Micah Ryder Grandsons are a Blessing

 It seems quite ironic that one of my last posts was about Alex and Ivy having a baby boy, and now I am making a post about Alex and Ivy having a baby boy two years later.  Yep, our count is now 6 grandkids 6 and under.  What is funny is we have four boys and 2 girls, but for our kids we have 2 boys and 5 girls.  One more baby boy and we will reverse our status in boy girl ratio.  No there are no new babies on the way that we are aware of but I am hoping for many more in the future.

Christmas Eve 2020, during our Christmas Eve party, Alex and Ivy announced another baby on the way.  We were supper happy and quite surprised.  The surprises kept coming as they later found out it was another boy.  The nine months flew by for us and  before we knew it, we were having a shower and then we got the call that they were at the hospital.  It was all such a blessing and we are grateful for this new little life.  Micah Ryder was born in August, right between my grandpa and nephews birthday.  I guess he wanted his own day.  He has such a beautiful smile and we are so grateful for the time we get to spend with him.  His brothers love him and Dad and Mom are so proud.  

Alex is still preaching up a storm at his church.  He is the Youth Pastor but gets to preach to the church on occasion.  This is supper nice for me, because they stream those sermons and I get to hear them.  It is not too far away, so on occasions we have made the trip to hear him speak.  

Here are a couple links if you would like to hear a great message and some family stories.  I love that he incorporates his growing up years in his sermons.  If nothing else it is great parables.  

Ivy is busy with the three little boys but still finds time to homeschool, lead a Bibles study for moms, and is very active in their youth group.  Anyways, they are doing great and we are so blessed to see God's hand in their lives.  

Once again I hope you all are having a great day and God Bless. 

Alicia

The Out of Towners Family

 Good day everyone.  It sure has been a long time since I sat down and made a post (does anyone actually read blogs anymore? I guess we will see.)  It is hard to believe how fast the last two years went by, it is almost like a blur.  I am so grateful that we homeschool and for a lot of 2020 things have gone on with some consistency.  We have not had to worry about school, because we just keep doing what we're doing.  Life has not been without its challenges but also we celebrate the joys.

What can I say? A part of me wants to scream out and be political and another part wants me to focus on the positive.  Trying to find a balance in what I spend my energy on is hard.  Just like this blog, I would love to vent to you all the injustices and wrongs done these last couple years, but most of you already know it.  If you know me, you probably know I do not want to focus on fear.  I do not fear this sickness.  We had it in our home, and have moved on.  My firm belief is in a loving Father who knows all, sees all, and is over all.  The future of my family and myself is in His hands and I give Him control.  God is good, and let's all pray for our country, but even more our world.  

So... when I last left off we had just announced we were expecting a new grand baby.  Brent and Latisha welcomed Ellowyn April of 2020.  Brent had dropped the kids off when Latisha was in labor and very shortly after sent us pictures of this new baby with a full head of hair.  I thought they had to be joking, but nope, Latisha had a very quick birth and barely made it to the hospital.  Ellowyn is supper adorable and very active.  This is good because Brent and Latisha decided to travel the World with the kids and her high energy seems to work for that.  

Brent and Latisha decided to sell everything, quit his job, and explore the world.  As a mom, I was having a hard time thinking: with all the instability in this world, was this a good idea to venture out.  Once again, I am trying to choose life over fear and choose to rejoice with them in this adventure they are on.  They have begun a YouTube channel and we love getting to see their adventure in video.  Before they left oversees they traveled several areas around the USA.  We actually got to join them on their adventure to Glacier National Park and Silverwood Theme Park, which got us in a couple of their videos.  I am so thankful that we got to share in a part of their adventure.  

They left the states and first stop was Greece, then Holland, and now Ireland.  I love seeing their videos and recommend you check them out.  Their YouTube channel is: The Out of Towners Family.  It is a favorite family time as we cast their video to our tv and enjoy laughing at their adventures. 

Hope all is going well for you all.  I hope to catch you all up on our new little blessing, but for now, have a great day and God bless.

Alicia

The family at Glacier National Park

The kids and grands in Silverwod

Grandbaby Blessings

It is super exciting to announce a new grandbaby is on the way.  Brent and Latisha are expecting another baby April 2020.  We thought we would put together a fun dinner in honor of our new addition.  It was very fun.  Children are truly a blessing and we are thankful for all our blessings.

He's Here

Grandbaby #4 arrived.  David and I were on a trip, but only a couple hours away, when at 4:00 in the morning we got a call that Ivy was in labor.  We were up and on the road in the wee hours of the morning and were able to be at the hospital when little Everett James arrived.  We feel so blessed to have a new little man in our family.  He is so adorable and sweet and looks a lot like his big brother.  I was able to stay around a couple days and enjoyed time spent with this adorable and special family. Welcome to our world little man.  Thank you Lord.

God bless you all and have a great day.

Alicia

Happy Grandma and Grandpa

Mom and Daddy loving pictures of their new baby.  Alex and Ivy
have a photo business in addition to being youth pastors, so their pictures
are amazing.  

Look at my adorable grandkids.  

They all look so big once you add a little one to the picture.

Summer Smiles

Ok, so summer is only half way done, but we have been busy.  The weather here has been pretty close to wonderful.  I am a fair weather gal. When the weather is between 55 and 85, I am the happiest.  In the winter I don't mind it dropping below freezing and getting a few good snow storms, but below 20 degrees and I don't care to leave the house.  The opposite is the same in the summer, I am good up to 90 degrees then I prefer the indoors or at least shady areas.  Still working on that being content in whatever but I will get there.  Back to where I began, the weather here has been lovely and only a few days above 90, with some little rain storms here and there.  This keeps most things green and pretty.  Even the mountains still have a shade of green in them and that makes me smile.

The end of May brought a sad but happy day as Brent and Latisha moved into their new home.  They did a wonderful job building this house.  The builder's price came with the basics but to add on the upgrades they wanted, in most areas was cheaper to do themself or higher someone else to do it.  So they have been working like crazy changing door handles, light fixtures, adding shelves and miscellaneous things.  They just got new countertops put in and have been working on the kitchen backsplash.  I am so proud of all they have done and it is turning out beautiful.

the new home

 Cassandra got her honor star.  It was bittersweet watching her getting her hard work recognized and we were so proud.  There is always a little catch in my throat as I realize my babies are growing up.  I also had a little bit of a mourning time for my Isabella.  She will never be an honor star, we still wait for her to say mom and dad.  I probably should just accept who God made her, but I believe He has more for her.  Sometimes though reality of what may never be and my dreams for my child hit me and I feel sadness I can't explain.  It has been a hard year for Isabella.  She has increased in seizure activity, has a harder time walking and is mostly confined to her leg braces, we have seen little progress in her cognitive levels and the genetic testing basically found nothing except a potential candidate gene.  We are thankful for Isabella, and if this is what God has for her I will embrace and love her with all I have.  She is my baby girl, and I love the joy she brings to our lives.

Cassandra getting her award

David and I with our girls

It had been a couple years but I was able to attend the homeschool conference!!!
Even more exciting was that I got to share this time with Ivy.  She is looking
forward to homeschooling her own children and look forward to advice and
ideas from the conference.  It was a good conference and I enjoyed our speakers

The next great event was the baby shower for Alex and Ivy's new little man.  Because they are having another boy they didn't want a real big party, more of a family barbecue.  Everything went lovely and we had a wonderful time celebrating this new little life.

Me and my son

Look at this lovely mama.  

 Cassandra also had a birthday.  She turned 11 and wanted a water party.  We had a great turn out and went with a Luau theme.  The weather was perfect and the day was great.

 Some friends of ours daughter was getting married where Alex and Ivy live.  It worked out for us to go and we did a family birthday party for Alex and Cassandra at an all you can eat pizza place.  I have little self control there and everyone was amazed with my quantity of dessert pizza, :)

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Fathers Day was a great day to have a golf day.  We joined together and hit balls at the driving range and David got to give Aidric some pointers.  

Auntie Cassie entertaining her nephews and niece. 

 Next we had August's 4th birthday party.  My oldest grandson is growing so well and handsome.  I had told him when he came by how Grandma loves him and misses him, and he said,"you miss me Grandma." It just totally melted my heart.  Such a sweetie.

The other day Isabella had a neurology appointment.  When she came out of the car she landed funny on her foot and squealed.  We didn't think much about it but upon taking her to our next grocery stop she landed funny again.  This time she was very unhappy and refused to put pressure on it.  We took her home and I examined her foot.  It was definitely swelling.  She kept trying to walk on it but would let out screams.  We took her to the doctor and yep, she had broke it.  Poor little girl.  I wonder if she landed on her heal wrong and her hard braces didn't give.  She now has a broken heal that she is supposed to stay off of for a few weeks.  She was very unhappy and doesn't like staying off it. We took her to the park and Cassandra really wanted to push her around.  The rose garden was beautiful and I think it took her mind off her foot.

We went to get some ice cream after. 

 That brings us to the 4th of July.  We had some friends over and once again it was a perfect day.  David cooked up some burger and hot dogs, we played some games, lit off some fireworks and celebrated this amazing country of ours.

Volleyball

My children still at home

Latisha, Brinley, Brent and August

My love and me

Here we now are in the midst of summer, enjoying our time together and looking forward to our new grandbaby.  We have  a couple other events up and coming and maybe I can find some more time to post.  Hope you all are enjoying the summer.  God bless you all,
Alicia