Saturday, December 31, 2011

Change

Sometimes change is hard.  It doesn't matter what the change is, it is just hard for people when change occurs.  Shoot, I hate getting changed out of my pajamas most days.  I guess my point is this.  Change happens.  For whatever reason it does.  Sometimes it is for the good and other times it seems it is for the bad.  Often times change has to happen for God to intervene.  God is the one constant in all of our lives.  God remains the same.  And usually about the time you think God isn't there something happens.  God is amazing.  He uses things in our lives and events in other people's lives to fix us.  I mean let's face it, we are all broken.  We all sin, we all make mistakes. 

I think about my life and the changes that have occurred.  I remember when I came to the lowest point in my life when I was completely broken.  It was near the end of college for me.  I enjoyed my 9 years of college, probably a little too much.  Something had to change.  My life was empty.  It wasn't rewarding.  Something was missing.  I knew it was God.  I remember pretty clearly (which is amazing considering what I was like at this point in college) working at Giant Eagle in Morgantown and meeting this new employee, Stacey.  She lit up the room.  I think it was her smile.  She had a way of comforting me even then.  So I started to talk to her about me, she was a great listener.  I just talked and talked and talked.  I can do that you know.   She listened and before I knew I was headed to church with her.  You see, Stacey took the time to listen, she didn't have too, but she did.  I mean she probably did because I am pretty hot, but I think it was because Stacey is a great person.

Recently, I filled out some paperwork for Stacey and then we reviewed my answers to her answers and they were quite different.  It is funny how we view ourselves.   I am sure we are not as good as others view us, but not as bad as we feel about us.  It was just like when I met Stacey, I viewed myself as something I was not.  The reality is God knows us, he knows our heart, he knows the person we want to be.  The problem is sometimes we get in the way or our time is different then his.  So instead of trying to make change we need to let God make the change.  As for me, I want to change, I want to be the person God wants me to be.  So I am going to change and I am going to stop and listen to God for awhile.  Change will happen.  It always does.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Linwood Street

When the new Gateway Connector came through our area, the landscape and layout of Linwood Street completely changed. It took a while to get used to but we love it. The convenience of jumping on the interstate, walking the dogs and kids on the new sidewalks and bike paths, and playing at the new neighborhood playground has only helped us enjoy the changes. So we were finally ready to update our house. We think we also helped change the look of Linwood Street...see what you think.

Before


After - painted, new windows, shutters, new doors, etc.

Before

After

We still have quite a few things left. In the spring, we will be re-shingling the roof, replacing gutters, staining the front porch and staining the deck. We also have to finish painting the block. What you can't see are the inside changes. We had a basement system put in that helped dry up the basement and we will soon start on finishing the basement. My mom's fiance, Bob, has done most of the work for us and he has done an incredible job! We have been super pleased with everything.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Halloween 2011

Here are some pictures from our Trick or Treating fun!
Drea wanted to be a princess, but not just any old Disney princess like she is usually obsessed with...she wanted to be Princess Lily. (That is her favorite name. She names all of her Barbies, baby dolls, and even herself.) Charlotte was Minnie Mouse and you can see Barrett in this picture too being a Rocket Ship. The kids had so much fun. I painted their faces because they love having their face painted or wearing makeup.  Also, if you check out the last picture in this series, you will see another member of our family dressed up. Yes, we had a Halloween party at my work and I dressed up as Rizzo from Grease.




Sunday, October 23, 2011

Drea's Dance

Wow, this took us awhile to post.  Well, we had some diffculties uploading the video and then when we finally figured it out, we got busy.  I was thinking about this today and decided to share. 

http://youtu.be/1oCdaWX_LTE  This link should take you to Drea's ballet dance.  Hope you enjoy.

http://youtu.be/rxlnD1enCwc This is the link to Drea's tap dance. 

http://youtu.be/kNaUN80P-_g  Here is the opening number, Stacey and Jody are in this.  See if you can pick them out.  It maybe more Stacey, then Jody.  But hey, Stacey is my wife and I maybe I am little bias.  ~ Andy

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Funny Drea story

This is short but cute...
I was explaining some things to my mom about my doctors appointment today. I made the comment that "the other birth controls contain estrogen, so I can't take them."

Drea interupted us and said "Mom, it's West Virginia. Not Estrogen-ia." Then we all broke out in a histerical giggle! She is so silly.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Niessner weekend

When August arrived this summer, our family drove to NJ to see the rest of the Niessner crew. Laura (Andy's sister), Leo, Luke, Melissa, and Cat flew across the country to visit for a couple weeks. Karen (Andy's sister), Richard, Brynn, and Lydia drove in from Maryland to visit also. That's one big Niessner weekend. I can't remember the last time we were all together. I believe it was for Karen's wedding over a year and a half ago. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed quite a few adventures.

Here's Luke eating some pancakes

Brynn, Drea, & Lydia enjoying time together

Leo making some guacamale

Charlotte reading with Aunt Laura

Preparing to eat some crabs thanks to Richard & Karen

All the cousins swimming

Getting ready to feast





Riding the train into Philly




Visiting the Liberty Bell


As soon as the camera comes out, Drea poses
I love this picture



Too much Philly

So this was the stage at Betsy Ross's house, but the girls made it theirs

Cheese!

This is what Melissa & Kat did the whole time

The whole Niessner clan

Sno Cones!



Oh wait, Melissa & Kat did do this...it was Hilarious

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Summer events

We have been so behind on blogging. Over the summer we did so much traveling that we couldn't seem to keep up with the res of life. Now I have been working like crazy and Andy is taking a couple classes this year to finish his administration specialty. So I'm going to make a couple of quick posts just to document some of the great travelign adventures we went on this summer and some of the family we were able to sspend time with.

These are pictures from our trip to Charlotte, North Carolina to visit my cousins, Daniel,  and his family, Lauren, Madison, and Tyler.

Madison, Charlotte, and Drea playing in the pool. We were down there in July when it was in the 100s so any chance to cool off was great for the kids (and adults!)...although the water was a gazzilion degrees too!

Lauren and Tyler

We took the kids to a discovery museum so they could play and get some energy out. I swear I love these places more than the kids! This is Andy and Daniel getting served a meal by the kids in the cafe. (Well, I guess our kids aren't actually in this picture but I think it's cute of the big boys.)

This was our trip to Kennywood.
My girls riding the whip! They love this ride. Barrett gets a kick out of it too but I didn't get his pic in it. I think he was on a different ride at this point.

Drea driving Briana on the old fashioned cars.

We let Drea get her face painted because she loves this kind of thing! I love it to...she looks like my beautiful little butterfly.

We took the kids paddle-boating in the little pond there too.


Mom and Bob on a romantic boat ride. :) It was so nice of them to take us to Kennywood and to watch the kids a bunch while us big kids rode rides. So we let them have a 30 minute boat ride to themselves. Actually we got on our boats shortly after. hehehehehe!



Saturday, August 20, 2011

The Niessner's Summer Tour: Part 1 - Ocean City, MD

So like most people we like to travel in the summer.  This summer was no different.  However, we seemed to go more places and do more this summer then summers in the past.  The first of our travel desinations was Ocean City, MD.  We went there with Chad, Jody, and Barrett.  We had such a great time.  I seriously could live at the beach, other then family it is the thing I miss the most about New Jersey. 

The Niessners at the Beach


The girls playing skee ball

The kids favorite place at Ocean City

Drea really enjoying the ocean

Drea and Mommy playing in the ocean

Drea with her cousins, Bryann, Lydia, and Barrett

After this ride was over Charlotte refused to get out
 because she loved it so much


Having more fun on the rides

Drea and Charlotte