Thankfulness #1-26

I am thankful for:

1. the people that fill these boots. 

2. a Bible reading plan.
3. a loving, encouraging husband.
4. the privilege of homeschooling Jake. I get to see him do this in the morning.

 5. Fancy Kate and her love for dressing up.

6. Judd and that he is a healthy four year old boy.

7. Sadie and her sweet, sweet smiles.

8. dairy free milk

9. my heat

10. my electric blanket.

11. my salvation and security of an eternal life with my Jesus. 

12. a Bible believing church. 

13. a praying church

14. the ability to walk, talk, see, hear, touch, and smell. 

15. four healthy children.

16. being a Christ follower.

17. that this world is not my "home."

18. a husband that completes me.

19. a husband who is willing to do 6 loads of laundry to help me. 

20. medicine to cure infections

21. doctors to help our ailments

22. godly friends who help, support and encourage me.

23. my camera to capture memories of these precious days of my life.

a hot summer day.

24. Colossians 3:12-17- Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.  And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

25. a Pastor who preaches the Word not just what I want to hear.

26. to God for opening my eyes to the words of the Word.

100th day of School

Friday marked one hundred days of school for us here, although the day passed without fanfare.  That means that we are way over the half way mark in this school year.

Come on May!!!!

I love this girl!

She:

• is a joy.
• wears me out.
• gives random hugs and kisses.
• plays Jim's pretend guitar every night after family worship is over.
• is entirely to smart to be 2.
• is whiney.
• unbearable at times.
• not nice and down right mean. (this is usually right after she has just given you a great big hug and kiss.)
• says "I love you second." after I say "I love you the most."
• argumentative.
• loves to play dress-up
• thinks all baby dolls should be naked.
• loves ribbons, bows, and barrettes.
• is addicted to milk.
• hard headed.
• stubborn. (don't those two mean the same thing)
• is a quality time girly.
• my shadow.
• my mini-me.
• independent. (wants to get it herself, dress herself, and do it by herself)
• wants the door closed with light and fan on while she is going to the bathroom.
• wants you to "get out, please" while she is in the bathroom.
• says "come play with me."
• is teachable, moldable, fearfully and wonderfully made just as God planned

I love this girl!

Snow Happy in 2011

Today was filled with snow angels, sledding and having Daddy home for a snow day!

Long or Short? You decide...

My hair is really long right now and I like it. Although, I am trying to decide if I want to cut it short again. I like it chin length also. Confused! My problem is this, I like it really long or really short. I hate the in between years! Just thought I would get your opinion.

Long

or Short?

Basketball

We are right in the middle of basketball season. Both boys are playing for Crosspointe's team this year. It has been so awesome to watch them play on the same team again. This is Judd's first year playing and he is playing hard and aggressive. I think he forgets it's basketball and not football. I must say that I have never really enjoyed basketball, but watching my boys makes it so much fun!

This is Jake making a goal!

This is Judd's goal right before it went in! You can't really see Judd. He is in the middle.

Cancel Church???

This was my quick conversation with Jake tonight while he was putting away his clothes.

Jake: Mom, I am glad Crosspointe didn't cancel the services. (We had to miss church last Sunday in Georgia because of a snow storm)
Me: Why?
Jake: Because Jesus is way more important than canceling church!

Spoken like a true Pastor's Kid!!!!

He is such an awesome kid and I love his joy in Jesus!

Thankfulness

As Thanksgiving approached this year and we were discussing what we were thankful for, I decided that my word of the year for 2011 would be Thankfulness. I have been reading Ann Voskamp’s blog and saw this One Thousand Gifts. This year I want to open my eyes to all of the many blessings that they Lord has so graciously given me. I do not want to take them for granted. So many times throughout my day I find myself focusing on my little daily troubles – the ever growing laundry pile, the messy toys thrown here and there, or the dishes that need to be put away. I loss sight of the good.
I know my personality is to be critical and dwelling on the negative, yet I want to be encouraging, affirming, and thankful. As I begin this year, I want to show joy and hope to my husband and children. I am going to take the One Thousand Gift Challenge. My goal is to record 1000 gifts over a period of 12 months. I pray God transforms my eyes to see the grace and beauty all around me, and that I will quickly surpass this goal. I want my mind, thoughts, and actions to be transformed as I intentionally look for the joy in each moment.

I am thankful for these four blessings!

2011

Happy New Year! New Years Eve was spent watching the bulldogs lose, and with family and friends.

Here is a picture of Mema and the kiddos.

We let them have a few sparklers and then they walked Jim set off other fireworks.

They even gave him a round of applause during the finale.

Wrapping Up Christmas 2010

This year was very different than the others since moving to Tennessee. In the previous years, we have always stayed in Tennessee until Dec 25 and travel to Georgia after celebrating Christmas morning with our family. Jim and I decided to drive to Elko and spend Christmas Eve at my mom's house. We knew that we needed to all be together this Christmas season.

On Christmas Eve, we celebrated Christmas with Papa Wayne at my Grandmother's house. The boys enjoy playing with Papa Wayne.

Before continuing our tradition of opening one present on Christmas Eve, Jake helped Mema make our Happy Birthday Jesus cupcakes for Christmas morning. Each child got a new pair of pajamas. The boys received matching Mario Brothers pants. Anna Kate's pajamas were monkeys and Sadie's were cuddle bears.

Christmas morning is always fun! I just love stockings! We didn't have stocking growing up so I enjoy watching my kids open their stockings.

Sadie slept through Christmas morning!

One other difference about the Christmas 2010, is the several lasts we experienced. This was our last Christmas at the Governor's Mansion.

This year we were able to experience a White Christmas, although we didn't get to enjoy the snow until the next morning. Don't these two little girls look "snow" happy together.

This our whole family celebrating our last Christmas dinner at the Mansion.

Opening all the presents.....
Sunday night we took all of the grandkids to Big Buddy's office at the Capitol to take pictures. They enjoyed taking pictures and then playing in the Capitol for a couple of hours.

This desk picture has a story. We have always taken a picture after each new grandchild/ren. The original picture was taken with Sunni and Mary Kate, the next with Jack and the twins, then Jake, Jack and the twins, etc...However, in 2008 their were three babies born in one year and then in 2010 their were two, Eleanor and Sadie. We started with two grandchildren and ended with twelve. Another point of interest, in each new picture the previous framed picture is sitting on the desk.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night...

2 months

This has been a long two months. Little Sadie has done a lot of crying, spitting up, and not living on a very good schedule. It has been hard. BUT:

I have figured out that she has a dairy allergy and she has silent reflux. I am no longer eating anything that contains milk, cheese or butter. She is a different little girl. She doesn't cry very much at all, except for when she wants to be held. She has actually started smiling some of the sweetest smiles. She is nursing well and life is finally feeling somewhat normal, well normal for having a two month old in the house.

She is a wonderful addition to our family. We are all in love with her. She isn't really partial to anyone holding her except for me, which bothers Jake and Judd at times. They both want to hold her, but she just gets really fussy every time we let them. I am praying that she will eventually let them hold her again so that she can see just how much they love their new baby sister.

Praying for a great 3rd month! Maybe a little more sleep...yeah, that would be nice!

A Few Firsts

Little Miss Sadie has experienced a few firsts in her life the past few weeks. We have seen a few smiles and she was given her first bottle by her daddy two nights ago. She is growing so fast!

Daddy always gets the honor of giving the babies their first bottle.
Here is daddy's little helper:


Also, here is a picture of her first Ta-da!