Sorry it's been so long...

A few random pictures from Christmas...

Merry Christmas from the Bonds

2008 Bond Family Christmas Letter

This year has been exciting and challenging to say the least.

In January due to the foreseeable housing market decline and other issues, Chad decided to make a change in careers. He went to school to become an over the road driver. This meant leaving mid-January to attend school in Memphis, TN. The school was seven days a week (for three weeks) and very intense...however Chad came out graduating at the top of the class. Once he returned to KS he would then enter his mentorship program with another driver (Jim) for six weeks. During this six week period, he was not able to come home so about half way through the kids and I went up to see him in Effingham, IL (after a brief stop to see Sherri in Belleville). When he again returned to KS he got his own truck and began the unknown over the road driving (OTR). He ended up in about every state east of the Mississippi in that two month period. Luckily (and with a lot of prayer) he was able to secure a dedicated Wal-Mart route driving out of Harrisonville. This started in June and has worked out great so far. In November Chad became a mentor himself and now has his first student in the truck with him.

It's not been an easy year, but our motto is to just take "one day at a time." Looking back to January, there were times when I did not think we could hold all this together, but we did. I am so thankful for my family everyday, from the way Chad spends every home moment playing with his kids to the way Jordan has stepped up and taken over those household chores that Chad used to do (even emptying the diaper champ on trash day - although he tells me all the time that it is my turn).

I even had to do some jobs around the house this year that I don't particularly like such as fixing the sump pump valve when it got stuck open this summer when we had those downpour rains. Chad told me over the phone as I was doing this duty "you can wash your hands when you are done, just reach down in there and grab that valve." I survived, and even managed not to drop the cell phone in the hole.

This year has been tough, we had our share of family loss this year. The day before Christmas last year, we lost Chad's Grandpa Foster after his battle with cancer. In March my Grandma Lucille passed away after a long battle with Alzheimers disease. In June we lost my Uncle Eddy at only 49 years of age. Eddy fought a long tough battle with cancer for the last two years of his life. He was a remarkable Christian man and we will miss him tremendously. In July my Aunt Cuca passed away (dad's brother's wife) she will be missed by her family especially uncle Rudy and her boys. In August, Chad's Cousin Ryan passed away unexpectedly; this might be the toughest one of all as Ryan was only 33 years old. He left family, friends and a son who is about 2 years old. We think about these loved ones often, they will be missed.

The kids are doing great in-spite of all that we have gone through. Jordan is in 4th grade and Isabel is in pre-school three days per week and learning all kinds of things such as her ABC's and numbers up to 10 in Spanish.

I continue to work full-time at Lockton as a wellness coordinator for one of our clients working on-site at their location to serve the employees and help in the Benefits office. Two good (or great) things this year was that my brother Robbie made it safely home from serving a six-month tour in Iraq. We are thankful that he is now back home in IL. The other is that my mom got married in October to a wonderful Christian man. His name is Darrell and they are very happy together.

Well that's probably enough about us...I hope everyone reading this has a wonderful holiday season spending every moment with family and friends. I've learned this year that without family and friends, life would sure be tough. I've leaned on them so much this year and I very much appreciate everything that everyone has done for us.

Merry Christmas, and God Bless...

Love,

The Bond Family
Chad.Jackie.Jordan.Isabel

Christmas Decorating at the Bond House

Chad got the tree and helped set it up, but then it was all up to us...

Isabel helping her bubba...

All done...

Thankful!!!

Sometimes so much is going on that I forget to stop and really be thankful to everyone that is in my life...there is so much to be thankful for yet we rarely stop and really reflect on it.

I'm so thankful for my God that provides for our family even in these tough times...I'm thankful for the love of my life who on his only day off yesterday hung Christmas lights on the outside of the house just so his children can have a "normal" Christmas this year since he is gone so much...I'm thankful for my kids who even when I yell at them during the Friday night trip to Wal-Mart still love me in the morning...or my son who aced his Social Studies test yesterday and got a "B" on the Science test today. I'm thankful for my family, even the ones who live on the other side of the world. I recently started emailing my cousin Johnny who lives on the Island of Cyprus (in the Mediterranean) and we are swapping pictures from here and there. I am thankful for my friends who I can call after not talking for such a long time and just pick up where we left off...I'm thankful for my job, having such a wonderful caring company to work for makes going to work so much easier. I'm thankful for my warm home that I can find refuge in every day, and I'm thankful for this wonderful country that we live in.

When you start listing everything out, you soon realize that there is not much to really complain about these days after all...

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone...
Love,
Jackie

Rock Chalk Jayhawk!!!

Jordan and I went to the KU Basketball game last night and had a GREAT time. I got tickets from a co-worker that had two extra and off we went...KU played Emporia State...I wanted KU to win (of course) however, a small part of me wanted ESU to do well...

We had such good seats (row 4) you could see the sweat on their faces...

The little Jayhawk's name on his jersey is "Baby Jay" this is what we used to call Jordan when he was a baby...I thought that was cute.

We had a wonderful time together and Isabel had a good time with Aunt Donna.

A Branson Christmas

Here are a few pictures from our trip to Branson this past weekend. We had a great time...

Silver Dollar City Fun...

We met Miss Branson at Cracker Barrel

There really is no place like home!!!

Halloween

Here are a few highlights from Halloween Friday night...what a beautiful evening. Snow White did not even need a jacket covering her pretty dress. Sorry can't write more I must get to bed and get my beauty sleep...I'll post more pictures from our Branson weekend soon:)

Happy Halloween!!!

Mr & Mrs. Darrell Cox

Mom and Darrell got married last Saturday. It was a lovely wedding and day.

Congratulations Mom and Darrell!!!

Pumpkin Patch

It was a beautiful fall day...Jordan, Isabel, Grace, Gwen and I all made the trek on the gravel roads...the only bummer is now I have a tire that keeps going flat. I must have drove over something out there. Well, I'm off to bed so that I can get up and go to Sam's club in the AM and get it fixed.

Happy Fall Everyone...

Girls Night!!!

Isabel and I had a night out at the spa...well actually it was the strip mall with our favorite Chinese restaurant and nail salon right next door. While I was getting a spa pedicure, Isabel got her nails painted for the first time by Ms.Tracy See how pretty my "pink" nails are...

I told Tracy that her dad is not going to like this...it's only the beginning of her growing up. What next "getting her ears pierced?"

Mommy's feet and Isabel's nails...

No boys allowed on this trip...Jordan was with Grandma Connie.

Fall & Football

Jordan's Football Picture
Jordan catching one of the "extra" points after a touchdown...
Isabel and me...
Isabel playing dress up with the dog...
Smile for the camera...

Thomas The Train

Ok...we don't really care for Barbie, Dora or the Care Bears...Isabel LOVES Thomas the Train. Go figure since I recently sold ALL our Thomas stuff except a few videos and a couple of books. I'm not sure that she would actually "play" with the trains anyway, she mainly loves the videos and reading the two Thomas Books that we have. Basically I can read them in my sleep. Please someone help me out and if you run across any at Garage sales pick them up for me (DVD's too).
Isabel on her "Yoga" ball watching Thomas - I had to take a picture!!!

Robbie - Oops I mean MSgt Rob Madrigal

Robbie comes home next month from Iraq...we don't know when but we know he's winding down his stay there. I know Sherri is very anxious for him to come home and we are trying to be patient and wait. I know in his AF career everyone calls him "Rob" but no matter how old we get, he will always be "Robbie" to us. Sorry bubby...

I thought since tomorrow was September 11th or "Patriots Day" I would honor him and post a picture he sent me this summer. As always bubby - I am so proud of you and the job that you do for our country. You are my hero!!!

Love your sis...

Happy Birthday Jordan!!!

August 30, 2008

Jordan turned 10 today...Chad drove in last night in the wee hours to surprise Jordan and make biscuits and gravy for him for breakfast this morning. Chad left about noon and Jordan begged me for a sleep over tonight, so we invited Nicholas over.

It might be the first and the last sleep over we ever have...no really they have not been that crazy other than they won't go to sleep and I can't go to bed till I know for sure that they are out.

Jordan got a new iPod Nano for his birthday this year...we'll try not to wash this one in the washing machine (that iPod shuffle was so small - lol).

It was a good day...Happy Birthday Bubba!

Jordan will be 10 - Double digits

Oh my...it seems like just yesterday that I was over nine months pregnant with Jordan. Chad and I were enjoying one more dinner of just the two of us - I remember we went to Ruby Tuesday's for that last dinner (why I remember things like this I will never know).

Little did we know that in just two short days from that dinner we would begin the adventure of parenthood. Now looking back 10 years it seems like we have been through so much in such a short amount of time.

Tomorrow August 30th is Jordan's 10th birthday...I hope he has a wonderful day complete with cookie cake (however that may have to wait till his party on Monday).

Happy Birthday Jordan

Love,
Mom

Daddy's Home

Chad came into town yesterday morning...we were all sleeping and he was locked out (since I was not expecting him). He brought the truck home to give it a good wash. The kids loved that the "big" truck was there in the driveway. I'm sure the neighbors loved it too - LOL
Look at me!!!
She barely even reaches the head lights...
Bye Daddy...it's time for him to go back out on the road. It really felt like that country song they sometimes play on the radio "Roll-on Highway." I think it is sung by Alabama...