Basketball Conrad Style

So we are playing Upward basketball!  The only way I could get Adeline to play was if I would be her coach.  The only way she and I could get there was with Esther.  So the staff of Upward allowed her to be on the team, but as an assistant.  Though she has a players jersey and #.  Adeline so far loves it.  We are so glad to have another girl on the team too!

Can you see that I am holding Esther's hand behind Adeline?  After this segment she sat with Daddy!

Girls having fun!

Best.Weekend.Ever!

Happy New Year to all!

We had so much fun hanging out at the river :)

It started with Adeline and Esther having a blast picking as many flowers as they wanted.  Our yard doesn't produce more than a few so this was probably a little like heaven for them.  So with beautiful lighting provided by God I snapped a few:

being silly is so much fun :)

Bryan got a cast net for Christmas. Here he is trying it out!

Yes, January 2nd and we were in the water!

He didn't catch us dinner but he did catch some cuties!

We also went for a kayak trip!

Thank you God for such a sweet family.  You have blessed us beyond anything I could hope or dream.  These two girls are so sweet and love each other and our family so very much.  They love God too!  Essie had been praying the sweetest prayers.  Praying and thanking God for going where we go and that we go where He goes.  Thanking God for baby Jesus and that Mary kept him warm.  She continues to pray such sweet prayers straight from the hear.

I pray in 2012 we stay close to God hiding His word in our hearts and that You God move unmistakably in the life of our girls so that they will not miss that it is You working in their lives.   Thank you God for the priviledge and opportunity to do the partial homeschooling of Adeline.  It is such a sweet time with my girls.  I pray you grow our marriage with deepening roots of love.  Help us get our strength/power source from You so we can love each other and our girls and the people you have placed in our lives the way You would want us to.  Direct our priorities every moment of every day.

My Sweet Daddy T

Daddy T (Jesse Thomas Ross) June 1, 1918 (yes WWII vet) - December 19, 2011

August 2010

August 1989

Daddy T's creative side 8/1989

My MUSC graduation 12/1996

May 27, 2010

My sweet Daddy T (Jesse Thomas Ross) passed on Dec 19th at the age of 93 and 1/2.  I don't know exactly when you start tracking halfs again, but it seems important.  His services were on the 21st (my mom's birthday, her dad). He was a devoted husband, loving dad and super fun granddad and great-granddad.  Though I know I have the benefit of knowing him when we would climb up fire look outs, drive to the mountains for the day and much more adventuous things than he could the past few years.  More than anything he lived the life of loving others well.  He loved Jesus, his church, his pastors (over the years), his neighbors, coworkers, and fellow brother and sisters in Christ.  He was always ready with a practical joke and yet sentimental as well keeping his bride's shoe for their 65th wedding celebration when she didn't even know it.  He was a great photographer.  I am sure he is going to have a multimedia presentation ready for me whenever I get to heaven.
His ceremony was well planned (due to his initiative) and I felt a message was being delivered to each one of us from his heart.  It was clear he wanted us to know how important Jesus was to him and he wants Jesus to be important to us.  When the processional started he had chosen In my life Lord, be glorified to be playing.  It touched me deeply.  The graveside service was at the church.  Despite the day being one of a heavy misting it wasn't until go time we were sure it would happen.
But it did and it was touching.
Though this was unexpected family pulled together at a difficult time to all get together in Easley, South Carolina.  I got to see cousins, second cousins, aunts and uncles some I hadn't
seen in several years. 
After having the visitation, the service, and burial we headed to their place to visit with all the family.  It was great to catch up with all of them.  We had the most time with The Ross family from New Hampshire!  Adeline and Esther love Jesse and Abby.  They are wonderful with kids.  After having dinner with them and then breakfast the next morning we thought best to head home.  Before we left we went by the grave site as Essie stayed with me, but Adeline chose to play in the church gym during the prior days events.  She had been asking many questions on the ride to SC so we thought we would take her to the grave site of Daddy T and spend some time talking about him and all that had happened with her unaware.  So that is why some of these pictures are here.

George's Creek Baptist Church.  Most memories involve this church as this is where my mother was married (all his daughters actually) and all his children were baptized.  You have to drive on Prince Perry Rd to get there.  Perry is Rossie's maiden name!

Lots of appropriate questions

Eston with that amazing detachable thumb!  Abby being supportive!

Best buds!  It took all of 5 minutes before the girls remembered Jesse from last August!

My favorite Aunt Kathy from Alaska!  Did I mention crazy fun too!

Rossie!

My favorite Aunt Sue from New Hampshire!

Happy Birthday Jesus!!!

Christmas happened for the girls for 3 straight days. (and I didn't get them in order)

I love the Christmas Eve service at Westside. This year was no different.

We got to sit with the Tilley's!

We had to get a picture with baby Jesus!!!  We are wearing our best, just like the Wisemen did I am sure.  These are Bell Christmas dress Aunt Annie gave them earlier in the day!

Sweet sisters on the morning of December 25th at our home!

Out of order, but Christmas with my folks on the 23rd!

Cousins!

We had Christmas with the Conrads/Overmans on the 23rd/24th:

Our favorite thing... reading :)  and especially reading with Papa and Meme!!!