Sunday, September 15, 2013

Summer 2013

Summer of 2013 was a busy one!  Some highlights were a day-cation to the Tulsa Aquarium, trips to the lake, hanging out with cousin Jackson, lots of trips to the park and pool and moving from Marshfield to Four Seasons.  Lot's of great family memories were made!
Wading in the lake with Dad
Throwing rocks in Table Rock Lake
July 2013
1560 Spring Brook Hills
Lot's of memories in this house!  
Cousin Fun!
Mason loves wearing "gobbles"
Mason supervising the yard work
Monkey-ing around on a rainy day
Fishin' at Bass Pro
Donut picnic at the park
First day of preschool at The Academy of Osage Hills
Chilling on the porch

Family picture after a long day of birthday partyin'

Mason's 3rd Birthday

We had a fantastic day to celebrate Mason's 3rd birthday!  Each day we are thankful he is growing up healthy and strong; yet it's bittersweet because time is going by so quickly!  We love him so much it hurts!  Happy 3rd Birthday Mason Moss!

We celebrated Mason's birthday at our new house in Four Season's.  A lot of family drove in quite a ways to help us celebrate, which made Mason feel so special!  It's a great feeling to look at your kid smiling and laughing surrounded by people who love him!  Guests included: Grandma and Papa Gillispie, Nannie and Poppy Snyder, Papa Moose, Aunt Jill, Uncle Jack, Jackson, Aunt Gala, Uncle Brad, Noah, Addie, Lincoln and Hendrix and Travis, Natalie and Reagan Bruce.

Mason requested pizza for his birthday, so we had a big Italian spread of lasagna, baked ziti, Italian salad, and fish shaped pizza for the kids.  For dessert we had cupcakes, 'fishing rods' (chocolate dipped pretzels), and 'fish bobbers' (dipped donut holes).

Fish cupcakes, bobbers (dipped donut holes) and fishing poles (chocolate dipped pretzel rods)

Mason got lots of new toys!  Some of his favorites were cars from Papa Moose, a picnic food pack from the Snyder's, a tool belt set from the Halsey's and a Daniel Tiger doll from Richard.

Thanks all for helping us celebrate!


Friday, July 12, 2013

Where's Our Faith?

It's been quite a few anxious weeks in the Moss house.  A few weeks back, we knew that there would be a Lowe's store manager job opening closer to family.  We prayed hard that God would lead our family where he wants us to be ~ and of course we hoped that would be closer to family.  Unfortunately, the job was offered to someone else.  Richard and I were crushed.  How could that be? Richard has been doing great at Lowe's and we were praying about the move, naturally He is supposed to answer our prayers, right?

Richard was offered a promotion to go to a larger store, but it was further away from family and definitely not in our 'master plan.'  We weren't given long to make a decision and frankly we were in mourning over things not going our way.  I know it was a gut wrenching decision for Richard to make, but he decided to turn the opportunity down, not wanting to move us further away from family and some very dear friends we have in Marshfield.  

Then, after about two days of us both feeling like we had been blindsided and in a fugue state, Richard said something that turned everything around.  We were in the car discussing our disappointment and he said, "Where's our faith?"  We had prayed for God to lead our family where he wanted us, and Richard got an offer that we quickly turned down because it wasn't part of our plan.  If there is one thing Richard and I both believe strongly in is that God's plan is always best.  We both know that unanswered prayers are painful in the short term, but are always right in the long run.  

During this two days, the job was posted, so Richard went ahead and applied for the job that he was offered.  At this point, we aren't sure what to think, but we know that God will show us our way if we just take time to listen.  It's has been an exhausting roller coaster.  However things turn out, the experience of Richard and I turning it over to God and testing our faith has been very powerful.  We have come to realize that very few things really matter.  Our family being together, our health, and our safety matter.  Where exactly we live and what house we live in, doesn't.  

UPDATE:  Richard was again offered the job and, as a family, we decided to accept the promotion.  Soon, Team Moss will be relocating to Osage Beach, Missouri.  It's going to be a busy few months, but we are so excited to see where this next chapter takes us.  1 - 2 - 3 - MOSS!

ANOTHER UPDATE (7/20/13):  We hit a slight snag with the relocation stuff.  Looking back it wasn't a huge deal, but it made for a very stressful week.  After a lot of anxiety, we worked really hard to remember Philippians 4:6 - worry about nothing, pray about everything.  While we still worried, thinking of that verse really helped.  Turned out that our house had an offer on it within days from being listed and we put an offer in on a house in Osage Beach.  Things are really starting to fall into place and we are very excited about this new adventure!

FINAL UPDATE (8/16/13): We have officially moved!  The moving processes went very smooth (thanks to all the grandparents who helped out with Mase during the move).  We love our new house and most importantly Mason loves his new house.  He keeps saying "I love my new house!" which is helps serve as confirmation that we made the right decision. 

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Father's Day - 2013


In honor of Father's Day, here are a few special pictures that will melt your heart.  Mason sure does love his Daddy and Daddy sure does love his sweet boy.  BLESSED beyond belief!  

Mason and Dad sharing a special father-son moment over a cold one (Mason had a Capri Sun)

SUPERMEN!

Thursday, June 13, 2013

4 Years and Going Strong

5 years ago I got swept off my feet (June 18th, 2009)
4 years ago I said "I Do" (June 13th, 2010)
Today I am thanking God for our unique love story.  Our marriage and the little family we have built has beyond exceeded all expectations.  Everyday I am thankful that I am living a fairytale.  BLESSED beyond belief!  
Engagement picture taken Spring 2010

Our wedding!  It was very small and just family.  Brad, Richard's brother, officiated our wedding.  

We're official!
June 13th, 2010

The happy couple

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Stay-cation - June 2013

After a long spring season at Lowe's, Richard was finally able to take some time off of work...  9 days to be exact!  We've really enjoyed our time together spent as a family.  Mason, especially, has enjoyed having his daddy around 24/7!

Since Richard has been working so much, we decided that we would just enjoy some downtime around the area.  Boy, we have been busy!

A few highlights this week include:

  • Mason's first trip to the golf course - he loved driving the cart and putting
  • BBQ with the Gillispie side of the family
  • Dinner and park with Nannie and Poppy Snyder
  • Big boy room makeover
  • Trips to the park
  • Two trips to the zoo - Mase loved the tiger and the hippo
  • Moss family road trip to the Tulsa Aquarium - where Mase got his new friend Crocky
  • Krispy Kreme on National Donut Day
  • Bass Pro 
  • And a sleep over with Jackson at Grandma and Grandpa Gillispie's


Sunday, March 10, 2013

Lowe's National Sales Conference

Richard recently returned from his 3rd National Sales Conference in Las Vegas, NV. While its hard on him to be away for 5 days, it was a great trip!

At the conference, Richard won the following awards: 3rd Best Specialty sales, best increase in Internet sales and his store had #1 selling skills for the region. Richard works very hard and it is great to see others recognize his hard work! Proud of his work ethic!

In his free time, Richard hit a few casino tables and managed to leave Las Vegas with a little more cash in his pocket than he went with. Who does that?! Winning!