Category Archives: Holidays

Family Fun = A Mother’s Day

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Oh My!!! The Girls Visit, Joan Uyvari’s Wedding, My 50th Surprise Birthday Celebration, and Then The Dreaded Good-Byes

Last Monday 4/29 was one of the hardest days for me as a mother as I again sent both older girls back to their perspective homes. Honestly saying good-bye does not get any easier.  I know many of you have little ones so this day seems eons away :-) as it did for me once upon a time.  God was gracious in blessing Jon & I with precious Cayley as I enjoy being a mom and well it would be hard to have an empty nest.

The occasion for my girls visit was the wedding of their dear high school friend.  However, as a family when opportunities present themselves to be together we cram in as much fun and celebrating as possible.  For twelve short days we played hard and had lots of fun staying up late, eating, walking and talking.

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Caryn arrived April 17th so for 4 days we eagerly visited her favorite Austin restaurants, walked around Town Lake, and soaked in as much sunshine as possible given this was her first winter experience in Detroit as she desperately desired sunshine.  We dropped her off in Waco on the 22nd to be available to help Joan with last minute wedding details and setting up Joan & Jason’s new home. Then we had special time with Courtney and David, an incredible young man in tow, who arrived on the 23rd thus sending us out on an Austin sightseeing adventure of visiting our previous homes and many of Courtney’s favorite places to reminisce, a Town Lake walk, as well as visits to some of our favorite eateries (Amy’s, Chuy’s, Salty Sow, etc.) plus lots of talking and laughing as we became better acquainted with David.

Friday the 26th of April we drove to the destination wedding which was in Sulfur Springs, TX about 90 miles NE of Dallas in the middle of the country.   Joan and Jason truly have an incredibly unique love story along with the most unusual dating experience as they dated for ten minutes and were engaged for almost twelve months while Joan was in Thailand finishing a masters program and Jason was working in Dallas.  363 days after meeting, Jason Huang and Joan Uyvari became husband and wife in the most God honoring wedding I have yet to attend. My entire family was part of their wedding.  Jon and I did some of their pre-marital counseling, Caryn was a bridesmaid/ photographer, Courtney sang during communion, and Cayley carried an umbrellas saying, “here comes the bride,” who gracefully appeared on a horse.   Read their story and view their engagement photos taken by Caryn here. The wedding took place outside on Joan’s father’s farm property set beside a picturesque pond followed by a reception in the barn. The weather forecast all week showed rain but so many interceded in prayer and it was the perfect day for an outdoor wedding – cool with cloud cover allowing the sun to occasionally peek through as if to smile upon the ceremony.  The couple washed one another’s feet, worshipped God, and then they recited their vows to each other that they wrote.  Those in attendance could sense the presence of the Holy Spirit in all the small details.  I have some of the photos on my Facebook page album 1.

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Sunday I was with my entire family :-) as we drove back to Austin together.  As a mom I desired to use that time to get to know more about my girls and David so we played a game I made up where we each would ask a question that everyone answered.  I now know everyone’s favorite candy bar, coffee drink,  movies, life changing book, meal, travel destination, song, etc…  As we spend time getting to know each other we can then be purposeful to better love one another.  Spending time together is just one way I feel loved and thought of by my girls.  Visit me over at MomHeart where I share practical ways to thoughtfully recognize, bless, appreciate, and/or honor your mom, mother-in-law, and the many mother like figures throughout the year as EVERYDAY IS A MOTHER’S DAY but wishing you a blessed day.

Love & Blessings

A Christmas Journal Helping to Create Christmas Memories

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Our 1998 Christmas update in photos. We were living in California at the time.

Christmas wouldn’t be the same if we couldn’t get in touch with all the friends and family who mean so very much.  Anonymous

Staying in touch with family and friends really does mean so much thus one of our favorite traditions during Christmas is writing and sending out a family newsletter along with an updated photo. We began doing this shortly after having our first child.  Much has changed since we started this tradition thanks to the affordability of home computers, printers, and personal blogs.  Our first Christmas letter was handwritten (see below photo).  Last year I was able to post our update on my blog but I still had to mail it.  Our purpose in sending out a yearly update is to share with family and friends God’s faithfulness to our family. Jon always adds a humorous touch as well. When the girls began their updates it added a different dynamic.  Having moved thirteen times in our 27 years of marriage has given us the opportunity to accumulate friends near and far whom we try to keep up with. Updates are a little more personal than signing a card or sending an email.

I don’t know about you but there is a special kind of happiness I experience when I walk to the mailbox and find a personal letter. Just the other day my eldest daughter sent me a handwritten note saying she was counting down the days till she was home.  Her note lifted my spirits and made my day.  

The thoughtful note Caryn sent me. Notice it’s nothing fancy or expensive. However, it’s the thought that counts and she took time to comunicate with me.

I relish receiving updates from friends and family. Pictures included often decorate our refrigerator.  Sadly, because of social media, busyness, and the expense, many people no longer send cards, updates or photos.  It doesn’t seem like Christmas when we are unable to get around to taking a family photo and chronicling our year.  I know we will be lucky to get ours out by New Years this year because we want to include a family photo and the girls get home next week.  Regardless of when it goes out we will have communicated with family and friends that they are thought of and we will add to our journal.

An unexpected memory that has come out of our diligence in sending out a yearly family update and photo is being able to go back and review the previous years. One day I look forward to sharing our journal with son in laws and grandchildren who desire to hear what their moms did for Christmases past.  I found a Christmas journal where I currently keep all of our updates and photos.  Sadly, this is the last year for the book therefore I will look for a cute scrapbook of sorts to continue our tradition.

If you are interested in creating a yearly Christmas journal  I’d suggest using a binder or scrapbook so you can add to it and place your photos and letters in sheet protectors. This will allow little hands to easily flip through the pages and it will stay in order.  It’s fun to go back and reminisce over years gone by and be reminded just how blessed we have been.