The Life & Times of The Mehmen’s 2008

Our time and entertainment is filled with our children, horsing around, renting movies, cleaning &keeping the house in order, laundry, and homework! Same ole’ same ole’. We feel so old! Our new year is going to bring in more time for friends. We have had little to no time with our friends over the last year or two and we miss them dearly!! I wish that we (the culture that we live in) could stay still a little longer than we do. Time goes by so fast as it is. I wish that we could all just slow down, and really spend time & focus on the important things in life. (and that’s not work or school) O-well, we’ll do the best we can with the time we do have.

2008 was a very challenging year for the Mehmen family. Lots of trials, tribulations, and more trials. God was obviously working overtime in our hearts and lives. What a Praise! That is always a good thing, but not always a fun thing. So the 15th of June we closed the doors at the Café. We needed to make some changes so that it would work here in Nevada. We opened it back up in September. During that time, we sold the west side of our building which eliminated quite a bit of overhead, and put in a drive-up window. The adjustments have been great!

Ashley is 5 & has joined her school going sisters by attending the Kindergarten class. She LOVES school. Ashley is our most smiley girl. Always happy, always smiling. Quite in class, but is louder than a herd of elephants at home. I guess I would rather have her be more quiet at school, but it’s funny when the teacher asks, “Is she’s always this quiet?” HA! Ashley talks about 10 notches higher than anyone else in our family. We are working on her with that. It’s SO LOUD! She’s still so thin, and still so beautiful. They all are. She has begun to have play dates, and boy does she love those! Her good buddy is Ella! (don’t you love that name?) The other friend is Isabella. LOVE THAT NAME TOO!

Our little Katrina, is not so little. She is getting so big, and is so independent (stubborn!). She makes herself known loudly & clearly. Especially if she’s not getting her way! She is so cute though. She seems to talk the most clearly than the others at this age, and with complete sentences. It must be because she’s the youngest, and has all of this help from her older sisters. That’s what I’m guessing anyhow. She has met a little friend that she met at daycare that comes over now and again. She really likes her a lot, and her name is Shelby, so we remember our Shelby very often!

Brooke is 9 & in the 4th grade already. It blows my mind & I can’t believe it. She loves school and her teacher & her friends. Brooke is a loving mother at heart, and is just always happy. That doesn’t mean that she never argues with her sisters, because they all do, but in general, she’s just always happy.

Courtney is 14 & a freshman this year. She is taking Spanish, which I think she likes, and accounting, which she doesn’t like at all. Good thing she’ll be done with that class in a couple weeks. She does work at the café a few hours a week and does some babysitting. She likes going to her friend’s house, and the library. What’s so exciting about the library, I don’t know. She is already boy crazy, but we’re still sayin’ NO!! She still loves to read, so that’s good. Oh yes, she is now a cell phone owner. That came ONLY because we turned off the home phone. (Mom isn’t too thrilled about it.)

Taylor is 7 & in 2nd grade this year in the public school. Last year she was still homeschooled ½ way through, but so far this year has proven to be a good one, and she is happy attending & learning, and is really doing a great job. She has had more black eyes this year for one reason or another, so I’m thinking she’s the tom-boy of the family. No broken bones (knock on wood), but lots of tree climbing!

All the girls are growing and growing, and getting bigger and bigger. Stephanie has been working & running the café full time. During the summer while the café was closed, she ventured out into the hotel industry as well as the grocery industry. She has decided that she is getting mature (meaning old & stubborn J ) in her ways, and has decided that she likes her little own world at the Café. Trying to stay caught up on housework & homework is a full time job in itself! We all share in these job responsibilities since mom slacks sometimes!

Brad finished up a pretty big trimming job this summer, and has started with a company here in town called Almaco. They build & sell farming equipment. He’s enjoying it so far. It offers a steady income plus great benefits, and the commute is like 5 minutes! Can’t beat that! He’s praying his Stealers will go all the way to the Super Bowl! (hoping anyhow)

Love you all & wishing you all a very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all!
The reason for the season is Christ’s birth. We all know the story, the virgin Mary, conceived by the Holy Spirit, gave birth to a son, and they will call him “Immanuel” –which means, “God with us.” God came to earth as a baby to live among us. He lived a sinless life and died so that we may live. His resurrection is proof of who He was and gives us hope of an eternal life with Him if we believe. (Amen Rachelle!) Without Him, we would not be celebrating His birthday; so on this Christmas day, make sure to bake Him a cake, and sing Him happy birthday upon starting your regular “Christmas traditions” and routines. For in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, and then He came! Merry Christmas everyone! What a wonderful & special day to celebrate.
Love the Mehmen Family

Snow Bound!

Our first sledding experience lasted about 20 minutes. No, not because we were tired, or crying or injured, but because it was like negative 20-30 degrees outside, and it was really cold! (it was the windchill.) Although, the taste of it all was very exciting & fun. We all loved it and can't wait to go again! It had been YEARS since we had gone sledding! And the inter tube is always the best way to go!

Brooke's face plant! HA!!!!

We love snow & sledding. Wooooo-hoooooo!

Moms new look!

New, short & blonde!

Longer in the front, shorter in the back!

Sassy & cute.

Used to be long and brown. It was time for a change.

Courtney's Gifts

Summer Fun Pix

Silly girls & yummy Oreos!

Funny Mommy & Daddy!

Mom & Taylor's new hat. What good taste Taylor has!

Taylor was thinking that Jack could be her new baby! It looked hilarious!

Ashley's cool "looks" for school!

Not too much to say other than summer fun. Enjoy the adorable pictures!

It's Halloween!!

So, Jack wanted to dress up for Halloween too! He wanted to be a wiener dog. Isn't he so cute?



Ashley was a sweet little witch.

Taylor was a princess. Isn't she always though?

Brooke was hmm, I'm not quite sure. A queen?

Trina was Tinkerbell! So cute.

The gang..... Trick or Treat...... I mean, "Smell my feet"!

JACKS BACK!!!

For those of you who don't know, Brad & I are avid "Jack" fans, from the TV show, 24.
LOVE IT! It's been off the air since the writers strike last year, and there will be a 24 2 hour event Sunday night to refresh our minds of our long lost show, as well as to explain where he's been all this time! I can't wait, and then in January; the 7th season will kick off. Can't wait!
So, pizza for dinner (paper plates), popcorn for the show, and all phones turned off for no interruptions!! Did I already say I can't wait???????????????????????? Wooooo-hooooo. Welcome back Jack!!

Other news, Thanksgiving is quickly approaching. Are you ready? I am not ready. Well, I am, but I'm not. I'm sure we can all relate. Where are we going, what are we going to do, what are we bringing, are we hosting or going, will there be tranquility and a great time of giving thanks, or will there be griping, complaining, and unpleasantness? With this time of year quickly approaching, I just love gatherings, preferably at my home, with my friends, and even maybe strangers (like when we host international students) to experience how we Americans celebrate our holidays. It makes me think back of the dear international friends (Nadia & Youngshin) I have made and have since gone back home, and how I miss their friendships dearly. It makes me excited to reach out and make more (friendships) with others. In case you do not know me very well, or know how stupid I was in my thinking when I was younger, I didn't have much tolerance for those who were not Americans. Since God has grabbed a hold of my heart and transformed it, I have a love for internationals that I have never had before, and I love how God does that. I love how God transforms you (if you let Him) and just fills you with His overflowing love, that spills out onto others. Thank you Jesus for saving me, and transforming me. So, this Thanksgiving make sure to give thanks, and take it a step further and give thanks with a happy heart, not just out of a "ritual" that you do on "Thanksgiving Day" - only.

It's snowing right now, and I love snow. I love the beauty of it, the calming of it, and the since of peacefulness. It just causes you be still and enjoy the beauty that God puts before you.

OK, so Christmas is like what now, 6 weeks away since it's almost Thanksgiving. What are you all doing for Christmas? We have decided that we are not doing a Christmas present exchange this year. (with our extended families). And for our family, we are doing a family gift. Just one, and I can't tell you in case of of my kids reads this! (ha-ha) And then do a few simple, but fun stocking stuffers. I am so excited and can't wait. They will be so thrilled. I am reminded each year that is is so easy to get caught up in the "act" of Christmas. It's so hard to keep it about celebrating Christs birth, and celebrating his birthday, and remembering Him who came to save us. Without Him, there would not be Christmas, and without Him, there would be no Savior. We should all stop to think of such things, and get "un-stuck" from the routine/religious acts of the "holiday season" that so many now call it. Well hello people, but exactly what "holiday" are we celebrating? Christ(mas) birth. Let's get it straight, so please stand firm this year to remember what holiday your celebrating, and why you're celebrating it, and then tell others to have a very Merry Christmas, NOT have a happy holiday.

It's been a long while since I've written. We at the Mehmen household have been very busy with many changes and new schedules, and many ups and downs. We closed the cafe from the middle of June to the first week in Sept. So, I had to go and get a real job to pay the bills from the cafe. Brad was trimming a house all summer. All the kids were off their schedule being summer, so it was very crazy, very chaotic, and I'm glad it's over. So, upon reopening the cafe, I open the store and close the store 6 days a week. I have 2 -3 girls helping me out during busy times, and they are great. They really fit in here. One of them was with us before we closed the store, and she's great! I love her. Since opening, I started working a few nights at the grocery store here in town to bring in a little more income. It's fine, but I will enjoy not having to work there when we can. With being at the cafe during the day, grocery store at night, I am never home, and I miss my home, my kids, my husband (no, not in that order!) I go go go, and am looking forward to being still! Getting my home organized, settled, in order, my children too, the laundry, you know, house stuff. Brad has been great to do all of these things while I am at work. He is great! He finished the trim job, and has now started a new job here in town. The company he works for builds farming equipment and ships worldwide. He has just started, this past week, so doesn't really have quite the feel yet for it, but I am confident that he will find the perfect niche to match him and his skills to fill a need and that he will really enjoy. We are very blessed to both have a job with so many who do not. I am looking forward to a new year. This year has been a challenging one all the way around, and we have grown spiritually as well as closer to one another. It's been tough, but we are both thankful for where God allowed us to go, so that through His eyes we could see the direction in which He wants us to go, as well as taking us to a place where we had no other option than to just trust in Him. Praise God for His faithfulness.

I have talked so much I don't know if there is going to be enough room for all of this to fit. I hope to get a new picture or two on here soon, but not today. Soon. Hope all is well with everyone on your end, and wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving.
Love always,
The Mehmen's

Family Pix