Angie Smith (The Story of Audrey Caroline)

Long before I started blogging I stumbled upon Angie Smith's blog "Bring the Rain-The Story of Audrey Caroline". I spent the next several hours reading her blog from start to finish completely enamored by her story. Angie Smith is an incredible wife, mother, writer, and child of God. I encourage every one of you to check out her blog at http://www.audreycaroline.blogspot.com/ or pick up her recently published book "I Will Carry You". I hope it inspires you to walk closer with the Lord and shows you the grace of His love even in the most desperate situations.

A New Year

So long 2009! Welcome 2010 a new decade!

Looking back throughout the last ten years I can hardly believe how much my life has changed. I left for college. I graduated from college. I took my first job and moved to Houston for the first time. I went back to school and got my teaching certification. I got engaged and married. We bought our first home. We struggled with infertility and dealt with the heartache of miscarriage. David took a new job that meant a move back to Victoria. The day he left I discovered I was pregnant. We struggled through a tough first trimester and were elated to discover I was carrying twins! I finally moved to Victoria. A few months later I had our precious twins. We over came a really rough year with lots of financial stresses and two demanding infants. We celebrated surviving that year! We welcomed Jack to our family. We struggled and prayed for job opportunities for David. A year and a half later a new job and another move. July 2009 we finally found our family under one roof again after a long 9 months. Since then we have just been rejoicing over being together as a family and feeling so blessed.

2009 was a year so many struggled through. Financial collapse, unemployment record highs and a government that is challenging many of our more conservative views. Struggles that lie behind us and many more sitting out in front. Praying for the new decade, the decisions, trials and joys that lie ahead.

Wishing you and yours a wonderful 2010!

Merry Christmas

As the kiddos would say "Happy Birthday Jesus!"

Sprained Ankles and Recycled Gum

The last couple of weeks have been so busy for our family!

The weekend before Thanksgiving we traveled to Victoria for a weekend of fun. It started with the girls' very first sleepover with Nicole. Needless to say they had a great time with their "best friend" and are ready to do it again as soon as Tammy can regain her stamina from being up half the night.

The next day we celebrated Ava's 4th birthday at magic bounce and Sarah took home a badly sprained ankle. All I can say is I don't know why my sister is never around to do her thing when disaster, I use that word extremely loosely, strikes with my children. On a side note Sarah is feeling much better now but is still hobbling around on occassion.


The Wednesday before Thanksgiving we headed back to Victoria and took care of holiday haircuts for everyone except David and a few other holiday related errands. The kiddos were so excited to spend more time with Nana, Papa, and Aunt Juli and we did our best to keep them occupied with walks and playground time. It was fun to see them play on the same school playground that I enjoyed as a child!

Friday I did my annual Black Friday shopping. I am not one to stand in line for hours I just like to get up and be out and about. If I get a few good deals even better! Once the girls were up we picked them up and did a mall trip with my mom and sister. There Sarah and Claire managed to turn all of our stomachs by recycling gum from under a table. I don't have any clue what would possess them to even consider it but I am sorry to say they did. After the adults completely freaked out and I gave a lecture on germs we tried without success to forget the whole event had happened. But really how could you forget an event like that? I mean just the thought of it now makes me want to clean compulsively. EWWW! And why would I share this with you all? Simply because I am longing for one of you to tell me that my children are not the only ones to do things that I never thought I had to outline on a "We Do Not Do... List".

We had a crazy but blessed Thanksgiving and year and hope you and your family did too!

A new arrival...

We had a new arrival at our house this morning...






Tuesday was a rough day at our house to say the least. It left me absolutely exhausted and the house a complete wreck. It started with the girls eating ALL the sprinkles I had in my pantry while I was getting my hair and makeup done and ended with me discovering they had raided the Halloween candy I thought I had hidden until I found about a dozen wrappers in their room and sticky candy remnants everywhere.

I had previously planned for our new elf friend to appear as soon as we got back from Thanksgiving. That plan was thrown out on Tuesday night as I decided that now was the perfect timing for one of Santa's elf's to pay our home a visit.

I was not familiar with this tradition until I read about it in Angie's
blog last year. I searched every Hallmark and Barnes and Noble within a 150 mile radius only to be told repetitively that they were sold out. So when I passed the display window at Barnes and Noble last week and saw it I marched straight inside to make the purchase even risking being late for preschool pick up.

It took the girls less than five minutes to spot our new friend this morning and start asking questions. David and I tried our best to hide our smiles and act surprised about the visitor. I pulled the book from the mantel and read it to the girls. In short, the elf is here on Santa's order to listen to all of their secret wishes and watch their behavior. He flies back to the North Pole each night, magically of course, to report to Santa and play with his elf friends. He returns each morning before they wake and stays until Christmas Eve when he returns with Santa to the North Pole until the next year.

It is such a sweet tradition and one I am sure the kids will look forward to each year and remember fondly when they are older.

So what are your Christmas traditions?

Better Late Than Never!

Halloween photos!

LIfe is busy!

I really have had every intention of blogging regularly but I keep getting interrupted by this thing called life! It is sneaky and every time I start to sit down and gather my thoughts it causes one of my children to need a meal, make a mess, become sick etc. Funny how that happens, right?

We have been enjoying our time as a family lately with lots of trips to the park, fall festivals, and just hanging out watching football at the house. It has been so nice to just all be together. This weekend we headed to Katy for my cousins wedding! The wedding was beautiful and I had so much fun reconnecting with my cousins and visiting with old friends. The girls hammed it up on the dance floor with several new friends and I was really proud of all the little ones that were there. They were very patient and quiet throughout the whole ceremony, which was a full mass, and had lots of fun at the reception!


An interesting conversation was had Sunday at lunch and it has been on my mind ever since. Weddings bring about lots of different emotions from people. I think naturally it causes everyone to evaluate where they are in life. This by itself isn't too harmful until you begin to ponder where you want to be and just aren't yet and why. I could not help but empathize with the singles but probably not for the reason you think. The whole time I kept thinking everyone is waiting on something. There is always some part of your existence that you wish you could tweak a little. If it isn't marriage, it is kids, and if not kids then fulfillment in your career, or empty nesting, or retirement, and the list goes on. I know I for one am extremely guilty of not spending nearly enough time in the moment and just enjoying where God has placed me at THIS particular moment. Instead we find ourselves out striving for the next goal we have for ourselves in life with disregard and often disappointment in what God's plan may be. It was a good reminder for me to try and live just for today and what God is planning for me in this moment.



Here are some random pics. Enjoy!

Sarah

Claire

Jack O.



Katy and her Dad