Happy New Year!

Maggie (20) and Timothy (14)

This year has been for us - just like it has been for everyone else - a year of changes, of highs and lows, of laughter and tears. We have all gotten older, hopefully wiser and certainly we have learned from our triumphs and from our mistakes. For those who are new visitors on this page - that what this blog is about - simply documenting all of our family stuff! At the end of each year I make a book (yearbook style) from this blog for each of my kids. It's our family journal. Probably not interesting to anyone but us - but that's ok - read it if you want and get a glimpse (boring as it may be) into our lives!

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This year Tommy left his partnership of 15 years and started another new company - Trio Fire Systems. He took his time deciding what he wanted to do - start over or just go work for someone else. In the end, after several job offers and opportunities, he decided on Trio. It was strange at first, having him home all summer, but by the time he opened his new office, I had grown accustomed to him being around all day and I missed him! Iv'e never had him home that much in 22 years!

Tommy teaches Sunday school to a bunch of teenagers including Tim. He loves it and he loves those kids! He bakes them fresh chocolate chip cookies every week and makes them each a giant cookie - which he expertly decorates - on their birthdays.

Tommy was finally able to get a hold of what we believe to be his maw-maw's famous roll recipe and he has perfected it! When he makes rolls - which is about once a week, he has a list of people who want him to share!

I am still going strong with my Big Shots Photography. We were able to get some big clients (sports associations and school districts) as well as increasing our number of High school senior clients (which is my forte). My partner Stef and I have kind of made a natural progression into a division of sorts - she handles most of the action/sports clients and works with the school yearbook staff and I do mostly portrait work. We used to be just on location photographers, but now we do studio work too. We made the decision to NOT work weddings - which is a huge weight off of our shoulders! 

We sent out another casting call this year for spokes models and ended up with over 30 models - which is a stupid big number! I love all of them though, and am having fun with them! We set a few financial goals this year and Im happy to say we met those goals! Needless to say - this little hobby business has turned into a full time, all consuming job - finally! It only took five long years to get here!

I still run my produce co-op (Too Many Onions) and after all these years, it runs very smoothly!  Every body loves co-op day - they say it's like veggie Christmas! We are up to about 35 members this rotation!

I am still a teacher in the Relief Society at church - but that is only a once per month responsibility.
Of course - any free time that I have is spent just being a mom.

Maggie has had a terrific 2014! She has been at Southern Virginia University, where she has made amazing grades and has grown up so much! She was asked to be the Institute Council Vice President - a job she loved - and she ran for and was elected as the Sophomore Class Senator! She learned so much being on senate, and she was even approached about being an intern for Senator Lee in D.C. over the summer! Im not sure that is a viable option, as she has decided to leave SVU behind and further pursue her major ( Hospitality and Tourism Management) at BYU Hawaii. She leaves next monday and I will admit, I have mixed emotions about her going so far away. On one hand, although she was already far from us in Virginia, now we will have a big ocean separating us! On the other hand - how could I be sad about her living on the beach?! I am so pleased that she is following her dreams and taking chances with her life - taking opportunities she has for adventure - even though she is terrified and would rather stay home with us!

Tim has finally made it to high school! He ended his middle school career with the lead role in the school musical - a role he worked really hard for - and he did a great job! He has taught himself to play the piano and I'd say he has a real talent for it. In fact, he is definitely the most talented of us all. His singing voice is beautiful and his natural musical ability has all of us jealous. He is hoping to learn how to play violin this coming year.

Tim still plays soccer. He is the starting goal keeper for  Legacy FC. We absolutely love watching him play. We have recently gotten him a keeper coach, and he is looking forward to getting stronger in his sport.

Just like most 14 year old boys, Tim loves his phone and social media. He is mildly addicted to video games and he is very easily distracted by pretty girls!

We have four pets - Charlie (Pomapoo), Shae (Manx), Sprout (long haired beauty) and Ruby (Turtle).

We have made some great memories this year and have met some great people along the way. We love our family so much and although the kids are getting older, we are so lucky to still be close. 

Tommy and I are grateful every day that Tim and Maggie truly are best friends. 

We are blessed beyond measure to have the gospel in our lives - to know it and the truthfulness of it, and to enjoy the blessing that come from living gospel standards is our greatest gift.

Our goals for 2015 are to remain close as a foursome - to be kind and positive always - to focus on our Savior - to appreciate all that we have been given and to serve others when we see an opportunity.

Here's to a wonderful 2015!