Last Day of 2007!

Wow! I can't believe that 2007 is coming to close! So much has happened this year for the Lohrer Family! We bought a home, sold a home, and are in the process of selling a home! Craziness I know. We got a wonderful addition to our family when Jackson Alan Lohrer was born on March 20, 2007. We celebrated Jaycee's 2nd birthday in May! In July our family got a little bigger with Zoe our Australian Terrier! We have many great memories from this year with all of our friends and family! We have been so blessed this year! We have now been married for 3 1/2 yrs. It truly has been wonderful. We wouldn't change one thing! God has truly amazed us! He is such a good and faithful God!

Our kids have been so healthy and have been the light of our world! We never seem to have a dull moment! Whether it is laughter or a meltdown there is always something going on! Jaycee's personality continues to bloom. She is such a little girl! She loves to organize and she loves her routine. She is into her baby dolls and playing kitchen. Anytime that she can she wants to be outdoors! The swingset she received for her birthday is by far her favorite toy!(Its now set up at my parents) Jackson is very much a Momma's Boy. He is a fighter and is very determined! He loves to follow his sis around. He is on the go all the time! A true boy! We are so thankful for our children!

The last couple of weeks have been the most trying! We have such a peace and we know that 2008 God has great things in store for us! We look forward to all the wonderful things of 2008! Happy New Year!

Christmas Pictures!

Kiley, Amy, and Keely! The girls are getting too big on us!
Jaycee Ann Lohrer

PaPa and Mamaw with all their grandbabies!
Sweet Love!
Kiley, Jaycee, Keely, and Jackson

What a big boy!

Jaycee and her new kitchen!
Where do I begin?
All of us! (Byron finally has another boy)

Proud great-grandparents!

Christmas morning!
What a cutie!
Jaycee is very excited! (love the hair)
Checkin' out the new toys!

Proud Grandparents!
Having some Christmas dinner!
I love this pic!
Her 2nd Christmas dress!
Christmas boy!

Unwrapping gifts!
Handsome boy!
New Jordans! (Daddy has the same one)
More presents!
The cousins!

My Poor Babies!

Well, things are a little rough around here. Both Jaycee and Jackson are sick. They have been running fever, congested, and coughing. So they are definitely not themselves. I am the only one that seems to do the job for either one of them, which makes it quite interesting at times.

Then the obvious is they are not in their normal environment. Yesterday, Byron, Jackson and I did a few errands. Jaycee had a really hard time being here with my mom. She didn't feel good and then she kept saying that she missed momma, dada, and bubby. When we got home she told me that and then told me she was ready to go home! That was a heartbreaking moment for me and I began to cry. She just can't comprehend that this is temporary. So we definitely need the house in Nooksack to sell so we can get another home. The kids so desperately need that. They both need all of their stuff and their own rooms!

They are both doing better this morning. I think just having a morning where we aren't all going every direction trying to do stuff, and that there aren't a lot of people around they are a little more relaxed.

Anyways, I know just a few days ago I posted about a house in the Sulphur area. We have talked about it and we have asked for my parents opinion. My parents are the type that they feel that its our decision and they really don't straight out tell you their opinion. They beat around the bush a little bit. Anyways, after we sat down and had a chat, they feel like if we are really wanting to be involved with the business its better if we live closer to the Loco area. Which after weighing everything out, we decided that it does make more sense. We would love to be in the Sulphur area, but we will see Byron more if we live close to Loco. He will be able to come home for lunch everyday. I will start very soon helping with the books for the business and I will be close. So today we are going to look at a house in Velma. Velma is where I went to school. Its not right in the town of Velma which is nice. It has an inground pool. Its 2 story and is around 2300 sq ft. So we will see. Its an older home but it looks nice from the outside. Obviously, there isn't a lot of options in Velma so we really hope that this one will work.

So just be praying for the children's health, the sale of the Nooksack house, and for the buying of a new home! Thanks so much!

Sutton Christmas 2007!

Christmas was a little easier today than it was yesterday. It was lots of fun today. For lots of my family it was their first time to see Jackson! So all of them were quite impressed by him. Jaycee did much better opening gifts. She didn't even care what they were today. As soon as the wrapping was off of one she was on to the next. Jackson once again had no clue to as what was happening. They loaded up on more clothes today. Jackson is definitely set in the clothes department. Jaycee got Barbie dolls, a Barbie VW Bug, and a baby doll. Oh, I can't leave out some more dress up stuff, which included a red and white cheerleading outfit with pom-poms.

Jackson got lots of fun toys. He got lots of cars, dump trucks, and tractors. Before long I will have to watch where I am stepping so I won't fall. Both kids did great today and had wonderful naps after all the eating and opening of gifts!

We also played Dirty Santa with all the adults. There wasn't a lot of "fighting" over the gifts this year. I think almost everyone left with their own gift. So Byron got a new OU grill cover. I came home with the coffee bean grinder and coffee! (Byron and I are coffee drinkers now) So all in all it was a great day! It was a lot of fun to see all of my family! So another Christmas is in the books! The garbage men are going to have lots of fun tomorrow with all of the trash they get to collect from the Sutton households!

Update on the move to Oklahoma!

Just thought I would update you all on the our status in Oklahoma. Right now, we are living with my parents. The rental house that we thought we could rent really wasn't up to par. We rented it 3 yrs. ago and when we left it, it was in pretty good shape. It hasn't been kept up very well, and we just didn't think it would be a good place for the kids to be. So please be in agreement with us that God's favor will be shown on us, and our Nooksack house will sell very soon. At this point, we really don't see that renting a house would be good for us. The rental that we were looking at was relatives of mine and they were only charging us $200. There isn't a rental place that we could find that would be that cheap, allow dogs, and that wouldn't have us sign a lease. So we would really like to buy. We have already begun the process of looking. We really like the Sulphur, OK area. (Which is were our church is located) We have found one that we really love! Its in the process of being built. Its 2000 sq. ft. 3 bds. and 2 baths. It has an amazing view of a pond. Its on an acre of land. There are other possibilities but so far its our favorite. So we are excited about that.

So pray for both houses and pray for all of us living at my parents house. Its wonderful, but obviously its not something we want to do for very long. My parents aren't use to having 4 people and 2 dogs living with them. We aren't use to living out of suitcases. The kids don't have their own rooms and none of their belongings. We are very thankful that my parents are willing to keep us, but we don't want anything to damage the relationship. So please, be praying for that! We will keep you all posted! Thanks so much!

Christmas with PaPa and Mamaw!

Well, today was Christmas with my parents! I think the best word to describe it was OVERWHELMING! Jackson obviously had no clue as to what was happening. He played with the bows and the wrapping paper. He really didn't seem to care. Now, Jaycee on the other hand was just totally thrown for a loop. This is her 1st Christmas that she can actually remember. So thus far in her 2 1/2 yrs. of life, when it comes to opening presents its either been only her opening them or someone else. She didn't really understand the whole wait your turn. Also, once she opened a gift she immediately wanted to play with it. She had a ton more presents to open so therefore we wouldn't let her play with them. We didn't start opening gifts until 7:00 tonight. So mix that in with being tired and having a little cold it pretty much wasn't a great night. She got lots of fun stuff. She got a kitchen, with ALL the accessories. She also got her first Cabbage Patch Doll. She will totally love it all in the morning!

Jackson got so many clothes! WOW! I am so excited. Honestly, I will probably have to have him wear 2 a day just so we can wear them all! He also got lots of fun toys. He got a tool bench, guitar, pull along helicopter, and a pop up ball toy. Hopefully, by the time the kids get bored of all of their many Christmas toys, they will have their old ones to go back to. That is if Byron will allow us to keep that many toys in the house!

Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas! Hopefully, I can post some pics tomorrow! We have one Christmas left tomorrow at Ma and Pa's! It should be lots of fun!

Christmas Pics from Washington!

Jaycee opening her first gift!
Papa and Jackson
Bubby decides he needs to help!
Jaycee's dress up doll!
Jackson on his horse! YEE HAW!

Jaycee Ann Lohrer
Jackson's 1st Christmas!
All Smiles!
Nana and her princess!
Christmas 2007!

Good-bye and Hello!

Sorry I haven't posted sooner. The kids and I did arrive safely yesterday in Oklahoma. Everything went really great at the airport and with the flights!

It was just yesterday that we were in Washington saying Good-bye to family and friends. How dearly they are already missed. It was very difficult saying Good-bye to Papa and Nana yesterday morning. I honestly can't wait until we are all in Heaven and we will live together and be eternally joyful. That there will be no more sadness or sorrow. To some extent it was nice that Jaycee and Jackson didn't really understand what was happening. I think that probably helped us all a little. Papa and Nana are 2 amazing people and that will be greatly missed by all of us.

Our wonderful friends Nate and Kate made the drive at 4:00 in the morning to the airport. The kids slept to the airport which was really nice. I wasn't sure how that would go. We got checked in fairly quick. Then off throuh the security check we went. We thought it was going to be quite the wait, but God's favor was shown when one of the workers said come this way please. We were escorted past 3 lines of people. We were so thankful. We all made it through security with no problems. Then we had a little breakfast. To get to the gate we took 3 different tram rides. I really wasn't sure that we were going right, but we finally made it to Concourse B. We still had plenty of time for the kids to stretch their legs and play.

Jaycee was so excited when we finally boarded the plane. I kept telling her that she was going to sit in her own seat with her own seatbelt. So when she got in her seat and fasten the seatbelt she was so pleased. She looked at me and said, Mom I ready to take off now! So I had to explain it would be a few minutes before we could actually do that! They both took little naps on the first plane ride. As soon as we got off in Denver we did quick diaper changes and grabbed a little bite to eat. Jackson took a nap on the second flight as well. The flight from Denver to OKC was relatively short. Jaycee loved looking out the window. As we began to get closer to Oklahoma, she asked me what's that mom? I told her it was Oklahoma. She said Mam Mam and PaPa. So as soon as the plane landed she said I ready to go to Mam Mam's house. So we got off the plane and when Jaycee saw my parents she took off running. Its really neat when they remember people. Jackson stayed close to me, but would give smiles.

We arrived home last night and my mom was turning on all the Christmas lights for Jaycee to see. Jaycee didn't really care at that point, she just asked my mom, "Where are your toys Mam Mam?" So needless to say, in 10 mins. it looked like a tornado had hit the house! We had toys everywhere. Both kids were so excited to be able to roam around free. Both slept really well.

This morning I had to go down to the rental house to have the Gas Company turn on the Gas. So mom stayed with the kids. Jackson had a few moments that he wasn't happy, but he did well. When I got back, Jaycee told me that Bubby wasn't happy with Mam Mam. It was really cute!

Update from Byron, they are probably somewhere in Arizona right now. Its been several hours since I talked to him, but they were in Barstow, CA then. So they are doing very well. Scooby and Zoe are doing great, too!

Good news from Africa!

Just wanted to let everyone know that Phil and Amanda and kids will be coming home on Wed. Dec. 19th! YAY! We are so excited! It is awesome to see God's favor pouring out on his children! They pick their visas up tomorrow afternoon! Which is by God's favor that they are able to do that. The visas are only done on Fridays and a lot of the people working in the U.S. Embassy are temps b/c of the Christmas Season. So they "always" go by the books! We serve a Mighty God and He so loves to show up in moments like these. Not only to Phil and Amanda but to all of us who have been praying it gives us just a little glimpse of how amazing our God truly is! His love for us is unfailing and unconditional! Even though we don't understand things at time, God understands it all! WOW! God you are so good! Why we ever seem to think we can do things on our own blows my mind, but God is always there to forgive us and He is still there even after that to pour out His love and His blessings!

Jack Boy!

That is Jackson's nickname from Jaycee. Most of the time if you ask what her brother's name is her reply is Jack Boy! He is getting such a personality. He is one determined little boy. He is standing and can stand for a long time. He can climb all of the stairs at Andy and Marilee's house. So we have all of that blocked off now, so it makes it quite interesting to see everyone work around the blocked off area! He has discovered that he has a very high squeal and loves to use it in public places. So the first time you hear it, okay its kind of cute. After the 3rd time I want some earplugs! He usually does it when he is happy so we try not to get him really excited! He now has 3 teeth. He ate his first mashed potatoes last night and loved them.


Enjoy reading!

Christmas Last Night!

Christmas was so fun last night! Of course, Jackson didn't have a clue and could care less about it all! Jaycee was all about her presents and Jackson's. She was thrilled with her trunk of fairytale princess dresses. She also received a Melissa and Doug princess dress up doll. It is like paper dolls but its all magnetic. So which is really cool! Jackson got a rocking horse, which of course Jaycee thinks is hers. She rode on it for a very long time. Jackson is still a little small for it, but he will love it before long. He also got his first set of John Deere tractors! Right now the cows that came with that are his favorites!

Last night Jaycee decided she was ready to play dress up. She put the first dress on! OH MY GOODNESS! She was so beautiful! She loved just prancing around the room. It also came with a lace fan and she walk around the room fanning herself! It was so adorable! I can't even describe. So maybe tonight I can get some pics on her so you can see her!

Also, Papa (Andy) was building Jaycee a house out of the Lincoln Logs. He had gotten one all finished and before he could really even show Jaycee the house, she knocked the whole thing over. Papa said, "Jaycee why did you do that?" Jaycee's reply, "That's just what girls do!" It was so funny! Oh what a character she is!

Before I forget!

Oh the joy of being a mother to Jaycee Ann! She is such a little girl! Her smile can light up a room. This whole moving thing I think has been a little challenging for us all. She isn't quite sure what is happening. She tries but that brain of hers just can't process all of the info. Anyways, yesterday we weren't at the house at all. I felt like the kids needed a break and to have a little bit of a "normal" day. So Jaycee and Jackson did very well. They both had good naps and for the most part were very happy. Today we went out to the house to do all of the cleaning and to make sure we had everything packed. When we got there, Jaycee went to her room threw down her blanket, bear, and pacifier and shut the door. (that is here usual thing). She really likes to play in her room. So later on she took some toys in and played for the longest time. Then she came out and told me that she was getting tired. So she gathered up the 3 items that she had first placed in her room and she shut the door again. Few minutes later I went to check on her, and she was laying on the floor exactly in the spot where her bed use to be. She had covered herself up and was all snuggled with her teddy bear! (Wasn't quite asleep yet) So of course tears came to my eyes when I saw how precious this was and that no matter what (in her mind) that would always be her bedroom!

4 days left!

Wow, this week has gone by soooo fast! I feel like I have hit the wall! I am a little drained at this point! I am ready to sit down and relax and not really have to do a thing! Which I don't think is really possible at this point. The house is pretty much packed up. Byron and Andy are loading the truck as I type! Marilee, the kids, and I are just hanging out at Marilee's house. Jaycee is having a hard time processing everything that is going on. So I didn't think it would be a good idea for her to be at the house watching everything that we own go into a big truck. She needed a change of pace and it seems to be working.

I know in my last blog, I said that we were doing Christmas Wed. with Andy and Marilee. But we postponed until tonight. We decided it might be easier since we are staying here. So that will be something fun for tonight. Hopefully, we all can just enjoy the time and not think about the million other things we still have left to do! So maybe tomorrow I can post some pics of our Christmas.

We have received good news from the Lohrers in Ghana. They got Kathryn's passport yesterday. Today they got all the medical exams and paperwork done. All they lack now is the visas. So please be praying that God's favor will allow them to file the paperwork and receive the visas on Monday. What we all understand is that you can only file for the visas on Fridays. So they are going to go on Monday and plead their case. We serve a mighty God and know that with Him anything is possible That would be the best Christmas present for everyone if they received the visas and could return home by Christmas!

Have a great weekend!

The Latest Pics from the Lohrers!

My little cowboy!
Jackson is standing!
Jackson is falling!
Zoe and Scooby, best buds!

Jaycee wearing her new coat and loving her teddy bear!
Jackson pounding on our slider! One of his favorite things to do!

So tired he fell asleep! So cute!
My little cowgirl!

Our last week in Washington :(

Wow! I can't believe its already here. Our last full week in Washington. Its going to go by so fast I tell you. We have something going on every night. Which is wonderful. We will be spending every free moment that we have saying good-bye to all of our friends and family! Its so very hard this time around. When we moved 6 mos. after we were married it was definitely hard. This time especially for me is extremely tough. I have had over 2 yrs. to really get to know our family and friends up here. I love them all so very much. Now, not only do we have to say good-bye to them but its saying good-bye to all of their kids as well. Thank you Lord, for having someone invent the internet! Its wonderful technology! Even though we will be thousands of miles away, we will can still watch everyone's children grow up! To all of you Pacific Northwesterners know how much I love and care for you all! You all have a very special place in my heart and it will be with me forever! You all are the best!

Now, for this week ahead! Byron and I have mapped out our plan for this week. Its pretty hectic! Making phone calls to turn stuff off, to turn stuff on, and to change addresses. Also, we still have packing to do. Tonight we are having dinner with Tyler and Alli. Tues. night we say good-bye to our small group. Wed. night is Christmas with Andy and Marilee. Thurs. we have dinner plans with Joel and Misty. Friday we pick up the truck and load all of our stuff. Sat. we will spend cleaning our house and doing last minute touch up stuff. Sunday we will attend church in the new Worship Center at NCCTK. Then we will head down to Seattle to pick up Trey and Serah. Monday we will make sure things are in order and show Trey and Serah a little bit of Whatcom County. Tuesday we are off!

Please pray for patience, strength, and energy for us. Also, that everyone will have safe travels. That we will have a contract on the house by the time we leave. Continue to pray for Phil, Amanda, and their 4 kids! For Andy and Marilee b/c they will be on a emotional roller coaster. Bless their hearts they are such troopers! Thank you all so much for all of your prayers and support! Its means so much to us to have such wonderful friends and family!

Randomness!

Where do I begin? Things around here are a little crazy! We have had lots of different things going on! I think a lot of you know that Phil and Amanda are adopting 2 kids from Ghana in Africa. They left on Monday morning. They arrived safely. They now have their precious babies in arms! So that has been a roller coaster of emotions for the entire family. So they are not suppose to be back before we move to Oklahoma. So we already said our good-byes to them. Which was very difficult! We are still believing for God's favor and that all their paperwork gets processed quickly and they can return home before we leave. They have set up a blogsite so if any of you would like to read about their adventures in Africa feel free. They have pics up of their children as well! Here is the blog site http://www.lohrerland.blogspot.com/

As for us, we have begun the packing! So our house is a mess! Which is very hard for Byron and I both to live with. It won't be this way for long. Marilee was here yesterday and will be back today to continue to help with the packing. So thankful that she is willing, b/c I probably wouldn't have started. Its just a little overwhelming to know that I need to pack the house up and take care of the kids. We are doing it, I just needed a jump start!

In regards to our house, I think God is really trying to teach me patience! It has been very trying at times! I know that God's timing is best! I know that He has a buyer for our home, but my flesh wants to rule and have it all now! I continue to have faith and trust in the Lord. He has already brought us through so much in our lives, I know He isn't going to stop now! We have had so many lookers! In the past week, we have had 3 returners! We really thought all 3 were going to make offers! One person needs a house in 2 weeks, but her granddaughter thinks she needs a bigger place. The other couple loved our yard, and didn't want the new houses across the street b/c they didn't want to live with mud for 5 mos. Then we had some return on Tues. They were here for an hour and 15 mins. We still haven't heard back from them! So it is very frustrating! We keep believing in God's favor and his perfect timing! We know our house is sold and each day we expect to hear that! So continue to pray and agree with us on that!

Jaycee and Jackson are doing great! Jaycee has a strong little personality! At times she can be a little bossy! We are working on that. I keep reminding her that God has made her to be a leader, but that she needs to learn how to use it in a right manner. That if she continues to be bossy then she will be like the bully on the Veggietale show Minnesota Cuke. So I think it is starting to sink in a little! She is a very big Daddy's girl! She could ask for anything and Byron would do it in a heartbeat for her! Its so cute. As for Jackson, he just goes and goes! He is crawling all over the house and pulls up on everything. He can stand all by himself. He is now walking along things. He loves to "pound" on any and everything. As I am typing this he is pounding on our slider in our room! He loves his freedom! He is also drinking from a sippy cup and can feed himself cheerios and crackers!

Well, I think that is it for now! Hope you enjoy!

I'm 28!

Wow! I can't believe I am 2 yrs. away from 30! It just seems impossible! I am actually a little nervous about getting to 30! There are times I feel like I can still do all the things I use to do, but then there are times I am like wow how did I ever do those things! I know I have had 2 kids in 3yrs. so my body isn't in the best shape! I am working on that! I do believe I will be back to running before long! (I just hate that my bum jiggles so much)!

Celebrating my birthday is always lots of fun. I'm not big on a lot hoopla or anything. Just keeping it nice and simple works great for me. Probably, the best present was having a nice dinner at The Keg Steakhouse on Wednesday. It was just Byron and me! I think that was Jackson's first time staying with his Nana and Papa! YAY! At the beginning I was nursing so we just didn't leave him. Then around 5 mos. I would leave him with a bottle, but in no time he just realized I wasn't there and would just cry! So it wasn't fun for him or Nana & Papa. Now, that he is mobile I think it has helped tremendously. Also, he eats other foods and he is on the bottle now! It was so nice to have a couple of hours with my hubby! I know it meant a lot to Nana and Papa just having Jaycee and Jackson!

For my birthday, Byron got me new Rachael Ray pots and pans! I was so happy! The ones that I had were from my college days! So YAY! Then I got a dozen red roses and some chocolate candy! From family in Oklahoma I received money, which is always nice! My sis got my PJs from Victoria's Secret. Phil and Amanda got me a gift card to Chili's! Which they aren't up here, but as soon as we step off the plane in OKC I will be sprinting to a Chili's! Then Andy and Marilee got me some very fun and stylish jewelry, a really soft leopard blanket, a ring holder, and a new 3 position candle lighter. Also, Marilee cooked a fabulous meal. We had Lasagna. Which is at the top of my lists of favs! My absolute favorite dessert CHERRY PIE! She knows me so well, and I really appreciate that she cares for me that much to make my day extra special for me!

There is no stopping the birthday every year, but when you have family that spoil you I guess getting older isn't too terribly bad! So Thank you all for making me feel special! I love you!