A lot of updates. Divorce Filed, Name Changed, and What We Did This Week.

Well it has been quite a BUSY week since I updated last. Thank you all for the comments and calls, texts and cards for caring about my family and the loss of our puppy. It really does mean the world. Mom said tonight Alyssa found dog hair in her house and sat in the corner holding it crying. Awww Made me ache for her. Patches was around before she was born.

Anyways... This week I have accomplished a few things.  First I have applied and am getting signed back up to take a few college courses. Please pray the financial aid comes through. I had to file with Justin and my tax return from 2010 and I hope they call me in to discuss things or I will never get any help. I checked separated in the box so hopefully they will take note. But if God wants me to go - He will make a way. Isn't God awesome?

Second my car - totally on the fritz. Thanks to some AWESOME friends at Marxville - who helped me out with changing the plugs and wires. Rich got me a list of things I have to fix now. One step at a time. That is how things are going this week. Got my oil changed. Check. Need to figure out why the check engine light still was coming on Sunday. Need new rotors, a new flex pipe on my muffler (I think that is what it is called) and my stabalizer bar or something or other is broke. Get this all fixed and I should be good to go for a while. :) I like my van. It doesnt have a ton of miles so I will fix what is wrong and keep going with it.

Today I went to the lawyer and Justin and I filed for divorce. We signed papers and back in the mail they go tomorrow. So as soon as the lawyer gets them back - 90 day count down till that is done.

I also changed my name back today. You can do it BEFORE you get the divorce final but it has to be in the process. So that is filed and in a week I should have my official papers. So Linda Palma Noullet it is again. Very strange feeling over this. I prayed. I pondered. It was a tough decision for me to make. But finally I decided to do it. No turning back now. My years of easy times of saying Irwin with an I, are over. I think I shall marry a Smith or Miller next time. Something super simple! ha ha. Ok so all available men who have complicated names - sorry no luck for you.

My Aunt Marianne is visiting us this week from Philly. It has been really nice seeing her. She came and walked with me Friday, saw my house, we hung out all evening. She is really cool. We are a lot alike. I really have a great family. I am blessed. Tonight was when we all got together and wished her a happy birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! wooo hoo. Here I am with her.

My kids had a field trip for homeschoolers to Playthings Etc this week. Yes going to a toy store IS school!!! It was so fun and interesting.

Swimming Lessons for everyone are going well.

Dad and Mom snagged me some patio blocks so now I can sit out back without sinking into the dirt/mud this spring. Thank you awesome parents!

Alyssa had a teddy bear Karate workshop with her best friend Nicole. Tamara made matching uniforms for their teddy bears. So cute!

Here is Mr Wyatt and Me at Co-op Last week working on Puzzles.

 

The week was full! The kids and I worked on decorating some cakes and cupcakes... 

 We did a lot of puddle jumping...

 Alyssa and I have been practicing our guitars... She is so cool people. Trust me they say this is cool... I don't know but I just go with it.

 And we had some patrolling the parking lot with guns and Wobbly Carts. It's safe.

I am sure I packed a lot more into this week but I am also sure I am loosing your attention if you read this far into my ramble. You get a cookie! Hey I did bake those too this week but sorry - took them to my Grandmas and there are NONE left!

Keep me in your prayers as I have a LOT of changes going on this month... and prayers are always good. I love you all! Thanks! Night!

Goodbye to Patches. You were one loved Puppy!

 So tonight we had to say Goodbye to our amazing dog Patches. Patches came to live with us as a little puppy 12 years ago. I remember bringing him home in a shoe box with a crate and bowl in the car... I had gotten him from my friends and I brought him home when I was 20!!  and did not know if I was going to be allowed or not! lol... I was bummed when I got home cause my GRANDMA was there and that was almost a definite killer for asking. I snuck him in downstairs and called my parents down. It was LOVE at first site for my mom. My dad... not so much. But over the years he grew on dad (like from day one!!! when he crawled into my dads lap and there he stayed. The one who didn't want him was the one Patches attatched to!)

Then a few months later I met Justin and he broke the news to my mom that I didn't tell her right away. Patches was a Pitbull! ha ha ha. Opps. Yeah... did I forget that detail? He was half and half so the brindle did not give it away to mom at first. Too late he was already part of our family.

 He was my dog at first. I would take him with me places, he slept in my room. Then one day I went to my second home Marxville and Heidi the Golden Retriever bit him. I called my parents to come get him cause I was spending the night and Patches was hurting. They did. Halfway through that night they emergency vet-ed him and he came home in a CAST! From that day on... he was my parents dog. lol They were not so trusting with my care of him I guess.

Patches was the most loved dog there could be I would have to say. He was there when all  of us kids were moving out and getting married. I really think he helped my parents (cause you know they woulda missed us terribly being such awesome kiddos!) But seriously... he was a good dog. Not super cuddly but he never EVER bit anyone or was mean. He knew he was loved and was good with my kids. Each one I brought home to him he was better with. He did not know what to think of Alyssa at first. ha ha.

But Patches had to go to his rest tonight.  It is NEVER easy to lose a Pet who is part of your family and loved. I pray for my parents tonight and for on. And For my kiddos. And for all of us who knew we were second to Patches. You knew you were part of the family if mom accidentally called you Patches. :-)

We love you little Buddy! My first dog ever. Thanks for being so good Patchy.

Tristan Charles Turns 7!!! "His Best Birthday Ever" he says...

Yesterday my Son Tristan turned 7 years old! What a busy day we had. Tradition in my house is to hang birthday "curtains" while they sleep so in the morning they wake up to them. Just simple yarn and construction paper in their door ways. I liked when it was a surprise but now they are like - don't forget my curtains!

 

Another tradition for Tristan's birthday is our Shamrock Shakes.  When I was going to the hospital to have Tristan - Alyssa was 2 1/2 years old. To make her feel important I told her it was her job to bring mommy a shamrock shake when I had the baby! (He wasn't due till the second week in March) Well Alyssa proudly brought me a Shamrock Shake the first time she visited her new baby brother! (Shamrock Shakes are from McDonalds - Green and mint for St. Patricks Day)

Every since that EVERY Birthday we all share the tradition of having a shake. 

I got them the night before and hid them in the fridge so we had them for breakfast! - you can see Tristan's behind him on the bed in this picture. 

At church Tristan's awesome Sunday School Teachers had a pizza/chicken nugget party for him. We brought Little Debbies Snack Cakes and Little hugs in so they feasted well! 

Then my parents, Tamara and Nikki and Marxville headed to ChuckECheese (did you know E stands for Entertainment?) for a joint birthday party with our friend Andy who was turning 6. 

ChuckE Came out and Crowned our Birthday Boys with Token Crowns. Tristan has worn his all over our neighbor hood yesterday and today. He is so proud of it! He looks so old here with ChuckE Doesn't he? But he is such a tender little boy at heart! 

 

They got to go into the super awesome Ticket Blaster with a chance to win the 1,000 ticket! Tristan won 2,500 tickets, Andrew got 2,000. They were pumped!

 

Wyatt was obsessed with his "Robot" ChuckE. He was cracking me up dancing, pretending that ChuckE had caught him, running around and around. Luckily they had us back in the corner right by this stage. He was loving it! 

 

Guitar Lesson Day 1 **** Edited for Day 2****

So today my House of Rock DVD came and Alyssa and I sat down to start some "Lessons".
Wearing our kinda matching Dr. Pepper Shirts - I LOVE that she still wants to be like me! I put mine on and she dug hers out of the laundry basket (clean just not put away yet) to wear it today.

 

So what we learned today was first the parts of our guitars. 

  

Then we tuned our guitars (well the best we could - this I need a lot of work on)

And learned how to read Chord Charts. Name of the chord up top, 6 strings, at the bottom tells O for open meaning you don't put fingers on these strings, X for don't strum them at all - just skip those strings. The other numbers are the numbers of your fingers. I wrote the numbers on my fingers for practice to remember. Made it easier :)

 

Then we practiced and practiced. And our fingers looked like this - 

 

I guess my fingers will "callous" - goody... later. ha ha. They didn't hurt. just indented. 

So I stopped there. The guy said - practice those two chords cause we are going to use them a lot in the next lesson. So I am :) 

It was fun. I am still waiting on my picks but Alyssa and I cut up used Getgo cards and it works for now.

So that is where I am :-) And I also wanted to show you guys a pic of my mom and I from the ladies night at Harvest. It was such a fun night! It's a picture of a picture so not the best but it is on my fridge.

********************Day 2********************

Ok, so Today - Today my fingers are numb! I practiced my 2 chords over and over cause I went to watch the next lesson and he has us doing a strum pattern of the two chords with drums keeping beat... yeah, I am good going from A minor to E Minor but switching back to A Minor I loose my fingering. So I know what I have to work towards and am not there yet. So I am just practicing back and forth those two chords. I did it periodically all day today - a little here and there... and tonight - my fingers are NUMB and vibrating! I guess I will need them to callous after all. Although I kinda like my soft hands... ah what to do, what to do. Price you gotta pay right? lol

Today I also practiced learning the string names. E/A/D/G/B/E "Eat Alot Daily, Get Big Easy" That is the little catchy phrase thing I found on the internet that I liked the best. There was another one that is sticking in my head more that I found online but I don't "like" it. But go figure it is the one I actually remember. There are some crazy ones out there! 

Oh and my picks came! No more GetGo cards! Yay! Talking to the Guitar Store Guy and my brother Chris, I found out that the thickest picks are for bass guitars, thick is ok, medium is kinda best for acoustic players and thin is good for Alyssa! Chris says he uses thin when playing in his house cause it is not as loud and that is exactly what she needs. My neighbors are glad I got pink thins for her as well as Mediums.

My niece Adelyn Grace turns 1

I had the honor of going down to my niece Adelyn Grace's first birthday party in Maryland this weekend! I was in heaven helping my sister in law and brother get ready for her birthday party. Alyssa was too. It was so nice to be able to help and do something for her since being a far away aunt is not always fun.

I so love this little girl.

It was GREAT to see friends and family and enjoy a really fun open house party with them.  Ate way too much but have to say - it was worth every bit.

Here are a few pictures to share - then I am off to bed! Drove down yesterday (well dad did) and back today. Gotta rest for church in the a.m.

I cannot believe she is one already. A year ago she was so little and fighting for life in John Hopkins Hospital. Thank you Jesus for our little blessing! We wish you many more amazing years and I cannot wait to see the little girl you become! Just wait - soon your big cousins will be teaching you all the crazy ways of our family! KISSSSSSSES DOLL BABY!

Happy Birthday to my mom and Funeral to her Brother

Well today was another hard day for my family. Today we buried my moms older brother John Rudosky and what a tribute it was. If you came to the afternoon viewing at the funeral home you were waiting 30 plus mins in line to see us.  The FOP gave a beautiful ceremony. (Thank you all) I heard over and over the stories of how my  uncle touched peoples lives. Funny how much I did not know about him - he was out changing the world~! Now... unfortunately for the political world - he was out supporting the Democrats! ha ha ha. No stones - if you were at his funeral or the funeral home you know it was no secret the fun jabbing... sometimes heated arguments over politics and religion my uncle loved. The taboo subjects - not for him! But after all - as one friend said - he would fight and fight then wink and say so where we eating lunch! And that is why I love to live in America! Because I can tell him he is a crazy Democrat and he can tell me he never met a good Republican and we can laugh and love life and make a difference!

Sometimes I might grumble a little when having to go to a good Catholic Funeral (or wedding) because they are known for being long and I am sorry - Uncle John LOVED the incense - the more the better! But I do not! ha ha. But I was SHOCKED today. I ENJOYED the funeral service very much! The personal stories that showed me just how much the priest loved Uncle John had us all laughing! He REALLY knew him! I really think Uncle John would have been pleased.
The most touching part of today was at the grave site. After the little service there was a moment where I was not sure what was going on. Then over the police scanners was a "Last call for John Rudosky"  I don't think there was  a dry eye. What a special thing. ...

But another important event happened today and that was John's sisters birthday. My Mom. Oh Mom... I love you. What a way to spend your birthday. We left the celebrating birthdays to another day. We will have the kids do cards and presents  next week (or tomorrow - let me know! lol) But I wanted to make sure I did not let the day pass without a tribute for you. I love you mom.

Not only are you my mom, but you are a best friend. You are always there for me. You are who I call to talk about my kidlets, my life, my problems. You are there to walk the mall, take me shopping, or help me out in every an all things.

You are the best Grandma in the world! Not only does she watch my kids - but it is no wonder why my mom gets tired after having them over - she is down on the floor PLAYING! Be it lining up the cars, building the legos, putting puzzles together or the kids all time favorite with her "Coloring Contests". They love to try to color so I don't know who did which page and see if they can win against Grandma. It was easy at first but the older Alyssa gets she learned my moms coloring techniques and can trick me.

I am forever blessed with a super awesome mom. And I will bless you by NOT sharing all our funny family secrets with this post! How is that for a present? Now... tomorrow... I might tell you about what mom would offer if I was thirsty in the car... or what body part she could make go through a wall... but not today. Today I will leave her be! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! I LOVE YOU!

A little strange feeling... but a birthday tribute to my dad.

I have been planning all week to do a nice tribute to my dad tomorrow for his birthday.
And tonight my Uncle passed away.

This is all so close to when my meama went home to be with Jesus. I remember it was a few days before my birthday (January 14th) that she passed. (Jan 17th) I spent my birthday at her funeral home and (January 19th) my younger brothers birthday was spent at her funeral... And I will never forget the dates.

Now my uncle has passed and my dads birthday is tomorrow. It looks like the funeral will take place on my moms birthday on Monday... Just strange because the turn of events. When you think "birthday" you do not think funeral...

I know - what is so strange about it? Who knows. The whole process of funerals and such is ... wrong. It is just never right to bury a loved one.

But on the other hand - it makes you think about things a little more... and you want to make sure that you do tell those who are here how much you love them every min you get a chance. (isn't this the thing everyone feels at these times)

Well tomorrow is my daddy's birthday. And I know that the day will pass in the busyness (add the funeral to this my dad is doing a wedding and a baby dedication this weekend - he is a pastor How ironic - a Wedding, Baby and Funeral all in the same same weekend...) and I want to take time to share how amazing a dad I have.

There really is no greater example of a loving father, grandfather and husband than my dad. I was raised with the best of examples of a good man there ever could be. I pray my own boys will be just like their grandpa when they grow up. I tell them that when I pray with them. And Alyssa is already praying for a man to marry just like him.

I am the most blessed daughter in the world. I am so thankful for him.

 A few examples of dad... we grew up on a great 36 acre land that had woods, a ball field, corn fields... Dad was always taking us for walks in the woods (he would clear paths and rake leaves to make it nice for us to walk!), playing baseball (I will forgive you dad for LINE DRIVING ME IN THE FACE!!! knocking my jaw completely out of wack and giving me the most AWFUL clicking jaw to this day!!!)
Dad would put on a fall festival (and mom) for our church each year and set up the most amazing obsticle courses and games. Having a winter birthday - and one a day away from my brother Chris - dad always made our birthday's special with the best home made parties! He is very artistic and he always had great parties for us. He was always at our games, events and more. He was my youth leader growing up. He would play football, golf, bike with us...

And now he is the best grandpa. He takes my kids to skate castle, goes to their sporting events, takes them to church things, throws fall festivals, jumps on the trampoline (the one he gave up his amazing garden so he could have the level ground to put a trampoline for my kids), takes them to water parks, etc etc.

He is the dad who buys me salt and brings me a shovel and a bucket of salt to be ready for the ice. Who plastics my windows, makes sure my car has windshield washer fluid, puts air in my tires and more. (by the way dad... gotta check my fluid just to be safe - it still squirts but it could be getting low!)

And we love him so much. Not just for what he "does" for us. Oh ask mom about when dad had his open heart - or when he had his retina repaired... oh we can laugh now at him sitting perfectly still with dark masks on listening to audio books... Poor dad... poor dad...
But he is a sweet, loving man. Slow to anger like the bible says. Only when mom would say "STEPHEN... .DO SOMETHING" did he rise up and we ran! ahhhhh

But he was her support. The final authority! And a great dad. Happy Birthday Dad. I love you so much!

Uncle John (Revised...)

Hey Guys, I would LOVE some prayers tonight and tomorrow for my Uncle John. My mothers older brother. He had a heart attack and passed out today and is now in ICU in Pittsburgh. They have lowered his body temp to as low as they can to help avoid brain damage. They said the next 24 hours are critical. My cousin Andrew said they did CPR twice on him today and that is not good.

I know God can do anything and I am praying for him to pull through this. I also know how scary this time is. It doesn't seem that long ago that I was in the ICU with my own dad and he had tons of stuff hooked up to him. I remember the night they called my mom back into the hospital. But God pulled him through and I am forever thankful for that gift.
Now my uncle is in need of a healing touch. My Aunt and three cousins are in need of comfort and peace.

Thank you in advance for praying with us.

___________________________________________________

My uncle went home to be with the Lord tonight. Please keep his family in your prayers as this was very very unexpected.

Christmas Recap and Hair Cuts

My Christmas was really nice! I went to Harvest Community Church for their Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve. It was Beautiful and such a great message! Pastor Mike preached that "I would rather be like Joe" and talked about what it meant to be the Stepfather of Jesus. You don't always think about it. Sometimes you think - ok so he had to go into hiding etc... but to really concentrate on what that meant. The sacrifices Joseph made and such... just an angle that is not often thought about. There is more to his message and it is all online at the link above if you wanna check it out. (hows that for a little plug) But the Worship was as always - awesome. And I just had a great time with friends celebrating the Savior. Candlelight services are always great. Although the worry wart in me always sees the small kids with the candles and thinks - what are the parents thinking??? Eeks!

Here is a little of our worship team.

I sat with the Johns. I love the Johns. I just have to say. Kati, Rodger, Jesse, Samantha and Isaac are just some of the most awesome people/friends. It has been a blessing to know them all these years and still enjoy worshiping beside them on Sunday mornings. What a great family.

 After Candlelight I went to my parents house for food and friends/family. Always nice to just sit and enjoy that time with everyone. The Throckmortons and Debbey Cherry. (Missed Rachel Boyer this year! Hope you are feeling better!)

Christmas Morning I worshiped with my family at Butler Assembly.

Snitched these pictures from my sister in laws facebook. Here is my little brother Chris and his wife Lauren and daughter Adelyn at the alter of Butler Assembly. It looked so pretty with all the flowers. 

 And Adelyn and Grandma!

After Christmas Morning Church we headed over to my Grandma Noullets House. She just turned 84! I love you Grandma! Every year since I have been born (Ok I am guessing here) we have had Christmas afternoon with Grandma. All the relatives eat lunch together. It was a small group of us this year but I enjoyed it tremendously! Here I am with my Grandma! I just love her to pieces!!!

Then I got my kidlets back at 3:15 from their dad. Drop off meet at the Getgo... fun times. lol Anyways. Headed over to my parents for Christmas with my mom and dad and brother and his family. We REALLY missed my older brother Josh and Christy and nephew Nathan from Georgia. We wish you guys coulda celebrated with us.

 

The kids were cracking me up. They got Nintendo 3ds -es for Christmas and they have cameras in them. Here is a picture of everyone taking a picture of Adelyn. My dad in the background is setting down his camera! He was taking a picture too! I just was not fast enough. 

So that was our Christmas. Rush rush rush but sooo worth it! 

Then Last night my friend Aaron stopped by and gave Alyssa and I hair cuts. She was so excited as this was her first hair cut not done by me. She got layers. It looks so pretty! 

 

  

And mine... :)