~Highlights from our Holidays!~

I am having issues with the computer I normally blog with, so haven't been able to blog.  I hope to remedy that and start blogging more regularly...I miss it!!
This will probably be an overload of pics, but wanted to share some highlights from Thanksgiving through January.
These include our Sarah's Surprise 18th birthday party...
LOTS of Fun Christmas activities
and Kimberly and Noah's Surprise birthday party!
Kimberly and Noah share a birthday.  It dawned on me that we have given her several nice birthday parties, but hadn't done a party for Noah in years. (Family gatherings, but no parties with friends.)
I let Kimberly in on the secret so she could help me plan a surprise party to celebrate Noah ...and her!!!
Pour yourself a cup of something hot and yummy...and sit and enjoy!
~We were gone to some mission services when the annual Hunger 5K happened.  Our Noah was so disappointed!  So, we planned a "Dickinson 5K" at Eden park and invited some friends.  I served pizza and hot drinks afterwards.  It was a beautiful day and it was Lots of Fun!!

 ~L to R: Zack, Noah, Sarah, Kimberly, Elijah, Brittany, Darla, and Bryan.~

 ~Emily A. and Phillip joined them too.~

 ~On our front steps~

~Youth Thanksgiving Party at the Susans~
(Pics taken by Sarah Susan)

~Our Thanksgiving~

 Abigail's little hand on your left helping Mommy crimp her pie crusts.~

~Kimberly and Sarah made these beautiful pies for our Thanksgiving.~

 ~We were sooo happy to have Dad and Mom D. join us for Thanksgiving.  My Parents were supposed to come too, but one of our children wasn't feeling well and they were scared to chance getting the flu.~

 ~Our Thanksgiving Table~

~Black Friday~
I think that this is one of the first years I have gone Black Friday shopping.  I took the girls out....because they didn't know it but their friend Megan was back from college and we were going to SURPRISE OUR GIRLS and meet up for lunch.  It was so fun to pull off!
~Mary's boots and jingle bells.~

 ~Silly Kimberly, Sarah, and RaeQuelle....Sarah wanted to buy this jacket but the last small was on the mannequin, so they decided to take it off of her.
As they took it off, the hand fell off in their hand and scared them half to death.  So then they laughed their heads off.  :-) ~

~I had told the girls that we were going to eat at McAlister deli for lunch.  They were excited but had NO CLUE that their friend Megan and her sister Katelyn and Mom, and the girls' own cousins were waiting for us inside. :-D~

~They were soooo happy~

 ~A little coffee out together~

~Decorating for Christmas~

 ~Our Elijah and Mary...Christmas tree. :-) ~

~Our Mission Service in Shelbyville~

~Phillip teaching Sunday school at the Spanish church.  He taught on keeping the Sabbath.
Afterwards we had our missions service.~

At lunch time they surprised Ben and Brenda with a baby shower.

 ~Bryan and Noah~

~My parents joined us.~

~Phillip gets his wisdom teeth removed.~
Early the next morning Phillip and I left at 5:00 A.M. to drive to Chillacothe to have his wisdom teeth removed.~

 ~Though still groggy from the medicine, I had to take him in with me to get his prescriptions filled.~

~Mary got to go out with her friends~

~Mary and Chloe~

~WAY BACK WHEN~
L to R: Laura, U. Dan, A. Carole, Daddy and Moma, Granddaddy and Grandmother, U. Carson and A. Linda, Jane.
Front row:
Heather, Susan, Martha holding Christa, Esther, and Cheryl.

~December 1st...A Christmas wedding.~

BEFOFRE:
Mary and Abigail all squeaky clean before the wedding.~

AFTER
all ready for wedding

~Gabby and Nathan's wedding~

 ~A winter wonderland reception~

 ~Debbie and I helped serve~

 ~Samantha, Sarah, Katelyn, Kristin, and Kimberly helped serve too.~

~Butterbraid Christmas party~

~SARAH'S SURPRISE 18th 
BIRTHDAY PARTY~
Some weeks before Sarah's birthday... Kimberly came to me and asked me if we could please do a Surprise birthday party for Sarah's 18th.  Kimberly told me that she would make all the food!  :-). She worked her HEAD off!  She got up at 2:30 A.M. or so and made 120 macaron cookies for the dessert and then HID THOSE!!
By the time Sarah came down for breakfast, Kimberly was scrambling the eggs like she just "got up to help Mommy." :-)
Then Kimberly made several batches of Colombian Rice with Chicken.  Noah, Elijah, and Mary helped her.

~Phillip and Sarah left to go out for coffee around 4:30.  Then we all SCRAMBLED to get everything done for her party.
These are Phillip and Sarah's pics from their Coffee Date at the Golden Lamb.
The Golden Lamb is the oldest hotel in Ohio...Est. in 1803 in Lebanon, OH.

Kimberly's beautiful macarons!

 ~We had all our guests hide their cars so Sarah wouldn't see them.  There were 26 guests hiding in the kitchen.
I knew that if I met Sarah at the door I would want to smile, so I sat down at the piano to play a Christmas song.~

~SURPRISE!!!!!
SARAH WAS SOOOO SHOCKED!!
She told me that she had really WANTED a surprise party some time, but she decided not to tell me, and to leave that in Jesus and Mommy's hands. :-)

 ~Dear Sweet Hard-working Kimberly hugging her sweet cousin Brittany~

~Sarah opening her nice gifts.~

 ~Ice Skating at Fountain Square~

~Kimberly thought a signable runner would be fun.  It was!~

~CHRISTMAS CAROLING AT THE NURSING HOME~
~Our homeschool group singing at the Nursing home.  Poor Noah was by far the oldest, but was a trooper and helped lead the kids in singing.~

 Chick-fil-A for lunch after caroling at the Nursing Home~

~GOD'S BIBLE SCHOOL'S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM~
God's Bible School had asked our family if we would dress up Victorian and Christmas carol to the guests arriving for their Christmas program.
It was fun!
~Phillip and I~

~Our family caroling.~
(Kelly took this fun pic for us.)

~Kiana, Samantha, and Kimberly played with the GBS orchestra.~

~After the program we rushed home and had 33 or more people over for a Christmas break.~

~The young people~

~Sis. Jowers, Stephanie, myself, and Kelly!~

 ~Our fun gift of coffee from the Stampers~

~Bethany came over to the GBS Christmas program and Kimberly enjoyed seeing her.~

~GREENVILLE, MI~
~On Saturday we drove to Greenville, MI for a Christmas Singspiration at the Flings' church on Sunday morning, and a mission service Sunday night.
The Flings took us to Pizza Hut for supper when we arrived on Saturday night.

~Sis. Calvert, Heather, Phillip, Bryon, Michele, and Sarah.~

 ~We stayed at a dear couples's beautiful house on a beautiful lake.~

 ~We

 ~Jesus helped us with our Singspiration, and helped Phillip as he gave a short sermon as well.~

 ~Sunday night right before our mission service started one of our younger children was trying to shut the back Suburban window and it shattered into a bizillion pieces.  That poor child cried nearly the whole service.  Until Daddy came down from the platform and told them that it was just fine that we would get it fixed.  (Our insurance was supposed to fix it on Jan. 4th, but they had the wrong window. They ordered another one, which was broken. :-(. So, they are supposed to replace it this week.)~

~We had a nice snack at Uncle Lyle's house.  This is Ms. Donna and us girls.~

~The kids listening to U. Lyle playing the guitar.~

 ~Preacher Bud, Phillip, Mary, Sarah, and Abigail.
This is Dad D's uncle that married Dad and Mom D. ~

 ~Isn't their church a fun little church.?!~

~Phillip and Bro. Phillips taping our back window so we could travel back to Ohio.~

 ~Bro. and Sis. Phillips were so kind to let us stay in their beautiful home.~

 ~Kimberly, Samantha, and Kiana over at GBS.  Kimberly stayed her while we went to MI to play in the GBS orchestra for the GBS Christmas program.~

~OUR CHURH CHRISTMAS DINNER~
We always LOVE going to our church Christmas dinner.
We HURRIED back from MI, got home at 5:30 unloaded some, I washed my hair, gave the little girls a bath, the boys showered, and we jumped into our dressy clothes and left by 6:00 for our church Christmas dinner.  :-) 
~Kimberly and Sarah~

 ~So Fun to have Daddy and Mom join us!~

~Kimberly really enjoyed playing with the GBS orchestra.~

~Sweet Emily and Kimberly~

~We got to go to the zoo with Bro. Hyatt.~

~Youth Christmas gathering!~
They went to a Christmas farm

~Out for Pizza with a gift card someone gave us.~

 ~Pastor Paul took Elijah and Levi rock climbing.~

~OUR CHURCH CHRISTMAS PROGRAM~

 ~Abigail...the little sheep~

 ~Darla, Sarah, and Kristin practicing to sing their beautiful trio before church.

 ~Our Mary....was Mary~

~Darla and Kimberly playing their violins accompanying the Mills and Rob Ryan singing.~

 ~Elijah...the rhyming rooster~

 ~Mary~

 ~Our choir~

 ~GRAMP AND GRAM'S HOUSE AT CHRISTMAS TIME!!~
After our Church Christmas program we drove over to my parents' house for a couple of days.
Mary and Elijah enjoying the swing that Gramp hung.~

 ~Noah letting Elijah ride on his Long board~

 ~Pear Salad at Gram's house.~

 ~Zack sent us this adorable pic of him holding Tiny baby Abigail.  Where or where does time go?~

 ~Gram and I~

 ~Gram playing the piano.  We are so grateful for God's touch on her after her stroke in 2013.~

 ~Elijah picked this little Christmas tree for Gram.~

  ~Going on a walk with Gramp and Gram.~

 ~Yummy cheese platter.~

~We hurried back to Cinci and some of the young people went to the zoo to see the Christmas lights.~

 ~Kimberly played at chick-fil-A to raise money for the new violin her teacher has been telling her she needs for years now. ~

~A Dear person heard of Kimberly's need for a new violin and gave her all she needs to get her new violin, bow, and case.
PRAISE THE LORD!!!!~

~Kimberly's little cactus tree on her desk.~

  ~Phillip preaching at our church.~

 ~Abigail had quite a bit of dental work that needed to be done.  So we took her to a Pediatric dentist.~

 ~Afterwards at Bob Evans.~

 ~Abigail's little kitty cat shoes.~

 ~Abigail reminds of us ",Mafalda" in Argentina.~

 ~Kimberly's Christmas gifts to me were these nice jars for my utensils.  ~
(I don't have a lot of cabinets or drawers in my kitchen.)

~Our Christmas table~

 ~Daddy and Moma enjoyed a TENNESSEE Christmas with GG and Uncle Dan and Aunt Carole!~

 ~Friends at church...with similar skirts.~

 ~Sooo happy to have their Megan home from College.~

~DICKINSON CHRISTMAS~

 ~Phillip and Heather, Dad and Mom, Michael and Beth.

 ~Dad and Mom's tree.~

 ~Mary drew this~

~The girls and I had to make a quick shopping run...~

 ~My Dear Uncle Don goes to Heaven.~

 ~Steve and Moma and I~

~BRYAN FAMILY REUNION~

 ~Coffee Emporium with some of my Bryan family~

 ~Sooo fun to have most of my Bryan family come to Cinci~

 ~I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE setting tables.  I love to go around my house and find things I ALREADY HAVE...to place on my tables.  I normally plan my TABLES before I plan my menus. :-)
With this table I enjoyed using some of Christmas place card holders and napkin holders that were from my pre-missionary days.~

 ~Singspiration at our Church.~
Noah playing Silent Night.~

 ~The girls singing a sextet. It was beautiful!!! ~

 ~Our family singing~

 ~Cousins visiting afterwards~

 ~These girls and their babies~

 ~Andrew visiting with Pastor Eisenhart and Carl.~

 ~Everyone over to our house for a snack afterwards.  Laura brought food as well.~

 ~New Years Eve and New Years Day~
A Group of us were able to rent a gym and have lots of food, fun, and fellowship on New Years Eve.~

 ~SIS. Wegener took this pic of....
LITTLE ABIGAIL ALL ALONE AT THIS LONG TABLE.
(Later on, lots of people joined her. :-)

~Bro. Joel was so kind to provide us with fun fireworks.~

 ~2 of our Sweet girls and I...just after midnight!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

 ~My sweet friend Janie, I have known since I was tiny~

 ~Jessica and Rebekah holding Mary.~

 ~Noah and Kimberly taking a pic of their shoes...So, I took a pic of them.~

 ~I think Abigail must already be in the mood for Summer, for she came down wearing her sandals. ;)

~Our New Year's table~

 ~I saw this cute white metal church at Kroger.  It was on Clearance but had no price on it.
So, I took it up front and told them I would like to purchase this church, but that there was no price on it, and it was the last one.
The lady turned around and asked her manager the price,
WHO TOLD ME THAT I COULD HAVE THE CHURCH FOR FREE!!!
Happy Dance.  :-) 

~Hog Jowl...~

 ~Balderdash ...as a family~

 ~Our first Breakfast in 2019~

 ~It was fun to find these little paper Gingerbread men plates.~

~ABIGAIL LOVED THEM!!~

 ~Sweet Sarah in her beret.~

 ~I have been enjoying sorting and cleaning out extras.
So far I have gotten rid of nearly 400 things in 2019.

 ~Found this pic of Philip and I, Sept. 1992.
This was our first outing.  We went ice skating with a huge group.~

~KIMBERLY AND NOAH'S SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY!~

 Kimberly and Noah share a birthday.  It dawned on me that we have given her several nice birthday parties, but hadn't done a party for Noah in years. 

(Family gatherings, but no parties with friends.)

I let Kimberly in on the secret so she could help me plan a surprise party 

to celebrate Noah ...and her!!! 

We met at Steak and Shake after church and there were 48 of us there.~

 ~I love being a stay-at-home wife and Mommy.  This is what I have ALWAYS dreamed of being!!
What a Privilege it is to be my sweet Phillip's wife...
and a Mother to our 6 precious children...and our 2 babies in Heaven.

 ~We made LOTS of lasagna first to celebrate Kimberly and Noah with Dad and Mom and Michael and Beth, and then secondly to celebrate them again on Sunday with the Hausmans.

~SUNDAY DINNER TABLE AT OUR HOUSE...
BOHO CHIC TABLESCAPE~
~for Kimberly and Noah's Sunday dinner.~
Paper plates from Pioneer Woman
Table runner...scraps from My Moma's material. :-)

 ~On the day before we ran up to Dad and Mom Dickinson to celebrate Kimberly and Noah.~
Abigail holding Daisey~

 ~SUNDAY AT OUR HOUSE~
We served Chocolate sheet cake and homemade SNOW ICE CREAM.~

~Darla and Abigail~

 ~We got lots of snow that day, and our church was cancelled,
so we enjoyed having the Hausmans over.

 ~Kimberly and Noah...went out on a "Birthday date." :-) ~

 ~On our Front porch~

 ~A snow day at Eden park~

~I love these pics of Mary and Elijah...they remind me of old fashion pics of kids sledding.~

 ~Mary and Elijah~

A HUGE ANSWER TO PRAYER!!
OUR FURNACE HAS BEEN GOING OUT FOR A COUPLE WINTERS NOW.  WE WERE HOPING THAT WE COULD JUST BUY A PART AND FIX IT. BUT WHEN DAD LOOKED AT IT, WE REALIZED IT WAS A GONER. :-(
WE SURELY DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO BUY ANOTHER ONE, SO WE WERE PRAYING AND WAITING ON GOD!!!!
WHILE WE WERE IN Michigan WITH THE FLINGS, PHILLIP FELT IMPRESSED TO TELL BRYON ABOUT OUR FURNACE GOING OUT.
BRYON TOLD US THAT HE HAD JUST SOLD HIS HOUSE HERE IN CINCI WITH A FURNACE SITTING IN HIS SHED.  
HE CONTACTED HIS REAL ESTATE AGENT WHO SAID THAT PHILLIP COULD GO INTO HIS GARAGE AND GET IT. 
WOULDN'T YOU KNOW....IT IS THE EXACT SAME BRAND, THE EXACT SAME SIZE, AND THE EXACT SAME BTU'S.  DAD AND PHILLIP HOOKED IT UP AND IT RUNS LIKE A CHARM!!
ISN'T GOD AWESOME?!!!!!!
 ~Dad D. came to help Phillip install our furnace, and we invited Bro. Hyatt over to eat supper with us.

 ~Kimberly had jury duty~

  ~Dad and Mom came for a visit~

 ~2 snow friends that Elijah built.  They are even holding hands.~

 ~I love their faces....~

 ~I found Elijah sleeping with his hat on.~

 ~I found this adorable pic from Ella and our TINY Abigail 3 years ago.~

 ~Elijah helping me peel my apples for my sauce apple and craisin dessert.~

~Sauted apples and Craisins were delicious over vanilla bean ice cream.~

 ~We enjoyed having the Carters over for dinner.
We enjoyed swapping stories of how GOD HAS WORKED in our lives!!!! ~

 ~Gareth and Susan and Phillip and I~

 ~When My Mom was downsizing, she gave me lots of material.  I enjoy looking through it for table runners.  This is pillow ticking scraps that I used to make Laura and I a jumper back in 1988 or so.~

 ~Thank you, Dear Jesus, for our yummy fresh eggs.~

 ~We have enjoyed some very fun snow days.~

 ~DUE TO SNOW....Our church was cancelled for 2 Sundays in a row.
So, we had the Hausmans over both times.
 It was fun to tell Laura to bring over some snacks of her choice, and I made some snacks as well.
Fun times...great memories!~

 ~Snow day at Eden Park.~
Silly Zack!

 ~Mary, Kristin, Sarah, and Samantha.~

 ~Back row: Zack, Joseph, Josh,
Mary, Kristin, Sarah, Samantha, Kimberly, Noah, Abigail, and Elijah.~

 ~Sarah and Kimberly.~

 ~The little kids and us playing games.~

 ~Grandpa Hyatt gave this gum ball machine and gum balls to our kids. ~

 ~A cozy cup of tea on a rainy day.~

 ~I jumped on Instagram to put on the above pic...when I found out it was National PIE DAY!  Who knew?!!
Jan. 23rd National Pie Day!
So, I quickly mixed up some pie dough...

 ~2 chocolate chess pies.~

 ~And an apple pie...for my Sweetheart...my apple pie is his favorite.
(The Apple pie is ALMOST ready to go into the oven.  I brushed on butter and then sprinkled cinnamon sugar over it before I baked it. )

 ~From Mary Duren's calendar...
SO TRUE!~

 ~Kimberly went shopping for medical supplies for her Honduran Medical trip...
and took Abigail with her.~

~HEATHER~