Friday, December 29, 2006

a year in review

Before I start with all that has happened this year, I want to say something about my mom. Rusty told me to just it go. After all once my mom dies my sister will be hit with reality and she will not do good. No one will be there to hand her everything and for the first time in her life she will have to take care of herself. Rusty has a feeling that she will fall on her face. I think he is right. I can say with my head held high that everything we have we have had to work for, and I am proud of that.

This past year has been both good and bad for me. I started off the year by going sky diving. I got to wear my dads sky diving suit and it was great to be able to take him for one last jump! The gentlemen that I went sky diving with is Kevin and he is currently in Iraq.

In April Rusty and I went to Vegas. We have been to Vegas before, but we try to do something different everytime we go. This year I got to shoot a machine gun!

That was so much fun and yet the power behind the gun scared me. Rusty was scared that the gun was going to knock me on my ass so he had his hand on my back to brace me! LOL

My mom and dad came out for Ambers 16th birthday. This would be the last time that the children would see my dad alive. My dad gave Amber a maple leaf necklace, which is a family tradition when you turn 16. My dad was already sick and had decided to not fight his cancer.

Amber and I got to ride in our first motor cycle rally to raise money for the local veterans home. That was Ambers first time on a motor cycle and she had so much fun! i got the honor of carrying the Marine Corps flag.

The girls went on their first mission trip. I was and still am so proud of them. I am proud that they went out into the world and made a difference. The girls also came back better people, and for that I am truly grateful.

Then I got the call that my dad was not doing good. I went home. While I was there I was angry and I laughed. August was a hard month for me. My dad passed away just four days after I came home. In August I learned that cursing God did not good. While I was home I helped my mom put up a roof. That was the first time I had ever used that type of roofing material.

The picture of my dad was taken while he was still in the service.

The girls got their bellies pierced this year. Amber got a job and took drivers ed. Nikki has a boyfriend that Rusty and I actually like.

This year we sent a bunch of our friends off to war and I met another marine via e mail who I am writing to. We have been blessed that all of our friends are still alive and that we will be able to welcome them home soon.

As for what I want for next year..... that will be another entry.

Most of all, we are still standing and we are here to talk about year.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

That was a great recap of your year.  I hope the coming year will bring you lots of joy and happiness.
Lori

Anonymous said...

Der Kelli,
wow! this entry is so wonderful!Thanks for writing about your Dad! You are a great person and the kids sound great too so I bet your father was a very cool person and I know you were proud of him! I am so very sorry that he has passed away. Please accept my sincere condolences... He was so very young as are you...
Your children are very kind and warm to want to go serve as missionaries to help other people. Please extend to them my admiration and tell them that I think thats great! Kelli.. where was this?
Thanks for talking about your skydiving too! wow! I always wanted to try that! Did you use your friend's pack and go out with him (together)?
hugs and Happy New Year!
natalie

Anonymous said...

dear Kelli, oh I forgot! thanks for including the fact that you helped your mom by redoing the roof!Awesome! and that picture of you and your friend is great! photogenic!hugs
natalie

Anonymous said...

What a great entry...it gave me more of an insight into your life...wonderful.  Loved all the photos...Happy New Year...hugs,
Joyce

Anonymous said...

I love this entry!! Thanks for sharing the great pictures. The ones of your Dad are great. Happy New Year, I wish you all the best!!!
Hugs
Carrie

Anonymous said...

wow! I love that picture of your daughter and your dad! and Rusty is right on the money!
love,natalie

Anonymous said...

Kelli, Awesome pictures, Have a good weekend, Hugs Lisa

Anonymous said...

great pictures! sky diving sounds like fun and so does shooting a machine gun. I hope you get to do some more fun things this year.
Barbara

Anonymous said...

Gee, I really enjoyed seeing these photos, especially the one of your dad when he was in the service, poignant since he passed on this year.  The quality of the photos is so good, especially those of you on the roof.  You seem to be a very handy gal.  Sky diving, too!  Wow.  I will never forget going to see this daredevil from up home sky dive.  He was always surpassing his past feats with a new one.  Gerry