Hello! Merry Christmas! This past year has flown by, I know that is a popular expression, but wasn't it JUST August last week?
Why on earth did I start this blog with my baby picture ??
Well, there is a new Pritchard within our reach and I just LOVE to remind many around me - "he looks like his Mimi."
Mind you - he really DOES favor his momma, but he has some of that PEIRICK RED hair that is quite adorable as well!
Grayson Blake Pritchard arrived just after 9 am on March 10, 2023 with a little extra help from the OBGYN and a team of nurses. He was delivered by. C-section and we give all praise to God and the medical peeps who helped him arrive quickly after a LONG labor and a few hiccups.
Cindy and Hunter have entered parenthood like champs with a lot of experience. It gives us great joy to watch them both mother and father the little cutie. His red hair captures the attention of many and that is where I will remind everyone he looks like me - - But seriously, he favors his momma and adores her - she is a sweet helpmate for HP, a sparing partner for BP's sense of humor, and the BEST momma for GrayB. Cindy took the year off to enjoy and momma her sweet baby boy and Hunter continues to guide and manage and lead our Insurance Office with his sister. The two of them make us very proud, guide and watch over the business and have given both Lowell and Marilyn the peace of mind to really 'retire' .
Mom and Dad, or Marilyn and Lowell have faired well this year and continue to be sweet, endearing, and praying folks! Their prayers are something we KNOW and feel daily. Both Dad and Mom have had some bits of this and that - but right now - they are good. We continue to pray a healing for Marilyn's legs and hips. And Dad has an internal heart monitor, trying to figure out his lower chamber and its rhythm. Yet, they are always making sure a ball game is attended and at any celebration, Mom's Tea and her desserts are always cherished.
Bode Gene was grandson #1 last year, and by the time Grayson arrived, Bode was 8 months old and ready to share fun with Grayson and share his clothes as well. Now Bode is 17 months and walking and sharing his "melloe" personality, trying to run, and Grayson is now at 9 months - displaying his sweet and funny personality as well! Both boys get quite a bit of our attention, but our grand-girls are also a BIG part of our life as well! With the arrival of Bode last year, the Patrick's home was getting a little 'squished' and it was time. Jake and Taylor's home was actually his mom's childhood home; and with it being a sellers market, the kids placed their home on the market - thinking they'd have a 60 day close and a 4 month build. That meant - - staying with us in Okeechobee for about 2 months................
Prayers and plans.....
They sold their home in July ( the day it listed) and moved in with us pretty quickly. And, it has been a little bit longer than 2 months. But - it HAS been a blessing.
We have enjoyed Jake, Taylor, Ava, SJ, and Bode for almost 5 months now, as the building did have a few hiccups as well, and they actually moved in a week ago!! - We have been able to watch Bode go from sitting up, to crawling for a week and then to walking. And now he runs - or tries to. His personality is very different from SJ's or Ava's - but he has us all smitten. He loves Baby Estein and that paci - with a mouth FULL of teeth!
The last 5 months have been pretty full. With the Padrick children attending school in Port St. Lucie, Taylor and Jake have been putting the miles on their vehicles going back and forth. Jake still teaches at Centennial High School, and Taylor works both in our Tradition Office and our Okeechobee Office. Bode has a sweet 2nd mom on 2 days a week and the girls have soccer and dance -- busy busy busy busy busy ----- oh and Jake also has his own Lawn business. Yes - busy. Brendan has helped with the taxi service and pick up at times. I am the laundry fairy - and I think my washer and dryer have been non stop for 5 months. With Taylor and Jake came two dogs. Which . . . Ok . . . I may "like" Tripp now, but believe me - we have some stories. Again -- this has been a sweet blessing - but both Jake and Taylor are ready for their OWN place! And it is a beautiful one -- most boxes are unpacked and they are awaiting some living room furniture, but they have slept in their own home now for over a week and we do miss them, but our house is QUIET and we love that too!
Are these not some cute people ??
We went to Wisconsin with Hunter and Cindy in October and we have had EVERYDAY with Jake and Taylor since July.
Speaking of trips - we took off for Georgia and Tennessee with our riding pals and family - the Hardy's. Dale and Kristi are dear friends to escape with. Harley riding has become a favorite pastime! We were so blessed to meet up with family in Tennessee and make new friends in McMinville, TN as well! We even had our own cycle tour guides one day through those mountains - wow - Brendan and I know Wisconsin is beautiful - but Tennessee is RIGHT up there! God surely made some beautiful countryside.
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| Taylor, "Mimi" and "Miss Kerry" -@ Thanksgiving |
Within the year - Church, family dinners, ball games, soccer games, and game nights with friends are what made the year go by SO fast!
We enjoyed cousin visits, family visits, and birthday parties.
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| GrayB and Me |
One special day was in October when both grandsons were dedicated and their parents were commissioned to raise them with the guidance and care of our Lord. It was a very sweet day for this Mimi and G-man!
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| Early Morning - Hello Bode Gene |
Speaking of time flying - the two grand daughters have certainly excelled, grown, and have flown into being the BIG sisters. SJP or Sawyer Jane is in Kindergarten. She is full of spunk and energy. She has never met a stranger but feels everything 100%. She has a Jesus heart and loves to sing. And she is an artist - which - if she does't have paper, she will give herself tattoos. I have photos! My home is full of her drawings. I have to keep an eye on her too -- as I have kept her age 3 and 4 drawings and now she feels they are not good enough; and will almost 'fight' you to FIX them. She took her handmade ornament off the tree. One that has her precious 2 year old handprint on it and she wanted to update it . . . . needless to say, we had a BIG and LOUD discussion as to what Mimi wants to preserve and what she can't touch. We can also have some spirited meltdowns and yet the most funny dialogue. But she is maturing! In the last 2 months, she has gone from recognizing only 2 of her 26 letters to almost all of them. She is beginning to 'get' the whole reading thing!
One more funny story. SJ was so pleased to purchase some Christmas gifts from her Santa school store. Yet, she could not wait until Christmas, so I was allowed to open my gift after dinner.
SJ: "Mimi, eat your dinner and then you can have your Santa gift that I bought you at my school store".
Me: "why thank you".
SJ: "Mimi, you are a teacher and you write a lot of notes to your students, so I knew I needed to get you a PEN!!!" "Isn't that thoughtful of me?
I proceeded to eat and she could not wait, so I was able to open up my new Pen. But did you catch that, she told me it was a pen before I was able to open it.
No worries - she is 5 and excited. I opened it. I admired it. I noticed....
It was purple and it said, "Grandma"
Me: "But Sawyer, this says Grandma and I am a Mimi".
SJ: "Get over it mimi - you ARE A GRANDMA!"
SJ: "Do you like it?"
I cracked up - her one liners have us in stitches, often.
Ok, now Ava! As you can see by THIS smile - she is always happy. Well, I should say, she is always happy if SJ is not bothering her. Ha HA.
Ava has had many talks with me about being the BIG sister and the oldest - etc. etc. I try not place too much pressure on her - but, she is the oldest one. It is a rite of passage. Last week, on one of the last nights here in our house, I caught them in their bedroom, ( my guest room ) with two 4 foot wooden dowels. They were sword fighting - all I could see was my ceiling going to be punctured.
When asked, 'why"? Each of them quickly pointed to the other. To which I said, "Ava, you are the oldest, what part of this was a good idea?" And she replies, "Mimi, I don't know!". She is a fish in the pool, she is always looking out for Bode and SJ, and has the fastest ability to calm SJ down in a melt down. She is very artistic as well and her set of markers and colored pencils are used daily! Ava is in the 2nd grade and is so excited about the new house where she will have her own room again and not have to share a bed with SJ. She is also a very sensitive young lady and she loves conversation. And her reading, she reads with much expression and I love to hear her read. She also loves soccer and is pretty good at it. She plays forward and is also a goalie. She has started with a traveling team and so it begins for the Patrick's and weekend tournaments. All around she is a good athlete and is very fast in the running department as well. The new house will be within walking/ golf cart distance of her school, she is praying for that golf cart!
By the way, before I get typing past this photo - you will see my sister and my niece- Addison. It is taking some time, but we are SLOWLY getting more family here in Florida. She is a transfer student to SEU in Lakeland and I am so loving her close enough to grab her for a weekend. We did just that way back in September!
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| Bode before the haircut |
Brendan is very busy with the Insurance office and marketing. However, he also gets his Harley rides in there and keeps an eye on the Pritchard Ice House - by the way, anyone want to buy that?
He has picked up pickelball and has gotten VERY good so I am no longer a partner. He tries to play 2-3 x a week. The Gators are his favorite team and he continues to read - a lot. Jonathan Cahn is currently on his nightstand.
The photo was taken a few weeks ago at the Four Seasons where we got some rest and had a little fun with some friends at an Insurance Conference. 36 years of marriage this last August. This is my 36th year of teaching. I love my 2nd and 3rd graders, I teach Social Studies. I hope to teach a few more years and get to 40 - let's see how the Lord leads. I work at a beautiful school and enjoy the people I work with. It is a remarkable place - On the Seminole Indian Reservation. Did I mention Taylor?? This last year has been a sweet year for me as she has become a mom of three and we were back to changing diapers and keeping an eye on a little. Bode is a sweet boy and she has enjoyed a little more mom time with him with her position at the Insurance Office. We are very blessed with her hard work and Bode has been an extra helper as well. The last 5 months though, have been a treat for me to have her cook and be around 24/7. I believe we survived -
A dear friend told me to keep a grateful journal of the time together. So, I started one - just for the TIME that they are with us. IT is a blessing to read . . . even on the day where a phone was shattered - God still won. We built this home with the intension of sharing it, we just figured in weekly or daily type of visits, this 5 month extension has indeed tested everyone's patience, but again - God wins! However, I know - I am going to MISS her the most. ( and maybe Bode)
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| SJ played T-ball this fall. She and Zander were on the same team! Brinlee also played! |
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| some of my siblings - with my folks. #12 - Nathan and his wife. Daryl and his bride. #4Jeanette, and Aaron and Barb with Diandra on the floor as well. |
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| Thanksgiving at our home this year. Carrie, Aunt Mary, Addison, Jeanette, and Taylor! |
My folks - and family.
Jeanette and Craig are well. He continues to work for National Beef and they enjoy their grandkids often and travel. Jeanette and Craig host a lot of family and friends and when we can schedule in family time we do! Daryl and Tiffany have a new granddaughter. They continue to work out of their Kitchen and Bath shope in Watertown. Their son, Devon, is in the Air Force and their youngest is in college. Jordan their daughter, and husband Logan are at Scott's Air Force Base in Illinois. We are very proud of these men and their service. Aaron is expecting a new grandson any DAY now. His daughter has a dog grooming business and he keeps very busy with his carpentry work and snowmobiling or cycle riding. We have gotten to know his sweetheart - Barb in the last year and we are NOT letting her GO!
Christopher is still a busy insurance agent in Columbus Wisconsin, his wife is a beautician and their boys are grown and working adults and their girls are in high school- I was able to catch a volleyball game when we were home in October. Diandra and Brad have Addi in college, by me, and two in high school. They too continue to work in the real estate business and keep busy with sports, church, and traveling. Trevor and Marcie are busy with two teens and one in college. Sports, coaching, homecoming - etc, etc. It is fun to watch all the nieces and nephews grow. I was able to catch a volleyball game where Elise was a key player.
Two more -- Nathan and Tina continue to navigate a very busy schedule with 4 boys all in highs school, middle school, and elementary. They are big Packer fans and we often get pictures of the boys playing football or something. We enjoyed their visit this year, as they usually make the trip south - it is sweet to see the boys grow. And finally, there is the baby - Brittan and Ryan. Her clan is growing as well - with Haidyn in High School and the girls growing into 6th grader and 2nd grade! We were blessed with a sweet visit by Brittan as she headed to Florida for a week - otherwise video calls, and text threads keep us all pretty close. Now my folks -- Mom continues to smile and check people out at Wal-Mart, she keeps us updated with the news of Watertown and my dad works for Napa and delivers parts. This Christmas I am most grateful to God for allowing MORE time with him - as he suffered a 'widow maker' heart attack and my mom is NOT a widow. He had 4 stints placed and is back to work, but slowing him down is NOT in his vocabulary. God is good.
God -- yes, HE is good. We try our best to spend as much time seeking God as listening to Him through His Word and through our church family and leaders. We call upon him daily -- and trust that He is at work in our lives. We SEE that often - daily, and we enjoy seeing HIM at work in others. IT is our desire to not only be led by Him, but to be His hands and feet here on Earth - until He calls us home, or raptures His bride. With the way the world is -- it certainly seems the Book of Revelation is coming into fruition.
I need to wrap this up - it is LONG. If you read all the way to the end, and ARE close to us here in Okeechobee - please call or text and we will have you for dinner, or we'd come and meet you and take you to dinner. We are excited for 2024 - hoping to continue to do HIS Kingdom work, and enjoy family and make memories.
