Fall is here and Winter is on it's way

We are happy to say we have made it to the one year mark. It has been one year since we moved cross country to our new home here in Fredericksburg. I am happy to say we are all doing wonderful here, God has truly blessed us all, we have wonderful jobs and have made a lot of new and amazing friends here.

My parents just left after a wonderful one month visit. We got to see a great many things while they visited us. Here are a few high lights of their time with us.

Now we are getting ready for the winter months and Can't wait for the snow.

Winona will be here for thanksgiving and then we will be off to Ohio for Christmas. I just wanted to check in with every one and tell every one how Blessed we are and That God is still working mightily in our lives.

Summer is Gone Fall is Here

Well we made it threw our first summer here. The weather was never unbearable and the earthquake and hurricane kept us on our toes. We are in love with this new place we call home. Thomas, Joe and Ellie are great. Life is as it should be, I love the fall it is my favorite time of the year, the leave changing color the weather cooling off, time for pumpkin every thing and hot apple cider. We leave the window open and enjoy all of Gods wonderful creation.
At night we hear all kinds of bugs and frogs in our wonderful back yard and can sit out on the deck and enjoy an evening meal together.

All the kids are back in school thomas is playing soccer again Joey is taking guitar lessons and Ellie is back to ballet. they all are doing so good. I love my job so much I smile all the way to and from work. Tom is healing wonderfully from the torn tendon last year and we a learning how to whitewater kayak.

The Earleys will be out in Oct to see our new home and we are all going to see some more Earley's on this side of the world. Joey will be 16 in just a few more weeks and he is already studding to take his permit test.

  Last week end we had all the Patten boys here for a wonderful relaxing week end. We love having them so close by.

  Our Blessings are many.

we are good

Just a really fast up date on all of us. We are all doing really good even with the heat out side.

 I have been promoted to insurance coordinator at the ACA and got a sweet ride. Thomas is about to start soccer and try to hold down a job, Im sure he will be just fine. Ellie is rocking it with the laundry here at home and Joey is making some money at mowing lawns.

 We are already making plans for Joey's 16th birthday and going to get him driving soon.

Thanks for all your prayers we have felt them.
We love and miss you.

We are getting a foot hold

We all got out on the Rapahannock river this long week  for some Kayaking. It was a great time for all of us, and some very much needed family time. With three of us now working in the family we don't all have the same days off. But with my new job there are some really cool perks, one of them being free kayaks for us to use when we have the time to get out.

Altho we couldn't keep Thomas sitting in his, next time we will take the stand up paddle board for him. We had wonderful time exploring the river and seeing  some of our new surroundings. God is so good to us. So good by to the surf boards for a while, till we get down to the beach, and hello to rivers and lakes.  We will get fresh air how ever we can.

its been a long time

   I am so sorry it has been such a long time since I have Blogged to all of you. We have been quite an active bunch of Pattens. So let me tell each of you how God has been Blessing us. I got a wonderful job working for the American Canoe Association in their membership department. I love it there the people are wonderful. I am currently only hired on as a temporary part time but I am hopping to be permeant in the fall. Soon you can got the their web sight and see me, and what they are all about. Oh and I won the race but, Thomas wasn't to far behind the very next week Thomas got a job at Gander Mountain in the foot ware and Camping department. He likes it there as well. We are both feeling very Blessed know there are so many people out there looking for work and we were able to find jobs we both like and now can also have a little fun with some extra cash in our pockets.

  If any or you don't know, our home town of Sierra Vista has been burning for the past few weeks but the fire is currently at 40% containment and we are so thankful for that. Non of our parents homes were in danger but many of our friends had to evacuate their homes. We haven't heard for m them yet so please keep them in your prayers.


Well I just wanted to give you all quick update and say Hi we haven't forgotten any of you. And keep each of you in our prayers day and night.

many Blessings to each of you Candy

Prom

Sorry I haven't kept up with all of you since we got home. We are doing good . Last night was our first prom night and we had  blast getting Thomas ready. His date he and a friend and date eat dinner here at our house it was wonderful that they let us serve them we went all out with Pear pasta and pork chops.

Thomas as you may or may not know has a new Girl Friend in his life and we like her a lot. Her name is Jen.

Other than that we are all doing good no changes in life work and school and enjoying our new city.
Many Blessings to all .

Home safe and sound

We are home from our vacation to Italy. The kids are back in school and Tom has returned to work. Our trip was to short although we did get to see a lot while we were there, with no major mishaps. Thank you for all of your prayer while we were gone. We defiantly felt them. Tom did just fine with our the wheel chair, witch we had to leave behind at the last second, do to not enough room to take. The Pattens may get a one year extension, witch would mean, Tom and I might be able to get there one more time before they return to the states.

 We took so many picture it would be too hard to share all of them with you. I haven't even had a chance to get them all on the mac yet. I will try and make a slid show with a link for our Blog to share some of our high lights.

 Our next big event will be having Thomas 18th birthday party witch we can hardly wait for. We have  Lou, Erin and Andy coming into town to share in this Big event. I can hardly believe that our baby boy is now a man. what a great responsibility he will have.

So for now, thanks again for all the prayers, and I will send out an update when the pictures are ready for viewing.

On our way out.

  We are all packed and ready to leave for Italy. Two weeks and a few days of vacation and sight seeing. The house is all a buzz this morning and question after question from the kids. We checked in last night for our flight and chose our seats. a few last minute preparations and then we will be off. Please keep us in your prayers for a safe flight and health for all we are leaving with a sick Tom and Ellie who is starting to catch what ever her dad has. Oh and Yes the healing tendon of Toms too.

  We got the house sitting thing taken care of thanks to Sydney, our pets will be well taken care of and some warm bodies in the house while we are gone.

  The Pattens are waiting at the other end to greet us and take us all on our journey to see parts of the wold most just dream of seeing. We will take lots of pictures and up date Face Book as often as we can. With a Ballet and Soccer game on our list of thing to do as well as going to see the leaning tower of Pisa and we can't wait to meet new friends who will host our next adventure,( since the Pattens are ending there stay there soon). So if your looking to take a trip over seas you better plan it before October of this year.

  You all will be in our prayers, and on our minds as we travel.

Love to all the Pattens.

Just 7 Days Left

  Only seven days till we head off to Italy. The house is all a buzz, and all question are in regards to our vacation. I have a list a mile long of things to get done before we part, and one of them is to nail down house sitters for the two weeks we will be gone. Toms foot has healed up nicely, Praise the Lord, we are still going to take the wheelchair, but it may never see the streets of Italy. 14 hours on the plain should be a great time fo us to bond, as if the last 18years haven't been good enough. Lol. I am still trying to find things to keep the kids bussy on the flight. Any Ideas would be appreciated.

 We had had quite the week last week when we found out the people we bought the house from had some trouble with the law, and that was why we had people out side taking pictures of the house. But we paryed blessings over our home, and the people we bought it from, and then called the sheriff department to keep ann eye on things. Who knew life could bring so much excitement.

 Every thing eles here is good, the sun comes out, and then it rains but, "April showers bring May flowers," and half the month we wont be here. Our trees out back are starting to give us back the privicy we bought them for, and it looks like the HOA took care of the ever building water in the back yard, thank goodness it was going to bring lots of bugs and snakes in, fogs too, which Ellie is sad over. I'm shure once she is our on her hammock with out being eaten up she will be glad too.

  Well, next week we off the make our kidos world travels. Please keep us in your prayers for safty and fun. we love you all.

The Pattens

Happy Birthday Ellie

 Today we celibrated Ellies Birthday. She has been blessing to us for 12 years now, and we wouldn't have it any other way.

Thanks Gran-gran and Poppa for the Flowers, she loved them, and to all the friends who wished her a happy birthday on Face Book, you really lit it up today.
 
A big thanks to Jen and Gabbie for the cup cakes they were sooo yummie.

We did how ever eat them the only way we know how, soaked in milk. You two rock.
She also got a blow dryer so she can primp in her room now. lol

Oh and she got cards and Money in the mail that, she of course has spent already in her mind. But we are making her save it for the Big trip.( can't wait to see you Mom and Dad)

In all we have had a great day with our little bear. So a great big thank you to every one, she has a rocken day. Please be praying our little sun shine keeps shining for Jesus in the years to follow. What a Blessing she is.

Spring is in the air.

  Spring is here, along with the need to stock up on clariten and kleenex. We got out this week end and did some walking down town, as well as, found a place to have tea. Ellie found her Papa a mustach mug and I found some great shots ( pictures).  Winona just spent the last week with us on her spring break, and we had a great time hanging out with her.

Thomas tryed out the slave block down town, but we didn't get any takers. So he is going to have to find a normal job.

We are loving it here. But still miss our old friends in HB. and can't wait for visitors to come out our way.

God stil such a Big God and we love Him so much, Thankyou Lord for every thing you give to us each day.

getting ready with the Green

 It's time for St. Patties day, and a party to celebrate. We are in the groove of planning a Big get together with our new Friends here in Frederickburg. So we need new patio furniture, and to stock the bar. We can't wait to have a party with the weather worming up and the sun starting to shine our neighbors are coming out side more, and we see people walking their dogs. I can hear the sounds of children playing out side and birds singing night and day or it could be frogs we haven't decided what all the racket is out side in the back by the water. Just last night I stood out side and just looked up, at all the stars out side, man we couldn't do that in Cali. I do love to see the stars.

  If you hadn't seen the face book update Thomas made the soccer team and we are so proud of him now if he could find a job hi would be our poster child. But it may be asking to much of the guy we shall see.  Ellie has made so many new friends it is hard to keep up some of them are house people so that is just what we were hoping for, for her. Joey is always a blessing and shinning at every moment.

 I am thinking about getting a job but still undecided on that one. If the right one presents it self then I will go for it.

  We are almost one month out from our trip to Italy and I can't wait to get away. To breath in the European air and see spring in an other country. To share a great love with the kids and see grandparents too. It is going to be wonderful, we have a ballet, and a soccer game in the plans for our vacation. We have a wheel chair for Tom, and two boys who are willing to push him around.

  Man it feels like this year is just flying by but God has been blessing us like crazy so no complaints for us.

trying to catch up

  I am so sorry I haven't been writing, well in my blog any way. I have been doing lots of writing practice in the past few weeks. The weather here is getting warmer and with that we have been doing a lot more to get ready for or vacation in April. I can feel spring in the air. we have yet to get some patio furniture or a grill but they will get here when our tax refund does.

  I have made some decisions in the past few weeks as well one is to get a job in the very near furniture. And to push Thomas to also get one. Maybe I can make it a race and see who can get one first.

  Our home group is growing all the time and soon we may just bust out of the 600,000 sq.ft house we are in, wow that would big a big challenge. Just in the last week I was able to bless a family by arranging meals for a week after the mom had heart surgery. How great to take over two meals and see first hand how we were Blessing some one.

All is getting back to normal

  This how we started off a few weeks ago. Tom in for surgery for his Achilles tendon repairer. Good new is, two weeks later and he is doing well all the bandages are off and the scar will be minimal, he should be back to all of his old activities in three to four months. Thank you for all your prayers.

  We are doing good, not much on the home front right now, but lots of plans for the future. A trip to Italy in just a few short months and then we will come home to celebrate Thomas turning into a man, yes, our dear sweet Thomas will be 18 yrs. old this year and we are going to be making it a BIG celebration so if you can be here for that the more the better.

Short and sweet today. But we must count, Tom surgery a total success, and Vacation on the horizon. Spring is in the air with lots of great weather, and sun shine, the kids were in shorts this week, and I took the electric blankets of the bed. The dogs got a bath and I can't wait to get new patio furniture and start BB Que season.

A big thanks to Rick French for the thumb war dudes, seen in the pic above.

keep thinking about your Savor, and counting your blessings,
Candy

Getting our butts kicked

Super Bowl Party 2011

WoW, what a great game. We had a house full and it was the best. Thomas worked as our bar tender

, Ellie was a wonderful baby sitter and friend, and Joey was as always the life of the party. To all our friends who came a great big thank you we couldn't of done it with out all of you. This was our first party at our new place and was just as we had hoped for.

How many Blessings, oh to many to count but here is just a short list.

superb new friends , wonderful food, awesome new house, perfect game weather, no food on the carpet, and well the list could go on and on.

don't forget to count yours.

Candy

well hello to all

We have had a very busy week. It started with a soccer game on Monday night. The boys, Tom, Thomas, and Joseph are on an indoor, Monday night, men's soccer league here in Fredericksburg. We, well they had their first game a pre season game and well not three minutes into the game, Tom snapped his Achilles tendon. At the time we didn't know it was all the way torn but after a visit to the ER, and then to the Orthopedic doctors, and an MRI, we have concluded it is completely torn. So this up coming Wednesday he will go into surgery to have it reattached. Needles to say Tom will have a two week vacation from work and actually three including this week. He is doing really good and we are handling this new set back with a lot of grace form God.

I am sure many of you are asking how will this impact your trip to Italy which you have already bought tickets for? The surgeon has said no need to cancel the trip and Tom will more than likely be on crutches while we are there and may need to take it easy while on vacation.

so please keep him and the rest of us in your prayers.

Oh and I didn't even get any get pictures of the game. What a bummer I was so worried about my man that the photos well they didn't turn out so great so I will post some from the next game which hopefully ends in less pain and frustration.

In all there were a few Blessings, Tom is going to get some really great time at home with all of us, they did win the game, and now we know were the hospital is located here in our new town.

love you all, and don't forget to count your Blessings,

Candy

Hello to all

  So I have decided to start Blogging because we have so many friends that aren't on face book and this is a great way to keep up with all of you and let you know just how wonderful we are doing, and when we need to be lifted up in prayer.

 We are all truly enjoying life here in Va. It took some time for Thomas to adjust to being here but, he is now doing really good. Joe, and El are wonderful, making new friends, and enjoying their new surroundings.
Tom loves his new job, I love our new house.

 We have plugged into a really great home church, part of Vine Covenant Ministries. We share a meal each week, and then have a time of worship and study in Gods word. We feel blessed to be a part of an active fellowship. There are currently about 10 families attending.

  Okay on to the weather, well let me just start by saying we arrived here at the end of the fall season, and got into winter very quickly, but not with much snow. There have been a few snows, but not to much. It snows one day and then in a day or two the snow is gone. We love it, yes, it is cold but we do have some really nice days filled with sunshine, and beauty all around us. The history is all around us, we are soaking up all the stories and rich culture.
   More to come, hope you all enjoyed our up date, and that each of you count your blessings every day.