Happy New Year!

Happy 2009!
I hope this year finds new hope in Christ, new adventures, and a more joyful look upon life.
I know that's what I want!
As John Piper says in his book, Desiring God, "The chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever."
May we all do this together in 2009.
Happy New Year! :)

The Christmas Birthday Girl

I received one of the sweetest, most precious bundle of joy 7 years ago today.
My sweet girl Addie Noel.
It has been some of the best memories of Christmas yet as my water broke on Christmas night 2001 at 11:00 pm and she made her grand entrance the next morning 4 hours later. At 4:30 am, I held my first girl, my first child, my first miracle of God's creation of me and Ryan woven together to make this girl. A girl named Addie that's is so gentle and merciful.
I am grateful to you this day my Christmas child.
Happy 7th Birthday Addie!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow!!!

Yes, snow in League City TX! It was absolutely beautiful and quite fun for the girls. :) I couldn't believe it snowed for 5 hours and stuck. The miracle only God could give us all down here in the tropical land of South Texas. In fact, its been the best Christmas gift ever for the girls to have and I am so grateful they experienced it.

It was quite a sight to see!

Well, take a look....

Out Numbered

Just when I turned my back for 5 minutes to go get the pj's and lotion.... this happened.

Annalise dumps an entire bottle of Suave shampoo in the bathtub!

I officially felt out numbered as Ryan was not home to help out with bath time.

So tell me, what do you think? Was I out numbered?????

Remember

I remember just 2 weeks ago I was walking hand in hand with Ryan downtown Nashville. I remember the great music we heard, the good food we ate, and most of all the memories made. We had so much fun at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel, the Hermitage, the Belle Meade Plantation, and just the local eats and hot spots.

What I remember most is walking with our hands held together, coldness in the air as we could see our breaths, and the snow flurries that fell on us as we walked together.

I remember, it was romantic.

Well....

I finally took time today to throw together a quick video of our snapshots from Nashville.

I want to go back! I will go back!

Enjoy.

Welcome Home?????

AHHH, its always nice to come home from a long holiday with family until you see this.....

Yes, the laundry pile that awaits you. Yikes, 3 huge mounds of dirtiness! Not fun nonetheless but I will simply do it because the huge mounds are worth the work. :)

It was a super fun Thanksgiving holiday break. It started off so wonderful as Ryan and I made our 10 year trip to Nashville. (post coming soon) Then, back home for 2 days to decorate the home for Christmas, wash and pack and load back up and head to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area for Thanksgiving. It has been such a fun, memorable past couple of weeks that I am so thankful for. Over the Thanksgiving break, my aunt had won tickets to an ice sculpture show at The Gaylord Texan (huge hotel in Grapevine, TX) and we made it a girls night out. My mom, sister, me, 3 aunts, and my 19 yr old cousin went to have dinner before in the Gaylord, very fancy and then off to the ice show. It was so neat and simply incredible! I loved the manger scene at the very end which was stunning to see carved in ice. The funniest part might have been when me, my mom, my sister, and cousin slid down the ice slide. :) So cool...well, literally as it was 9 degrees in this place and you had to wear these parkas to stay warm. BRRRR!!!

Another highlight to my holiday week was a lunch date with my best friend from high school. We hadn't seen each other in 12 years and it was like things hadn't changed one bit. I am so grateful for facebook as it reconnected us all these years. Now, a trip to see mom and dad will include my dear friend Lindsay. Sweet times remembered and new ones made as I saw so many family members and laughed, and laughed, and laughed. I had a wonderful Thanksgiving and I really look forward to the Advent season as we celebrate our Savior and His birth.