45th Anniversary

December 28, 2008, Sunday - Happy 45th Anniversary to Mom and Dad Secraw!
"Today is a special blessing,
a gift from God above,
in honor of the two of you,
in honor of your love."
God bless you
with a love strong and caring
that you have truly lived
your lives as one,
sharing everything
the years have brought to you,
the ups and downs, the work,
the warmth, the fun...
So, Mom and Dad
now on your anniversary
may God be near
and bless you once again
with a heartfelt pride
and joy that come from knowing
what very special parents
you have been.

We love you! Chad, Christy, Brittany and Nathan

Christmas Morning 2008

Here are a few pictures of the kids with their toys and stockings from Santa.

Merry Christmas!

December 25, 2008, Thursday - We hope everyone has had a very Merry Christmas! We enjoyed the day here with my mom and dad and Grandma. The kids really enjoyed opening and playing with all of their presents. We miss all of our family far away. We are thinking of you!

I would like to share with you the writing on a Christmas card I bought for this year.

God's ways are good and bring you joy...
His ways are right and bring you wisdom...
His ways are true and bring you freedom...
His ways are pure and bring you refreshment...
His ways are sure and bring you strength...
His ways are best and bring you love.

May God bless you this Christmas -
in every way,
in every moment,
in everything you do.

From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another. John 1:16

Christmas at our house

December 23, 2008, Tuesday - I thought I would show you in pictures different areas of our house that we have decorated for Christmas. My brother and his wife and their 3 kids are in The Netherlands this year and my younger brother is able to spend Christmas with them there. We also have relatives in Wisconsin, Florida, Pennsylvania and parts of NC. I thought maybe family and friends would enjoy this.
My village collection

Count down calendar, and my miniature Hallmark ornaments on the tree in our hallway

My snowman collection
This year I did a Packer Tree for Chad. It has Packer ornaments and Notre Dame ornaments.

Nathan's tree in his room. He picked out the blue tinsel.

Brittany's princess tree
Brittany's Gingerbread Village on her dresser. She set it up all by herself.

Children's Museum

December 23, 2008, Tuesday - I took the kids this morning to the Children's Museum. Our friends Kelly, Elise and Lucas joined us. The kids had so much fun. They enjoyed building with the sticks, making bubbles, making their own obstacle course, playing on the fire truck and airplane and shopping in the grocery store. It was a fun way to spend our vacation time.

Cantata

December 21, 2008, Sunday - In the evening we went to Mom and Dad's church and attended their Cantata program. Dad was singing. It was a very nice program. Mom even got to read some scripture. After the program we enjoyed a covered dish dinner in the fellowship hall where Chad and I had our wedding reception (12 years ago). Yummy food.

Pig Race

December 19, 2008 - Friday - Brittany was a top seller at her school for the Cookie Dough Fundraiser so today the top 9 kids got to race pigs for a $100 Toy-R-Us Gift Card. Nathan and I were able to be there and cheer her on.

She did not win the gift card, but she did get 2 Webkinz. One for selling 20 Cookie Doughs and the other one for a prize in today's competition. Way to go Brittany!
Oh, notice that she has her p.j.'s on. Today her class wore p.j.'s and watched the Polar Express.

School Parties

December 17, 2008 - Wednesday - Busy day. The morning started off with Brittany's class "winter party" for breakfast. We all got to join her. Then Chad headed to work, I took Nathan to preschool and then I headed back to her class to help with crafts. The kids made 5 crafts and rotated to the different tables. A lot of parents stayed and helped with it. It was a fun morning. I then did as many errands as I could in 1 hour before heading to preschool for Nathan's Christmas Play. Nathan had a fan club there. Nana, Papa, Great Grandma and Uncle Cameron were there to watch him too. He was a sheep in the story of Baby Jesus' birth. It is such a cute play. The church has done it for many years. Nathan did a great job and he sang the songs at the end very well too. He was proud to have us there watching him.

Dancer

December 16, 2008, Tuesday - For Brittany's dance class tonight the parents got to come in and watch their tap performance to Frosty the Snowman. It was cute. Brittany also danced to another Christmas song for ballet. The teacher treated them to cookies and drink.

Advent Wreath

December 14, 2008, Sunday - Our family got to light the church Advent Wreath during the 11 o'clock service today. It was was very special time. The preschool choir sang right after us and Nathan did awesome. The Kindergarten - 5th grade choir then sang and Brittany did an awesome job as well. We are so blessed with kids that enjoy singing and especially singing for the Lord.

Surprise 60th Birthday Party

December 13, 2008, Saturday - Today is Mom's 60th Birthday! This morning her and dad "went somewhere...and we can't let you". Later you found out that Mom went and Tandem jumped out of an airplane. She made it I am glad to say! She really enjoyed it too and the instructor said "you are the calmest person I have ever taken up, are you always this calm?" And mom said "pretty much". You go MOM! She even agreed to doing twirls going down. They free fell for 1 entire minute before the chute came out. WOW! How amazing.When they arrived back home Mom was surprised to find I had planned a surprise party for her at their house. There was only one couple and family members when she got there. And she thought that was all who was invited to the party. The party was floating and so people starting arriving at different times. Mom kept getting more and more surprised as people showed up. It was a really fun party. Thank you to everyone for keeping it a secret. She did now know a thing and was totally surprised. It was a birthday to remember.

Breakfast with Santa

December 13, 2008, Saturday - We all had breakfast with Santa at the clubhouse. We enjoyed chocolate chip pancakes, Krispy Kreme Donuts and cereal. We waited in line to see Santa. Brittany and Nathan were both ready to talk to him. Nathan even made a little list and put stickers all over it to give to Santa. When they got up there Nathan did not want to go near Santa. Brittany was trying to help. Then Santa got Nathan to warm up to him and he gave him his list. We then got a photo on Santa's knee. Brittany told Santa what she wanted also. Santa says he will have to bring some dog treats for Tona.

Class Scarecrow Book

December 8, 2008, Monday - Mrs. Strader's First Grade class puts together books that the whole class participates in. Then the kids each get to take home the book. Then in the back the parents write comments. It is so cute to see the class's work. Here is the book Brittany brought home this time. It is a matching book. Can you guess which scarecrow Brittany colored with her description?
It looks like this will turn out too small on the screen. Her picture is the very left one.

Church Play

December 7, 2008, Sunday - Brittany was in the church play - Christmas County Spelling Bee today. She had a small speaking part and she did fabulous. She had many practices since Sept. and she did great. She really got into the songs and even put her own bounce and movement into them. It was so nice to have Grandparents, Great Grandma and Uncle Paul there.

Christmas at the Castle

December 6, 2008, Saturday - Chad's parents arrived from Wisconsin after 20 1/2 hours of being on the road Wednesday. Then today Chad's oldest brother, Paul flew here from Pennsylvania. We took them to see the Christmas lights and singing at Castle McCulloch http://www.castlemcculloch.com/image.asp?id=4 The castle was built in 1832 and used for Gold Mining. We had a really good time. We walked through paths that go around and in the castle. The kids really enjoyed it. They liked seeing the Grinch at the end. Last year they were scared of him. This year they were looking forward to seeing him. This is the 2nd year we have been.
Waiting for our number to be called to go on the trail.
Enjoying the singing elves.
Our elves!

Hanging of the Greens

Sunday, November 30, 2008 - Brittany and Nathan got to sing in the "Hanging of the Greens" service at church. They did very well.

A Time to Be Thankful

November 25, 2008, Tuesday - Did you know that Pilgrims were Christian men and women, who journeyed to a destination usually because of their religious beliefs? They boarded the Mayflower and believed that God was leading them to establish a new community where they could worship freely. We celebrate Thanksgiving every year because of the profound faith and uncommon courage of these English men and women.
After 97 days at sea the Pilgrims caught a glimpse of their destination, the new land where God would be worshiped freely and - in time- freedom would flourish, they fell to their knees and prayed, shouted for joy and celebrated by reading Psalm 100:
Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.
Know that the Lord Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, and not
we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving,
And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him; bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting,
And His faithfulness to all generations.


I hope that this Thanksgiving that you will remember what God has done for you and thank him.
Psalm 105:5 "Remember His wonders which He has done, His marvels and the judgments uttered by His mouth."

Isaiah 12:4-5 "Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; make them remember that His name is exalted'...Let this be known throughout the earth."

Hebrews 12:28 "Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe."

1 Thessalonians 5:18 "In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Colossians 3:15-17 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful...singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God...giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

November Snow

November 21, 2008, Friday - I woke up this morning with the radio saying school delay in a neighboring county, I said "could it be - SNOW". So I hopped out of bed and looked outside - sure enough, snow was covering the deck and part of the yard. So then I turned on the computer and the TV and there it was on the TV - 2 hour delay. Winter is my favorite season. I just LOVE snow and snowflakes and sledding. Oh, so much fun! So I couldn't decide ..do I stay up and get some things done around the house or do I get a little more sleep? I decided to get some more sleep. Nathan got up when I did and we were in the bathroom and Brittany comes in about 7:50pm and said "Mom, today is Friday" and I said "ya", and she said "I have school" and I said "ya". Then I asked her what time it was and she told me. I then said "Are you suppose to be at school by now"? And she said "ya". I then took her and Nathan to the bedroom window and pulled up the shade and said "Look, what is outside guys"? They just looked, trying to adjust their eyes. I asked Nathan what was out there and he said "Sand". I said No, guess again and he said "Snow". Ya - you are right, it snowed guys. I let Brittany know that school started later and that I had let her sleep in. Nathan wanted to go right out and play. I said "lets get dressed first". Our Little Snowman