a baby changes everything...

it's christmas morning here. snow is beginning to fall. 4 generations of family are within 10 feet of each other. birthday cupcakes are about to be made. presents from family have been opened and i'm sitting down for just a minute to wish you all a glorious day. a day filled with wonder and love and thankfulness that a child was born to us. for us. there is no greater gift and no greater giver. the true giver of all good gifts is the only one who sees all things...knows all things...can be all places and thankfully his gifts matter not if you are naughty or nice. and he will not share his glory with another. not even for a day. so today we celebrate that christmas morn long ago when christ was born and we'll give gifts to each other as a taste of the good gifts and wonder that beautiful morning brought as well. and we'll sing. the angels sang and so will we.

so merry christmas friends. be not satisfied with the imitation miracles this world dreams up. read luke chapter 2 and fall to your knees in wonder of the real miracle that changes everything. the blessings of the nativity are unending...

merry christmas to all again. merry merry christmas.

'When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.'
Romans 5:6

of peculiar style...

no explanation really needed right. baby girl has her own style. it's all her choice when we're at home but i'm sure you can agree with me that when it's time to head out, i get to pick the attire. good memories here. good good times.

7

this picture was taken 7 years ago today. 7 years, 3 homes, 2 towns & one child later we are here today happier, healthier and more complete than we were that glorious day. i wasn't one of those girls who dreamed of her wedding day. i rarely even thought about marriage when i was younger and certainly didn't entertain thoughts of what my husband would be like. all that to say that even if i would have dreamed up what i thought would have been the perfect love, harold is better. better than anything my mind could have conceived. in fact i sometimes marvel at how much God must love me to send me a husband that adores me and loves me in a way that is so pure. and all of that love despite my shortcomings. it is truly a blessing to know that should we have 7 days or 70 years left on this earth, we'll be together.

happy anniversary goss. i adore you too.

the paci ~ june 11, 2008 - december 10,2010

this picture is from earlier this week. it's the last picture i found with her and her paci. the paci that has been there since day 1. and now we're working on day 3 without it. it was her decision to throw it away. so i'll remember...we were at the doctor for a nasty cold {again} and the mentioned that the paci isn't helping because it's a germ magnet. so when she walked out i explained to georgia that her paci was yucky. that she could keep it but it might mean having to come back to the dr several more times. or she could throw it away and hopefully start to get lots better and not have to come to the dr lots more. she thought about it and said 'i don't wanna go to doctor again'...so i said well, throwing your paci away will help that not happen as much. she walked over to the trash and threw it away. i. was. stunned. i also realized at that moment that we couldn't go back. this was our opportunity and i had to roll with it. she was okay that first day...not much whining and went to sleep fine. yesterday {and today} at nap has been the worst so far. she was having real withdrawal symptoms. she even said that she will go back to the dr if she can have her paci back. talk about pitiful. i just held her tight and reassured her that she was okay. that i was there to hold her and that Christ will supply the comfort she truly needs. i'm hoping this passes quickly. for both our sakes. but then again i hope it last long enough for both of us to get the message that comfort really one does come from one Source.

and i must confess. i wish i was a little more like that curly headed offspring of mine. although she's had a moment she really is just going about her days without the one thing that she clung to so dearly. with her childlike faith she just knows that she's okay. she knows that i'll hold her tight. that every need and tear will be attended too. she's free. and so am i. free from the false things of this world that will try to provide a comfort that masks the real Comforter.

for her...the paci was only a glimpse of what real comfort feels like. for us who believe...real Comfort in here in Christ. we will celebrate anew this Christmas what it really meant for the Savior to be born unto men and to live with us that we might live with Him in true comfort forever.

joy to the world. the Lord has come. {and the paci is gone}

embrace the camera - december 9

georgia's favorite game...cheerleader

having our team in the national championship game gives us lots to cheer about. and the bathing suit? she found this one in her closet that is supposed to be for next summer. i doubt we'll make it seeing that it fits perfectly now. and nevermind it's 20 degrees outside. she's traded her fairy costumes for this bathing suit from sun up to sun down.

happy monday

if you've never rocked around the christmas tree at 8am in a fairy costume with a plastic dora guitar you are really missing out. you might need to put that on your list this year of things to do before new years. happy monday friends.

and just so we're clear, georgia is in the fairy costume not me.

if you're interested....

i've been having a 'sale' at my house the last two days. too bad some of you don't live close. you'd be in for a real treat. i have *lots* of stationery/invites/stuff from when i used to have our business and it's time for it all to go. and cheaply. so i can't possibly post everything that i still have on here because i'd crash the server with pics but i since i have some christmas cards left i thought i'd see if there are any takers. below are the pictures of each one i have left. i haven't counted but i'd say there are around 50-70 of each design. the price is .50 each and that includes printing whatever you'd like on the inside. i know i know that's a steal if you know anything about stationery but if harold has to haul these boxes to the attic one more time he might throw a fit. so anyway, first come first serve. leave and comment if you're interesed and we'll go from there. all the designs will accomodate a 4x6 picture and include envelopes of course. happy shopping.

again .50 each for printed photo christmas card + shipping to wherever you are :)

embrace the camera - december 2

there are a few things i remember from being 2 years old. just a few though. and sometimes when i look at her, especially him & her, i think to myself

gosh i hope she remembers this....