Happy Anniversary, Ryan!

Today marks three years since we walked down the aisle!  It is just crazy how fast time passes.  When I was little and I would hear people say that, I just thought they were crazy!  

In high school I made a list of qualities that I wanted in a husband.  I prayed that God would provide a mate that would be the desire of my heart.  I am thankful and amazed that God provided my list in the form of Ryan!  

The last three years has been a wild, incredible ride and I am excited for the other journeys that God is planning for us.  Here is a little run down of the last three years of married life, the good, the bad and the ugly...at least what I can remember.

• July 1, 2006 Wedding Day
• July 2, 2006 We went to Hawaii for our Honeymoon.
  
• July 14, 2006 Ryan's Grandma Barber passed away the day after we got home from our honeymoon.
• In the fall I coached the High School Cross Country Team.
• I finished the last year of my Masters Degree during our first year of marriage.
• Remodeling Project #1- new siding on our house and added a bathroom downstairs.
• September 19, 2006 Ryan's mother, Ellen passed away after a couragous battle with cancer.
• Ryan was an assistant Varsity Girls Basketball Coach in 2006-2007
• November 18, 2006 Ryan had reconstructive ankle surgery and was on crutches until the second week of January 2007.
• December 2, 2006 Ryan's Father, Steve passed away from Multiple Sclarosis.  
• February 2007 Macy, our cat, found us.
• I coached Boys Varsity Track in the Spring of 2007.
• March 2007 We went to NYC for a long weekend.  
• June 2007 We took Christoph to Washington DC and to NYC for a week.
• June 2007 We took a group of students to London, Paris, Florence and Rome for 10 days.
• 2007-2008 Ryan was the Head Varsity Girls Coach and I was the Boys Track Assistant
• July 2008 We went to Germany, Austria, Prague, Venice, and then a cruise to two Greek Islands, Turkey and Croacia
• October 2008 Remodeling Project #2 We had some rooms in our house painted and a new bathroom put in upstairs.
• October 2008 We went to Colorado to visit our dear friends Beth and Zach and another friend/brother Raphael.  
• 2008-2009 Ryan was the Head Varsity Girls Coach.
• January 26, 2009 In the middle of basketball season we had Elyse Ellen Day. 
• May 2009 Remodeling Project#3 New two car garage (in progress)
• June 2009 Ryan took students to Paris, Florence, and Rome.

I am so thankful, most of all, for the life partner God has given me.  We have experienced extreme joy and heartache together.  He has taught us lessons, given us courage, showed us His love, and continues to walk with us through this journey.

  RCD, I love you

Confession

I do not know nursery rhymes or kids songs.  I know parts of them and then I make the rest up as I am singing or saying them to Elyse.  Our poor daughter!  I am really going to have to work on this.  This morning I sang, "I'm a little tea pot short and stout.  Here is is handle.  Here is my spout.  When you tip me over watch me shout. Da Da Da Da Da Da Dat."  (The last part was sung to the Jeopardy jingle)  She still smiles at me when I sing, but there is no way she is ever going to learn all these songs and rhymes at this rate. 

On another note here are some other family facts:

• We have a cousin that moved to LA to be an actor and has been in some commercials.
  
• I have a uncle who attempted to become a professional wrestler when he was in his 20's.  His stage name was, "The Jolly Green Giant". 
• My cousin Jennifer works for M Night Shamolon.
• My grandmother always told us that we were related to Pocahontas.  I am not so sure about that one...

And yet another note: 

Please pray for my friend David Wenzel.  Here is his blog if you are interested, www.jumpdavidjump.typepad.com

We went to Cedarville University together and he found out last week that he has an inoperable brain tumor.  He is so upbeat about the whole situation and giving glory to God!  The blog is very funny and well written if you have time to read it.  

THANKS in advance for your prayers!  

Reunion

Today is the Walters Family Reunion.  Ryan isn't really sad that he is going to miss it, but I would like him to go with us.  Here are some fun facts about the Walters Family.

• My grandmother told my grandfather while they were dating that she wasn't sure if she wanted any kids.  (It seems that some where along the line she really did a 180)  
• There are 10 kids, and my dad is number 9.  As one of the youngest and he has nieces and nephews his age.  
  
• Which brings me to another point, some of my grandmothers oldest children would have been pregnant at the same time as her.  
• My Great-Grandmother lived to be 103 years old, and my Grandmother was 92.
• All 10 siblings are still living ranging in ages from 78 to 54
• So, Grandma Walters was having kids for about 24 years, that means she was pregnant for about 90 months of her life!
• They lived in Ohio until my dad was about 8 years old and then moved to Tucson, Arizona.
• Let's just say that there are more cousins than I can count.
• The second child was Joanne.  She was born a healthy little girl, but at the age of five she contracted Spinal Meningitis.  When she was healed she still had the brain of a five year old.  The fever from the disease really effected her.  She looks to be about 50, but she is really 76.  After my grandmother passed away, Joanne went to live in a group home where she still lives now in Urbana, Ohio.
• Mike, #7 lives in New York and Mary Ellen, #4 lives in Arizona, everyone else is in Ohio.
• There is so much more I could tell you about this crazy family, but I will close with this.  In 1983 my grandmother published a book about her children and their life raising 10 children.   I tried to find a book cover to post, but this is the best I could do:

Walters, Dorothy W.

Overview

Works:	1 works in 1 publications in 1 language and 4 library holdings
Classifications:	br1725.w35,

Publication Timeline

1980| |1990

Key   Publications about Dorothy W Walters   Publications by Dorothy W Walters

Most widely held works by Dorothy W Walters

God, grit & greenbacks by Dorothy W Walters( Book ) 
2 editions published in 1983 in English and held by 2 libraries worldwide 

 

Audience Level

0				1
	Kids	General	Special

I am glad to see that there are still 2 libraries worldwide that have the book.   After she retired she wrote this book and then went on to become a missionary on an American Indian Reservation in Arizona.  She spent her entire life caring for others!  What a legecy she has left us!   She was Proverbs 31:10-31

 A good woman is hard to find,

and worth far more than diamonds.

Her husband trusts her without reserve, 
   and never has reason to regret it.
Never spiteful, she treats him generously 
   all her life long.
She shops around for the best yarns and cottons, 
   and enjoys knitting and sewing.
She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places 
   and brings back exotic surprises.
She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast 
   for her family and organizing her day.
She looks over a field and buys it, 
   then, with money she's put aside, plants a garden.
First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, 
   rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.
She senses the worth of her work, 
   is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.
She's skilled in the crafts of home and hearth, 
   diligent in homemaking.
She's quick to assist anyone in need, 
   reaches out to help the poor.
She doesn't worry about her family when it snows; 
   their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear.
She makes her own clothing, 
   and dresses in colorful linens and silks.
Her husband is greatly respected 
   when he deliberates with the city fathers.
She designs gowns and sells them, 
   brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops.
Her clothes are well-made and elegant, 
   and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.
When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say, 
   and she always says it kindly.
She keeps an eye on everyone in her household, 
   and keeps them all busy and productive.
Her children respect and bless her; 
   her husband joins in with words of praise:
"Many women have done wonderful things, 
   but you've outclassed them all!"
Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades. 
   The woman to be admired and praised 
   is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.
Give her everything she deserves! 
   Festoon her life with praises!

Family

Here is our family.  (left-right) Nathanael, Shannon, Heather, Andrew, Corinne, Ryan, Elyse and me.  Shannon is Ry's sister and Andrew is his brother.  Who do you think is the oldest?  :)  Shannon and Nathanael as well as Andrew and Heather are going to have babies in August.  Ryan, do you feel left out?  Just kidding!  We are so excited to welcome two nephews to our family.  It is funny to think that what ever kids these two couples have will be our children's only cousins.  Elyse and her siblings will only have two uncles and two aunts.  (I have 10 uncles and 11 aunts on my side and Ryan has 4 uncles and 4 aunts, so 2 seems really small)  I always tell them that they have about a 50% chance at being the favorite aunt or uncle.  By the way, this is a picture from Benj and Steph's Wedding on May 30th.  (Benj is Nathanael's brother)  I am so thankful that God has given me such a WONDERFUL family and that I finally have sisters!!!

Here's To My Very First Blog!

I have wanted to start a blog for some time now.  Not necessarily for any one specific reason, rather a few small ones.  First, I have a terrible memory and I thought this might be a good way to share some things with family and friends.  Secondly, and more importantly, I think that God has taught us many wonderful things in our nearly three years of marriage that we need to share with others.  So, here's to the blog.  

Ephesians 3:20
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.