some beach some where

SEPTEMBER UPDATE

2008-10-01T11:09:00.002-05:00

i am sitting in a hotel in gatlinburg ,tn , enjoying a nice mountain breeze. doug is doing the tn ministers retreat and we are having a great time. the smokey mountains hold a lot of great memories for me. as i was growing up my family vacationed here every year. for 20 years i came here every summer. my dad couldnt get much time off so it was always my mom, my grandma, my aunts , my sister and me . it was always so much fun. this is where we spent our honeymoon 23 years ago...again so much fun :) And we have vacationed here with our girls a few times as well. i love it here!!

doug and i just got back from hot springs , arkansas where we were a part of the hillcrest childrens home's fall festival. what a great place!! it is an amazing ministry that i have fallen in love with.

the girls are doing great in springfield and we are so excited that my mom and dad are coming out to see us next week..hopefully i will be done with all the boxes by then:) we are going to hit all the hot spots of springfield and branson

and the most exciting thing is ...this is Happy Birthday Month for Kaylee..she makes us celebrate the entire month...sooooo let the festivities begin!!!

labor day weekend

2008-08-30T20:40:00.002-05:00

well this is only saturday evening and already we have had a lot of activity. yesterday ashley and i drove to st louis to pick up her boyfriend and didn't get back to springfield till 2:30 am! kaylee had to work last night ...at cold stone..and had a scary experience about the time they were closing. a young man walked in while she was the only one in the front of the store and was acting very strangely. she said his eyes were all bloodshot and was just sort of rambling on about different things. he had a backpack and kept fiddling with it to the point that she thought he might have been getting a gun out. about that time another worker came out from the back....a young man...and told the boy he would have to leave. thankfully he did leave with no further problems. i am praising God for his protection of my baby!!

today ashley and cody are spending the day in branson...shopping, putt putt, eating and finishing with the beatles show.

kaylee and i spent the morning shopping and eating at bw3 while we caught some of the buckeyes game...yea.

doug got busy early on the garage ...carrying more boxes to the basement....and then found the osu game on the internet . kaylee and i found him laying in the pool soaking up the sun with the game blaring.
needless to say we were all feeling a little blue to not be in columbus with the scarlet and gray crowd today.

later in the day doug and i went looking for a few pieces of furniture that we need for the house and finished the day by cleaning and moving furniture :)

i bought myself a digital camera yesterday and am going to be posting photos of our weekend when i figure out how to do it

have a great weekend

ONE WEEK TO GO

2008-07-26T11:22:00.002-05:00

well the count down is on.....one week from today the boxes will be gone and the girls, kramer and i will be one our way to missouri!! we are a little nervous about leaving the house empty but with school starting august 25 we need to get down there and get settled . please pray it sells soon. we have only had 4 showings in 7 weeks...ugh.
we have been busy tying up loose ends....getting last hair cuts, updating dog vaccinations, packing up and saying goodbyes....but we are all looking forward to being together in one place.

another bit of good news!! ashley has decided to go to missouri state which is in springfield ....yeah....so she will be in the same town as us and we will get to see her alot more than we thought we would. i am sure she will be over to do laundry and have some home cooked meals....i think i can bribe her with those two things :)

i cant believe how quickly the summer is going. i hate seeing the school supplies in the stores already. i feel like we have missed june and july with getting ready for the move. oh well we will still have about a month and a half to enjoy the pool and i think fall with be gorgeous in our back yard with all the trees.....i cant wait to sit on my deck and just do nothing...haha....i have big plans dont i?

soooo....next time you are in the ozarks stop in and see us. i will make some tea and we can sit on the deck :)

love you all

WE HAVE A HOUSE!!!!

2008-07-02T16:43:00.002-05:00

i am sitting in my family room and i can't stop smiling!!!! my wonderful husband has been working hard to negotiate the purchase of the house of my dreams....and it finally happened!!
we have a house!!! and we close on july 31 so in one month ashley, kaylee, kramer and i will be reunited with doug and try to get out lives back to some sort of normalcy :)

also i have more good news.....ash has decided to go to southern missouri state which means she will be in springfield too!!! God is so cool....after alot of worrying on my part about how things are going to work out this fall he has worked it all out.

now all we have to do is sell our house here in columbus...but i am not worrying....i know it will in
God's timing :)

i will post more later...

changes are on the way

2008-06-10T10:00:00.002-05:00

well as usual transition is in the air. now that the girls are out of school we are gearing up for the big move to missouri. we have the house on the market and are trying to keep in looking presentable so we are ready to show it at any time. we have not yet selected a home in springfield but will probably find one on my next trip there. doug continues to spend his time between headquarters, his apartlment and our dear friends the wellborns....i know he is well taken care of with linda's meals and jim taking care of everything else. :)

ashley is going to be working at the daycare until july . kaylee has quit her job at planet smoothie but is working as a nanny for the rest of the time we are in ohio. i resigned my job at the beginning of may so my days are filled with cleaning our house, packing, and looking at homes on the internet. i think we are all ready to make the move soon.

we had a great vacation in palm springs at the end of may. it will probably be the only vacation this summer due to the move but i am sure once we get to mo. we will have fun exploring the branson attractions.

ashley is going to be heading to anderson university in indiana in the fall and kaylee will be going to kickapoo high school....that means she will be graduating from the same school as brad pitt!!!

please continue to pray for the quick sell of our home so we can join doug soon!! we will keep you informed of our progress.

have a great day

gail

a new era

2008-02-03T19:52:00.000-05:00

Today I feel old...and it has nothing to do with anything I did.!!! It is all my sister-in-law's fault. You see on thursday she became a grandmother...it is hard for me to even write that! Even tho I am so excited for her...:)....this really hits me hard. I was just looking at the photos of beautiful little Grant and was overcome. The reason is that this has now opened up a new era in our family. No longer are we the ones having the babies, this thrusts us into being the ones whose children are having babies.

Not that i wanted to or was planning on having more children but there was something nice about that time in between ...where your children were grown or close to it (think self sufficient)....and yet you were not considered the "g" word.

All kidding aside....I am thrilled with the news!!! Jeremy and Amy , I am soooo happy for you guys. Looking at your photos brings back all those amazing feelings you get when you are holding your new born.....you all are just beaming!! I can't wait to hold him!!

And Deb, I can't imagine what you are feeling....but I can't wait to feel it myself when i hold my first grandchild....many, many years from now!!!! I love the fact that you go thru all these experiences first and are there to talk when it is my turn. Seriously i am so happy for you....i am so glad you were there for the birth. you all are in my thoughts and prayers

I love you all
"great aunt" gail

2007-11-20T20:08:00.000-05:00

WELL IT IS HERE....MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY.(WELL BESIDES MY BIRTHDAY)...

I love thanksgiving. It is a great holiday. Time off, family around, no presents to buy and wrap, and all kinds of great food,..what could be better.

And this year an added blessing.....Ashley is coming home!!! I can' t wait to have the whole family together again. And I have the whole time planned.......a movie: Enchanted, game night, lots of together time. well at least 3 days . Well I am off to get some things ready,

I hope you all have a blessed time with your family and friends.

ps. Kaylee just got new job at aeropostal...and her first day is "black friday".....she has to be there ar 5:45 am!!! hahaha what a way to start.

love to all
gail

2007-11-07T19:57:00.000-05:00

well it has been a while since my last update. i guess the biggest thing that has happened is that kaylee is now a driver!!! and she is doing great. i am very proud of her. she passed with 100%. i guess all that time in the parking lot with the cones paid off. i don't know how many of you have seen what these kids have to do to get there license nowdays but i don't think i would pass the manuverability part. it is nice that she can get around on her own but it just brings on more worry and prayertime on my part.

i am trying very hard to keep my spirits up but it is getting harder and harder....you see my mood seems to be related to the amount of sunshine that new alblany gets. now that we set the clocks back it gets dark sooooo early...even before i am home from work. and today i could't believe it but it SNOWED! if you haven't already guessed this is not my favorite time of the year.....bring back the 90 degree weather!!

i guess i will just have to go get my sun fix at the tanning salon :)

have a great one

gail

catching up with the clays....part 2

2007-10-09T19:08:00.000-05:00

well i guess almost 7 months later it is time to blog again. things have changed a little around the house. the main change is the sound of song is not ringing from every room ...for the last 18 years we had no need for any radio/cds in in our house...we had a constant concert. from the time she opened her eyes in the morning until she sang herself to sleep at night,,,,she really did...we could hear her from our bedroom...she sang 24/7. i do wonder at times how her roommate at evangel is handling this..

kaylee is just 2 weeks away from being 16 and being a licensed driver..yikes. she is very anxious to hit the open road on her own and her driving instructor gave her all 4's(the top score) on her driving last week. i realized how valuable the instruction was while we were driving thru a parking lot the other day...as i was yelling for her to stop as the pedestrian was getting ready to cross in front of her she said in a very disgusted tone...mom i know...we did parking lots last week!

i am still working full time and loving it..well most of the time. there are times when i am putting out fires that i wish i was back on my comfy couch with my blanket and puppy watching dr. phill...oh those were the days

i wish i could keep this blog updated more but i have to share the computer with kaylee and it is next to impossible to get it away from her....i am hoping for my own computer for my bithday.....every one that reads this needs to comment doug and tell him to get his wife her own computer ok?....thanks...i will let you know how that goes.

all for now
i love you all

Catching up on the Clays

2007-03-29T18:53:00.000-05:00

Well again Jonathan has motivated me to get going with the whole blog thing. After monthes of checking everyones blogs and reading the same thing over and over,(except the Bakers and Grammie..thank you) I have decided to start again. I will try to keep up with it.

Well now I will try to catch you up with what has been happening in the Clay's life since we last talked:

*Ashley has decided on evangel university in Missouri as her place of higher education...maybe her and cousin Jarid will make some memories

*Kaylee is continuing to work with her personal trainer and puts us all to shame

*I have been working full time as the assistant directoer of nursing at the nursing home in New Albany. It leaves little time for much else but I am enjoying it. ( I am filling in for some one on medical leave)

*Doug has been spreading church health thru Ohio and doing a great job. His wisdom in new areas is amazing and definelty God directed

Ash and Kay both have jobs now..Ash works at BlockBuster and really loves it...I love the free movies :) Kay has two jobs...one is at a daycare after school every day and the other babysitting on a weekly basis for a couple families here in the neighborhood. She loves kids and is just great with them. She also does not like to be without money so that is a big motivator.

*Kay and Doug are going to Puerto Rico for spring break,...Ash has play practice...Alladin with the Columbus Children's Theater..and I have to work. Kay convinced Dad that it wasn't fair that she had to miss her spring break because of her mom and sis

Well I guess that will do for now..we are so excited about the new babies coming our way...thanks Jeremy and Amy and Rob and Betsy!!

Love to All
Gail

new year blog

2007-01-12T20:19:00.000-05:00

Well this is not too bad. We are only 13 days into the new year and this is my first blog. I guess there hasn't been a lot of excititng things to blog about. I started a new job...and am keeping my old one too...it is working contingent at another nursing home in Worthington. It takes a little longer to get the this one but the shifts are only 8 hours as opposed to 12 at the other place. So now I can tell people that I work 2 jobs. They don't have to know that with both jobs together I will still only work 1-3 days a week..ha.
The girls are back in school and getting ready for midterms. Ashley is excited because she got the lead in her school play and will start practices next week. Both girls are going to winter formal on sunday ...they look so nice in their dresses...I wil try to put up a photo if I learn how.
Doug is working hard as always. We had ministers retreat last week and it was great. H.B. London from Focus on the Family was the speaker...very good. We opened the retreat on monday night with a big tailgait party for the OSU game. It started out good...we will leave it at that! The district office is almost finished and looks amazing. The design team is wonderful.
We are gearing up for the big winter storm headed our way...our Iowa family is probably enjoying it right now. I have been on the internet looking at Florida condos...and dreaming.
Well until next time....some beach, some where!

Merry Christmas

2006-12-25T08:52:00.000-05:00

Well it is finally here..Christmas morning. And the year we have been waiting for has arrived...Doug and I are up before the girls. It is now 8:57 and we have been up for an hour waiting to open presents. It is actually quite nice. I have had my tea, Doug has helped me with my blogging skills and is now reading. Oooops, I spoke too soon...here they come. It is now time for The Story and gifts. I will continue in a bit.

It is now 9:45 and the living room is bare and quiet. Ashley is up in her room playing her keyboard with the new pedal and microphone she got...and Kaylee is upstairs working on the new ipod inset for her new running shoes. Doug is looking at his new Sirrius radio. And I am about to hook up my new ipod and download songs and movies. Oh yes, and Kramer is busy chewing on his new rawhide bone. All in all it has been a great Christmas.

We are so blessed..and not by what just took place here. We are blessed by the birth of our Savior, by the love of our friends and family, by good health and the means to provide for our families. We love you all. Have a great Christmas Day!!!

Gail

This is boring

2006-12-18T14:39:00.000-05:00

ok family.....i am getting very bored reading the same thing day after day. (my hubby is the worst offender!)

I guess I can understand if you have been as busy as we have. The first week of Dec. is always the Supt. conference and it is always in a very nice warm place..which is just what I need about that time of year. This year was San Diego and it was amazing....70"s all week and not a cloud in the sky. However it does seem to put me back alittle on my Christmas shopping and such. This year I had a pretty good start to the shopping but didnt manage to put up the tree or any decoration before we left. We did have our outside lights up because we paid a company to come and put them up for us and they will come and take them down in Jan. I am thinking this company must have been suggested by a pastor...what do you think???

Anyway on the way home Thursday evening on the plane I was sitting there thinking about getting back to reality and all I had to do to get ready for Christmas. It was at this point that my dear husband told me about the party we had on the following Sunday evening. I chalk that one up in my mental calendar and continue on with my thoughts when he leans over and tells me not to forget the other parties that week too. I come to find out that we had parties on Sunday, Monday, Thursday and Friday ...(only the Friday one was at our house for which I am most thankful)

Well I am pleased to tell you we got through that week and are looking forward to a little less partying this week and a little more home time. Things are running pretty much on schedule but there will be no Christmas cards this year....something had to give

love you all
gail

HEY I AM A BLOGGER!!!

2006-12-10T15:23:00.000-05:00

Hey...I am a blogger!!!. I am not too handy with the computer but if my mother- in -love can do it then I am think I am up to the challenge. I have been reading the family blogs for some time and really enjoy them so now it is my turn. I will try to keep up with this ...but if it ends up anything like my email i will probably get to it every few weeks or so.
I would like to challege my dear sister -in -love to join in...we cant let the young ones have all the fun and be sides is a few years we be empty nesters and will have to figure this computer stuff out ourselves anyway. So come on Deb....let me see your blog
love you all
gail