Friday Flashback

May 2002

ipod chromatic

This is Nate,

For Christmas i bought an iPod. It has eight gigs and I am really happy. It plays movies and games. It even has a color screen. It is awesome!!!! I got it for my trip with mom to Swaziland. I finally have enough money to go. I even have a little over what I need. Praise the Lord! We go in 55 days. It is kind of scary, but I know that he will provide comfort.

"best day of my life"

Maddie said I could post this on my blog...It is from her journal, and she wrote it while we were in MN for Christmas.

"Dec. 27, 2008

Today I went to the Mall of America in Minnesota. In the Mall of America there is an American Girl store and I had no clue that I would walk out with a doll. My aunt helped me pay to have an American doll and I got Margaret Mildred Kitredge, a.k.a. Kit. It seemed it was the best day of my life! I enjoyed it so much that I had to write it down in my notebook. I love her sooooooo much and my aunt says "What will I do without you and Kit?". I love her so much."

Friday Flashback

sweet baby girl

Friday Flashback

February 2000

a big day

This past Tuesday was a big, HUGE day for C. He has been saving his money for many months, with the goal of buying his very own electric guitar. His guitar teacher, Jeremy, told us about a little shop, called Music Central, that has become C's favorite place to visit. A couple weeks ago, he had enough money to put down on the guitar of his dreams! He was thrilled to see Bill (the store's owner) put a SOLD sign on the guitar with C's name on it. Well, since that day, C has been a wee bit distracted...and determined to earn the final $40 he needed to bring his baby home. He babysat at church, he did extra chores and laundry at home, even his brothers and sister paid him money to do some of their work. And, finally, Tuesday was the day! After school, we drove down to the guitar shop, C handed over the last of his cash, and Bill handed C THIS...

Bill is a great guy with an incredible passion for music, especially electric guitars. It was obvious how thrilled he was to be a part of passing that passion on to the next generation. When he found out that C had bought the guitar completely on his own, Bill wanted to reward that and gave C a $25 "gig bag" as a gift. He told C that in God's Kingdom, working hard has it's rewards. You can see in this picture that Bill seems just as excited, if not more, than C!Along with the guitar, C got a gig bag, guitar stand, strap, cable and amplifier. Needless to say, the sounds from the basement have changed. Thank goodness for volume knobs on amps!

quick re-cap

I am waaaay behind in my blogging, so here is a picture re-cap of Christmas...

Our church production of "Jingle Jam" was amazing. Things looked scary at our last dress rehearsal, but all I have to say is, God showed up! It was incredible, and families were ministered to and challenged to step up in the spiritual leadership of their children.

The day after "Jingle Jam" we drove to Minnesota for Christmas. We had a wonderful time with my family, including my parents, Jason, Megan, and Levi, and Daron, Tari, Ella, and Abby.

The whole gang...

Grami and Papa with 7 of their 14 grandchildren

Ella, Papa, Uncle Jason, and Levi

Maddie shows her violin to Levi

It's not a Yates family gathering without card games

Uncle Daron challenges Caleb to a round of golf on the Wii

Sweet Levi

Christmas jammies

Abby with her new baby doll

Ella loves on her baby

Just had to put this picture in, too, to show off Abby's first pigtails, courtesy of Aunt Laura

While we were there, we went to the American Girl store in the Mall of America. Maddie had saved money for over a year, and was shocked to learn she had enough to buy a doll!

Nate's first concert

Here is video from Nate's first concert. So if you couldn't be there in person you can now hear in stereo and see Nate up close. Merry Christmas in January, keeping the holidays alive (well no snow this time as was the case the first scheduled date).