2012 ....

As many other people you know have shared, I can't believe another year has come and gone. My father used to say, "be careful, if you blink, you will miss something". I totally agree. 2011 was the year to get through. We made it through the year, but I can't tell you much about it except we were busy and it seemed the like the "wheel" would never slow down. There was ALWAYS something to do, ALWAYS somewhere to be, ALWAYS something marked on the calendar .. 2012 will be no different, but this year I intend to be intentional about what I am doing, spending time with my family and making memories and treasuring every .. single .. day.

The kids are older and the memories of toddlers and preschoolers are fading in my memory, but I want to capture each moment, each smile, each disappointment, each tear and learn from them, help the learn from these situations and have more teachable moments. More time with God, more time for God, more time doing what He's intended for us to do.. all of us .. the whole family.

Praying for Kate MaCrae

When I started blogging I think it was 3 years ago, I blogged for my inlaws so they could watch their grandchildren grow up and be a part of their lives some 700 miles away.

Then I started reading blogs and being introduced to blogs .. and met this beautiful little girl .. and my whole family started praying for her.

Won't you join us?

prayingforkate.com

test, test ...

I haven't been able to post any drafts .... can you see this one?

Gotta get back to blogging...

too much is passing me by ... I need to start writing and posting pictures again ... how in the world did my son go from 6 to 14 1/2? AND ... I need to get the 1200 photos on my memory card OFF!

Let's see.... I am gonna try twice per week ... starting very sloooowllly!

Twas the Night before school started .....

I don't even know where to start. I have been looking forward to the start of school ALL summer, but then last week a HUGE cloud of dread came over me.

Could it be that I am not looking forward to the pick up line? Homework? Asking for letters from school out of the bottom of the backpacks? Papers? Creating lunch menus (Lunch is 3.10 this year ... so we will be making lunches at least 3 times per week)Being alone with my 4yr old?

Vacation 2011Day One, The drive

As usual we did not leave when we said, but we were completely packed the night before we were scheduled to leave....which in of itself was a HUGE accomplishment. It probably also helped that we have had the suitcases out and ready to fill since July 4th. :)

For once we decided to ENJOY the rest and enjoy the 12hr ride, so we decided to leave a day late. That way no driver would be too tired or get too tired only 2 hours after driving.

D loaded up the car and kept saying, "did we pack everything?" I said yes, a million times and was so glad we didn't pack every single item of clothing we owned. I am not sure what the difference is between this summer & last, but alas everybody had something to wear & toothbrushes were packed, so in the end, that's all that matters.

After washing the last of the breakfast dishes and mopping the kitchen floor (I love to come home to clean kitchen), we got in the car and headed off for vacation. 15 minutes into the trip, I said, hum, did I turn off the oven? You know where this is going right? Yes, we turned around to go back and check. Good thing we did .. the oven was off, but my favorite dress and hubby's shorts had NOT made it into the suitcase! That would have been a disaster!

Armed with our outfits I tiptoed back through the kitchen and hopped in the car. Off we zoomed. BUT WAIT, did the garage go all the way down? Yes, we turned around. Yes, down. GO now!

As we drove off for the third time, daddy noticed a light was out on the house and yes, we turned around AGAIN so daddy could repair the light.

Ok, now are we ready to go?

We made it safely down the road; then after an hour had to stop for a break. After that is really was smooth sailing.

Snow or Should say ICE Day

I am so thankful for a mandatory break in my schedule.

We have 3 inches of ice and some very restless boys on my hand.

They are bored, they are hungry, they want to play video games, they want to do whatever they want to do ALL DAY LONG and you know what .. they just might get their way.

It has been a busy two weeks and I must say I am glad God let it snow and sleet a little bit so we could stay home, relax, and REST!

Hubby's home too, so it is especially nice. I let the boys go outside this morning and I think they were out there for maybe 5 minutes. I knew that would happen. Weathermen say it is a whopping 18 degrees and will be a good 2 by tonight. I don't I have ever seen temps that low in my life ... on tv .. yes, right in front of me .. NO ...

This day is also building memories for the boys. I remember my days out of school. They were fun and filled with food. As long as we don't have to venture out .. we are good.

Praying for another one of these lazy days again tomorrow. :)

Cold & Rainy

Even though it is cold and rainy, it has been the best day ever. First service at church (What kind of Christian are you?), a little grocery shopping for the week and back home to change into Sunday afternoon laying around clothes. :)

It's cold and rainy here and all I want to is cook and bake. I am talking comfort food and scrumptious dessert.

So, I decided to cook spaghetti/zucchini, great northern beans/spiral ham, homemade chicken soup, peanut butter cookies and oatmeal chocolate chip & cranberry cookies. Make my meal planning this week REAL easy.
(By the way, I just got an email about electronic cigarettes... huh?)

I disgress ... anyway .. I have been having a ball in my kitchen with all the meals and the aromas and watching my boys watch football w/ their daddy. (Love that man)

I am soaking up this laaaaazy day because these days are few and far between. There seems to be something on the calendar every, single, day and I want a break. I want to get off the roller coaster and today is that day.

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

New Year's Eve

I simply cannot believe it is 12.31.2010. Wasn't it just Valentine's Day?

God has been simply amazing to my family in 2010 and I don't want to ever forget to praise Him for what He did or stop telling people how He changed my son's life by healing him this year. Seemed like yesterday that we were checking into the hospital for brain surgery and today I am sitting here watching that same son preparing to beat me in a game of Wii bowling.

SO many times my daddy would say "take it all in .. the days disappear quickly" and that is so true. I didn't always believe my daddy when he would say things like that, but I know, what he knew then.

Thanking the Lord for an amazing 2010 .. praying ahead for 2011 .. that I will hear from Him and be obedient to whatever is it He calls me to do.

Happy New Year to you and yours .. from me and mine!

Merry Christmas 2010

Merry Christmas ... from the Temptations....ok .. us!
I just adore my sons.
Yes, this is son #1. No more babies.

Hanging out at the outdoor mall. The decorations were wonderful and there was a LIVE nativity scene.

Christmas Day. It has been a gaming kinda year.

We finally got a Wii. No excuses anymore. Lots of weight to lose.

Daddy showing Mr. Know it all .. how to hold the nunchuck.

Ok dad, I got it now.

My own DS. YES!

*****************************************************

It has been one of the best Christmas'. Not because of gifts, but because I think my kids really got it this year and we spent a lot of time w/ family.

Jesus is the reason for the season and my kids made sure they gave Jesus His gifts!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!