Happy New Year!!!!!

I hope everyone has a safe and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Merry Christmas!

I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! This year it's been very important to me to remember that Jesus is the reason for this season, even more than in years past. I don't ever want to make Christmas more than that. I really wanted to enjoy this season...Thanksgiving, Ryland's 2nd birthday, Christmas, New Year's. So far, I've enjoyed it and not rushed through it just to make it to another event.

I just celebrated my 17th spiritual birthday on December 22nd! I look back on the 17 years to see where God has taken me and it's been a journey...both exciting and excruciating. Looking back, I am thankful for God never leaving me through those times even though at the time I wondered. God is so good to me and has blessed me so much.

I was wondering, why do children celebrate their spiritual birthdays but as adults, we don't? We celebrate our earthly birthdays, but I never hear anyone celebrating their spiritual birthdays. Just a thought.

So on that note, comment and let me know when your spiritual birthday is and how many years you've been a child of the King!

O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!

Fun.....

This past week, we've be sooo busy and having a lot of fun. Tuesday I went to my first Bunko party and had a blast. Wednesday night, our kid's choir had a Christmas performance. That was um...interesting...but fun. The kids did great and as always, we had a couple of comedians as well. Thursday we went to Jim and Janna's to exchange kids gifts. Ryland had a ball having the freedom to go wherever he wanted to. Friday we went to Lights of the South with Doug/Trisha/Savannah, Michael/Christy/Olivia, and a new couple I invited from MOPS Jessica/Ryan/Elodie. After the lights, we went to Trisha's for chilli where Ryland and Savannah had a ball. It's so sweet to watch the two of them. They act like brother and sister and I pray they continue to grow up as best friends.

Today is Saturday and we don't have anything planned. After such a crazy week, it's nice.....

It's almost Christmas and I have all my gifts bought. We have been so busy this month with party's galore. I am going broke with having to take a gift or dish to each one. Oh well, tis the season.

I now have a 2 year old. Man, time has flown. He is so much fun and loves his friends. This is what he learned to do yesterday while he was helping me with laundry.

Thank you Lord

My uncle was released from the hospital today. There were no breaks or cracks in his skull or spine. Thank you Lord for answered prayers....

It's partytime!

We had Ryland's birthday party today. His actual birthday is on Monday, the 15th. It started off stressful as I found out my uncle was in a car accident this morning and taken to the hospital. He had a serious cut to the head and that was all I knew. I was very stressed and the waiting was hard. I tried to call my friend 3 times to tell her to pray for me b/c I was wigging out. But her phone was busy. She has call waiting so there was no reason why it should have been busy. I immediately knew that God did not want me to depend on her, and I needed to pray to HIM and not depend on anyone else. So I did and I began to pray for my uncle. I began to have a peace and I didn't even take any medicine(hehe). I know that God is in control and He is the only one that knew exactly what was going on with my uncle. My mom called a little while later and said that he was alert and talking. He has a really bad cut on his head that was to the skull. We are still waiting scan results for his organs. I am very thankful that he seems to be doing ok for the time being.

After that, I had about 45 mins to compose myself. Everyone started arriving and we had a great time. Ryland loved having everyone over. He loves trains so it was a Thomas the train themed party. Now that I think about it, I didn't even get a pic of the cake. Oh well..... Anyway, we had pizza and cake. I hope everyone enjoyed themselves. Here are some pics of today. Thank you to everyone that came! We love you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY BOY!!!!!

What a night...

Last night, James and I attended his company Christmas party. We had a great time and got a Lowe's gift card for $25! We were so pumped, we never get the good gift! Anyway, while we were away, James's mom called to tell us Ryland somehow locked himself in his room. He has a doorknob cover on the inside, but I guess he got his little fingers in there and locked it. After about 20 mins or so, she was finally able to get the door unlocked. We got home around 10:30ish to find out he was still awake. He's having trouble getting to sleep lately. I could hear him playing in the monitor and the next thing we heard was the door open! He had climbed out of his bed!!!!! I am so not ready for this! I put him back in his bed and he said "out" and slung his leg over the bar and laid across the front side of his bed. Oh my.... I was hoping to keep him in his bed for a bit longer but it looks like we'll be converting his bed soon. He never ceases to amaze me.

December 2nd

Today, December 2nd, marks seven years since we lost our first child. I can't believe that much time has passed. The years that followed were some of the hardest times in my life and some of the sweetest...in the sense that I learned another side of God. I don't really talk much the miscarriage, but it doesn't mean I don't think about it. I've had people tell me I need to "get over it" or "move on", but I never want to get over losing my first child. I learned that I am stronger than I ever thought I could be and God DOES get you through things you don't think you ever could go through. It also makes me not take Ryland for granted. Even when he causes me grief(terrible two's are fast approaching), I am so thankful that I have him.

Because of my belief in Jesus coming back, I have all faith that I will see my child again and it makes me smile...

Sweet baby Avery....mommy, daddy and Ryland love you!