Happy Anniversary!!!

Fifteen years ago today I married my best friend!!! That is so hard to believe. The time has flown by! He is my life. I love him with all my heart! I am so thankful to God who knew that Charlie was the right man for me. We have two beautiful girl's together. He is a wonderful father to them. He is also a great father and role model for my son!

I can remember our wedding day like it was yesterday!! It was perfect. The food, the ceremony, the guests, the music, the weather...even was snowing a little. It has been an amazing 15 years. like everyone we have had our ups and downs. Fortunately more ups than downs. We have grown a lot!! We serve an amazing God! I can't wait to see what God has in store for us in the next 15 years.

Thought it would be fun in honor of our anniversary I would share how we were introduced at our reception. A dear family friend Dorothy James wrote this." It's my privilege to introduce to you today all those involved in the latest merger of Keating tarms and Bailey Exc.-Roto-Rooter service.These three have done all the footwork for this merger:Todd Henderson, usher and an employee of Butler mfg. is the one who engineers this enterprise around any threatening obstacles.Todd Anderson: usher and employee of Ink and Image does all the graphic designing for this enterprise. I think he's working on a new logo of a pig driving a bulldozer.Scott Twidwell: usher and employed by the City of Galesburg police Department is head of security i this merger. It seems that all his experience driving machinery at the Keating Farm didn't prepare him enough for driving a police car.She is a Galesburg native and received her real estate license through Carl Sandburg college. Currently she is secretary of Bailey Exc. and may be the one who leaks out secret information about boss Charlie to her very good friend Sherri. Bridesmaid Malissa CashHe is the chaplain of this enterprise also a youth pastor at Bethel Baptist and the father of a two year old. Rumor has it he has just mastered his moodiness...I mean got his masters from moody. Groomsman Matt HarrisShe is an Illinois Wesleyan freshman who is responsible for bringing this merger about by taking Sherri to Insight on Thursday nights, thereby meeting Charlie. She also engineered the plan for tping the inside of Charlie's truck. Bridesmaid and good friend Jennifer McKennaHe is employed at national coating and attends Carl Sandburg College. Being married to secretary Malissa, Sherri's friend, and being a friend of Charlie's makes him a natural for probing both sides of this merger. Groomsman Charlie CashShe is a Monmouth native and attended Trinity Christian College. As a lifetime close friend of Sherri's she's the operator to contact if you want to dig deep to find out anything about Sherri. Bridesmaid Kathy RobertsonHe is a dedicated good friend who's soon to become a father. An inside informant reports that Bailey's may be going into the roofing business also because Charlie and this young man have been to known to check out the roofs of Galesburg High School and the Orpheum Theater. Groomsman Jamie BledsoeShe is the Sister of the bride and lives in Greenville, IL attending Cascaskia college in Centralia, She's well acquainted with the Keating Farms as she and Sherri worked together many years on the farms. The Keating girl's shared their first car a Buick with license plate keatin 2. Maid of Honor Anita KeatingHe is the older brother, co owner and president of Bailey Exc. who always had a shadow named charlie when he was growing up. If there's any embarrassing moments taking place he's probably at the root of them. Best Man Ted BaileyShe brings to this merger all the expertise she has gained working full time the last few years for Keating Farms. Isn't it ironic that this hog farmer's daughter would root out a lifelong companion who loves to play in the dirt.Ladies and Gentlemen, the bride- Mrs. Charlie BaileyHe is co-owner, Vice president and operator of Bailey Exc. and Roto-Rooter service. Such a determined young man is bound to bring success to this merger. For example even though he has really liked his hair longer since he was very young, when he met Sherri and became interested he cut his hair to make points with a certain dad. What a promising future this merger has and we wish it to be lengthy, full of love and blessed by God. Ladies and gentlemen, the groom Charlie Bailey

Life Happens

I trust all of you had a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year! I know I sure did!! For the first time in probably 1o years or so we had Christmas at our house!! The girls' loved waking up at home. We had been going out to my parents and spending the night. So this year we changed the tradition and they came here!! I love having my family around and entertaining. We enjoyed a full day of food, fellowship, and fun!! Celebrating Jesus birth is always a blessed time. So thankful that we have that to celebrate!! Love the freedom I have to worship Jesus!!

I don't know if any of you made any resolutions for the new year, I didn't per say but I have some in my mind that I would like to do. Didn't write them down because then I don't have to worry if I don't fulfill them!!

I have been praying lately that God would push me outside of my comfort zone. I really didn't know what that would look like. But, low and behold he had a plan.
I'm not much on public speaking and it makes me nervous. You guessed it...that is what I'm going to be doing at the end of February! I have been asked to give a talk at a youth event. Talk about being pushed outside of my comfort zone!!

Well that is all for now. Will defiantly try to blog more often!!

pictures

well I was going to put some pictures up from our Thanksgiving meal but alas blogger won't let me right now!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

This year I was able to host Thanksgiving at my house. Which is one thing I am thankful for a home big enough to have many people over. This is the first time I have ever hosted a major holiday which means I was in charge of the turkey. Charlie had wanted to grill it but, he talked himself out of it. His reasoning is he did not want the weight of the meal in his hands if it didn't turn out right. I will have to say we researched cooking a turkey in depth...some of you may laugh at me so go ahead. When it comes to cooking and entertaining I'm a little anal and somewhat of a perfectionist. If I mess up I feel it reflects that on me. I really do love to cook so I enjoyed the challenge. We didn't have as many people as I thought we might. My parents didn't come (they went to Quincy to be with my mom's brother) and Charlie's brother and his wife already had plans. We did have his sister and BIL, his dad and a friend of ours who was going to be by herself. Each person brought a couple of things: like pies, baked sweet potatoes, green bean casserole.
For breakfast that morning I had found two recipes on my new favorite past time...Pinterest! That is a post all in its own!!
So, I made a baked french toast casserole and cinnamon roll cake!! They both were yummy.

For lunch we had stuffing, sweet potatoes with marshmallow's, homemade rolls, veggie tray,cranberry fluff, turkey, ham. I had even made bacon wrapped little smokies with a glaze, but we had soooo much food that I baked those the next day. Everything was very yummy.
The best thing about hosting is ALL the leftovers!!
Call me silly but, I took pictures of my food...the only thing I didn't get a picture of was my turkey and ham... *sighs*

Pictures

Most of you know my birth mother found me and wanted to contact me. We have been emailing some. Found out some history. Today she sent me some pictures of me when I was little!! That was so fun to see. Going to try and post them!! Only have a minute but wanted to get this out there. I have other things I need to catch up on in my blogging world so be ready for lots of posts!!

More Of "Chapter1"

Every email I get from my birth mother I learn a little more information. I know her name, where she lives (which is a lot closer then I thought it would be!!!) I know her medical history. I know she has a 29 year old son in Miami. I know how much I weighed when I was born and how long I was. My stomach has been in knots!! I have been forwarding the emails to my sister and keeping her in the loop. I know I have said it before but, this is surreal. I keep thinking it is going to be a joke. I can't even describe my thoughts and feelings.

I have looked her up on facebook, can't see anything because we aren't friends...she suggested maybe we could be so I could see her info. I'm NOT ready for that!!! That is too much of my life I don't want shared at this time. She has said over and over that she would like to meet my sister and I and our families.

Her 29 year old son does not know about us. She hopes to tell him someday.... How bizarre!!
It is all so WEIRD!!!! Bear with me as I keep posting about all of this!!!

Contact

Well, the last time I wrote I was contemplating responding to a letter I recieved from an agency that helps find birth relatives. I did lots of praying and talked to some very dear friends whom I know has my best interest at heart. I also know these friends are very wise and give great counsel. I felt and so did they that I should respond to the caseworker. Our small group had met the day I received the letter and we had talked about the sermon the previous Sunday and it was on grace and mercy. My friend says maybe this your chance to show some mercy. I also am wanting to try to find out some medical history...

I have a lot of emotions flowing through my mind. You don't even know!!!

I let the caseworker know that I was willing to exchange emails with my birth mother and my name. At this time this is all I want her to know. I set up a separate email account strictly for contact with the caseworker and my birth mother.

Yesterday I talked to the caseworker and she let me know my birth mother's info would be coming in the mail. She also told me her name and her email address.

Today I received my first email from her!! Talk about weird! I don't even know what to think!! It seams so surreal. Never in a million years did I think I would have to think about this or be writing about it.

Please keep praying for me. Thanks for letting me ramble!!