Kayleigh Joan

Kayleigh is my youngest niece. If she were a gem she would be a sparkly diamond. If she were a dog, she would be a playful puppy. If she were an actress, she would be Sarah Bernhardt. (or Meryl Streep for you young 'uns)
I think the best thing about my niece is her emotional response to every situation. She cries easily and without embarassment - she laughs in such a way that you laugh with her, even if the joke is on you. She is so loving that you feel embraced just by her saying "hello, I'm glad to see you."
Lots of people think that you have to rein in your emotions, but then no one knows how to take you. Kayleigh lets you know what she is feeling about things and you know how to react. How many times have you found out later that you may have hurt someone's feelings? Not with Kayleigh. If you hurt her, she lets you know. You never wonder if she is happy to see you because she shows you if she is. You never wonder if she is afraid, or sad, or lonely.
Her blessing is that you always feel like you belong. She doesn't act silly if she is serious You know not to kid or make light of what she is doing. She doesn't act happy when she is sad. In fact, you are wrapped into her sadness and allowed to be kind to her, or sympathetic, or just be sad with her.
Kayleigh is incredibly athletic and smart. With a family like hers, that is to be expected. She loves to play sports and puts her heart and soul into it. She is satisfied as long as she knows she did her best.
She is a good student, but like her mom (sorry Elaine - the secret is out) has a degree of fun with her studies. She is eager to learn and acts like every moment she has with someone is a way to get smarter. She seems very young and I think that is her cleverness, as you always have patience to work with her. Then she masters what you were doing and BAM! you are left wondering where "Little Kayleigh" went.
She is turning 13 this year and that will be traumatic for her parents; it will leave them with two teenage girls.
Never were two sisters so alike and so different. The only thing that makes one of the girls more funloving, more hardworking, or more goofy is the moment. Kayleigh doesn't push her way to be your friend, but once there, she is the friend you would hate to lose.
Kayleigh would fight to the death any one who hurts someone she loves...especially her older sister. While Rachael is protective and always ready to defend Kayleigh, Kayleigh would be proactive. She wouldn't wait for someone to hurt her sister and defend her, she would jump in before damage is done and would take them down...literally.
She is not one to weather it out and see what is going to happen - she makes it happen.
Do I love Kayleigh? Of course I do but more than that, I think she loves me, too.

Christmas 2011

When autumn starts to disappear, Halloween and Thanksgiving go past,

The weather gets cold, the days speed by; it’s Christmastime at last.

There are presents to buy, and trees to trim…houses and halls to deck,

But when we let the frills and chores overwhelm, Christmas becomes a wreck.

So slow down my friends and put busy to rest; stop, look around and hear

The gentle sounds of Christmas bells, the carols, the laughing and cheer.

When we think Christmas, it’s easy to join the world as it’s suddenly wild,

But deep inside, in our hearts, in our minds, it’s all about a Child.

So we give out gifts but in our hearts, we care for one another,

In this season of love, in this season of joy, we are nothing less than brothers.

The gift of Christmas is not just clothes…or electronics…or gadgets…or toys,

It’s the blessings we get, it’s the blessings we give, in the name of a little boy.

Give thanks to God, for His Son, so small, who became a man just to save us

God is faithful when we are good or bad, and through Jesus, He forgave us.

So dear friends, it’s with love that we pray for you now, at home, away or near,

We wish you peace, joy, and love at Christmas and all through next New Year.

  MERRY CHRISTMAS AND BLESSED NEW YEAR TO ALL...  MARGARET AND FAMILY

END OF YEAR 2011 - a poem

“Let it go!” they told me and I’d say I really tried

But when petty things annoy me, my tolerance just hides.

“Forget it” they advised me but my memory is long

And though the offense vanishes the hurt just lingers on.

“Turn to Jesus”…easily said and I know that that is right

But I pray just as easily for justice for a slight.

Then it hit me, like a brick,that I was born to sin

But Jesus forgave all my wrongs when I prayed and let him in

So maybe, in these holy times, my heart will open wide,

And beat away my lack of faith and let my Lord inside.

O Jesus shut my heart to wrong because I truly know

That even when I wronged You, You sighed, and “Let it go.”

Rachael Elizabeth

Rachael is the beautiful daughter of my sister Elaine. Like her mom, she has always tried harder and been the hardest on herself. When she got a "B" in school, her mom told her it was a good grade - Rae said she could have done better. When she play sports she wants to be the best - score the most goals - hit the furthest ball - sink the winning basket.
Rachael is short (as are both her parents' families) and if you never saw her play sports you may think her weak. She is a dynamo on the soccer field. She does her best and is able to ref the younger kids because she doesn't just play the game...she knows the game.
Rachael is a good Christian, saving money as I write this to go on a working missions trip with her church. I know that most people see what she is doing as a vacation,but these mission trips really expose the students to different culture and do not let them fool around. When they say working mission...they put the WORKING in bold leters. And Rachael knows how to work.
Rachael is 15, with a birthday in the middle of October. Because of this and her birthstone being the same as mine and my mother's, I gave her my mother's opal ring for her birthday. Although it has no monetary value, I know she will treasure it. She never knew my mom and it is sad because my mom would have loved her.
And she is so gracious and a good friend. When she turned 10, her mom had a huge party for her at a public place. In the party area, Rachael opened her gifts...including a crazy, weird Braatz doll. Three presents later, she opened an identical doll. One of the little girls said "you already got one!" to which Rachael replied, "Yes and it's so cool that now I have two. I can play with them together." The girl who gave the first doll was thanked, the girl who gave the second one was honored.
Rachael is the kind of girl that I wish was my own daughter and am so glad she is not. As much as seeing her successes is rewarding, keeping up with her would be exhausting. I am not athletic nor am I competitive. I believe that what I earn will come to me with the effort I put in. Rachael believes that the more effort she puts in, the better the reward. The reward she receives is not just the love of her friends and family...it isn't just the awards and good report cards... it's the way people walk away from her feeling like they have been part of something perfect and that success has come their way by being part of Rachael's life.