2010-09-28

Click here to view these pictures larger

Settling in

The New Year has found us once again and I find myself reflecting on the past and anticipating the future. We lived a full year.  Wonderful memories were made.  Friendships were strengthened, faith was tested, kids were loved.  It was a good year.  What do I have on the horizon in front of me?  I am not sure but I know that just like 2010 there will be much living to do in 2011. 

The hugest task is settling into a new church family.  We will forever be connected to the families we shared life with over the past 22 months.  We were taught, challenged, strengthened and blessed.  God took the opportunity to mold a group of people into servants.  We were getting filled in a way that I refer to as ministry boot camp.  It wasn't perfect the entire duration and the flesh got in the way a few times but over the course of our time together we have learned.  Learned about people, learned about God, learned about ourselves.  We have become equipped to go out into the churches of Amarillo and spread the seeds that we collected. 

So the closing of our church isn't the end.  It is the continuation of LTM's hard work.  It is the continuation of our heart.  It is the continuation of the ministers that were uncovered.

It is sad yes.  Everything that comes to an end is sad to a degree for sure.  But it isn't over.  God's work is never over.  We are given an unique opportunity that most people don't get.  I wouldn't have predicted this opportunity 22 months ago, but I am so thankful for it. 

God is good...All the time! 

The perfect Christmas

I have a very bad habit of building something up in my head and being sorely disappointed when it doesn't pan out like I think it should.  I have grand ideas of traditions to uphold and memories to make.  Pictures to take, expressions to memorize.  But sadly I fail miserably every time I encounter an event that isn't quite what I had in my head.

BUT NOT THIS YEAR!!!

I made up my mind before hand that I would be content, not restless, happy with every moment.  And life did not disappoint.  There were PLENTY of things that could have really put a damper on the season but I didn't let it bother me. 

You see I love Christmas.  I mean love it!! I love the entire season between Halloween and New Years. The feel of love, spirit of giving, saying thanks, showing gratitude towards others, family and friends coming together.  I love every single busy, crazy moment.  I love the kid's Christmas parties.  I love shopping for the perfect gift to spoil my loved ones.  I love the stories we listen to to help us remember the reason we are celebrating this day.  I love the tiny baby Jesus' that give me butterflies when I look at Nativity scenes.  I love the thought of making my kid's imagination work over time for a few weeks. 

This year there were several things that could have made me sad and disappointed.  I could list them all and allow you all to really see how much you should feel sorry for me!  But suffice it to say that even though it didn't turn out to be a perfectly sequenced Christmas week it was perfectly wonderful!!

I think I kinda go into a funk the first few days after Christmas but this year I am looking forward to the new year and new opportunities that are headed our way. 

I took way too many pictures to narrow them down enough to post of our perfectly wonderful Christmas celebrations but just close your eyes and think of something incredibly perfect.  That my blog readers is what our Christmas was all about!

First Snow

We had our first snow a couple of weeks ago and it was beautiful.  The rain that came before hand was monsoon like and the snow that followed was unexpected and very destructive.  We still had many trees with leaves so once they were wet and then with the added weight of wet snow there were branches broken all over town. 

The kids were so excited to see the beautiful fluff!  It was gone within a couple of days though.  I am ready for the REAL snow to begin.  I love winter here.  I  never knew photographing the snow was so fun.  School drop off was anything but the kid's managed.

Just a season...

Up until a few years ago I had never heard the terminology of something happening in your life as a season. Like when your kids are little, sick, frustrating, growing, sassy, etc... that it was just a season and like all seasons it will change as quick as it came. But when you are in the middle of that season the end is never in sight it seems.



We are at the end of a season. Literally and figuratively. Cam's mowing season is coming to a close and I breath a sigh of relief. We made it another year. Another year of long days. Another year of trying to keep our head above water. Another season of seeing Cameron age in a way that is not recorded just by his birthday passing. I thankfully say goodbye to 2010's mowing season and bid it farewell. (I'd like to give it a good swift kick in the pants, but I am respectful of our bread and butter.)



The figurative season we are saying goodbye to is the feeling of hopelessness in our finances. We clawed our way out of a very deep hole which we refer to as 2008. And like everything else in life it took twice as long to fix what we messed up. We accepted our fate in the matter and slowly but surely made decisions that led to change. It was hard, frustrating, and time consuming. We had great counsel along the way and I am very grateful for that. But in the end I can say the light at the end of the tunnel is there. And it is BRIGHT! Can I get an AMEN?



Another season we are in is my favorite season of all. I cherish the Christmas season from start to finish. The decorating, excitement, anticipation, gatherings, spirit of giving, helping others, and so much more makes me just plain giddy. I love CHRISTMAS. I love everything about it. I love every single religious act we observe in respect to Christ. I love all the childish things we do to help our children anticipate Santa. There can be a balance of both without confusion and priorities being screwed up. The way I look at it is that we are Christians all year long and showing my children the love of Christ is a daily walk for us. We guide them DAILY. So having Santa added to the mix for a few weeks isn't as big a deal in the whole scheme of things. I get why people don't do Santa. I fully see why it isn't ever incorporated in their families and I respect their decisions completely. For me I think that if my child ever gets confused then it is a reflection on me and my teaching. Then I need to spend the other 340 days of the year working harder, teaching more boldly, making sure that my children see Christ in their lives instead of just at Christmas time. That's our thinking on the matter at least.


What season are you saying goodbye or hello to?

A Thankful Spirit

I am so full of love and thankfulness this year. I have much to be writing about but I will keep it short. There is mashed potatoes to be made after all.

I am thankful for abundance. That we are overflowing with love, blessings and gifts from our Lord. We are so abundantly blessed that at times I have to stop and realize just how much we have it going on around here.

(Hey 3-year-old, hold your ring pop still so that my focus doesn't fall on your hand!)

Scheesh who said working with kids was a piece of cake?

Hey sassy-pants, don't talk to your mother that way,

unless it is to tell me all the ways you love me...then talk away!

Dude, we have got to have boundaries at other people's houses. I am sure Lily isn't impressed that you were playing with her potty. (Oh wait was it clean, empty, wiped out??)

Dear sweet son, your eyes are going to stick that way. (No they won't, it's just something I am suppose to say. I think I remember signing off on that page at the hospital. But I do need to complain. There was soooo much they didn't tell me!)

I am thankful for all of these beauties. They make my life sweet. I was sitting in the floor with Cannon and Grace and thought, goodness this sure is quiet and fun just sitting here with an 8 and 5 year old. We can play a game, we can talk, we can actually get through show without pausing it a bazillion times.

Then along came Mason, there is NO OTHER PLACE HE WANTS TO BE BESIDES YOUR LAP, and we happily obliged in letting him join our circle of quietness. We were squirmy but doing better than expected.

Out of the blue (how long did I really thing #4 would stay away?) Reece came a crawling up. He has no clue about personal space. When he is around he commands the floor or the space or the couch or the chair or the...you get the idea.

All I can say was that it was BLISS.

We could have stopped at 2. Our boy and our girl. What society deems the perfect family. But gracious I am so thankful today that we didn't. Because being a mommy to these darlings is just about the most perfect thing in this world I could write about.

And I wouldn't want to be a mommy to these kids without their daddy. He is by far the best. I find such joy being his wife.

So yes, we are blessed, graciously blessed, abundantly blessed, over the top blessed with such wonderful blessings on this Thanksgiving Day.

May you be abundantly blessed as well my dear friends.

Keri

Check out this giveaway

Check out this site for a giveway and EXTRA cute Christmas shirts. Also there are lots of cute gift ideas. She made Reece's birthday shirt and I loved it!