort into their projects rather than not seeming to care or rushing right through it! 

        * Tea Bag Art- these projects are done using the tea bag as the canvas. It’s a lesson in limits and creativity. I think a lot of them turned out really well! 

“Elena” and “Emma”. Travis told me that he was thankful for his little cousin Elena, and his cousin Emma, and he guess that he was kinda mostly thankful for his sister “Emma” too! Haha! Well, I am thankful for Emma! 

“Endearing Wife”- Roger..sigh. I do not think I was an endearing wife today when I called him to tell him that I had locked the keys in the van! I finished up art classes today, and my assistant and I ran over to the liquidator store as I like to look there for art supplies first. It’s just a short 1/3 mile over there, and I never lock the van…except for today. We only found some Christmas stencils today for art class, and when we walked back out to the van, uh oh! I called Roger to ask if he knew where the extra keys were to the van. Kaycee and I walked back to school to finish up the school day, and then I took Chandler’s car home to get the extra key to the van! Ugh- that was frustrating, but I just realized that I have another “e” word! I’m super thankful that we have an EXTRA key to the mini van! 

“Everyday” This is Garett’s word choice for today. He said that since every day is a “day that the Lord has made, we should be thankful for everyday too. That’s very true, and something that I need to remember. 

“Experiences” Wyatt chose this word for today, and he said that he is thankful for all the fun and interesting experiences God has given him in his life like Alaska, Arizona, Wisconsin, Maine, and all the adventures in between. We certainly have much to be thankful for as we look back on so many experiences with fond memories, smiles, and opportunities to be thankful. 

“Equations” You’ll never guess that the kid that doesn’t love math picked this word- Travis. He actually said that he’s not exactly sure that he is thankful for equations, but he is thankful that Mr. Kidd (his math teacher) knows how to help them do the math equations! Yes, we are thankful for equations and Mr. Kidd. Travis also picked “Easter” as his other word for today. The resurrection of Jesus is definitely highest on our list of things that we are thankful for every day! 

“Economics”- Chandler picked this word for today. He said that if more people sat in Aunt Jen’s class on Economics they would better understand that money doesn’t grow on trees! Hmm…I can think of a lot of people in our world/culture that also need to understand this concept!  

We are also thankful for eggs as we get those from Aunt Jen’s chickens. We are thankful that we have an everlasting Savior! 

I really enjoy this song! 

Day #4- Giving Thanks (Letter “D”)

 Today is day #4 in our “giving thanks” blog post series, and today I am thankful that we have next Tuesday off due to Veteran’s Day! Tuesday is my craaaazzzyyy busy day without time really to even think about anything other than what the next class is doing in art! My high schoolers are finishing up their “art on a tea bag”, and I’ll have to take some pictures of those as some of them turned out really well! They are going to begin constructing a series of three Christmas ornaments that will be of their choosing, and I’m excited to see what they turn out!

The letter “d”…Well, every kid immediately said “Dad”, and we are very thankful for Dad! Roger works hard to provide for our family. He faithfully serves us every day, and he works hard to spend time with our children. I am very thankful for all of Roger’s efforts in demonstrating to the boys character traits like patience, discernment, hard work, etc. 

“Doughnuts” and “Delicious food” - Emma’s word choices for today. She is a fan of doughnuts, and although we don’t have them often, she likes just about every doughnut! Emma told me that delicious food is definitely something she is thankful for in her life. Me too! 

“Deer hunting”- Garett’s word for today. He is especially looking forward to going to Wisconsin to deer hunt with Papa and his brothers and dad. We are praying for a successful hunt for the boys as the freezer needs some meat!

Not sure that this kid will be successful! :) But actually he did get two deer in one evening two year ago! :) 

“Dreams” Yup, this would be Travis’s word for today. I was like “Why?”, and Travis replied, “Well, mom, dreams make my sleeping more interesting. I like dreaming of food and sports as those are some of my favorite dreams.” Well, okay then. 

“Dunkin Donuts” Another word that Garett picked for today. He actually doesn’t stop for Dunkin much as he’s busy working, but I sure agree with this one. I like Dunkin coffee too! I am also thankful for Dunkin, especially after nights when I don’t sleep well! 

“Doctors”- This is my word for today. With Wyatt seeing the doctor this past month for a few concerns, it’s a blessing to have a doctor that was willing to take action to get Wyatt a referral for the lump on his head and our other concerns. I am thankful for doctors. 

“Delightful wife” sigh. This one is Roger’s word for today. I told him that he needed to be thankful for something else this month too, and he said he is thankful for other things, but he’s currently sticking with the theme. Well, okay then! 

Chandler and Wyatt missed adding their words to today’s list as they’re currently at basketball practice tonight. Maybe I’ll have a chance to add their thoughts later. 

                           Thankful  for dear friends and family- Photo taken last November 2024 

Day #3 of Giving Thanks = Children, Championships, Christmas, Christianity, Coffee, Cookies, Co-workers, Cash

 And it's Monday again! I don't know that I've ever heard anyone say that Monday is their favorite day of the week, but I am thankful it is another day "that the Lord has made." 

Today marks another day of giving thanks, and this time it is with the letter "c". This one was a pretty easy one- Christianity, Christmas, Christ, Church, etc. 

"Children"- This was my word for today. It would be weird to be teaching children and not to be thankful for them! And if ever I get to the place where I am not thankful to be teaching children, then it is time to be done. I am so thankful for the opportunity to pour into these children and to hopefully impact their lives in a positive way for Jesus Christ. 

“Championships”- Another thing we are all thankful for this year! It was fun to win the championship for soccer this year. 

2025 Championship 

"Christmas" Emma's word for today. She is very excited about Christmas, and everything that comes with it. It's a good reminder to be thankful for the real reason to celebrate the season and that is Jesus, of course! 

"Christianity" this was Chandler's word pick for today. He said that he was thankful for Christianity, and that it's not about a religion but a relationship with Jesus. Chandler has learned a lot about relationships this year, and I think that he is realizing that the most important relationship is with Jesus. 

"Coffee"...um...this was also my word! I am so thankful for coffee. I love the smell, the taste (but NOT black), and it marks the beginning of another day for me as I read my Bible and drink coffee. I am very thankful for coffee! 

"Chocolate Chip Cookies" - Guess who picked this one? Wyatt loves cookies, and almost every cookie he likes to eat.  Chocolate Chip Cookies and Oreos are his favorites. He told us when he was about five that he likes about every cookie, but not "church" cookies. I was like, "What are church cookies?" He said, "Church cookies are like the generic Oreos that don't taste the best and those wafer cookies that don't have any flavor." But other than that, he is thankful for cookies! 

“Co-Workers”- this was Garett’s word today. I think I am just as thankful as he is for his co-workers! Garett is blessed to work with two Christian men, and it has been such a blessing to him. I know that God provided these men and this job knowing that Garett would need the fellowship and mentorship especially since graduating from high school. 

“Cash”- Travis’s word for today. He told me “Yes, mom. The love of money is evil, but cash is helpful!” Well, I agree! We are thankful for cash and the work that provides the cash! 

“Cute wife”- Seriously…Roger’s word. I asked him if he was going with a theme throughout this Thanksgiving season, and he said that so far he’s come up with a word that matches the letters. I’m thankful for Roger. 

Day #2 of Giving Thanks

 Today’s was an interesting day as Roger, Garett and Travis went to Aiken to visit with Roger’s parents as it was “Grandparents Day” at their church. Emma sang in kids choir, Chandler went to church with a friend, so we were kinda spread out all over. My favorite part of today was during the last song when I put my arm around Wyatt, and he lifted his arm and put his arm around me. It reminds me that these days are fleeting so quickly, and I am so thankful for hugs from our kids. I updated our post from yesterday because I forgot about two very important things that I am thankful for! Read about it Here

Day #2 - Letter “B”

Bible- I asked Emma what was a word that started with “b” that she was thankful for and without even thinking, she replied, “Bible”. What a gift we have been given to have God’s Word in our own language and have access to read it every day! Also, I take this gift so much for granted! 

Basketball- Wyatt’s word for today was basketball. He probably enjoys this sport more than any of the other boys, and it shows. He will practice whenever he has an opportunity. This is not the word that I would’ve chosen! I don’t mind basketball, but the season is so long! However, I can be thankful for this opportunity for the three boys in school to play this sport. 

Brothers- Chandler’s word. I asked him which brothers he was thankful for and he replied, “It definitely depends on the day and the situations!” Haha! The good news about having a bunch of brothers is that if you’re mad at one there’s another one you can have a conversation with or do an activity with. (Not that I want them to be mad at each other, but let’s be real- it happens!)

Baptism- This was my word for today. Baptism does not get us to heaven, but it is an outward profession of our love for Jesus. Emma was baptized last Easter (2024), and it was such a special moment for her and us. 

Bathrooms- Guess who picked this word?! Travis! He said that he is thankful for bathrooms and especially ones that have toilet paper! Okay then! 

When we were in Arizona, we had to go to the laundromat to wash clothes. One day while we were there, I told Chandler to take Travis to the bathroom. They came back and Travis clearly still needed to go. I asked what was the problem and Chandler replied, “We can’t use the bathroom, we don’t have a costume!” I was like, “What in the world?!” But the sign does say for “Costumers” only! Haha! Spelling does matter! 

Beds- Garett’s word for today. He said that he can about sleep anywhere, but he is thankful for beds to sleep in. He is thankful that he does not have to sleep under a bridge tonight. 

Beautiful wife- totally Roger’s word! I certainly didn’t pick this one, but I am thankful that Roger finds me to be beautiful. 

So many things to be thankful for today! 

Day #1- Day of Thanksgiving

 I am attempting to surprise and impress even myself this month as I attempt to write about 27 days of thanks. I’ll be honest and admit that I sometimes struggle with fatigue, depression, being overwhelmed, and forgetting to be truly thankful for so many things that God has blessed me with on a daily basis. I have a generally idea of how I want to process my thoughts, but I’m sure I’ll change my mind along the way…and I’ll probably forget to write a day of gratitude on a day here or there also! 

Day #1 of Giving Thanks: 

“A” 

“Adoption”- I am so thankful for the adoption of our two nieces and nephew. (This adoption formally took place in the later half of 2024, but we are so thankful for these little ones in Hannah and Josh’s life.) 

“Aunt Jen” - Our children have loved having Aunt Jen live close to us these past few years. She has poured into their lives with time, energy and effort. She works so hard at what she does both for our children, Hannah’s children, and her students. I am so thankful for her leadership and administration in the school, and while it’s certainly not all been roses, she has stuck with it. We are also thankful  for other aunts in our children’s lives, but Aunt Jen lives close! 

“Athletics” - Wyatt’s choice. :) This is something that our whole family enjoys (Emma probably tolerates more than enjoys athletics at this point in her life, but hopefully she will enjoy sports more in the future!) The boys have enjoyed playing soccer, basketball, golf, and baseball on the school team, and we are thankful for this outlet for them. It’s a tool that can be used to encourage life skills, character traits, and so much more. 

“Automobile”- This was Roger’s word for “A”, but he said his favorite part about automobiles is when they run well! Haha! This year we’ve added two vehicles to our family as we have more drivers. Garett has mastered the skill of driving a manual car,  and the Honda has been a good car for him. 

“Administration” -Whew! No one necessarily always loves the job, and it’s a big one, but I am thankful for the school administration. Jen works harder than anyone I know to try to encourage both spiritual growth and high academics, and she has high expectations. The elementary side also has a new principal and the head of school is relatively new also. I know that not all would agree with me, but sometimes change is necessary. We don’t always agree with the decisions made that are above my pay grade, but I do work hard to be thankful for the efforts and energy that the administration team pours into the school. I am thankful for them. 

“Apple”- This is Emma’s work. She especially likes caramel apples. 

“Activities”- This is Garett’s word. He has enjoyed hunting this fall, as well as a fishing trip one afternoon with someone from his church. 

“Air conditioning” Travis chose this word. He said that he doesn’t think much about air conditioning in the winter, but he sure is thankful for it in the summer! 

“Art Assistant”- I am so very, very thankful for my art assistant, Kaycee. She works hard to keep everything neat and organized, and helps me with so many crazy ideas. I am so thankful for her!

‘Attributes of God”- What a gift to be able to study and learn about the attributes of our great God! So thankful! 

OCTOBER- Is the Month Finally Almost Over?!

 October was a really long and full month of activities, events, “last moments for Chandler”, my parents visiting and a whole host of a lot of other things that happened in our lives. I’ll admit, I’ve felt a bit like a “failure” mom as I haven’t posted many pictures of Chandler’s last senior moments to Facebook or even shared a whole lot of what’s been happening in our lives. But the blog is the story of our lives, and I’m trying to keep most of our memories and events in one place…even if it’s currently at a once a month post! 

Photo credit: Chance Howard 

All good photos- credit to Chance Howard! 

Photo credit: Chance Howard

We started off the month of October with a visit to the regional fair. The boys had soccer practice so Emma and I had the opportunity to go to the fair with one of Emma’s classmates (Cynthia) and her mom. Emma is quickly learning that there are some advantages to being the only child to attend certain events! Emma and Cynthia had free student passes, and I had free fair passes from entering art at the fair, so the we didn’t have to pay any admission fee. Maria and I decided that Emma and Cynthia could get wristbands for the rides, and the girls  rode so many rides in the 3 hours we were at the fair. We did take them into some of the show barns to see the fair art, but we walked quickly. Maria and I had many conversations while the girls were busy on the rides, so it was a good evening for me too. After the fair, we took the girls to McDonald’s for supper, and they were thrilled with that too. It was a fun and full day for them. 

When I went to pick up all the school art work from the fair the Monday after the fair ended, I about had a panic attack as one of my high schoolers was missing his art piece! I was about to probably cry when one of the fair workers came by and said, “Oh, I think his piece is in the front office.” I was a bit confused as I was worried that it had been broken or something, but no, he had won “Best of Show” at the fair, and his project was heading to the North Carolina State Fair! Well, praise Jesus! I was so relieved and thrilled! Kaeden’s project continued on to the state level, where he won “Best of Show” at the state fair! I had nothing to do with the project, and I only coordinated the efforts of getting it to the fair, but I am so proud of his hard work and representation of the school. That was a highlight for our art department at school. 

Soccer season is completely wrapped up for another year, and it marks the ending of another chapter of soccer for another of our sons. Chandler had a great season, along with the team. They were 16-1 in the season (that’s 16 wins and 1 loss for those that did not know). And Chandler scored 30 goals over the course of the season. Roger and Armando Jr. did a fantastic job coaching the team, and while it certainly wasn’t without its moments of frustration, we are so proud of the team! The boys high school soccer team won their state conference match on October 18th for the first time in a very, very long time. They had seven seniors on the team, and we will miss them next season. However, we are thankful for the great season that the team had, and the Lord was merciful as we did not have any serious injuries. Chandler won the MVP award for the tournament, and two other boys were also named to the All-Tournament team. I do think that the awards in the conference can be a bit biased or based on who knows whom rather than skill or performance at the games. The boys soccer team should’ve had more than just three players named in the all-conference awards and the all-tournament awards. But ya know, at the end of the day, it’s just a plaque or trophy…and I also have a box of those from high school days. The memories, the moments, the relationships will far outlast the trophies or plaques. But, that being said, we were thrilled when the boys team also won the “Christian Character Award” in the conference! It’s often hard to keep your “cool” on the field or with the refs, but for the most part, both the players and the fans did fairly well. I am proud of Roger’s hard efforts, sacrifices to make coaching work, and his willingness to keep at it even when it was hard with three boys and a coach all living in the same house! 

The boys and I have worked several Saturdays at various fairs and festivals this past month helping the family that we work with during the summer months. No one necessarily loves getting up on a Saturday and going to work, but life is expensive! Chandler has been busy looking at several different colleges and trying to figure out his options. He would like to go on a deep sea fishing trip for his family senior trip at the end of the school year, and we are looking into our options for a family vacation when school is out. 

This month Wyatt had an appointment with the doctor as I wanted to ask about a bump on the back of his head. I’ve noticed it for a while now, and I wanted the doctor to check it out. It’s a hard lump on the back of his skull, so the doctor asked if we would get it xrayed. He said that he didn’t think it was anything serious as the lump is hard and not soft, but to go ahead and get it xrayed. I took Wyatt in the next morning, and I figured it wasn’t terribly serious as the doctor didn’t call until the following afternoon. Apparently, it’s just part of how his skull is formed. He probably shouldn’t ever get a close cut on the back of his head, but there’s nothing wrong. I am thankful for that. Wyatt does have another concern that we are getting looked at later in the year, but we’re not ready to cross that bridge yet. 

Chandler gave blood at the school blood drive this month, and while he managed to give the blood, he might be a “one and done” type of person. He finished the blood donation, sat in the chair, apparently said, “I don’t feel good.”, and he passed out! I wasn’t there as I was finishing up teaching, but our guidance counselor called me to tell me that Chandler was fine, but he was feeling a little woozy. I walked down to the donation room, and the Principal and Pastor were in the hallway. Pastor Powell told me that Chandler was about as white as a sheet, and when I looked in the room, he sure was white! Chandler was laying on the floor with his legs up on the chair, sipping juice, and looking a little out of it! All is well, but Chandler did come home that afternoon and took a nap! 

Let’s see…what else happened this month? Lots of art, teaching, instruction, and trying to make it through the very long month of October! There are not any days off of school, so it makes for some loooong days! My parents did come from Wisconsin in the beginning of the month, and it was good to see them. It’s been a while, and we don’t see them nearly as often as we would like. They came for Chandler’s senior soccer night, and stayed a few days. The boys were happy to get out a little early from school a few days that week, and we enjoyed meals and fellowship with them. The boys and Roger will be heading to Wisconsin for deer hunting at the end of November, and they are all looking forward to both the experiences and time together. Maybe someday my parents will move a little closer! (Did you read that, Dad and Mom?) :) 

Also this month we took the time to remember Charlie Kirk, Emma’s field trip was cancelled due to the government shutdown, and we made it through the first quarter of the school year!

We’ve also had some not-so-wonderful experiences as that’s what life is made of. Reality is that we cannot always protect our children from hard or unpleasant situations (nor should we want to), but sometimes these moments of growth are hard on parent and child. There’s been a situation this past month that caused us to wonder if we are just those “really weird parents” or if we just need to be “steadfast and unmovable always abounding in the work of the Lord”. I know I’m talking in riddles here, but we really could use some extra prayers. One of our children was faced with a situation that is out of their control, but yet a bit of a situation where the repercussions will be felt for a long time. The truth is that at the end of the day, Roger and I need to protect, prepare and nurture the heart of our children to love and serve Jesus. We surely do not do it all perfectly, but as I tell my art students all the time, “Progress over perfection.” How do we best prepare our children to live lives that honor and glorify their Heavenly Father? Perhaps I’ll be able to share a bit more about this situation later, but honestly it’s been hurtful and overwhelming, and we are still trying to process it all. 

 One of the attributes of God that we are teaching in our art classes is that God is holy. Did you know that the word “holy” is mentioned 611 times in the Bible? The word “love” is mentioned 310 times. I’ve been telling our art students that we are surrounded by a culture that screams “God is love.” “Love like Jesus”, etc. All of which are true statements, but we equally need to ask ourselves, “Is this holy?” “ Does this action/deed cause me strive to be holy?” Sometimes in my art classes, I think I’m far more convicted than my students! Haha! 

We are very much looking forward to the month of November. A few of my art students worked on a “thankful” tree for Jen this past week as we want to encourage thankfulness in the hearts of our students. I’m excited to see what our students are thankful this month, and hopefully encourage that attitude of gratitude. God is so good, isn’t he? I’m hoping to write a bit more on the blog next month about several things that I am really thankful for in my life. 

I really love this song! 

September 2025- A Month that We Will Not Forget!

September. Oh, how overwhelming and “heavy” this month has been for my brain and heart to process and digest so many deep emotions. This is one September that we will never forget, and I really am praying that we will have a “Turning Point” in our nation from the youngest to the oldest.

 Yesterday, while at the Teachers Convention in South Carolina, the keynote speaker spoke about not being ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus and being equipped. Ben Schettler, the founder of The Center of Truth in Love, spoke a powerful message about equipping the next generation. He was the first speaker/ pastor that I have listened to in-person that  has spoken clearly about Charlie Kirk, his memorial service, his vision and love for young people, and what are we going to do now. I’m sure there are other speakers/pastors that are speaking on this topic, but I haven’t heard very much in-person around me lately, so  I found the message to be refreshing and challenging, and encouraging. One of the problems with social media is that the flood of information is so great, so overwhelming and not always factual. I appreciated hearing from someone who had been at the memorial service, personally know Charlie Kirk, and was passionate about preaching about our responsibilities as Christian educators. I’ve shown patriotic art videos to my students, spoken to them about the need to be the next generation of leaders, and tried to encourage them to live their lives passionately for Jesus Christ, and sometimes, it still feels like an uphill battle! However, I was encouraged to stay the course and keep at it. The Center of Truth in Love has some powerful resources to help us be faithful and work to equip the next generation for Jesus Christ. I want to teach my students about art mediums, artists, and all things art, but more importantly than any of that, I want them to know Jesus and to make Him known! 

We arrived at the teachers convention on Wednesday afternoon, and we will leave this afternoon. Attending any teachers convention is a little like drinking from a fire hydrant! The amount of information is fast and furious, and it’s hard sometimes to separate out the most important things or things I can implement in my classroom. My boys and Emma are at home, and Emma has called me often to see how it’s going and when I’m coming home.  I’m thankful that the boys and Emma are old enough to stay on their own while Roger is at work, but I know that it makes for some long days for Emma. The boys have stayed busy with putting up tree stands, golfing, more golfing, picking up leaves, and eating. Emma enjoys making crafts and coloring (and I’m sure that the craft stuff is all over her room), but they’re surviving and it’s good for them to miss mom. :) 

I’m going to back track a little back into September to fill in some more thoughts and events that have happened in our lives. 

Written (9/16)  “Rise up, O men of God”… these lyrics from a very old hym have resonated with me this past week. This past week has felt very “heavy” and somber both from a Christian’s perspective as well as an American. The assassination of Charlie Kirk was a shock and Lord willing, a wake-up call to all of us. 

For me, as a mama, a wife, a Christian, and an American, I am heart broken by so many things from this past week. As a mom, I grieve for Charlie’s children. I grieve for Erika, his wife, as she will have so many decisions and challenges that she never envisioned. I grieve, as a Christian, over the martyrdom of another Christian. I grieve for the body of Christ as we rejoice in Charlie’s home-going to Heaven, but he will be missed by so many here. As an American, I grieve for the division in our country. How did we get to the place where evil is so celebrated?! No longer can people disagree with each other in a civil manner. Instead, there are so many instances where the death of another person is celebrated?! How is this even so?! There are a lot of people that I’ve disagreed with over the course of my life, and they’ll be more to come. However, I would never wish evil, pure wickedness, upon them. I have a hard time even wrapping my mind around that kind of hate. It’s heartbreaking.  I soaked up a lot of information those first few days after the assassination, but eventually I took Facebook off of my phone as it became overwhelming to process it all. I needed to take a step back, get my head on straight, and be present for my family. 

If I’m completely honest, I didn’t know a whole lot about Charlie Kirk prior to last Wednesday (9/10). Oh, I knew who he was, and I had some idea of what Turning Point USA  was standing for. But now…now I’ve signed up for emails and texts from Turning Point USA. I’ve inquired about starting a chapter in our area to encourage youth to be involved in the world around them. I’m certainly not going to sit around and wait for someone to do something when I can inquire about information and keep learning and hopefully be a difference maker!

Emma had a minor surgery on September 16th. I took the day off of school for her surgery, and we had to be at the hospital at 5:30am. It was an early morning for us, and it was several hours before she was taken back for her tonsil and adenoids surgery. Emma was extremely nervous about the surgery, and I was a little concerned about how she was going to do with the IV that they wanted to put in her hand. However, God provided Emma with an amazing nurse! Really, God’s hand was evident in it all. As I was talking to Emma about trusting in God and quoting Scripture to her, the nurse was in agreement with what I was telling Emma. She told Emma that she has three girls, and that she could tell Emma was nervous. Emma really needed to get that IV in her hand, and it was time to do it. The nurse asked Emma if she could pray with her, and of course, Emma said yes. We prayed together, and then the IV was put in. I’m not saying that it wasn’t a bit traumatic, but by the grace of God, the IV went in her hand. The surgery itself was really quick once Emma went back to the surgery ward. In about twenty-five minutes, the surgery was over. They called me back when Emma was in recovery. Wow, she was so grouchy! The nurse was talking to her and asking her about her name. The nurse was said, “ Do you like to go by Emma or Kate?” Emma replied, “I go by Lou. Aunt Jen calls me Lou!” It was so funny to her Emma declare her name was Lou as Aunt Jen often calls her Emm Lou, but not just Lou! We were on our way home by about 9:30am, and we spent the rest of the day resting at home. We had some challenging moments, but Emma is on the mend. Roger stayed home with her two days last week, Jen took one day, and I took a day. Emma came to school on Monday, but we didn’t quite make it through the whole day. Thankfully, the kids have a short week at school as they’re on Fall break.  It was encouraging to Emma (and me) to hear from many that were praying for her or gave her a sweet gift. Emma was delighted with a gift card to McDonald’s, a few awesome gifts from my sweet friend, Laura, and Mrs. Kennedy, and Emma’s piano teacher. It was a blessing to know that many prayed and loved on her. 

Emma’s surgery, our 20th anniversary, and the soccer team took a field trip to watch a college team play soccer. 

Emma was delighted with some gifts while she was out of school! 

Roger has been busy coaching the boys soccer team, while Jen and I have couched middle school volleyball. Both have had their challenging moments, but also a lot of really great moments, memories, and experiences. The boys team has only lost one game in their soccer season, so that’s been exciting for them. Jen has done a great job coaching the Middle School volleyball team, and I just help in whatever way that I can. 

We celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary early in the month of September…at a soccer game. :) It’s life, and the season that we are in right now. I am so thankful for Roger and who he is, what he does, and all that he believes in. He’s faithful, loyal, hard working, and he loves me. I am so blessed. We are looking to get away for a few days by ourselves sometime in the near future, but for now, we press on doing what God has called us to do. 

Updated: 9/26. Last Sunday, we went to the early morning service at a church in Wilmington, and it’s early, but we enjoy the service. After the service, we walked at the park for a bit, ate some lunch, and then hung out on the beach for a few hours. The service for Charlie Kirk started while we were at the beach, so I started watching the live stream. The boys were interested in it also, so we ended up watching the service in the car and at home. It was a long service, but wow…it reminded me of the weekend that a few ladies and I traveled to Washington DC for a Freedom Walk in November of 2020. I think it’s easy to have momentum and motivation after watching a service or attending a Freedom Walk, but it’s in the day to day of “life touching life” that we are going to have a Turning Point. May God give each of us wisdom, determination, and direction to do the next right thing, and to not be weary in well doing. 

The month of September has been busy with life, heavy with events that have happened in our world, and encouraging as we have seen the Gospel presented to so many this month because of the death of Charlie Kirk. God is working, and we need to pick up a shovel and start working too! 

I found this quote to be especially appropriate in light of recent events in our nation. Press on!