Christmas Blessings

Our Christmas was great, I pray yours was too. In recent years Christmas has been an eventful day for our family. We are so blessed and have so much to be thankful for! Rather than running down the list of gifts that we all received, I thought I’d list some of our many blessings.

• Christmas 2001 – Lance, Riley (then 7 months old) and I were involved in a horrible car accident involving a fatality and Life Flight. We were injured but now are mended, we approach life with new perspective and appreciation.
• Christmas 2003 – Owen Pace Foster was born – Ask Owen whose birthday it is on Christmas and he replies, “Jesus.” You have to prompt him with, “Who else?” before he replies, “Me.”
• After following many of the children online who are fighting childhood cancer, I have a great appreciation for my children’s health and all our health and the ‘normalcy’ in my life.
• After more surgery earlier this year, my Dad is again cancer-free.
• My employment at Norfolk Southern – an employer who has been very understanding of my requirements as a Mom as well as an employee.
• Our new home in Locust Grove – going on 2 years there now, I guess it’s not so new anymore but we are very grateful for the house and the property it sits on.
• Our home in Rex is no longer “our” home. It sold in August ’07.
• Lance is an excellent father and we can afford the fortune of him being able to stay home during the day with our boys.
• Steve and Jackie celebrated 40 years of marriage in November ’07.
• My parents celebrated 40 years of marriage in December ’06.
• Robert and Ann (Lance’s grandparents) celebrated 60 years of marriage earlier this year.
• Robert remains cancer-free.
• Both mine and Lance’s siblings are all married to Christian spouses and raising their families in Christian homes
• I serve a Mighty God who loves me and sent us the most precious gift in his Son, Jesus. He is a God of Peace and of Love. And he sent his son to die for my sins. How awesome is that??!!

These are the “biggies” but there are so many more. We are so blessed and I am so grateful!

Disney 2007

I’m not sure how I did it, but somehow I “summed” up our year in our annual Christmas letter but didn’t include the great vacation we took to Disney in September! Duh!

For the record – it was an awesome trip. Owen’s first time to Disney and since Riley was only 2 when he went before; this was his first memorable trip there too. We squeezed it all in – Blizzard Beach, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, MGM and Animal Kingdom. All that in only 3 days at Disney, it was a packed vacation but we had so much fun. Steve and Jackie treated us and Scotty’s family to an incredible vacation. I’m not sure what the highlight of the trip would be, all of the parks are great but I suppose it’s tough to top Magic Kingdom, which has always been my favorite. Riley was all about the roller coasters and rides and Owen was more cautious in that department but loved seeing all the characters. He was a Mickey fan before we went so seeing all-things-Mickey at every turn we made was exciting for him. Adding to the excitement that they were with their cousins for 3 full days, the boys were in their element and soaked up every ounce of fun to be had at Disney.

Thanks PawPaw and Nana for lots of great new memories and a trip we will remember forever!

Christmas Letter 2007

(IF YOU GOT THE EMAIL VERSION OF THIS LETTER, THIS POST IS IDENTICAL)

This is becoming an annual thing – to email our Christmas letter rather than mailing. I hope you don’t mind, but here we go again.

2007 has been a good year for the Fosters. I hope it has been the same in your house.

Both boys played t-ball in the spring. It was Owen’s first year and he enjoyed it. I think the highlight of the year for him was opening day, riding in the parade and tossing candy out to the folks standing on the sidewalks. The field his league played on was the size of the infield for the bigger kids. It was so much fun to watch the kids all swarm to the spot on the field where the ball was hit, regardless of where their position was. Even if their position 1st base and the ball was hit to left-field, they were going to go after it. Everyone except for my laid-back Owen, he would sit and watch the ball roll by him, turn his head but never move his feet and watch the other kids all chase the ball. I guess he figured it wasn’t worth the fight with all the other kids to try to get the ball. Riley had a fun season too although to him it was just a past-time until football started in the fall. He really didn’t understand why they have 2 seasons of t-ball and only 1 of football. Why can’t he play football in the spring? Unfortunately Riley ended up on a not-so-great baseball team with a not-so-great coach but still managed to make some new friends and improve on his game. We’re looking forward to a much better season next spring!

Riley finished up Kindergarten in the spring and was excited to head into summer. We headed to Jekyll Island in July using Mom and Dad’s camper for a budget-friendly vacation and a week of fun at the beach. The boys loved the ocean – Riley more than Owen but by the end of the week Owen was jumping over waves too. After nearly 3 years as a contractor at NS (and becoming an employee in January ‘07) it was great to be able to relax for a paid vacation for a full week. Lots of memories were made and fun times had at the beach.

The summer went by way to fast but ended with great news – our house in Rex had finally sold! We closed on it the first week in August and to make it that much sweeter, the young man and first time home-owner who bought the house felt he was getting his “dream house.” What a relief it was to be done with that monthly burden! We had to look back and acknowledge that we never would have predicted we could have carried two mortgages for 14 months. On paper we couldn’t, but with God’s help we did. We are blessed!

Before we knew it, school started back. Riley headed into first grade and Owen into his first year of preschool (2 days a week at a local church). Riley was not as excited as he had been starting Kindergarten but still jumped right in and made new friends and has done great. It is so cool to watch him curl up in his room and read a book now or listen to him read to me a story he’s brought home from school. He’s doing great academically and with his behavior and has really liked his new teacher. Football started up in late-August. Unlike baseball, he ended up on a great team with excellent coaches. What an exciting season! In the end his team took home the Super Bowl Trophy for the Henry County Youth Football League, Mighty-Mite Division. Go Red Raiders! I pray we can play with the same group of parents and coaches next year. Although the league is very strict about ‘stacking’ teams and allow the coaches to only freeze 2 players on their team from the previous year (usually it’s their own sons) so we hope we can end up with Coach Robbie and Coach Carrie again in 2008. Another big feat for Riley in 2007 was conquering a 2-wheeler. He now rides free of any training wheels and is getting more daring each time he jumps on the bike.

Owen has enjoyed preschool. He goes twice a week to Locust Grove Methodist. The same place Riley went for 4-year pre-k. He has done well although he is not the social kid that Riley is, he has gone willingly everyday, never any crying or protesting but not really excited about it either. A few weeks ago, Lance did ask him what his favorite part of the school day was, expecting him to say snack time or the playground. His reply, “Going home.” I think that about sums up his feelings on school. After the excitement of Riley’s football season, Owen is now excited to start back with t-ball. He is my lefty and so we’ll see where that takes him in his baseball career. I think he may be the slugger of the family. Owen is a great helper and always right with Lance or I when we are working on a project and need some help. He loves to help me with dinner, makes coffee every morning with Lance, loves to help him in the garden and is right on his heels if he pulls out a toolbox to fix anything.

I’ve enjoyed this year as an NS employee, especially the perks (did I mention I get PAID vacation!) and they are very generous to let me work from home if there is something at the boys school I want to attend. Although I did not do a half-marathon this year (did my first in 2006), I still enjoy running daily during my lunch break and ran 400+ miles so far this year. Most of all I enjoy spending time with my family and look forward to my evenings at home and weekends with my boys. I did start a new blog last month and so I hope to maintain a journal that the boys can have as a keepsake of their childhood when they grow up.

Lance had some great success this year with his photography in the art sector. He entered and placed in several photo contests. As a result of one of those contests he was able to sale one of his photographs that was showing in a gallery in Atlanta. This is the side of photography that is really his passion so he’s looking for more opportunities like these for next year. Staying home with our two boys doesn’t leave a whole lot of time for these things, but he has made it work (try cutting mats and glass with a very “helpful” 3 year-old by your side.) He’s also taken on keeping his brother’s youngest daughter, Kaylee, each day. She’s a year younger than Owen and she and him have become best pals as they now see each other daily. Lance’s big project over the Spring/Summer was his garden. He grew several herbs, squash, corn, tomatoes, potatoes, pop-corn and several varieties of peppers. The deer made off with some of it, but didn’t take too much so there was plenty left for us to eat. He decided not to do a winter garden but will be back at it again in the spring assuming this drought is some better here in Georgia.

2007 has been good and we are looking forward to more blessings in 2008.
We wish the same for you and your family.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Heidi, Lance, Riley and Owen

Inquiring Minds

Riley has been very inquisitive lately about God, the Bible and church. I haven't been able to answer all his questions, but I do my best - some are really off the wall. These are all from the last 2-3 days.

Conversation #1
Riley - "Mom, what if God forgets what he wrote in the Bible and he forgets to take us all to Heaven? Then what will we do, Mom?"
Mom - "Ummm....well, God doesn't forget Riley. He's perfect. He's God."
Riley - "Oh yeah. I forgot."

Conversation #2
Riley (to Owen) - "Do you know who the first people were on Earth?"
Owen - "No. Who?"
Riley - "Adam and Even."
Owen - "Oh. Yeah, I knew about them. Adam and Eve."
Riley - "No Owen, it's Adam and Even! Geez!"
Owen - "OK."

Conversation #3 (car ride home after Awana's Wednesday night)
Owen - "Everybody goes to Heaven, right Mom?"
Mom - "Well, everybody who asks Jesus into their heart will go to Heaven."
Riley - "You have to get babatized to do that, right Mom?"
Mom - "No. You get baptised after you ask Jesus into your heart."
Riley - "Well I don't like water that much. I don't want to get babatized. Do they hold you under there forever Mom?"
Mom - "No. It's just under and right back up. The preacher usually holds your nose."
Riley - "Oh. Well I'll do it then. But not this Sunday."

Conversation #4
Riley - "Why do we celebrate church, Mom?"
Mom - "You mean why do we go to church? It's because God told us to 'assemble' together with others who believe in and love Jesus. That's what we do at church."
Riley - "How do you know? Have you read the whole Bible?" (said with a very surprised voice)
Mom - "Most of it. Not all at once though."
Riley - "You should read it again, Mom."
Mom - "Your absolutely right Riley."

Conversation #5
Riley - "Why do we have books, Mom?"
Mom - "To read. We can read stories or books that teach us how to do things."
Riley - "But the Bible has everything in it we need to know. Why do we need other books?"
Mom - "Uhhh............"

Wow. These conversations are getting deep. I struggle to keep a straight face sometimes especially when he is so serious.

Return To Bethlehem

Tonight after dinner at Fuddruckers (the boys had never been there) we headed over to a local church that was putting on a live Nativity -Return to Bethlehem. I am so glad we went. It was really good. Our orininal plan was to take a drive and find some lights - we did a bit of that tonight too, but the hightlight was definately Bethlehem! They had live animals - goats, donkey's and camels! Baby Jesus was played by a real baby who was actually sleeping in the manger. I don't want to spoil it for anyone who plans on seeing it, but just wanted to let everyone know that if you are in the area, I highly recommend going. Oh - and it's free!

I better go shutoff Riley's t.v. He's been asking all week when he could watch t.v. from his bed before he went to sleep - something he's never done before. I told him we could try it on a Friday night when there was no school the next day. That was Monday. I had no idea he'd remember, but that was the first thing he asked for when he got home. Maybe he'll even sleep in for me in the morning....fat chance! But he thinks he is so big watching t.v. in bed like his Dad. Owen was asleep not 5 minutes after I turned the t.v. on. To be precise, he was asleep 30 minutes before we pulled in the driveway but did wake up when we got home, just not for long.

Hoping to finish my Christmas shopping tomorrow. I better get myself to bed too.
Have a great weekend!

Lazy Sunday

What a great day. We headed to church this morning, which still allowed us to be lazy since our church just adjusted the service times and we opted for the 11:30 service today. That means we had time to make pancakes and bacon. In our book, that is a great start to any day.

After church we hung out together outside in the 70+ degree December afternoon. It was great! Riley rode his bike (a feat he conquered this summer and is now loving). He even braved it and hoped on his newer (taller) bike, which is a good bit bigger than the one he learned on. He did fine, but his idea of stopping is slowing down and jumping since his feet don't touch the ground on the bigger one. Aside from O sitting in the antbed and screaming from across the yard, he had fun too (and he only had about 2 bites from the ants). He had fun riding down driveway on a skateboard most of the afternoon and drawing with sidewalk chalk. He is a great helper too. He was the first one in the garden when Lance said he needed help. We cleaned out all the tall cornstalks, sunflowers and took out the tomato cages so Lance could mow it all down. Glad that is done.

I also took down the "clubhouse." This was our old tent that I had erected for the boys to play in in the woods next to our house. They rarely used it and after sitting in the woods for close to a year, it began rotting and had a few holes in it. Down it came and into the garbage.

Our Saturday was good too. The boys and I spent the afternoon at Nanny's house baking with all the girls and kids (missed you, Tracey!). We made so much but more importantly I ate *way* too much! The list of goodies - toffee (my favorite), divinity, fudge, praline, chocolate covered pecans, chocolate covered pretzels, a gingerbread house, cookies, party mix, sausage balls and cheese straws. Did I miss anything? I think that is all of it. And since we hadn't eaten nearly enough we all headed to Longhorn last night to celebrate Kaitlyn and Lance's birthdays. It was good, but I didn't even consider ordering a steak - I was already stuffed and miserable by the time we left.

On a more solemn note - If you have a minute, please visit Ashley's page and leave her family an encouraging word. She is one of my "kids" and had been recovering from a bone marrow transplant. She was having some trouble, but I thought doing fairly well. I was so saddened and shocked to find out that she left this earth to go to Heaven Saturday afternoon. I'm sure the Debes family would appreciate your prayers at this time.

Tithe

This is one that Lance wanted me to post that took place a couple of weeks ago. I love O’s understanding of tithing, if only we adults could get it so clearly!

Lance and the boys went by the bank to cash a check. The boys asked Lance how much money it was (they are always so impressed with anything over $100) and he told them and then explained that he only kept this much and he had to give 10% back to the Lord and went on to explain to them about tithing and Owen said, “Yeah, cause sometimes he (God) lets you get too much and you have to give it back to him, right?”

Nativity

My parents had the boys (and all their cousins) spend the night last night for the annual Decorate-Nanny-and-PawPaws-Christmas-Tree event. My Mom called this morning with this story. She was putting up the nativity set and asked the boys if they knew who all the figures were. Riley said he did,

"It's baby Jesus and all the baziples."

Mom snickered and said, we'll it's Baby Jesus with the Sheperds and Wise Men.

Riley said, "Well the baziples were there too."

I better get going. I've managed to get most of the Christmas decorations up (saving the tree for tonight when the boys are home) and now it's time to go shop before picking them up from Nanny and PawPaw.

My Little Entrepreneur

I think this one is worthy of my first post in this blog. This is the conversation Lance heard in his truck Wednesday afternoon after picking Riley up from school:

Riley: Owen? Wanna buy my autograph for $5?

Owen: Yeah

DAD: Riley its not worth it

Riley: But Dad, it's tax free!

DAD: hehe... no Owen don't do it.

Riley: OK then, how about $1 and $2 tax?

Owen: OK

And that is the purpose of this blog. To preserve conversations and memories just like these. I can't even remember what we did for entertainment before we were parents.