My Sister, My Best Friend

I am so excited!!!!! We just booked our tickets to go see my sister, and we leave in a month, I can't wait!!! My sister and I have been best friends ever since I was born (or so I am told,we loved each other from the first minute we met). For the past 6 years we have lived far away from each other, seeing one another about every 4 months or so. She was able to come down for a whole week for Christmas, which was so great. Not only is she my favorite person but she is Hannah's favorite as well. We had so much fun together, here are some pics from the visit

What I love most about my sister is her caring spirit. She has such a big heart and whenever I am in her presence I feel comforted, at peace and safe. She is so much fun to be around because she allows you to be yourself. It doesn't matter if you are in a bad mood or really hyper or just melancholy, she doesn't expect anything except you. It is so freeing to be around her, not only because she knows me so well but because she understands. I am so thankful for her in my life, I know I would not be as caring, selfless or serving if she wasn't, she was the one who taught me those things. I just want to say thank you to my sister for being there for me and with me through everything, and to God for blessing me with such an amazing sister!

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and all that jazz!

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope your day was as great and special as ours. I love christmas, it's so fun, loving and full of family! We had such a wonderful time just being together, which I am so thankful for!!!! This christmas was a little different somehow, maybe it was the christmas eve candlelight service we went to, or maybe it was watching the Nativity Story, or maybe it was just our hearts were different. Both my husband and I felt more thankful, but more then that our attitude was one of awe at what Christ had done for us! Giving up His place in heaven to be an infant knowing He would be betrayed by those He loved, crucified and then seperated from God, yet we were enough of a reason for HIm to do it. He loved us so much He said ok! I know we all know the story but it is so amazing to me. Maybe it's because we are teaching it to our kids that we see it through fresh eyes, but whatever the reason I have to say it was one of the most fulfilling and greateful christmas' ever! I hope you felt Christ's love and much as we did this year! Some pics from the many festivities.

Christmas at Gram's house

Christmas with Grammy

Christmas with grandma jo and papa

Let's Dance

A couple of years ago I read a book my sister had given me (I don't quite remember the title) and was just reminded of what the book had awakened in me. It was taking about dancing in the arms of God, keeping our eyes fixed on Him so we would know where we were going. For me this is a huge issue, I have only danced with one person that I allowed to lead and that was my Dad, he had taken lessons (they made you in school in those days) so I trusted him to know what he was doing and to not make me look like an idiot. It was truly amazing, and actually my favorite memory with my Dad, he would put pressure on my back leading me in the direction we were supposed to go and I just followed and... we danced!
Now dancing with God means trusting Him with all my heart to lead me, give me confidence, not make me look like a fool and to show me off. I don't like to been shown off at all, yet I don't like to be thrown in a corner either... so what to do....TRUST!! Let me tell you I have been doing a pretty poor job of that. Oh trusting Him with my kids, my health, my family and friends our finances sure no prob...... but trusting him with my heart!!!!! Now there is the real issue. Which is funny because God is the only person we really can trust with our hearts, He will "never leave us or forsake us" He knows everything about us and most of all He loves us. He is the one true perfect man, friend, father, everything!!! So how to make Him that? How to focus on Him and trust Him enough to dance and I mean really dance, gracefully, unfloundering, not skipping a beat? Then I came upon this that God had so softly spoken to my heart years ago as He is speaking now.....

"Lean on Me, Trust in Me,

hope in Me, make Me your future, keep your eyes fixed on Me.

Don't look down, I have made it so you can dance with me. Look into

my eyes, see how I delight in you. Keep me close and hold onto the truths I gave you.

I will be your Warrior, I will be your Provider, I will be you Pursuer.

Trust in Me, Now let's dance!"

I know know that trusting means loving and ultimately sacrificing what you are most scared of, but for something far better then words can describe. With God's help I may be able to dance with Him someday, I pray that day is soon!!!!

Christmas tree

Our beautiful Christmas tree! We were going to go fake this year since austin just eats everything, but alas we could not resist this beauty! So now the house smells like pine and it really is "beginning to feel a lot like Christmas". I gave my breakable ornaments to a friend and bought plastic unbreakable ones at the dollar store (12 for a buck!) so no austin can take everything thing off while I sit there worry free, ahhhh! Except hannah likes everything in it's place so once he is done playing with the ornaments she hangs them exactly where they were! Which saves me the trouble of doing it myself.

My little man sneaking away with ornament in hand, running from sister I might add. He was actually sleeping while we decorated which was good because we could get it done, now he just un-decorates it, but that is the fun of having a tree. Every morning when he wakes up the first thing he does is walk (since he's all big and walking now) over to the tree, as if to say hello, then grabs an ornament and walks away.

Hannah did such a great job decorating, she did almost all the tree, except the top, and she was very sure of herself. Whenever I decorate I always second guess myself and redo things like fifteen times. Hannah just knew, it was very helpful. It is so much fun with her getting bigger because now she can actually participate in all the activities without help. She loves being a big girl and shows me how much she has grown every morning. But no matter what she will always be my little girl (that likes to be a kitty, as in this picture)

My favorite thing about Christmas trees (besides the smell) is how the lights reflect off everything, ever speck of glitter, every glass (or rather plastic) ornament, every angle of the snowflakes, it just illuminates everything and makes it brighter. It struck me as symbolic of the season, Jesus being the light of the world, and the shinning star that led the wise men to Jesus. This light brings everything into light and illuminates (if we allow it) just like the Christmas tree. I just thought it was neat.

Walking

Yeah!!! Austin's walking, well most of the time. He still prefers me to hold him (my little cuddler) but when he wants to he walks around. Hannah is so excited, now the play choo choo together, he holds onto the back of her and then they both walk together (like a train) it is way cute. I can't believe how fast it has gone by. We decorated our tree today and it seems like just yesterday we were decorating then waiting for him to come. It has totally changed my perspective on Christmas having a baby so close to the 25th. It makes me think of what kind of baby Jesus was. I mean think about it, Austin and Hannah are such great kids so full of their own personalities and both of them are very sweet. Jesus was a person to, giving up all his rights as God's son when He left heaven to be born as a helpless infant. Just like the rest of us He had to learn how to crawl, walk, talk, and everything. Wow I am so grateful that He did. Thank you Jesus for choosing us!

Thankfulness

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you all had a great, thankful day. I am obviously a little late in posting this but this month has been a bit crazy or I am more tired then normal, either way here it is.......
What I am most thankful for: right now I am so overwhelmed with the blessings in my life. I feel so lucky, happy, blessed and to be honest, undeserving of the wonderful things I have. First and foremost thanks to God for giving me all these blessings, especially my family, and for loving me. I feel so grateful to have such a loving, understanding husband, which I am sad to say, I probably take for granted to much. He is so perfect for me and I love living life with him by my side and me by his side. My sweet, spunky hanney gives me strength and hope each day, watching her come alive is beyond words. She truly is a joy to me. Then my little boy, nator (our nickname for austin) he is so full of love and laughter all I have to do is look at him and I smile and no matter what is happening or what I am feeling, I am happy. All our wonderful friends here that know us so well and really help to make this place home for us. All our friends far away that support us with thoughts and prayers. I guess what I am most thankful for is family or community. Jake and I have been without that and for us having it means a lot So thank you for loving us.

Costumes

Cutest dinosaur ever!

THAT'S FEROCIOUS!

Hannah in her horse costume

Every other girl was a princess at the haloween party, and then there was hanney :)

This Halloween was one of the best ever! We went to a halloween party for the kids in the afternoon so they got to dress up and play with their friends, then we had youth group at a beautiful house in the woods. We had a bonfire, apple cider, cookies , candy and just hanging out. It was perfect for me because I don't like Halloween because I get so scared of all the outfits and decorations and just everything. We were away from all of it but still able to have fun and celebrate (for different reasons). It was great!