Merry Christmas

A Little Skiing

So, as you all know, I've been doing a little skiing these past couples weeks. Friday I went to Vail and took some pictures, which I hadn't done before. Here are a couple. I've also started dropping cliffs, which is tons of fun. Somehow I've managed not to hurt myself too badly, which is also fun, only in a different way.

(One small cliff)



(Two cliffs, not necessarily little)



(Sun up bowl...and beyond)



(Right before sunrise, on the drive there)



(Lucy looks good in the snow)

WHOOOOO!!!

I AM DONE WITH EXAMS!!!!!! Now time to chill in Chapel Thrill until Kath and I come home Friday morn. 

:]

November Update from MOM

Yes - tilt your head - I can't figure out how to rotate!! Oh I did it

Wow - I can't believe it is November 7th! We have a new President Elect, whom we need to keep in our prayers. He has a challenging job before him.

Good ol' Mom hasn't posted since before we went to the Springs. You all already know we had a great trip and had fun getting acquainted with Chris' fellows. Manitou Springs was gorgeous and we had the awesome opportunity to drive :), to the top of Pikes Peak just before the next big snow. I can hardly believe we were at 14,000+ feet.

And a great walk through Garden of the Gods Park!

Can't figure out how to rotate????

The gang looks good!!



Does this look familiar? Just no water down below :)

While dad, Grandpa and Grandma Rita were in class with Chris, the girls and I visited Focus On the Family's Campus. Below are Jill and Annie dressed up as characters from Whits End and in the Soda shop. How's that for a little nostalgia.


Than we headed up to the Air Force Academy - it was a cold, foggy day. We think we have a much better understanding why Dads four years on this campus were a bit challenging.
Walking the marble lines as a freshman, don't step off you'll break a seniors back and bring on their wrath!

Airforce Chapel

We returned home, Annie to CH - the rest of us to work and school in Charlotte.

• Dad has had a quiet flying schedule which has allowed him to keep up with Presbytery matters and lead our community group on Thursday nights.
• Mom has been working full time, preparing for the unit to go to a new computer charting system. I will slow down for the holidays. Pray for leads on a job that is well paying and more accomodating for our family priorities and my health. I did quit the Urgent Care system, too many "bad bugs". Didn't want to take any to the newborns :).
• C.J. Completed soccer - taking third place in the state!! It was an awesome season. He is enjoying more time for other activities and earlier bedtimes. Doing an awesome job at school and in AP's!!
• Jillian is having a great 7th grade year. Just learned last night that she made the CDS swim team! And will be certified as a full fledged babysitter on Saturday.
• OK any takers to write our Christmas letter???? Maybe we could actually get one out this year. How bout a group effort over Thanksgiving break! Lobby Chris to come home for a few days!! It all about how much we love and miss you Chrisser!
• Grandpa and Grandma Rita leave today for Tanzania, grandma will be preaching at least once. She is getting over a virus. Pray for safe travel, renewed health and wonderful opportunities to encourage the missionaries in the Lord and share the gospel with the community.
• Chris is waiting on final offers for his internship. Has one offer for the Colorado state senate and one with Congressman Pitts office in D.C./ waiting on a couple others than he will decide. Pray for clarity in his decision and the offers to come through in a timely manner. Would like to decide by Nov. 14th.

LOVE YOU ALL - MOM!!!!

home

    
I know that as a Christian this world isn't my home.  I'm made for the kingdom God has for me.  But I feel like I have a home in Charlotte, which I miss very very much.  I wish I had the same longing for my eternal home that I have for my earthly home. 

Mom Dad CJ Jill - see you on the 14th!

Chriser - miss you! hope all is well in the springs.

Kath - chances are i'll see you a few times before you even read this... :]

annie's present life in pictures

hi family! i now have my own blog as well as this one: http://middledonahoe.blogspot.com 

madi and i at buns on franklin

 maddie me and madi in alley next to carolina coffee shop
lauren and me skipping down franklin
lauren me and paige on the p2p entertained by enebriated college students 
kath and me at the notre dame game

Pikes Peak

Yesterday, myself and one of the other fellows hikes Pikes Peak. It's a 26 miles round trip with a 7,510 ft elevation gain (the summit is at 14,110). We started out at 5am, hiked for an hour and a half in the dark, eventually summitting at 11am (we were actually the first people to summit that day). The total trip took us 11 hours and 7 minutes, which is pretty good considering if you look up Barr Trail online it's an estimated 16 hours round trip. Anyways, now i'm really sore so I'm just going to sit around and read all day - which I need to do regardless.

Here are some pics:

News:

Hey guys.

So, big week in the life of Annie:

Took my first test of college on Monday, and my second on Thursday.  I think they went alright, but all my friends are getting back 60's and 70's or lower for tests... so I'm not really confident. 

I also dropped my History of Christian Tradition class, which as it turns out I did not need for any purpose besides filling elective hours.  LAME! So I'm done with that one.

I got my first job, besides babysitting and the few weeks I spent at Mario's.  I'm working at Starbucks in Rams starting Monday. (I go in to do paperwork Monday and start training probably Tuesday.)

Dawn is here until tomorrow night.  By here I mean in Chapel Hill not my room.  Kelsey, Ashley Underwood, Caitlin Covington, and I all had dinner with her on Franklin, and she's going to come by and see my room tomorrow.

I have a paper due and a marine science test a week from today (Friday Oct 10).

Well, can't really think of anything else at the moment... Love & Miss you!

BIIFSL

Pictures from Dave and Allison's Wedding September 14

Catching UP

Hi Gang! Annie - great pictures.
Wow - now I am behind in the posts and still haven't found time to upload pictures.
Quickie Updates:

• Dad and I had a good visit with Janma and Poppe. Enjoyed David and Allison's wedding and will get more pictures up soon.
• Yes, mom can talk again -HALLELUJAH! Still feeling punk, but clearly improving.
• Delivering babies - Lord, help us - where have all the nurses gone - we are swamped. The blessing, despite being ridiculously busy, I have had some awesome patients. Today, was had an enjoyable delivery and I think we are getting a sweet bottle of wine out of the experience :).
• Dad is back in the skies - carrying his "Darth" mask with him. He is still trying to get used to using his CPAP machine, but it will get easier and I expect he will be sleeping better soon.
• CJ's team is playing well and winning much! Beat Providence Day today in wind and rain. Tied Charlotte Christian in a tough game yesterday.
• CJ is smoking those sophomore honors and AP classes - look out big brothers and sisters.
• Jillian returned from Windy Gap today - her highlight - THE SPEAKER. Wow!
• Kath and Annie are on a Campus Crusade retreat this weekend.
• Hey Chris and K - any advice for our freshman?
• Annie - Awesome questions!!
• As to life in Charlotte - lines, lines, and more lines for gas. We are persevering, but this is crazy. C.J. and I tried to unsuccessfully siphon gas from one car to another so dad could get to the airport - thankfully some gas arrived today and we have alittle reserve.
• Dad and I saw - "Burn after reading" I will give it ** (that's two stars).

Need to sleep - more soon! LOVE AND HUGS TO ALL - Mom

A few questions...

A few introductory pictures:

madi and i - we were hanging out at southpoint with some girls friday night

my friend lauren and i before the Tech game

how madi and i feel about that same Tech game

Meat of the Post:
So i guess one of the side effects of college is that i start to think about things a lot.  i have a lot of free time that i don't want to fill up with reading textbooks, so i think about other things.  So here are a few of the questions i've come up with and sort of but not really started to think through:

a) if our glorification of God comes from our receiving and believing His grace, how does that manifest itself in our day-to-day lives rather than in huge displays like a mission trip or something?

b) the Trinity is made up of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit who are all distinct but are truly unified as well.  how do we talk about them as if they aren't three different, separate but still agreeing beings? CAN we do that as limited humans?

c) how can i be salt to the earth and a light in the darkness while i'm in class?  

this is one of the things that has led me to think that institutionalized learning is not personally for me, not that i'm dropping out.  i realize i've been given a really cool opportunity to learn on this high of a level, and i'm staying here unless i feel an unquestionable pull away or i graduate.

anyways fam....

mom, glad to hear your voice again!

dad, how's the snoring? you HEALED!? :] BIIFSL

cj, miss you buddy! hope soccer's going well.  keep digging into the Bible to find the sweet truths God has for you.

jilly, i miss you sweet bottom! can't wait to see you in colorado!

chriser, i'm very glad you're enjoying your activities and company over yonder in C Springs. :]

kath has an exam at 8am tomorrow if ya'll will pray for her; she's in the library studying now after our Bible study. (rather, her Bible study for Craige that i go to :] )

OUCH CHARLIE!

Another Picture...

...of some of us, at the Garden of the Gods.

Pictures From The Motorcade

The Adventures of Chris

This shouldn't have taken me so long, but I've been pretty busy. To keep this from being exceedingly long, I'll just give quick summaries. Pictures will be forthcoming, but I don't have them all on my computer at the moment.

First two weeks of class: There is a ton of reading - you pretty much have to keep on it whenever you're not in class during the week (for anyone who is interested, we've read Albert Wolters, Herman Bavinck, and Meredith Kline so far...). Classes have been really awesome and we've been having some fascinating and challenging discussions. I think it will only get better as we move out of biblical foundations and into more applied theory.

Other fellows: Our class is amazingly awesome. Everyone is really fun, easy-going, very smart, and well-developed senses of humor abounds. The guys have been getting along really well, and all the girls are pretty.

Manitou: The guys and girls each have their own house (next to each other), one block uphill from mainstreet. The town itself is really quaint and has plenty of little hang-out spots. The tourist season is starting to die down, so it beginning to feel more homey. Some of us were smoking out on our porch thursday night and a black bear walked down the street right next to our house. I tried to catch it or chase it away or feed myself to it - depending on who you ask. Regardless, it was pretty awesome. I hope it comes back.

Fun Activities: Last saturday we all went out to Garden of the Gods, did some hiking and took some pictures - that was fun. Then on Tuesday, George Will, was in town giving a lecture so a handful of us went to hear him. It was an incredibly fascinating and funny talk. I will say though, I'm pretty sure us fellows were the only people under age 50 in the bottom half of the auditorium. Sarah Palin is going to be in Denver tonight for a fundraiser and they needed drivers for the motorcade, so five of us will be heading up there in a couple hours.

Like I mentioned, pictures and more specific posts are right around the corner.

-Chris

EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD SEE

EVERY American should see this,,,pass it on,,,,,,,,,,
*****************************************************
'This commercial was done by a local kid. You have to watch the whole thing. When he finishes talking and walks away, you get a sense of how this could be thecommercial of the campaign season.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG4fe9GlWS8

WOW - Life is busy :)

Hey Gang,

Keep trying - Chris and Kath we would love a quick update from you both

Here in Charlotte:
Dad - healing well. Home for another week or two - will be going on CPAP at the end of the month. This is a machine that controls your breathing during sleep, so you don't have any periods of apnea (very brief periods where you stop breathing-not serious, but disrupts sleep cycles). I have heard it makes for a great picture :). Dad has missed very few political commentaries this last two weeks - if you need an update he is the man to call!!!

C.J. - Varsity soccer continues to win!! C.J. is play well and working hard on AP History and AP human geography - both with Foltz.

Jill - doing great, lost by one point yesterday in softball. Dad said she had the play of the year that we wish we could post. A blind flick from the backstop to home plate, that got the runner out - everyone thought for sure she would score - WAY TO GO JILL!!

Brodie and Callahan - continue to enjoy their freedom in the yard. Brodie is struggling with a sore foot - too much jumping through the doggies door or for beans! She is a bit arthritic - just wants to keep me company!

Mom - busy with home and work. We are starting a brand new computer program at work, so lots of training classes. Work is ever challenging. Dad and I start small group facilitating along with the Canty's this week. We are using Tim Kellars new book "The Reason for God", I think it will be awesome. Off to David and Allison's(soon to be Gaudette)wedding on Saturday.

Check out that YouTube link I sent you - it was a young man from Charlotte that did the video.

This is proof that I love mom the most :]

Labor Day weekend Crew :]

College so far feels a bit like camp, but with hours and hours of reading piled on top.  As per usual, I've been busy with school. :/ gag me...  Well, don't gag me. I like some of it.  I like my oceanography book, and everything about my art history and american lit classes, and my astronomy teacher's teaching style, and the people I've met in my religion class (but that's the ONLY thing I like about that class... for that class I will say "gag me, fast!!!").   So anyways, the homework my classes (mostly lots and lots of reading) keeps me really busy.  I think I need to start figuring out how to do well and not read everything.  But that's going to be hard because in most of my classes I have one or two midterms (or big papers depending on the class) then the final.  So no real adjustment opportunities.  

Saturdays have been wonderful so far for sleeping in and hanging out.  I keep trying to get homework done, but I sleep in too much.  Sundays are wonderful because I get to sleep in then too.  Then I get to relax all day (and do homework) until church at night w/ KATHY. :]  Happy days.

Speaking of Kathy, she is wonderful.  Probably a little stressed out, but she's always taking care of me.  Sometimes I just take the bus(es) over to her house and hang out for a while, do some homework or what not.  It's been great to have her around.  And I've become very comfortable (again) with the name Katherine's Little Sister, which I am very proud to be called.  But yea, so she's pretty cool.  Oh yes, and all of her housemates are quite wonderful as well.

It's hard for me to believe that CJ's driving.  But I'm very, very glad to hear that he is out hanging out with friends. LIFE!!! :] 

Anyways, I'm coming home next weekend (homecoming weekend).  So be ready for me!!  --Luckily I don't think Kath looks at this because I haven't asked to use the car yet... :]

Love and miss you - BIIFSL - :-P

Annie Bananie

WEEKEND UPDATE

DAD - has been a model patient! He is recovering well and I think somewhat enjoying having his feet up. I don't think the "political junky" side of him is saturated yet. What an interesting time to be housebound - lots of stuff to watch :)

C.J. - Soccer, beat Rabun Gap (boarding school from GA) 3-1, and Asheville 3-0. Out in the evening with friends - but the 2100 curfew is getting him in early :) and AP classes.

Jillian - caught a great game today for fastpitch, they edged out Annie P's team by 1 pt.

Mom - still recovering from laryngitis, starting to get some voice back. Pray, I start teaching 1st/2nd grade sunday school this weekend. Back to work on Monday.

LOVE YOU ALL!

Post Surgery

FEELING LONELY HERE GANG!

DAD HAS SAILED THROUGH SO FAR. THE LORD HAS ANSWERED ALL OUR SURGERY PRAYERS TO DATE, BUT THE WORD IS THE NEXT 2-3 DAYS ARE THE HARDEST. SO WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR INTERCESSIONS, FOR HEALING, MINIMAL PAIN, NO INFECTION AND GOOD REST, BOTH PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY.

I'M GOING TO TRY AND POST DADS BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES - BE NICE.

OK I can't upload dads pictures because they are on his phone and he hasn't synced it yet, so I sent them email. Question: what is the missing in the pictures?

Thursday

CONGRATULATION C.J.!! He successfully obtained his license on Tuesday and we are sooooo happy for him! (and us :) )

Today, Dad surgery @ 1000. Keep him in your prayers.

GO MC CAIN/PALIN!

Love to all, Mom

LAUNCH OF THE CHARLOTTE DONAHOE'S FAMILY BLOG PAGE

Hi Sweet Family,
Welcome to our blog page. OK, I need everybodies help. This is Mom's first attempt at pulling together an opportunity for us to keep up with one another as a family. So take a few minutes once a week at least, or when it strikes your fancy (WE WOULD LOVE LOTS OF POSTS) to update one another on what is happening in your lives. Words from scripture, prayers, poems, pics, whatever you want this is our spot. I have to learn how to update pictures. This sight is for immediate family. Let me know how you feel about opening it up to extended family, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Quick updates from Charlotte: TODAY - C.J. is making his first attempt at getting his drivers license - GO C.J.
Jill - has her first fall fastpitch game with MSA against Mint Hill (the tall :) girls)
Mom - is recovering from laryngitis, off all week to be at home and with dad :)
Dad - has been working on evaluating his sleep issues: He has a severely deviated nasal septum, so on Thursday he is scheduled for outpatient surgery to fix the septum. He will be at home recovering for 5-8 days, you know how to pray :). After he heals we will be evaluating its effectiveness and praying for improved sleep.
Chris - starts his first day at the institute.
Kath - CONGRATULATIONS ON THE HALF MARATHON!!! - is back in CH and to class
Annie - had a good visit with friends in Atlanta and is back to CH and to class

NOW MY FIRST TWO QUOTES: Keep perspective, we are thrilled with where He has placed each of you, and though we miss you much, we don't expect you to call home everyday - we understand the pace you are keeping. That said this is still a sweet quote:
Imagine this: Your children are grown and gone, and you miss them terribly. Much to your sorrow, they call home only once in a blue moon (my kids do great :) -- or not at all. This is loosely akin to the relationship that many of us have with God. There are some who check in with Him regularly, and some who never bother to call Home.
We know how we feel when our children don't call, and I believe it matters deeply to God when we fail to connect with Him in prayer.
As Father Tim says in A NEW SONG, "God wishes to be as near to us as our every breath there's simply no way to have a relationship with Him unless we talk to Him -- and also listen.
St. James said, "Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you."
King David said, "The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth."
Oswald Chambers said this: "Prayer doesn't fit us for the greater work, prayer is the greater work."
I hope you'll call Home right now. And whether we tell Him everything or merely utter His name, God is longing to hear the prayer that's in our hearts." MITFORD BEDSIDE COMPANION, Jan Karon author

OK bear with me one more:
"Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow; the same everlasting father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering, or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, then, put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations, and say continually:
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart has trusted in Him and I am helped. He is not only with me... but in me... and I in Him." ---St. Francis deSales, from A Continual Feast: (Also quoted in the Mitford Bedside Companion).

WOW! I know, a little long, but I can't talk so it has to spill out some how! I LOVE YOU ALL LOTS OF HUGS and lets have Fun with this site! MOM