If you want change, be the CHANGE 2020

Merry December 26th!

What a wonderful Christmas Eve and Christmas Day our family had together, a time of laughter, remembrance, and much sought after PEACE.

The holidays allow us a time to be amongst our family, friends and neighbors to share precious time and also individual opinions....some we agree with whole-heartedly, some.....we don't.

I make a "plan" every year prior to the start of the new year.
It helps hold me accountable...um..usually...
Mostly, it helps me write out my truths for the coming year.

As I set forth on my 2020  "plan", I wanted to share my opinion on opinions
My dad has some silly joke that includes a swear word about opinions...you know it...
"Opinions are like _____________, everybody has one."

Truth...without the cursing.

I feel like my husband and I do an ok job with "living out what we speak about".


In 2020, I plan to be better at "doing something" when it comes to all of the things that I share my opinion with others,and in the things I place concern in general.

Here's the thing, I hear a lot of opinions on: our country and its leaders, veterans, homeless, addiction, our community, the poor, healthcare, immigration, our schools, pollution, global warming, animal cruelty...and SO MANY MORE.

But when I ask folks "what are you doing about it?" CRICKETS.....

Friends, if you have an opinion, you also need something to stand behind your opinion.

If you SHARE on social media about your opinions on the injustice our veterans go through but you aren't helping to feed them or find them a home if you are passing them by and hoping that someone else will help them....your opinion is flat. Do Something. Put your actions where our Opinion is!

If you SHARE pictures of starving animals but haven't dropped off a bag of food to a local animal shelter...again flat. Locally, we have many wonderful organizations that only thrive when we the local people help.

If you don't like the traffic, sidewalks, new location of Starbucks.....but you have never been to a township meeting to speak your opinion...flat. If you talk about how you want our downtown to thrive but you haven't patroned it's businesses...flat.

If you don't like our president or any elected but "forgot to vote"....FLAT!!

Here is my point...in 2020 ....stop talking and start doing.

My dad also says: "There are two kinds of people...talkers and doers."  Now friends, I am a talker, but those of you that truly know me also know I am a doer." Doer's change the world, talkers don't.

In 2020, START DOING!

I challenge you all to make this your resolution, alongside me. You have 5 days to think about what really truly matters to you and then to make a plan to DO SOMETHING!  It doesnt have to be something HUGE, but it does require doing something.

Before you state your opinion all over social media and at social gatherings, ask yourself if someone asked me "what are you doing about it" what would I answer?

Then....go do it!

DO Something. BE SOMEONE for somebody else.  Be the Change you want to see in this world.

This life that we all have here on this earth is SHORT, fleeting...make your days count!

Amen! Amen! Amen!

Merry Christmas 2019

We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year!
This year has been filled with amazing changes, busyness, and so much more!
We wish all of our friends and family a blessed new year

Happy 10th Birthday Audrey

Happy Happy Birthday Audrey Joy Salter. You are a double digit diva!

You love sketching and baking. You love cheese...dear lord do you love cheese!  You eat Chocolate Cinnamon Toast Crunch for Breakfast!  You have gorgeous freckles on your nose and forehead. You try your hardest to do a cartwheel. You love to swim and can do everything you dream you can do on land in the water!

If I could find a song for everything you have to learn, you would get an A on every test. You love people without bias. You stand up for the little guy. You love babies and animals!  You make me laugh every single day...and some days you make me scream. I hope you remember much more laughs than screams.  You can play dodge ball better than any other girl your age I have ever seen.  You are silly and sometimes I have to remind you to not push silly into obnoxious...so you are just like me. 

This year, you learned Tap Dance, Piano, and the recorder ( ugh...that recorder) You learned your times tables...by song, of course.  You are like a grandma when it comes to making sure you always have a bra on.  

You went to Zoo Camp, Overnight Girl Scout Camp and we went to Puerto Rico, St Maarten, St. Lucia, St. John, St Kitts and Barbados.

You struggle with a little anxiety and that scares me sometimes. Some days I have to pray for more patience than others....and then I remember that I struggle sometimes too...we are a lot the same.

You ask me "can I ask you a question" 100 times a day.

You want to be grown and independent but you still want to snuggle and sleepin my bed when Dad goes on business trips.

You are stubborn...like your dad...

You are a leader....like me.....oh and your dad.

You roll your eyes and some days I want to slap them and make them stick that way.

and some days I have to remind myself that you are 10!

You are beautiful goose...just magnificent...and I can hardly believe that we are more than 1/2 way through your childhood. I blinked.

We love you Aud, beyond measure. Our hopes for you are great...but simple....be kind, show people the Jesus in you, be a friend to everyone, try your best.

Happy Birthday!

We love you!

2018 Christmas

Hello Friends and Family!

Once again this year, we opted out of Christmas Cards and instead I decided to post here on our very seldom used blog.

What a crazy whirlwind 2018 has been for the Salter Family

Audrey started 3rd grade. This summer she experienced Zoo Camp at Hershey Park's Zoo America. I think that was just one of the highlights of her year. She is a sassy, fiercely loyal, kind, giving, did I mention sassy, 9 year old.  For her birthday, I took her and her friends Abby, Kenzie and Claire to Hershey Park.  What a fun time! She loves to draw, watch American Ninja Warrior, pretend she can speak British, create, practice cartwheels, Watch You Tube, bake and so much more.  She has some serious dance moves, which I will take the blame for. She keeps me laughing and sometimes crying.  She is truly the JOY that we named her.

This spring Jim and I celebrated 10 years of marriage with a vow renewal. We have about 120 friends join us at Maple Shade Barn in Dillsburg. It was intimate and beautiful and the celebration we hoped for.  1 month later, we set sail with a large group of our closest friends for a 9 night cruise.  22 in all in our group; it was a blast. We traveled to the Bahamas and Bermuda.
We swam with Dolphins and Stingrays. We snorkeled and enjoyed Jim in the belly flop competition.
It was a great time!

We also camped this season, spending quite a few weeks as seasonal campers at Mountain Creek Campground.  It was a nice routine while we were there: pool, creek, repeat!

Jim continued work at Equipment Depot.  This is his 15th year ( I think). He worked a bit serving as an EMS for Yellow Breeches. He also worked at BAPS Motor Speedway, wherever he was needed.
2018 will officially be Jim's last year as Upper Allen Fire Department Fire Chief. To say this will be an adjustment is an understatement, BUT we trust that God has some pretty big doors opening as always for my ever-busy, ever-serving, community-loving husband.  His heart for the people in our community is too big to measure. I am so proud of the example he has been to our daughter.

I stepped down as a Pre-school teacher at ECC back in June.  I decided I wanted to focus my attention on our ever-growing Bring Your Own Apron business and to focus on more events through my newly founded company Joyous Commerce. I haven't had a lull in business since I made that decision.  I have been crazy busy with those two businesses and continuing photographing folks at Just So Stacy. I am blessed to be able to get my kid off and on the bus, meet friends for coffee, finally be a part of a bible study at church since I could never make the days AND run all 3 businesses.

2019 will have one addition to my schedule that I am greatly looking forward to: Women's Ministry Leadership at Daybreak.  I felt strongly about seeking out the opportunity to lead the already amazing women leaders at my church. I am trusting God to lead me as I lead them.

We are greatly anticipating God's next steps for our family in 2019, as we trust him to take us where we need to go. We hope to see you all on that journey.

May you always remember the reason for this season, the precious king born humbly in a manger to save the world.

With love, great expectations, and blessings

Stacy, Jim and Audrey

To my daughter on her 9th Birthday

Dear Audrey!

Some days are so much harder than others.  Being the mom to you is a job that is not for the weak at heart. You are fierce, you are fire...and then...you are compassionate, imaginative, strong.
And you are mine.....even when I have a hard time parenting you, even when I want to throw in the towel, when you literally make me cry and bring me to my knees, wondering how you got this bold.....so much of me lives inside you.
I just keep praying God will take all that sass and grow it for his glory, for the good, into something even I can't imagine for you, Audrey.
I just keep praying that God can fix anything I may have failed to hold together.
You love Star Wars, Wonder Woman, drawing pictures, making paper airplanes, playing outside the the Lander Boys and The Steele kids. You have an imagination that is bigger than the sun.  You love Roblox on the computer, you love notebooks and cartoons.
Every night we read Harry Potter before bed. 
You are just 2 weeks away from 3rd grade.
You are celebrating your birthday with Claire and Abby and Kenzie today at Hershey Park.
You are so grown and yet so young.
You and Pop have started "Audrey's Cup of Sunshine Cafe" and you launch in a few weeks.
My hope is that you grow this food truck so big that it carries you through life and that your "start" in business started with this $200 trailer.  I love to watch how much you and pop love to interact together.
And you love to paint with Mom Mom.
You are always excited for the days when your dad is home with us for more than a few minutes
And you still ask for me to snuggle sometimes. So I will take it.
I love you Audrey, even during the days when it doesnt seem like I like you very much.  I love you more than all the breath in my lungs.  I am proud of the person you are.

Happy 9th Birthday!
Its hard to believe that 1/2 of the summers I have you at home are gone.

Mom

2017 Christmas

What a whirlwind 2017 was.
Every year seems to get shorter.
Every year, we add some gray hair to our heads and my kid gets taller.
This year, as I look back, wasnt really as fast as it seems.

This is my 4th year at Early Childhood Center at Country & Town Baptist.
My group of kiddos this year are absolutely wonderful.
I enjoy them so much.

Jim continues at Equipment Depot in his 13th year.
He is also on the start of year 8 as the Upper Allen Township Fire Chief and the finish of year 22.

Audrey is in the 2nd grade.  She is  8 going on 21.  She is sass and Sweetness all mixed together, some days a bit more sass than we'd like.

Audrey started playing softball in the Spring and continued again in the Fall.  Jim enjoyed being an assistant coach and we all enjoyed watching the girls build a team and enjoy the game.

This year, my mom and I stayed incredibly busy with Bring Your Own Apron.  We saw thousands of new artists. We hosted art camp in the summer and had huge Santa events in the last few weeks.  We haven't killed each other yet, and we still enjoy what we are doing, so we will keep it up!

My photography business continued to grow. This year, I felt like it grew exponentially. I am grateful for the clients that seem to turn swiftly into friends.  I am blessed to do what I love in all facets of life.

In May, we headed to Pensacola with the fire department for training.  It is a vacation for Audrey and I, but they mix in some incredible learning for us.  Jim learns lots of new things in training, and manages an hour or two enjoying the beach with us for the week.

This summer, Audrey and I did a lot of camping.  I continue to take the summer off and I am blessed to be able to enjoy my days with my kiddo.  We did a lot of swimming, creek tubing, fishing, ice cream every day kind of days. It was great!

We spent some great times on our boat on the susquehanna.

In August, I went on a Missions Trip with our Church to Allison Hill in Harrisburg.
It was an amazing time and I felt a new sense of purpose when I reflected back.

This Fall has been the busiest ever for us.

Jim planned and executed the 75th anniversary of the UAFD.  The year ahead brings with it a new fire house. Jim continues to pour his heart into our community.

Audrey joined the kids worship team at Church.

In the Fall, I felt led to facilitate a women's bible study online for our church.  It was very full-filling and I decided that I would create my own Advent Bible Study for the 25 days of Christmas. The devotional has given me an outlet to write, which I have always enjoyed doing and I feel like it has brought a little light to the people who have joined.  I am wondering now if I will continue on this journey, as I have led a study now for 85 days in a row. It has become a routine for me now.

The first few weeks of December brought a lot of heart-ache.  We had to say goodbye to our 13 year old fur -baby Molli.  It was a terrible loss for us.  We decided within 2 days that our house was wayyy too quiet with just one dog. We are adding a new little Dachshund to our family, Delia.  She will join her big brother Dasher on January 19th.

On December 10th, my cousin Justin went to be with Jesus.  The loss was sudden. Throughout my 40 years of life with him, we had quiet an up and down relationship.  We fought a lot, disagreed often, and laughed and watched our families grow all at the same time...in the mix of that was a relationship where we always knew that no matter how mad we would get at each other, we still always had each others backs. He will be missed.

This year has taught me so much about myself, more than any year before. This year has taught me just how fragile this life really is and also how absolutely joyous life can be.

As we look ahead to 2018, we look forward to celebrating 10 years of marriage( I guess I will keep him), a cruise with 22 friends and family who have decided to board our crazy boat, a new camper to enjoy, wonderful changes to look forward to.

We do not forget the reason for the season.
A Baby who changed everything. Jesus.

Merry Christmas!

The Salters

2016 Merry Christmas Friends

I didnt do Christmas Cards this year.  To be honest, it truly wasnt due to lack of time. It was due to the fact that during the previous two years, I have only received half of what I used to get. I blame this on Social Media, of which I am a junkie...although I always hope to reform.  People are less and less inclined to connect with handwritten notes anymore and more and more likely to put themselves and ALL of their feelings out on the internet for everyone on earth to view.  I hope I can change that for myself.
In the meantime, here is our social media broadcasted Christmas Card/Letter to everyone.
This has been the fastest year of my life.
Perhaps, it is because I feel that 2016 has kept our household in a constant busy state with no time to even idle.
Audrey is in first grade.  I blinked.
She is 7 going on 19. She asked for her own phone for Christmas...umm...no!
She loves music and singing and dancing. Her body is in a constant state of motion.
She learned to ride a bike without training wheels and just recently to jump rope.
She loves school. She loves to read. She loves to write stories and draw pictures.
Most days, she drives me crazy...and most days I am simply amazed at the person she has become and is becoming.

 This year has been a busy one, like always, for Jim. He has had a building year at Equipment Depot, working hard to establish new customers.  He spent quite a few days at Susquehanna Speedway working in various roles at the track. He enjoys his time there on the dirt track.  Although I will NEVER understand why he has to wear white pants while working in dirt.
Jim celebrated his 20th year as a UAFD Member. He is about to begin his 8th year as Upper Allen Township Fire Chief. I realize that I introduce myself as Stacy Salter, the Fire Chief's Wife, Its just easier...everyone knows the Fire Chief.  I am so proud of him and I hope he knows that.
This past May, Audrey and I traveled with Jim to his training in Pensacola Florida.  It was a great training opportunity for him and a small vacation for us all. It was even an opportunity for me as a wife to be amongst other fire-wives and share and learn from them.


For me, this has been a year of a packed calendar, too many meals at the drive thru, growth, and excitement.  My photography business has had the busiest year yet. I cant believe that I am coming up on 7 years and I also cant believe how much I still have to learn.  I am so grateful for loyal customers and the occasional opportunity to feel like I am blessing someone.
It has been 21 months since my mom and I began Bring Your Own Apron Paint & Craft Events. We continue to stay busy and blessed with faithful clients and new folks each week. We partnered with Adams County Winery this year and so many fantastic fundraising groups. We are excited to see BYOA grow in 2017.
I am in year 3 at ECC! I have a great class this year, 21 wonderful kids.  I have finally found my groove in the classroom and truly feel like I have a ministry and not just a teaching job.  I love my "every day" job so very much.
I also continue to work at DeHart as a contractor with clients around our home.
Honestly, I am looking forward to a few days with nothing to do.  As I get older, I have learn to appreciate those kind of days more and more. There is something wonderful about waking up with no plans and just enjoying a quiet day.
As I round the corner to the final week of Christmas, I am taking that time to focus on the reason for the season...a king that came to earth as a baby, born in a lowly manger. How awesome is that, friends? It is that hope that carries me through this crazy life. every. single.day.
I hope that you also take the time to soak up the blessing sent down at Christmas!
Happy New Year and Much Love to each and every one of you,
Stacy, Jim, and Audrey Salter

To my daughter on her 7th birthday

What a fun day you had at Lake Tobias with 35 of our closest friends and family and neighbors.  We did a safari ride and reptile show and petting zoo and then walked the zoo.  It was fabulous!  We came home and opened presents.  Mom Mom and Pop made you a Little Free Library and Daddy and I got you Lea Clark American Girl Doll and Nana and Pap got you the Elena of Avalor Costume and accesories.  You are staying overnight at Mom MOm and Pops and then we head to Elk County for a stay in Camp Cant Keep it Up Cabin in Benezette!  We love you Audrey

Happy 6th Birthday

Today you are 6.  You have opened your American Girl Doll Salon and Spa Sets and are already done playing with them.  Now, you are watching HOME on tv and enjoying a plain bagel with butter.
In just 2 weeks, you are heading to Kindergarten.  The last few months have been a challenge for 4 hours a day, as you are in my classroom.  It is sometimes hard to manage your "personality" in class.  I have a feeling you will be the class clown. And that makes me laugh and worries me at the same time.  If I discipline you for your craziness, you tell me that you just want people to think you are funny.

You ARE funny.  You can spell now, even words that we dont want you to sound out.
Those times lead to VERY funny times.
You are kind. You are the first kid to help another kid.
You are stubborn.
You love BIG!  You hug BIG! You Kiss BIG!  You Speak BIG! You live Life BIG!
You love to dance, you love to sing!
Your favorite things are mint chocolate chip ice cream, Taylor Swifts Shake It off, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Cartoons, going to Hershey Park, and anything at all really.
You come up with ideas and work on them daily, like your box car racer and a farm to design in place of Browns Berry Patch.
This year you have enjoyed a trip on the train to NYC. We managed to go crazy at American Girl Store. You bought Kit Kittredge.
We have enjoyed our camper and visits to Hershey Park with our season passes.
You had a BIG party a Monkey Joes this week to celebrate!
You are the best of both your dad and I.
You are very smart and growing so tall.
We cant wait to see where life takes you this year!

Love, Mom

Getting Ready for Summer

I am going to vow to get back to blogging, not for anyone else but truly myself. Well, and I want Audrey to have it to read when she is older.
Life is the Salter House is in full out ready for summer mode.  We have opened the camper, the boat is in the new dock at City Island, School is ending and the summer program is beginning, Hershey Park Season Passes have already been used twice.  We are so ready to enjoy the summer before Kindergarten begins. Audrey will be moving into my classroom for the summer months.  I am sure it will be an interesting challenge, but one I am ready for. I am hoping to keep to some sort of a schedule so her internal clock sets itself to be ready for kindergarten.
The Golf Cart is serviced, the patio swing is hanging. Let Summer 2015 begin!

Merry Christmas Friends and Family

It is Christmas Eve. I am sitting here in my new Christmas jammies, a holiday tradition.
This year, I didnt get Photo Christmas Cards!  As a matter of fact, I did something unspeakable...I mailed Christmas Cards in response to the ones I received.  THE HORROR!  Sorry if I missed ya...it may mean that your card came after the 23rd, I figured after that I wouldnt get it out in time anyhow.
Here are some smiling pics of our year:

What a year!
Audrey has, learned to ski, gone to farm camp, joined soccer, and so much more....

This past May, a newsletter came home from Audrey's Preschool. It noted that the Pre-Kindergarten Teacher was going to be retiring and that the position would be vacant.
I laid the newsletter on our counter.
Jim read it and said, " I think that is your job"
I laughed at him.
But God's plan was certainly just that.  I accepted the position in June.
It has been an amazing wonderful challenge. I have my own classroom of 15 kiddos with an awesome assistant.  I am surely blessed to work with a group of amazing teachers. Who would have thought that 18 years after I graduated with an \Education degree I would finally be using it.

In July we bought a new camper and parked it permanently at Pettecote Junction Campground in Cedar Run PA. We are so grateful to my mom and dad for landscaping, extending the deck and making it a second home for us.  We look forward to spending many weekends in the year to come. It is right along Pine Creek, perfect for kayaking, swims in the creek, biking along the rails to trail. We even have our own eagle pair with twin babies. With it, we bought a golf cart, and goodness knows we need the Dish Tailgater. But, it is a second home!

In August, we traveled to Yellowstone National Park and all of the surrounding points of interest.
10 days in a Class C motorhome with my mom, dad, Jim, Audrey, myself and our turtle Sundance,  It was crazy and awesome at the same time! We visited Jackson Hole Wyoming, Rapid City South Dakota and so much more.  Too bad the gas prices werent the same now as they were then.  LOL!  What memories!

Jim has seen some changes with his job at Equipment Depot but has risen to the challenge.  He is covering a wider territory, but is enjoying every minute of it. And of course, he is still The Chief.  I am pretty sure I will be saying that for awhile. He makes me proud, as I watch him serve our community.  Sometimes it gets the best of me, when I put dinner on the table, and the pager goes off, or when we have a plan, but the pager has a different plan. But...being the Fire Chief is who Jim is, so I love him through it.

Audrey is growing like a weed. Seriously, she is 4 ft tall. She is doing well in her classroom (right next door to my own) and I can hardly believe that in 2 months we will be enrolling her in Kindergarten for Fall.  She says she isnt ready. I dont think that I am either,
As I type, she is sleeping in MY bed, with visions of Elsa dolls dancing in her head.
Christmas is magical to her.  And it makes it magical for us.
She loves her Elf on the Shelf, Cookie, who leaves with Santa to go back to the North Pole Tonight. She has been making her Santa Wish List for months now.  I hope that she is pleased with what she unwraps in the morning.

Tonight at dinner, she told us that the best things about Christmas are family, friends and Jesus. That is all I really need for her to understand.  She knows the reason for the season. I am so blessed by that!

May the reason for the season, the baby born so simply in a meager manger, no crown for his head even as a king, bring you peace on this Christmas Day. May HIS presence fill your day and the year ahead.

Merry Christmas!

The Salters

A journey that got a late start

So as some of you know I have headed back to the classroom, after 18 years of not being in the classroom. I accepted a positio at Audreys school and I am loving it. I started summer class there and now have begun Fall semester with a new set of students.  I feel so blessed to be doing what my original plan was!

A letter to my daughter on her 5th birthday

Dear Audrey:

You just fell asleep in my bed. Funny, you do that still quite often. But I realize, as I lay beside you, after prayer and a book, that it really won't be like this for long. Soon enough, you will want to do it all, everything, on your own.  5 years old, is that when the turn begins? I sure hope not.

The past year has been beautiful, yes, that is the word I choose; beautiful!

We have celebrated so many awesome days, from our Halloween Disney Cruise to Farm Camp at Paulus Farm Market. You make my life so enjoyable, even when our day goes awry. We always come back to happiness.  This year, you conquered the Bunny Class with Mrs. Shute. I am amazed by all that you learned and how much you grew and I cant wait to see what the year ahead holds...the year before Kindergarten.

We made the choice to give you an extra year before we send you off, I am trusting GOD that the next year will be filled with all of the learning you need before you head off on that big yellow bus.

You are bossy (lets call it leadership in training), you are always good for a silly comment that completely throws me off for the day. Your heart is so big. You love people with all of your heart! 

You love church, school, riding your scooter and bike, watching the eagle and getting ice cream at Pettecote, and everything in between. 

You are my GOOSE, my buddy, my whole world wrapped up in beautiful brown eyes and a dimple in your chin!

God has so many amazing plans for this year, your 5th year of life.

Happy Happy Happy Birthday Goose!

Mommy

Easter with Mom Mom and Pop

Audrey is almost 5 and she has never had a holiday at my parents home, so we thought we would say no to our usual church obligations and say yes to going to Wellsboro and allowing my parents to put on Easter for their one and only. Jim and I got to enjoy a night sans kiddo at the Hershey Bear final game with some of our UAFD  friends and made our way back to my parents early Easter morning. They had an easter egg hunt all set up for Audrey, as well as a trophy for the egg on spoon race she asked for. She even had a prize table to pick from....little did she realize ALL of the prizes were hers.  She loved it!
The food was great and so was the company.
Thanks Mom and Dad for a relaxing easter!

The first tooth is gone

Tonight, I gave the first loose tooth a tiny tug and out it came.  My baby girl lost her first tooth on 4 15 14, at 4 years 8 months old.  Bottom left front. It was just dangling there. Didnt take much to get it out.  I created this cheesy pic for her to see!

Ringing OUT the New Year, dancing into the NEW

I admit whole-heartedly that I am GLAD that 2013 is OVER.  I am ready for a change. I realize that New Years Resolutions are cliche! We write stuff down on a piece of paper or declare it publicly, find accountability partners...and we still fail at most of what we write down. Although, one year, I wrote down 100 things I wanted to do and I looked at my goals EVERY SINGLE DAY, and ya know what, I accomplished most of them.  So perhaps, I should do that again, or perhaps I should write down the things I didnt like about 2013 and remind myself that I want to change them.
I rushed too much and missed some pretty important things because of it.
I over-analyzed alot and didnt enjoy everything that I could have because of that fact.
I complained WAYYYY to much, and missed alot of blessings because I had my eye on what I didnt have and not on what I have been abundantly blessed with.
I said yes when I really should have said no.  I undertook things I didnt do with a grateful heart.
I spent too much time wasting time, avoiding important things I really should have gotten done.
I was angry alot.  Anger sometimes is where my heart has seemed to settle, and so I walked around with a dreadful, cynical, stubborn, closed heart. And although I have had moments where I have realized it, I havent fixed it! I am not even sure what I am angry at most of the time.
I have taken too many steps backward when it comes to putting my health first. I need to get myself in check and KEEP myself in check.
I have made myself too busy and not given myself enough time to JUST BE!
I havent read to Audrey as much as I would have liked. or taken her to the park as much as I should have, or just sat down on the floor and pretended to eat her imaginary cake and drink her imaginary tea.
I have worked at my business just to prove that I could be busy and not thrown myself into every moment that I could have and captured everything as perfectly as I would have liked.
I have been a hard to live with wife and a unreasonable daughter and the relationships with these, my Most Valuable People has suffered because of my attitude and self-centeredness!
I have cried too much and not laughed enough.
I have been a keep-my-distance friend and a god-talker and not a god-listener and god-follower.  Oh My word, I am a Chreaster! There I said it.  I realize it and I am ever so sad because of it.
The good thing is, God loves me anyway, and I know that. But I also know I have to spend some time focusing on my relationship with him and alot of the the stuff will fall into place naturally...funny how he works that way!
The resolution I am making is simple:
BE STILL
and
Think before I speak, before I judge, before I preach, Before I yell.
BE STILL
and weigh my words and actions.
BE STILL
and be OK with myself
BE STILL
and know.

Life according to FINN

We have adopted. It has been 3 weeks since Audrey and I walked into a Homeward Bound Animal Rescue on November 23rd and chose to adopt a then 7 week old German Shepherd/ Lab Mix puppy. After a few episodes of begging Jim, he finally said yes. We left our house at 10:30 am with Molli in tow in the back, and were set to meet and pick up "Francesca" or "Fletcher" one of Finn's 8 brothers or sisters( 9 puppies) with no intention of coming home with Finn. He came to us, was interested in Audrey and I, shy, but silly, one kiss to Audrey and we picked him out and paid the $300 adoption fee on the spot, after a good meeting with Molli. I felt 10 minutes of crazy buyers remorse.  What had I done?  A puppy?
That meant potty training in the cold, puppy teeth, barking, getting along with a new fmily member in an already crazy household.

 
 

 

Has it been just as crazy as I pictured it?  OH MY YES!
Has it been worth it? DEAR LORD ABOVE, YES!!
He is smart and sweet and growing WAYYYYY Fast!
They said a projected 65 lbs...and I am thinking 80 lbs!
His teeth are like daggers, and he has drawn blood on each of us.
He has peed and pooped on the carpet...all cleaned up nicely!
He has irritated Molli.
He has chased and annoyed Jagger.
He has gnawed his puppy teeth into Kendalls hair. Run amuck in the car as we drove.
He has done great in his crate at night. If he waked up after 4 am, we allow him to sleep in bed with us for the last few hours of sleep.
He has learned sit and stay and Fetch and he starts his puppy training on Monday.
He has brightened our day in every way! What a beautiful addition to our family.
WELCOME to OUR LIFE Finn Tiller Salter, your life. <3 p="">

Our 2013 Christmas Letter

Since I didnt add it to the Christmas Cards this year, and I feel like if you are on social media, which 90% of our Christmas Card Recipients are, then you already know all of this. But just in case, here goes:

Our family has had a wonderful year, filled with so many great adventures and fun!

We enjoyed camping this year! We spent 2 weeks at Pettecote Junction Campground in Cedar Run Pa at the beginning of June. It was wonderful and relaxing, and we got to spend much of our time with friends who also love to camp.  Jim bought he and I Kayaks for our 5 year anniversary, so we made good use of them during our time here, as Pine Creek was right behind our camper. 

This was our 3rd camping season and we have continued to enjoy it as a family.  We get to "get away" but do it close to home, enjoying places like Gettysburg and Cedar Run.

We also enjoyed a few weekends in Kent , NY where my dad has his fishing boat and camper.  It is along Lake Ontario, so we enjoyed all of the attractions close-by.

My cousin Amanda and her family went along with us this year and I checked one thing off my Bucket List: Maid of the Mist. It was breath-taking and something everyone should experience.  It was such a wonderful day spent with some of my very favorite people.

Audrey and my mom and I then toured the other highlights of the regions: Rochester and Buffalo zoos, the National Museum of Play, Butterfly Gardens, and so much more.  RELAXING!

Summer was also spent in our small garden and in our back yard, sliding on our slip-n-slide.

Visits to the park, the zoo,  Hershey Park, Land of Little Horses. Audrey and I also made a trek to the Dewey Beach  Delaware with my friend Jen and her daughter Alli.

The final adventure was a Halloween Disney Cruise that we took with my mom at the end of October.  To say it was amazing is an understatement. We loved it, but I do believe Audrey loved it most of all!

As you can see, we are always on the go!  I am happy for that. I love my down time, but I don't give myself much of it, because in the back of my mind I am reminded that my kiddo will be headed to Kindergarten soon enough and I will never get these precious days back.

Audrey continues to grow like a weed in stature and in spirit. She is now a BUNNY at her Preschool. We are so blessed to have such amazing teachers in our kiddos life. She loves school!  Every day, she comes home and tells me something new she has learned.  To hear this kiddo sing, "God Bless America" melts my heart.  She is so active and has such an imagination.  She loves dress-up and singing and dancing.

She participated in a Pony Clinic in the spring, where she rode ponies and learned how to care for them. She took dance class for a few weeks this summer, and now she wants to learn how to ice-skate. My plan is to take her skiing for the first time this year.  I look forward to every new experience we can provide for her. She is, as I have said in every letter for the past 4 years, truly the JOY we so rightly gave her as a middle name. 

As for Jim, this is his 9th year at Equipment Depot, selling and renting lifts.  We are so grateful for the flexibility his job offers and also for the great benefits.  He enjoys working there!  He is also always busy, so Audrey and I love when we have Daddy home for a day with nothing to do.  Typically, the fire pager goes off just as we sit down for dinner, but I think this year I finally settled in to that fact, not embraced it, but am ok with it!  The Fire Department is still my husband's heart. He continued his tenure as Fire Chief for Upper Allen Township.  After this long, I really can't imagine life any differently.  I never thought 6 years ago, I would have found a man who could take care of his family so well and allow me the blessing of being able to stay at home with our daughter. In return, I just try and keep up with the laundry and vacuuming..lol!

In addition to those duties, my Photography Business has taken off to new heights.  I could be busy every day, but choose to keep a schedule that allows me to be a mom first. I will most likely pick up the schedule that is waiting for me once Audrey starts school.  I LOVE what I do. I get to see amazing moments in people's lives that others miss: marriages, the birth of children, adoptions, birthdays, milestones.  This has been a VERY busy year, and sometimes, the last thing I do is want to pick up my camera, but then I get a rush from what I capture behind the lens.  I feel like I get to tell the story of so many lives, especially since some of my customers have given me 3 full years of their lives.

I also continue to work for W A DeHart as a contractor once a week. I hold 1 dozen customers that continue to buy their candy, ice cream and paper gods from me.  It keeps the "sales spark" in me and I enjoy the work!

Just this month, we made an addition to our family by adopting a German Shepherd/Black Lab Mix puppy named Finn, from a wonderful local rescue group.  I forgot that having a puppy is sort of like having a newborn baby all over again.  Molli( our 9 year old Dachshund) and Jagger ( Our 2 year old Cat) have welcomed him into our home.  He completes our little family.  By next year's letter he will no longer be the 12 lb little fur ball he is right now, and instead a potential 75 lb lap dog...just what we hope for.

We look forward to the new year ahead! We wish your family a year filled with God's greatest blessings: Health and Prosperity, Love and Family

Always a Merry Christmas!

Stacy, Jim & Audrey Salter

Christmas 2013

Updates

Wow, I need to get back to blogging on here.
Lets see, we headed to the beach with Alli and Jen. We definately needed more time there. We took Alli's Senior Portraits and just enjoyed some peaceful beach time together.

Audreys second year started at Early Childhood Center. WOW, the amount that she has learned in the first month is INSANE.  Maybe red-shirting her for Kindergarten isnt the right decision! The Leapfrog Learning Factory has helped her learn her alphabet and sounds, but her teachers have taught her SOOOO much...and when that kiddo of mine busted out God Bless America with her little hand over her heart...aahh...perfection!

We welcomed a new baby into our family On September 14th. My great nephew Landon was born healthy and happy.  Kendra was great in that hospital room. I spent 16 hrs with her and unfortunately had to leave, so missed his debut by a few hours, but I got to be a big part of the day and birthing process, so I feel this beautiful connection with this absolutely perfect little boy.

I, of course, got to take his newborn pics and have since got to babysit once.

We are ramping up for fall in our house We visited our zoo one last time for the season today. The camper is getting winterized and the boat too in a few weeks.

Fastest year of my life.

Better be blogging more.

To my Daughter on her 4th Birthday

Dear Audrey:

YOU are 4! And I dont know how yet another year of your life has come and gone.
This has been a crazy year.
You started preschool and I gained 5 grey hairs. The start was rocky and so were some in betweens.
As the first full year comes to a close, I have seen you grow in ways I just sometimes cant believe.
You love your little classmates so much, and you have been beyond blessed with such loving and amazing and godly teachers.
I have done some changing in your food and that seems to have helped you to overcome some of your stumbling blocks.
You have grown....not just in age, but in heigth. 43 inches tall and 46 lbs.
You make me smile.
You say the funniest things...and I promise to do better with writing them down so we both can look back and laugh at them.
No more diapers, that was a big book closing.
You finally got to take your dance class that you begged for.  5 weeks of princesses. You never did manage to stay on the dot assigned to you. But I have managed to stop freakin out every time you dont stand in a straight line and veer off onto your own path.
You tend to do that OFTEN. You are certainly on your own path more often than on the path laid out before you. AND, I try my best to be ok with that. I'm not the best at it.
I dont want you to ever think for one second that who you are doesnt make me so proud! Even when you veer off my path, I am always proud of who God has shaped you into.
You are kind. You are inquisitive. You are smart. You love puzzles, and pretending, and dress up.  You love Mary Poppins and Annie and every Broadway show and Musical.
I love to watch you sing "feed the bird", "Tomorrow" and "Memories.
In your 3rd year of life, you have: Seen Disney on Ice( TWICE), Mary Poppins, Annie ( TWICE), Cats, The Little Mermaid. You have: Been to a butterfly farm, played Mary in your school CHristmas Pageant, the National Toy Museum, rode your first amusement park rides at Dutch Wonderland, and been to a Carnival. You have spent alot of time at "our" zoo, and some extra time at Paulus Farm with the Bunnies and Pigs, You have learned how to spell your name and ride your scotter. You color inside the lines MOST of the time.  You have ridden a pony at Pony camp, gone to see your first movies) Crudds, Monsters Inc, Despicable Me and Turbo)
You saw Washington, Alaska, and British Columbia, and traveled to the beach. So many things AND
I am looking forward to what the year ahead has planned for us.
With Love Always,Mom