Dad and Mike singing

A brief look inside the store.

Have a great time shopping! May your season be filled with Peace and Joy and fun filled memories!

Merry Christmas! :)

The day after!

What a gift!!!

The stores advertised 4:00 a.m. on Friday morning the best savings for all the things that one can give for gifts. I don't knock them....

but what a gift it was for us to not control when or where or even if it would happen and then through LOVE it all came together and Jenn and Diana and Jonah and I started making gingerbread houses after Thanksgiving.

Seeing and hearing Jonah be sooo proud of his accomplishment and watching Jenn allowing him to experience it all by himself while she stood close by bore witness to my soul of how God watches and stands by while we experience life and delights when we tell him everything that is going on - the good and the bad. JUST BECAUSE HE LOVES US!! Can there be any greater gift than the gift of time and LOVE?

Go Jonah!!!/Thank you Diana for being home!!!!/ Thanks Miettinens for staying one more day.

Thanksgiving Day!!!

The day started out with going to the famous Gardner /Oakmont Rivalry Game! Jonah made the rounds and had the best view!:) Mike and Jonah.

Sara, her usual beautiful self, and Jonah very intent on watching the game!

Diana had flown home just for his game and he didn't dissapoint her! I am so glad she came, besides being able to enjoy her being home, I finally got a picture of him in full uniform!

James Rupp and Matthew after the game!

A great write-up about the game!

After the game we enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving Dinner! I didn't have any popcorn kernels so I used candied corn for our moment of giving thanks. Hmmmm a new tradition?

Isaac stole the show when we gave him a taste of mashed potatoes. He literally dove for them. What an absolutely fantastic blessing to see him so healthy and enjoying LIFE! Thanks Heavenly Father and way to go Jaska and Jenn, Thanks for hanging in there!

Here we all are afterwards - come as you are photo! Isaac was taking his nap!

Wonderful, great day!!!

Yeah Columbus Day!!! Happy Birthday Jonah!

My, what a difference a year makes. We enjoyed so much having family with us and being able to celebrate.

I

I really missed the blue sky but was so glad to have it not be raining. It was just one of those "hang out" days. Mike and Jaska had gone to play golf and then went for a ride in the canoe. Jonah an mommy took their turn too! :)

Bowling was added to the day's festivities. Jonah was the life of the party!

Isaac was not forgotten about. He was held and cuddled by all! What a big little man!

A beautifully peaceful day!

Last Friday I decided to take a trip to the Temple since I had the day off. The colors stood out so vividly for me as I realized that winter would soon be upon us.




I walked down memory lane as I realized how many special memories we had as a family.

I remembered this tree at the open house and then at the weddings that had taken place here for our family. I tried to pull out of my external hard drive pictures of the weddings but alas....I have yet to learn how...

The day was so peaceful and beautiful.

I love you, our family!

Cape Cod

Hi again, my computer is deciding to do what it wants when it comes to my sharing our Cape experience on this blog. I arrange the pictures in a certain way and when they get published they are quite in a different place! Hmmm, I know why people get so frustrated because you cannot reason with a computer:)

This was a lighthouse that was located a couple miles from where we stayed at the cape. I love lighthouses and this one is especially gorgeous. It is one of the larger ones I have seen.

While there Rich and Diana joined me on a tour of Woods Hole, where scientists from all over the world come and do research for diseases. They especially run tests on the squid because of its nervous system.

It is fascinating don't you think how many different things one can do with one's life?

This was the place we stayed. Our deck faced the ocean and we were right across the street. Every morning the seagulls would dive in and bring out a clam and then fly over the parking lot and drop it! I thought it was by accident until it happened repeatedly. They had discovered quite an easier way to get at their breakfast:)!

This was taken at about 5:30 in the morning as I was sitting on the deck reading at the Cape. Anyone who knows me knows I love sunrises and sunsets.

There is something magical about watching how a new day dawns - it enters so quietly and steadily with such an invitation - Life really is a beautiful journey and how loved we all are to be given such a gift!










Looking over the rooftops of the village we were staying at - listening to the waves hitting the shore and an interment seagull call fills the soul with such contentment.

Diana's Home!!!!

Yeah! Diana was able to fly home for a couple of weeks in August and we whisked her away for a family vacation at the Cape.

The weather was gorgeous and we were told that it was the warmest time of the year for the ocean. We were at the Beachside Village in Falmouth, MA. I highly recommend it.

Diana and I braved it. The week was beautiful. It was the first time I had been in the Atlantic Ocean in 30 years. It was warm enough to stay in and have fun.

Yeah Summer - Blueberry Time!

Spontaneously I called several friends up and said, "Spread the word, anyone wanting to go blueberry picking come join in on the fun!"

This was the view as we picked in Troy, NH. They are the early blueberries. Matthew went a few days ago up Mt. Watatic and they were not out yet.

WE HAD SUCH FUN!

They were huge!

LIFE IS MEANT TO BE ENJOYED1

MATTHEW AND DAD LOVED BLUEBERRY PANCAKES AND THE MIETTINENS ENJOYED THE MUFFINS. LOVE THOSE SIMPLE PLEASURES!

Seattle - Love in Action

He drew a circle that shut me out --

Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.

But Love and I had the wit to win:

We drew a circle that took him in.

In order to mutually support each other. It is a dual of letting each of us in to help and also being willing to help. I am very grateful to be associated with all of you. WE ARE THE GOGUENS!!! WE ROCK!! WE ARE THERE FOR EACH OTHER - THANK YOU!

This was our view as we drove back and forth between houses. I still have such wonderful memories that Shane gave us of climbing Mt. Rainier. Look how alone, solid and majestic it looks. Who would know there were wildflowers along the path as you climbed on this snow covered mountain.

There are only two things that dad hates more than anything - putting something together mechanically and being up high.

That's love! Shane knew it and really appreciated it. Love for Shane and me. He didn't want me climbing up there.

All done with painting. Matthew and I did over the garage windows. I did the garage door and the roof line. It took the entire week for the trim.

Matthew contributed so much he was there constantly doing whatever was needed. He painted the porch floor and railing. Actually all of us did everything. Some things needed second coats. It was good just to be together doing something together.

After Mom not cooking for a week and grabbing what we could. Working non stop. We grabbed one night where we went out to eat before we cracked from all work and no play. One of the only times we were all together.

This is where we went to church. It is a stake center. There are three wards that meet here.

I don't know why but the blog is not letting me add any more pictures. Maybe later.

This is our now! We only pass this way once!