2011

Can you believe we are already a week into the new year? There are a few things this year that I can already look forward to. Our 10 YEAR anniversary, Christian turning 9 yrs old, Ashlee will be 7, I am going to have a niece this year. Already sounds exciting, right?

I have a 'Type A' personality, and love to plan things ahead of time so I'm prepared. Over the past few months though I'm really liking this "who knows what's going to happen, and let's just go with the flow" mentality.

I promised myself that I wouldn't start thinking about moving until the new year. I really just wanted to enjoy the holidays. Now that they are over with, I'm already making my lists and working on my projects. I found a PCS (permanent change of station) checklist on military.com that is so helpful. The checklist starts about 3 months away from your moving date, which for us would be March, crazy huh!? Rande is at a school right now in Ft. Benning and won't be home until February 18th. That means when he comes home, time to start the process.

While he's gone, I'm working on a few things that I meant to do while he was deployed and never got around to it. Ok, so I'm lying. These are things that I've been meaning to do for about 5 years. I'm really excited though about completing these tasks/projects - so I want to share them with you. Plus it will hold me accountable to actually get them done.

1. The kids' quilts
I saved several baby clothes that were my favorites from when the kids were babies. I also saved their favorite outfits from the past few years. Instead of keeping a bin full of clothes that just sits there, I'm going to cut a 4"x4" (or so) square from each outfit and make a blanket. I plan on taking a photo and writing a little something about the outfit and why I saved it and make a scrapbook too. There are a few outfits I'll save like the one they came home from the hospital in. I may even copy my friend Tiffany's idea and make a shadow box with their hospital momentos in.( ..hmmm.)

2. Kids' scrapbooks
Do you see a common theme here, "kids". I'm just tierd of looking at these bins. They take up space and no one can see all the precious things that are inside.
I'm taking my sister-in-laws sister's idea and putting the kids keepsakes in a 3 ring binder. Thanks for the idea Faith.

Those two projects will keep me busy until Rande comes home, along with going through the Mountain of papers I need to shred, and file....then prepare our taxes.

I had no resolution this year, but I guess you can say completing all my procrastinations from the past few years would be close to a resolution.

I hope 2011 is a great year for you as well. No matter the ups or downs it brings, just remember that God is by your side.

Christmas Part 2 (Helena)

Here are a few pictures from Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at Rande's parents (Nana and Papa) house. We had a lot of fun in Helena, but forgot the camera every time we went and did something or saw someone. We were blessed to see some dear friends of our whom we haven't seen in 7 years. It was so great catching up with them. We plan on stopping by their place on our way down to Georgia this summer.

Been a little too good this year
The kids with their stockings from Nana and Papa on Christmas Eve. I remember as a kid wanting to open just ONE gift on Christmas Eve, and my parents were always against it. So since I'M the adult now (he he) my kids get to open one present - and being at nana and papa's their stockings as well. They were pretty excited.

Putting a puzzle together...ahhhh

Nana not quite awake yet on Christmas morning.

Pretty excited about his new game, which I just realized he hasn't played yet

waiting his turn patiently

a little excited, so was I. Can't wait to have a fashing show with the barbie dolls

decorating cookies the night before Christmas (a little out of order, sorry)

Visiting Great Grandpa before we left town

Christmas Part I (Missoula)

Here are some pictures as promised.

The kids decorated some sugar cookies before we left Fort Lewis, here are my little elves.

Ashlee the artist
Christian the cookie monster, he just wanted to eat them.

Our drive up Snoqualmie - SO BEAUTIFUL!

The kids before going outside to play in the snow at Grandma and Grandpa's

The little snow bunny enjoying the snow

My other snow bunny

Christian have soooo much fun

Before sledding

This picture has quite a story behind it. Although none of it was caught on camera. Christian went down the hill on the innertube, and at the bottom he crashed into this kid and knocked him down like a bowling pin. This was pre-impact

Mom and Dad taking a turn down the hill

after a day of sledding, daddy pulling the tierd kids to the truck

On our way back to the house, my dad spotted this street sign.

A little game of scum

This is what Royalty looks like

And this is what Scum looks like

tough crowd

Woke up to this on Monday morning. I think we had about 4-6" of new snow overnight. Mommy was EXCITED!!!

Christian/Mommy's snow fort

Daddy/Ashlee's snow fort

Daddy's snow man

Home for Christmas

Right now we are in Missoula visiting my parents. It's just so beautiful this morning waking up to the snow covered mountains and trees. We have spent the last 3 days outside playing in the snow; sledding, building snowmen, and snow forts. It reminds me of my childhood and all the fun we had as kids, but then I am quickly reminded of how old I am getting with my tale bone bruised from sledding yesterday. Ha Ha!

We will post some pictures soon. I pray everyone is having a wonderful Christmas season. We have so much to be grateful for, but the greatest gift of all is Jesus. We watched The Nativity Story last night, and I was reminded how humble God is. He sent his son, Jesus; the King of Kings, Lord of Lords to earth to be born in a stable! He didn't chose royalty to bring him into this world but a simple virgin woman (teenager to be exact) from Nazereth. His earthly father was no one of importance, but they obeyed what God had commanded them to do. Just blows my mind sometimes.

May we all remember what the true reason for Christmas is, and just think upon it.

Captivating

For several months now, I've been wanting to read this book, Captivating, by John and Stasi Eldredge. This book has been very, well let's say, CAPTIVATING and I love it! I hope you'll take the time and read it as well. I wanted to share with you an insert from the book that just really struck my heart the other day:

God wants to live this life together with you, to share in your days and
decisions, your desires and disappointments. He wants intimacy with you in
the midst of the madness and mundane, the meetings and memos, the laundry
and lists, the carpools and conversations and projects and pain. He wants to
pour his love into your heart, and he longs to have you pour yours into his.
He wants your deep heart, that center place within that is the truest you.
He is not interested in intimacy with the woman you think you are supposed
to be. He wants intimacy with the real you.
Here's how the flow goes in Hosea. First, God says that he will thwart our efforts to find life apart from him.

"Therefore I will block her path with thornbushes;
I will wall her in so that she cannot find her way.
She will chase after her lovers but not catch them;
she will look for them but not find them. " (2:6-7)

He does this, as we said, in order to wear us out, get us to turn back to him
in thirsty longing. Then he begins to woo us. He often takes us aside from
every other source of comfort so that he alone can have our heart's
attention.
"Therefore I am now going to allure her;
I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her." (2:14)

After reading this, I realized that God isn't the "Sunday morning God" or the "Big guy upstairs", but as the pursuer of my heart, my romancer.

Let's talk about Christian

This post is going to be all about Christian. This year he joined Cub Scouts, and LOVES it! I have other feelings towards Cub Scouts, but seeing the look on his face when he puts on his uniform is priceless. He really enjoys all the fun activities his Den/Pack does. This last weekend was Veteran's Day. His Den got together at a local memorial and learned about WHAT veterans are, and WHY we celebrate Veteran's Day. It was precious seeing the boys paying tribute to all the Veterans. After we were done at the memorial, we then went to the Nisqually Wildlife refuge. It was pretty cool, but I think next time we'll go when it's a little warmer.

On Saturday his Den went to the Lakewood Police Department. It was very humbling being in a police station, especially Lakewood, WA. A year ago on November 29th there were 4 Lakewood Police officers that were shot and killed while at a coffee shop. It made national news and was quite a shock to the community. They have done a great job remembering those officers that were killed.

Putting yellow ribbons on the trees at the memorial

At the Memorial in Lacey

Lakewood Police Station

When our kids were younger, they would say the cutest things. Now that they are a little older you think the cuteness would've worn off, but it hasn't. Christian said the funniest thing the other day.

Scenario: Ashlee just got out of the shower, and was getting dressed. She only had her shirt on, and door open to her room. Christian is in his room, right across the hall playing with his toys. He looks up and sees his sister half dressed dancing around and says (serious tone) "that's awkward". I died laughing.

Then again today on the way to school, he says to me:

"Mom, I hate homework, why do we have it?"

I replied, "Well, homework reinforces what you learned in school, it helps keep the information in your head. I wish I would have done my homework when I first got home from school. Then I probably would have had better grades. I want you and Ashlee to have better grades than I did, OK?"

Thinking about what I said, "O.K. mom, I'm going to take your advice".

Thankfulness

I see all over facebook, people writing what they are thankful for each day for the month of November. It is such a great idea, and I'm glad everyone is taking a step back and looking at the blessings God has bestowed on them. I started to examine my own life and realized I take so much for granted, and don't realize what I'm blessed with.

My children:

Recently my mom told me of a neighbor who's little boy (2 yrs old) has a brain tumor and will possibly not make it to Christmas, or even Thanksgiving. It is so sad and my heart breaks for this family. So many days I take for granted the fact that my children are healthy. Yes, they may drive me crazy some days, but those days I wouldn't trade for anything.

Husband:

I am so thankful that I have my husband here, safe and sound. There were so many 'close calls', last year, but he's here. God shows me again and again that he has so much more in store for Rande, he's not finished with him yet. I thank God every day; even the days Rande drives me up the wall, that I have someone to share life's joys, sorrows, and exciting, moments with

Job:

Rande's job has been pretty stressful lately. I said to him the other day to just remember how blessed we are to have a job. Our country is hurting economically right now and people are losing their jobs, and homes. There may be some downfalls with the ARMY as an employer but we have a home, food, clothes, job security and are blessed with a little extra each month.

Family:

Moving to Georgia has really made me open my eye and see how blessed I am to have family within a day's drive away. My brother, sister, and nephew (soon to be nephew/niece) are less than 4 hrs away. My parents (sister) are only 8 hrs away, and just 2 more hours we are at Rande's parents, and my Grandparents. Tickets from Georgia to Montana will run us $2400, I don't' think we'll be making multiple trips to Montana throughout the year.

Christ:

I'm so humbled by our Savior's love and forgiveness. He is gracious to forgive me even when I am such a mess, and filthy. He never ceases to amaze me by taking care of us, blessing us with so much more than we deserve. He is truly my best friend, and I long for the moments I am able to spend with him; learning, praising and just being with him. He is my refugee through life's storms.

So what are you thankful for this year?