A Christmas Letter..

To my sweet sweet Big Boy & Baby Girl at Christmastime....

A few days before Christmas this year, I found a Letter I had written to you two last year (2009). It really reminded me of our Holiday season last year and made me cry as I remininised about some of the things I had forgotten- I was so glad I found it.

So it sparked something in me that I hope will keep up for years to come--- A Letter to my Babies at Christmastime

Merry Christmas to you Both... You make my life complete and I have no idea what I would do without you both!

Our Holiday Season was very busy this year- as always! It started out early in December with lots of shopping, fun, and decorating! Bright and early on the weekend after Thanksgiving we began decorating our house! You both LOVED decorating the Tree this year! Our tree was beautiful this year- with tons of ornaments on the top and a few clustered ornaments on each side- just beautiful! You each hung several of your personalized ornaments and mom & dad enjoyed looking over the tons of ornaments you have- maybe even a few tears!

We had such fun On Dad's Birthday - December 4th- we decided to go see Santa Claus and celebrate with Dinner out with all your grandparents! We went to Concord Mills and had an eventful afternoon! We met up with Grammy Popaw & Momaw Popaw for a little shopping! About halfway around the mall- Miller spotted the Bungy Trampoline - a favorite activity for him! He waited patiently and had a fun time jumping up and down! We then rode the Carosel, the Train around Concord Mills and then it was time to meet the Big Guy Santa!! Miller walked right up to Santa and crawled up on his lap- So excited to meet Santa- but most of all give Santa his list. Miller asked Santa for a Jeep, a Real Crane, and some Dinosaurs! Mom then tried to get Miss Emma to also sit on Santas Lap & the picture really is worth 1000 words! Poor SANTA!

Mom & Dad celebrated a Milestone on December 10th this year! Our 5th Anniversary! We celebrated by taking a trip to the Asheville Mountains and visiting the Biltmore House for lunch- yum yum!

On December 15th Miller had his PreSchool Christmas Program! It was adorable- his classmates sang several songs and all dressed up in their PJ's for the occasion! Mrs. Connie, Mrs. Tracy, & Mrs. Crystal then had some refreshments for the kiddos and lots of chatting. Popaw Kenny, Momaw & Popaw Hoyle, & Mom and Dad all came to see Miller's program!

Emma had PJ day at Mothers Morning Out on December 17th! It was a fun day at school complete with pigtails on Miss Emma! So so so cute! Emma LOVES Mothers morning out!

We had an awesome playdate with Coop, Ella, & Bec the week before Christmas to exchange presents! Lots of fun and you should be proud of Mom & Bec- for putting together your presents without any help from the Dad's!

On Christmas EVE we had such fun days! We began our day early in the morning with Breakfast at Momaw & Popaw Hoyles! So much fun! We had yummy food and opened presents! Miller got a video game system and a huge tractor! Emma got the hit of the day- Dance party Mickey!! Emma loves to dance and dance with Mickey- Emma's moonwalk is hilarious!

We ended the day at Grammy & Popaws with Dinner and PRESENTS! We had loads of fun openign presents with Momaw Beam, Momaw & Popaw Helms, & Grammy & Popaw! Grammy Loved your photo ornaments & Popaw Loved the Personalized Calander. Grammy & Popaw got Mills a Polar Express Train set which has been about all he has played with all weekend! He loves the train! Emma got several gifts- but loved the Princess Cozy Coupe car! Our number one toy to fight over is the Cozy Coupe- so we were excited to get Emma her own ;)

We then headed home to get in the BED and wait for SANTA to arrive!!!!

Which happened to be a Awesome Christmas- complete with SNOW! ... Post #2 coming soon!

Proverbs...

Everyone knows the book of Proverbs. It's somewhere in the middle of the Old Testament, nestled between Psalms and Ecclesiastes. I have never really thought about this book, until Sunday.

Let me start by saying- I'm a Christian, I believe in God, I have attended church all my Life, I know all the bible school stories.. But I've never really sat down to read the bible. I have probably read almost all verses either thru my devotions, church, or random times. But never a whole book.

My family has been attending a small church that is a spin-off of a Church my husband grew up in. We had a hard time finding a church that we both felt comfortable with, and that we both felt that we could leave our Children in the nursery. We attended a large church early in our marriage, and neither of us ever felt "comfortable" there. We wanted a place to fit in, a place with normal people, a place that felt like home. We have not been faithful church-goers but we're trying!

Anyways.. Sunday the pastor at this church gave the congregation an assignment. To read the book of Proverbs in the month of September. Proverbs is broken up into chapters that all are different. He instructed us to read a chapter a day, take 5 or 10 mins a day and read a chapter in the bible. This really sparked something in me. I guess it's because i'm battling my on faith inside, and knowing that i'm not living the life I feel i should be for the Lord.

So here goes- tomorrow is September 1st. I'm going to sit down with my bible and attempt to read the book of Proverbs. I know I have the time, it's just am I willing to take time away from other things to read the Bible. I should be- nothing in the world could/should be more important than my time with the Lord. I know that, and yet it's still a battle. I wonder if that's just human.... That's why i'm not Perfect, I'm a sinner, and I must ask for forgiveness.

Wish me luck as I sit down with my Bible.. I'm actually kind of excited about this. I just hope I can finish it!

It's time for School....

It's time for School... You can smell fall in the air, the stores are stocked with pencils, paper, bookbags, and everything needed to start school. Every store is advertising Back to School Sales & it makes me wan to buy boxes of #2 pencils & the coolest 3 ring binder I can find! haha!

My little man started his 2nd year of Pre-School this year & man what a year makes! Rewind back to a year ago this week & Pre-School was a nightmare. He cried for several days in school when his teachers would come get him out of the car. But this year- he was excited. Armed with his Bookbag and looking adorable in his new school clothes- Out the door he went ready for School. He smiled, said "Bye Mommie.. I'm going to school with Mrs. Connie.. Lovey Mommie" Out he went & the Tears started pouring for me! Ahhhh, I am so happy to see my baby grow up, but can't believe he is in his 2nd year of Pre-School!

I know he will be starting Kindergarten, High School, and then off to college he will go before I know it. But for now, I'm just wanting to hold him back, cry as he leaves me, and smile when I see that face waiting for me to pick him up!

I wonder if he'll always be that excited to see me pull up to the school house doors???

Pulled in Different Directions

I feel like i'm being pulled in 100 different directions. I can't get a handle on life b/c as soon as I think I have something under control, something else blows up. I guess it's welcome to life for me, but LIFE I think is laughing at my attempt to control it!

We are in the middle of 2 houses. We are selling our house, and close this month. That means, boxes, packing, moving kids rooms, moving dishes, moving clothes, moving Christmas Trees, moving furniture, moving EVERYTHING. & have we begun packing anything, NO! No boxes, no bags, no organization, NOTHING. That is holding high over my head, and probably the beginning of my pulled feeling. I Have to pack, we Have to be out of this house, I Have to be ready to move, and no one seems as panicd as I am.

Probably the source of our problems is that the house we are moving to, is still under renovatino/ remodel. It was, it is awful. My grandparents home, and they had lived there for over 60 years. I don't think it had been kept up in the last 10 at least, since their health began to fail. We have done major improvements to the house, but it still likes SO much! We have updated so much, carpet, floors, walls, cabinets, etc, etc, etc. & I mean all of those! It still has tons of things to do. We have put so much money into this house, and we're not even halfway there. Our goal in this renovation is to save money, not so much now. But I'm excited to move, have extra money a month, to do the things i've been missing out on.

Faith & Family

Lately i've been thinking lots about our Faith & our Family. I know that I have faith, I believe in God, Jesus, and the holy being. I believe that Jesus came to earth, died for our sins, and rose to save Man. I know all the bible stories of Noah in the Ark, David & Goliath, and typical Sunday School stories. I have always attended church, Always. My dad was a rock when it came to church, there was never a question of "Are we going to Church?" It was just you wake up on Sunday, you go to Church- No questions, no exceptions. I like that, it was solid and a great foundation to base my childhood.

After I got married, we attended the church we got married for a few months, and eventually slipped into a habit of sleeping late on Sundays rather than going to church. And, honestly it didn't bother me then. I liked being at home with my hubby on our days off. I didn't think much about my faith, we were in the moment of being married and being young.

Then, I had kids. I want my kids to have a foundation in the Lord that I have. I want them to have that rock that I had. I want them to go to church, b/c that's what you do, there is no question. I want them to learn the bible stories you learn in Sunday school and make church friends that they can talk to about the stories, the lord, and salvation.

I want our family to be happy at a church where we all fit in. Where we are all comfortable, and love going to church. That;s where we are now, finding a church that fits our family, where we can grow our relationship with the Lord, together.

Restart

I think I should call this post a ReStart! I planned on blogging to relieve some stress, but now life has gotten so stressful that I don't have time to write- Irony- yes!

A lot has changed since November on my last post. We are selling our lovely home. The home that we built together, the home that we came to after our honeymoon, the home that our children were born in, the home where we brought home our children. A great home, and one that will be missed greatly. But we'll make a new home, a just as good home, where our babies will grow up, and that makes a home!

Now the packing must begin- ahhh I hate to pack. But moving day is fastly approaching and we must be ready.

Honestly I must say I am excited to move, I'm excited to branch into this new phase of life. We will be better off, and better prepared for the unknown future. And that in itself is exciting.

I just hope the move goes well and everyone adjusts well!