Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all, may each of you that we know and love be in good health this time of year and always. I trust you will remember Christ in Christmas as it is His birth we celebrate this day. Please let us not also forget those that cannot be home with us but are away protecting our freedom here at home so we can have the pleasure to enjoy our festivities with friends and loved ones. May God richly bless us all as we remember the gift born to us this day in a manger some thousand years ago...

Happy Holidays
from home

One week since we said goodbye ...... today

Bittersweet... is the best way to describe how we feel here at home. We're glad it's already been one whole week gone by but on the other hand, we can't believe he's been gone that long and how many more weeks we have to endure.

Our goodbyes were sweet and managed with smiles, not tears. There wasn't any apparent sadness just a simple knowledge of knowing the inevitable had arrived and as a family it was time to stand up and do what has to be done. We will stand strong in our faith, for the Lord says, "do not be weary in well doing."

Thanks to each and everyone of you who are faithful to pray and encourage us. Extra special thanks to those in this last week who have come to my rescue personally, I love you and am grateful beyond words.

25 more weeks to go and counting, it's easier this way then counting a multitude of days!

Happy@home,
Shelain

Happy Birthday Justist!

Justist Asa Yach, we love you! Today is your day to be King, may you know in our servanthood to you how much we treasure you.

Nine years ago this day, I met and fell in love with every inch of you. From the very start I knew you would change our lives forever, you are the centerpiece of our family. Though you are a boisterous, energetic young man who loves to challenge each of us, you have always had a tender heart. Your so genuine in the way you love others and share your affections, on the other hand your not afraid to be honest & very open with how you are feeling.

Big brother and best friend to Makenzie would be an understatement, from the moment you first laid eyes on your sister you said,"this is my baby." I just thought at the time , you were being cute, never could I imagine that six years later she would be your "baby" still. You are always near to her, sharing, playing, and causing mischief together. The two of you are in separable. I love and admire the way you love each other, with your whole heart!

I believe you, my son, will grow into an amazing man who accomplishes great things. God has made you to be a natural born leader. I thank Him everyday for the blessed gift to be called your mother. All of you, my children complete me....

Happy@home,
Shelain

Turkey Trot 2008

Congratulations Makenzie, mommy & daddy are so very proud of you! Thank you Dad, and MacGregor family for coming out to Longwood Lake Mary, FL for our first Gymnastics competition! It was great to have the support of our loved ones for this special event.

Well only six weeks of practice on her first USAG team as a level 2 gymnast and our little girl scored a high score of 8.65 on vault, ranking in the top 10 for her level and age group. Makenzie you were the picture of grace in your first ever experience as an athlete. You clapped for the many girls who went before you to receive their trophy with a beautiful smile on your face, just happy to be afforded this oppurtunity and thankful to have come this far in gymastics. Thank you my sweet girl for your genuine sweet spirit.

We also would like to give our thanks to Makenzie's head coach Erin Brackney and her assistant coach Kristen for your dedication to coaching and supporting our daughter. Erin, you are always putting forth every effort to make sure the girls stay positive while giving their all to perform at maximum potential and Kristen you always have a smile for the girls! Thank you ladies and NFGC for bringing Makenzie to this place.

It is a great thing in this life to see your children excel, even more so when it is by their own merit. We are blessed beyond any measure to have such a treasure as we do in our daughter, Makenzie Elise Yach.

Happy@Home,
proud mommy

Time

Time.... is a precious gift each of us has as we live here on earth. It is freely given and cannot be taken back. There are 24 hours a day allotted to each of us, this gift is priceless and we never get a second chance at making good use of our gift.
Where does the time go, what do we do with it? Are we wasting our time on that which doesn't matter or are we making the most of it. There are some who micro-manage their time, never to seize the moment they are in!
Well for us the time has come for James to be called away from home, for the holiday season to begin, and time always changes our life...
The children have grown older, have developed new friendships, interests and abilities. The weather has grown chilly, the days shorter. Yet I know I have redeemed the time, because with each passage of time my love for James has grown and will remain strong while we are apart. The children have stored up memories to hold onto of these past months with their father sharing a bond that can't be broken. We have treasured the precious gift of time. Time to be together, sharing life, loving one another and now the time has come to endure.

Happy@home,
Shelain

Visiting Family

Family, gives us a sense of belonging, no matter how dysfunctional they may or may not be. We all love our family, and feel at home with them because we belong. It is where we come from, undoubtedly it's where we often return... to visit.

Recently, James and our children took a trip to visit with his family in Wisconsin. This trip was long overdo, as it had been two years since any of us had visited. But as it usually occurs with family, time is of no consequence, you always can 'catch' up and find yourself at ease. At least this is true of most families.
Well, the children thoroughly enjoyed themselves, as they had cousins to keep company with. Nevermind the ample amount of attention they received from their grandparents, but more importantly they were able to love and appreciate being surrounded by family. It gave them a sense of belonging that especially is misplaced in our military life often, as we are often dispersed far from loved ones close to us.
Thank you my sweet husband for the down time to regroup, relax and take care here at home, while you enjoyed our children with your family! Above all, I thank you for your part in giving me our family. I am blessed to be a part of something so extraordinary.

Happy@Home,
Shelain

Home School

A new school year has begun for us, the first day was August 11th.
We have had so many different reactions from a variety of people, friends and family alike over the years.
What books do we use, what requirements are there legally, and of course (my favorite) what about socialization? Well, we all have heard that a picture is worth a 1,000 words, so here I will show you how our 1st quarter of school is coming along.
This year Jarett has entered middle school, Justist is in 3rd grade and Makenzie has started 1st grade. We no longer have little children, they are growing up and becoming young people who change with each passing day. Always leaving their mark, whereever we go...

Love always,
Shelain

Nostalgia

Longing for something from the past... this is the definition. So I ask myself where has time, in general, gone? Let's start with the Summer. How many of you wrote the date this past week and said, "Where did the month of August go?" Well I am there too!

However, this is not a complaint because we had a fantastic summer. My goal this Summer was simply to have a designated time off from school this year, at least six weeks. Traditionally, I have schooled year round and only taken a maximum of a three week break. The next goal I had for our whole family during this "time off" was to have nothing planned, and let me tell you it was bliss! I saw my children become each other's close companions, discovered new hobbies, and I was able to rekindle an old flame with James!

So many of us have fallen prey to the mentality that the busier we are the more we've accomplished, but really at the end of the day what do we have to show for it? In closing, I will say this that when I chose for six weeks to slow the tempo of our lives, I was truly able to find some things of the past right in front of me.

For all too soon, we here will be longing for the presence of James at home and in our hearts...

Happy @ home,
Shelain