God WINS! : 2022

It has been a WHOLE year since I have blogged!

Wow.

Can you believe this was 1987?

I am a writer and in the last year, the Lord had me writing cards, letters, prayers, journal entries, and sometimes curriculum; but, earlier this month -- I heard the Holy Spirit say, " WRITE again". That made me smile.

That means - " BLOGS" or as my one friend says, "Michelle writes epistles" ....

But for now -- it is time to get my Christmas greetings published.

It has been a GOOD year. A year filled with many blessings.

We celebrated 35 years of marriage, moved into our awaited dream home, which we named, "the Sanctuary", added a new grandson in July, and found out we are having another grandson in the Spring! We traveled and enjoyed our Harley, we spent MUCH time in the pool, and last weekend we watched our dear friends and "pastors" move into the awaited "HOME" so more ministry can move forward. M2L has been our church home for almost 5 years now - if you don't worship in a local church...please join us one Sunday, visit, and we will make lunch -- just let me know! ( Or, we can head to our favorite restaurant right after church!!)

October 2022! 35 years!

It has been a SWEET year! As we wrap up 2022, there were days of deep sadness, and prayer on our knees as we hoped for some miracles within our family and friends with health situations and other circumstances - but with those hard times -- God also sustained and supplied. God provided and God healed.

Bode Gene Padrick 4 wks old

Today, Brendan reminded me of the verse in Isaiah 43.2

When you walk through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

That is a working verse -- this world today -- you must admit is NOT what we signed up for. There are many around us - hurting and both Bren and I can relate, but we also know the Healer and the ONE that CAN do the impossible.

In this Christmas Season - we pray you had a year with HIM...we pray it was a good and sweet year and we hope that the reminder of the BIRTH of Jesus -- the Lord of All --continues to be WHOM you crave in 2023....or that you would begin to CRAVE HIM, that would be a sweet celebration for us to see!

Merry Christmas from us both. !!!

Both kids - Taylor and Hunter oversee and manage the Insurance Office, so Mom and Dad can truly say they are retired and Bren is able to do his marketing and selling. Brendan truly enjoys watching both kids give back to what has been a part of our lives since Taylor was 6 months old! We have a beautiful team of employees that work so hard, especially when the state and its lawmakers, and companies make insurance a 'bad word' -- especially with homeowners insurance after all of our hurricanes.

Just last weekend -

Speaking of Lowell and Marilyn, they love to spend each day doing all the things! Dad puttering in his big shed shop and Mom with running errands, arts club, and lunch with her ladies each week. We enjoy their company often!

Speaking of us -- I am still teaching - year 35, and I do LOVE the opportunity with my job. I teach History and Social Studies to grades 2, 3, and 4 at Pemayetv Emahakv Charter School on the Brighton Reservation. I still have one more week of work and then I will be off for the break and I am looking forward to THAT!

Christmas Parade
2022 with cousins

Summer of 2022 - They are about the same height!

Jake - "daddy" to our three grands with Taylor still teaches in PSL, helps the Athletic Director with many events, and began a Lawn Service this year which has been a BIG undertaking, but he enjoys it. Ava Lynne was 7 in November and in first grade. She is losing baby teeth and becoming 30 all at the same time. Her caring spirit and love of her sister and brother make her the BEST big sister. She also swims like a fish and loves to read. SJ or Sawyer Jane will be 5 on January 5th. Her golden birthday. She loves all the things too - unicorns, pretending, dress up and her school. She is an artist that leaves drawings everywhere and has learned to swim this summer - she is not a fish yet, but that will happen! Bode Gene, or "BODEEE BOY" joined us July 9, 2022. He was two weeks late, the labor was intense, but he brings all the sweetness. Taylor prayed for a 'mellow' baby and she has him - he sleeps, eats well, and smiles on cue. He was 5 months last week!

Spring of 2021 - Ava was still taller!

Cindy - " mommy" to our awaited grandson, and help mate to Hunter is also a teacher and works at North Elementary with 2nd graders. They sold their home this year, and moved into a studio apartment to save for a house. They were our first house guests and lived with us for two months - this was a sweet blessing to me to have the house full with laughter and laundry and with Bailey their dog.

Family dinners after church are my favorite and I have been blessed with MANY since we moved into our place in April. Who builds a home during a "plandemic" and supply shortage and takes out a mortgage ( in a recession no less ) when we are getting near retirement??????

-- we do, we did, and well ... it was a sweet experience and we enjoy our Sanctuary.

We are very blessed. We love to invite friends and family for Sunday dinners or just dinner and Game nights will start when it is cooler !

SJ wanted her photo taken at our Open
House at church a few weeks ago.
She loves her "BIG church"!

Awaiting the Parade!

Our bike -- local ride !

This last week, I had the gift of my folks coming for an early Christmas and being able to spend quality time with them - it was sweet. We did a little shopping, card playing, and walking down memory lane as well. My sister, Jeanette and her husband are close here in Okeechobee - which is wonderful - so, Mom and Dad were able to spend time with both of us. My folks -- they too are VERY close to retirement and we pray and ask God to bless their health and we reminded them they had a place to stay to get out of the COLD WISCONSIN air when they were ready!

The awaited grandson...March 2023

a beautiful WI sunset....

This year, Bren and I enjoyed a trip North- to Wisconsin - with friends and the Harley. We rode over 800 miles in about 4-5 days and then headed to Tennessee to see Jake's parents and rode the cycles there too! Fall Creek Falls is beautiful!

God created some beautiful landscapes! We also flew to Arizona in October, headed to Scottsdale with an Insurance group and enjoyed the Camelback Inn - that was gorgeous!

We now understand why it is a retirement area - beautiful weather and the desert - what beauty!

June - it was chilly, about to RIDE! With the Peirick's and Hardy's !

Taylor 40 weeks - June 2022

Lunch at IH with Cindy and Hunter!

At home here -- we try to walk and stay hydrated as a kidney stone had Bren changing the Diet Coke habit! We also enjoy riding the Harley locally and now that the cooler weather is here and the stent from the kidney stone story is gone ... we will be riding more often!