Christmas Card




 

Christmas 2010



Dear Friends and Family,

As this year comes to a close I am so grateful for all that we have been blessed with.  We have four healthy children and a new dog this Christmas, Beau. 



After waiting and waiting Allison now has a dog





We have wonderful neighbors and our children attend great schools.  I would have to say that if this year had a theme it would be the Year of Cousin’s.  It started with the Birth of the first Spicer cousin, Jack.  Then as the year progressed the Dorough’s gathered multiple times to celebrate first birthdays including Evelyn’s.  We were happy to have more cousins’ visit this summer and as a wonderful treat we hosted Uncle Steve and his family for Thanksgiving.   So much Love, so much Family, so much fun for all as together  we shared memories and made new ones.     

Adam and Brooke Spicer with Baby Jack

Colin and Jarom

Kristina, Allison, and Lauren

Lauren Addison and Melody

Kyle, Christian, Allison and Jarom

Evelyn and Timmy at Thanksgiving



Kyla, Joshua, and Lauren at Thanksgiving

Learning some basics with her new Trumpet






Middle School Band Night at NHS

 Allison finished up her first year in middle school and is getting straight A’s in 7th grade.  She has joined the band and like her father is playing Trumpet.  She enjoys it and is still continuing with Piano.  She turned 12 this year and is now in the youth program at Church and she is excited to graduate from Primary Sunday School to the “big kid” classes in January.  

 Colin is 9 and is amazing the teachers with his Math skills.  He too is continuing in Piano and can’t wait to play another instrument like his sister.  He is finishing up his Cub Scout Wolf requirements and loves Scouts.  We had a busy summer but probably his highlight was attending Scout Camp. 

Preschool Graduation

 Lauren flew through PreK and is now in Kindergarten.  She just loves school and can’t wait to pick out her book to read every day.  She is almost reading independently.  Not to be left out she is fabulous with Math just like her sister and brother. 

  Our Baby, Evelyn turned one year old in June, obviously she has had a year of firsts.  Walking, running and completely mobile and communicating; we are all aware of what Evelyn wants. 

 We were ecstatic to be able to get away on a vacation this Spring and we picked a relaxing week at the beach on the East Coast.  The Kids were delighted with the waves and didn’t mind the colder Atlantic water. 

 After starting off the Beach season with cold water we finished the summer with a nice cool float down the Rainbow River for Colin and Allison’s birthday.   As Jason and I watch our children grow and learn we are so amazed by these precious gifts we were given to watch over and guide.  Their spirits are strong and righteous; we are humbled by their depth.  We pray daily to be worthy to be their parents. 

 It is our prayer for you this year that the Spirit of Christ will be a comfort and a guide to you and your family and brings peace within your home and families.

Have a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

Love, Jason, Anna,

Allison, Colin, Lauren, Evelyn, and Beau



The Magic of a Mother's Kiss

          I noticed when my youngest, Evelyn was about 2 months old that I have a unique spot, different for each child where I kiss them.  I kiss my babies often and all over their cushy bodies.  Their feet and hands are especially vulnerable when I am nursing them.  The dimple of their knees and bellies just cry out of 'loves' when changing diapers.  I have never been able to walk past any baby in a highchair without planting what Papa LeValley called a 'smacky mouth' on the top of their heads. When greeting my babies, I will pick them up and shower kisses all over their giggling faces.  When holding squeezing and cuddling my babies I always kiss them all in a special spot unique to each child.  It is funny I always did this but never realized the spot was different on each child.

     I remember with Allison thinking the curve of her left jaw right below her ear was my special property.  This was for Mommy to kiss

     Colin's spot was his left cheek bone just next to his hair line. 

     I must have subconsciously forbade myself to repeat on some level and gradually moved north to stake my claim.  Lauren's was her left temple.

       Atlas Evelyn's spot is on her forehead just above her left eyebrow arch at her hair line.  I laughed one day after kissing Evelyn on her forehead.  I thought about how much hair my other babies had and how I couldn't have kissed them there so easily. I finally realized what had happened,  I remember wrinkling my eyebrows and trying to think where I kissed the others.  I even tried to kiss Evelyn there and it felt wrong.  Not that I don't ever kiss  Evelyn in her sisters' and brother's spots.  I  use the special spots to kiss while I hug them and try to physically give my heart to them.  I couldn't switch areas and do the same thing. 

           Why was this so special to me?  I can not express it in words.  I wonder if my Grandbabies will have their own special 'kissies' or will they share their Mother's or Father's?  Does this mean anything to them?  I think so. Mother's Kisses are magic.  When you pick up a baby the kiss doesn't heal instantly but the cuddling and soothing tones help.  But very quickly they grow to learn to ask for 'loves'. Sometimes toddlers still need Mommy's soothing voice and hugs to make it through a rough scrape.  But the little ones just stretch out a little finger or toe for doctoring kisses when stubbed.  I have seen tears instantly dry after a smile and a kiss.  Somewhere between 8-11 at least for girls the faith in the kiss wavers.  I have notice with the onset of puberty  hugs and kisses are needed often despite protest.  Even Adults need kisses. I have kissed my own finger once and laughed at the memories and comfort I remembered.   The support from that emotion is usually the only thing we need to keep going.   Mother's kisses don't judge or scorn.  They are pure love.  Mother's kisses have power.  They make storm clouds bearable, and  rollercoasters laughable.  No matter what, a person always desires a mother's kiss and no matter what, a person always deserves a mother's kiss.

Happy Mother's Day,

Love, Anna Christine

Heavenly Father Smiles

This is part of a letter I sent to cheer a discouraged friend up.  I wrote it two and a half years ago.  I thought this would be a good introduction of how I would like to compose my Blog.  I am Anna Dorough by the way.  I am 35 years old, Married and have 4 children.  Jason my husband of almost 16 years, Allison Jane 11('98), Colin Jacob 8 ('01), Lauren Elizabeth 5 ('05) and Evelyn Rose 1 year on 6-3-10 are my life.  This is more for them than anyone else, but I hope you enjoy!

           This was taken where I went to elementary school, Riverhills on the Hillsborough River in Temple Terrace, FL.  I have many fond memories of playing by the river in school and out.  I wanted to show my children so we took them for Family Home Evening this summer (2007).  (I was nostalgic; it was the week my brother Adam got married.)  Allison was almost 9, Colin was almost 6, Lauren was 2 and little Evelyn wasn't even thought about.  Anyway, look at that sunset.  It doesn't get any better than that.

           Then the kids found the little drainage ditch we used to jump over on dares when I was little and they had to check it out.
    



        That is when it happened.  Hidden in the mud was a Yellow Jacket's nest.  Colin was stung 5 times.  Allison was stung twice and Jason once.   I was standing on the board walk waiting for them when the screams started.  Jason pushed Lauren to me and went to help and was stung in the process of patting down their clothes.   Lauren and I escaped, although Colin thought that it was my job as Mommy to stand In front and be stung.  That was a hard pill to swallow no matter how irrational.  (I know it wasn't my fault but you should have heard him and seen his face;  I let him down.). 

       




        But the pain numbed, tears dried and we played on the playground for a few minutes trying to salvage the memory.  As you can see I got some smiles.

          Upon closer inspection you can see Allison's hand is swelling and her cheeks are very rosy.  However I promise you in natural light I did not notice it.  She is always red faced when she is out in the heat (I blame Jason.)   By the time we got home, she had hives from head to toe and her hand was twice its normal size.  As it turns out she is allergic to Bees and we now have to carry a shot around with us were ever we go.  I can't remember what scripture we read or exactly what we ate on the picnic.  I didn't even remember that we took pictures until I was scanning our files for the Church's annual review slide show.

          Many things have happened since then.  We have had a fourth child, survived the first year of Middle School, traveled, learned, loved and played.  Allison has not been stung since so we have never had to use her shot but she still carries it with her.  Life goes on and we keep up.  And sometimes we can see Heavenly Father smiling at us. . . 

 

Just look at that view. . .

Remembering fondly,

Anna Christine