HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The promise of a new year...what things await us, what will we accomplish, who can we help, who needs more love, and how can we make our relationships stronger and meaningful? I'm usually the one to focus on what I can do differently from last year, but this year I want to focus forward instead of backward. I want the start of this year to be about priorities and plans to live deliberately according to my priorities. God, my family, and my community.

I just spent a wonderful 2 weeks at home with my daughter and my family celebrating the holidays. I tried to make sure I took time to be with the ones I love instead of focused on tasks like cleaning and organizing (which is why my house is still a disaster :) Avery and I had a great time snuggling every morning until about 9am. We did some shopping and spent time at the movies with friends and Nonnie. We had a wonderful Christmas day with family and friends. This last week has FLOWN by and I can't believe we go back to school and work on Monday.

I wish you all a happy and healthy New Year. May you meet the challenges that come with faith and celebrate the accomplishments and every day good times with those you love.

The Shack

I just finished The Shack and I'm dying to talk to others that have read it. It is probably the most thought provoking work of fiction I have read in a VERY long time. I'm interested in what my friends think. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it. If you've read it, will you share your thoughts with me?

"All I want for Christmas is my right front tooth"

Avery has pulled another tooth. Her right front tooth came out in the back seat of the car with much drama and triumph!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

Are your children doing the count down to the big day? Visions of scooters, Pixos, and Barbie's dancing in their heads? I know mine is. Here are some pictures from our gingerbread house assembly and a trip to my best friend's in Gatorland (no not the zoo).

Katie & Cami were the hostesses with the mostest for a fun weekend. We built a gingerbread house and went to a Grossology exhibit where we learned about boogers, snot, burps and poop. Probably too much information right? :)

I can't believe how big they are getting!

Merry Christmas to all our family and friends! I hope that you are all doing well and are happy and healthy. We are counting down the days till school is out and then we'll be able to play and enjoy each other. For those of you we will not be able to see this year, we miss you. God bless you all.

Avery and her babysitter Sarah love to go to the duck pond. While there, they made up a song about the mama and baby ducks they saw.

Ok, my friends we are in the thick of holiday preparations. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving on a beautiful day. My mom hosts turkey day and we all ate too much and enjoyed each other's company. I got to be home with Avery the whole week of Thanksgiving and we went on a picnic, to the library, to the movies and worked on our homemade Christmas gifts. I got my whole house decorated for Christmas and CLEAN! We went shopping and I have presents wrapped before Christmas Eve. It was a wonderful week.

I hope you all are taking at least a little bit of time for yourselves. Stop and enjoy the Christmas lights, quit work early and go get a pedicure, or pretend you have a stomach ache and disappear into the bathroom to read that novel you've had sitting for months. Most of all slow down and remember the reason for the season. I hope that the love of Jesus wraps around you and your families.