We Decided to Continue Our Blog

Gina and I have decided to continue our blog. I’m not sure what it will become since I do the writing but I do miss capturing the events in our lives in a blog format. I know that our lives are not near as exciting as when we were traveling around the United States. However, it was our way of communicating with our family and friends. I’m not promising that it will be a daily thing and it might be boring sometimes but it will capture the highlights in our family.

So how do I get back started after almost a year of not writing? For this first entry I will just try to capture the highlights and move on from there.

I left off with Abigail, our first grandchild coming home from the hospital. We have seen her often even though she lives in California with Thomas and Ashley, her mom and dad. Here are a few pictures of her.

Me and Gina with Abigail

Thomas with Abigail at Christmas

 

Thomas, Ashley & Abigail

Abigail

They sure grow quick

The next big event in our lives was spending three weeks in Europe for our 30th wedding anniversary. It was exciting to show Gina some of the places that I had been too while she was back at home raising our children. We had a wonderful time and will treasure the memories forever. When I arranged this trip I made sure that on the actual day of our anniversary we would be in Venice, Italy. We took a two-hour gondola ride to top off our day. It was a wonderful anniversary spent with the woman I love.

Me and Gina in front of Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace

Gina holding up the Leaning Tower of Pisa

Me and Gina in the Gondola with Maximo

The next big event was the arrival of Jolee Adair Jenkins, our second grandchild. She was born and lives in New Jersey with Parker and Ashley, our Son in law and daughter. Here are a few pictures of her.

Parker, Ashley and Jolee ready to leave the hospital

Look at that smile

Jolee ready for her first doctor's visit

Jolee is a very happy baby for sure

For the finale and last event thus far is when Nicole and Shane, our oldest daughter and Son in law announced that she was pregnant with twins. She is due in December. We flew up to Colorado so her daddy could spoil his first-born child just a little bit more by taking her shopping for maternity clothes. I only got to spend the weekend with them. However, Gina stayed for the week so she could paint the baby’s room and help Nicole do a little decorating.

Myself, Gina, Nicole and Shane at Colorado National Monument

Nicole and Shane

(They are so happy to be expecting twins)

We do still travel a lot. However, it’s by airplane since Thomas, Ashley and Abigail live in southern California. Nicole and Shane live in Grand Junction, Colorado and Ashley, Parker and Jolee live in Hackensack, New Jersey.

Gina and I took a cruise with Dana and Rickey (my sister and BIL)

Mike and Pat (aka Mom & Pops) came to visit us in November

Mike and Janna came and spent New Year's Eve with us

There were a lot of other events that occurred but there is no way that I could put all of it in one entry. However, this we do know, God has and continues to bless us beyond our wildest imagination and our blog title still applies, “All Because Two People Fell in Love”


Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.

Abigail Leaves The Hospital

I made it back to Louisiana on Thursday night to spend a little time with Abigail and Ashley in the hospital. I think that I forgot just how small a new born baby is. She is so adorable. I just sat there holding and admiring her. Gina spent the Thursday night at the hospital with Ashley and Abigail. My job for Friday morning was to get the car seat installed in the car and drive back to the hospital to pick both of them up. Richard, Ashley’s father and I were driving them home while Cathy, Ashley’s mom and Gina followed us. We made it safely to the house and I got a lot more time holding my first grandchild. Enjoy the pictures of Abigail.

Me holding Abigail for the first time

A very proud GiGi and Pop's holding Abigail

All dressed and ready to leave the hospital

Abigail's first picture with her eyes open

Gina had this gown made special

Abigail received a very special gift from Mike and Janna on Saturday. Janna is extremely talented in creating quilting masterpieces. She stated in her blog that this quilt was from a pattern that her grandmother used to quilt. Gina and I were so amazed at how beautiful it came out. For Abigail we thank you very much Janna.

A very beautiful handmade baby quilt

 

Abigail will always know who gave this to her

Also, this past week Shane and Nicole, our oldest daughter and SIL received word that their purchase agreement on their new house was accepted. The house is beautiful. Congratulations to both of you!!

Ashley, our doctor in the family received word this week that she is moving to Hackensack, New Jersey to continue her work in becoming a medical doctor. Congratulations to her too!!

We heard from Thomas and he might be flying home sometime at the end of this month for a few days. He still doesn’t know for sure but he really wants to see his daughter.

Most of you are aware that last year Gina and I started a cabin for Mike & Pat (Mom & Pop’s) in their pole barn in South Dakota last year. Last week they had the cabinets and flooring installed and it looks great!! It’s hard to believe how far their pole barn has come.  Mom you did a great job selecting the cabinets and flooring.

Living room and kitchen, It looks beautiful!!

I left our house Sunday morning in our truck pulling our home making my way to Brookshire, Texas.  I arrived a little after three o'clock at West Houston Campground. It will be parked there while I continue working in Houston. I haven’t moved our home since I parked it at our house in March. It felt great driving the truck again. It felt even better sleeping in my own bed instead of a hotel’s bed.

These past five days have been busy.  But we knew our time in Louisiana this year would be fast paced. It’s hard to believe that it’s already August. Time is moving fast and before we know it, it will be Thanksgiving. It has been a very blessed year for our family and we’ll have a lot to give thanks for.

Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.

Abigail Faith Thurston, Our First Grandchild

Yesterday was a wonderful day. We received our first grandchild. Abigail Faith Thurston was born at 1:16 p.m. weighing in at 7 lbs 14 oz and 20 inches long with a full head of black hair. Both she and Ashley are doing great. Thomas, a Marine is deployed in the Middle East called just as Ashley was being taken into the delivery room. He didn’t get to see his child being born. However, he got to hear play by play and he was able to hear her first sounds. I think he might have even cried just a little with joy. He’ll be home soon and will get to see her. Thomas and Ashley could not have planned it any better. Gina and I are extremely happy now that we are officially GiGi and Pop’s.

Here are a few pictures of Ms. Abigail Faith

What a beautiful face

Thomas watching over his little princess

Mom and Daughter

GiGi looking all proud holding Abigail

Just love all that hair
If you would like to see more pictures of Abigail just click this link Abigail Faith Thurston

Last weekend if you read Mike & Janna’s blog then you know I flew up to Montana and purchased their jeep. I will tell you that it was a long drive in a soft top jeep. However, I left Montana at one o’clock in the afternoon and arrived at our house in Louisiana a little after two a.m. Saturday morning. As I stated in our previous entry we have decided to keep our truck and trailer. We bought the jeep to tow behind the trailer which we believe will enhance our travel experience tremendously.

Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.