Keepin' it Real......

Our Family Room after a busy weekend......the rest of the house ain't much better. How does yours look?
Note the vacuum-good intentions do not a clean room make. Ha!

My New Year’s Wish List…….FFF

Well, there are all sorts of things I would love to have-but, they all seem rather selfish when asked to put them down in black & white.

So, I think, instead-I’ll wish for more of what I had in 2010:

~Better health (like I have enjoyed since my celiac diagnosis)
~Growing, happy children
~A loving, devoted hubby
~Travel (even though some of it wasn’t for fun reasons-I love seeing new places!!!)
~A growing relationship w/ my Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ.

OK…..I’ll allow myself one REAL wish-
A NEW HOUSE!!!! (we are hoping to move into a different school district-just in case we ever want to put our kids in full-time).

And-taking this opportunity to share my favorite pic from Christmas:

Tap....Tap.....Tap......is this thing on?! I'm still here.

Those of you in blogger-land who used to be my faithful readers have probably noticed how badly I have neglected my blog as of late.

I have done some long & hard thinking/praying about why I just haven’t felt like it & I suddenly hit on it the other day.

My mother -in-law (my most counted on reader) is gone.

I could always depend on her to read it. & while she didn’t often comment here in blogger-land, I could always count on her to e-mail me regarding each new post.

& you know what? It has taken me this long to decide I still *want* to continue blogging. I mean, it won’t be the same w/ out her interaction….I’ll miss it.

Yes, I still enjoy the writing, & I guess that’s the main reason to blog……that & the pictures, & the friends I have made out here in blogger-land. &, I know there is other family that will read it.

So, happy new year to all.

& I’ll be here. :)

A look back....

*Re-post from last year at this time*
As I sit here on Sunday night, the kids are in bed, Dave & my aunt are watching a Dallas Cowboys game while I reflect on the last few days. (oops, excuse me for just a moment while I re-fill Ruthie's cup-ha!)

One thing I realized for the first time this Christmas, is how similar Christmas is for everyone…..busy, for sure, but beyond that-I bet your family also had a few of these things-

~yummy food-everywhere & in great abundance

~kids filled with excitement & anticipation

~ a few moments where you missed those who couldn’t be around your Tree with you (my Grandpa, our Jesse, our dear foster family in Guatemala, other far-flung family).

~a few “disagreements” around the Tree-ours were *mostly* among our 2 YO & our 3 YO (wink-ha!!!).

~I bet a few of you had sick kids Christmas Eve/Christmas Day like we did, & therefore, had to postpone our traditional Christmas Eve dinner, in order to not crush our 8 YO’s heart.

~a few toys that must be taken back to the store & replaced

~I hope you also had a few quiet moments to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas-Jesus willingly came to this earth as a baby-with the sole purpose of dying for sinful man-33 years later…..

I was struck by “sameness” that makes Christmas a “common thing” for all of us-while at the same time we all have traditions that are different & make each family unique……
I’m so glad I have things that make Christmas “special” for our family.
But, this year, I realized-I’m also glad I have things that make *my * Christmas a bit like yours, you know what I mean?



(Last year's post)

Hard to Believe......

Four years ago today, Ruthie officially became ours!!!
Sweet girl, you have changed so much in the last four years. Your zest for life grows bigger by the day!

Daddy & I love you so much, & never cease to thank the Lord you become OUR little girl.

Round 2!!

Now it's Ruthie & I!

Yuck!!

Sick Little Guy....

I had intentions of being a better blogger, but my little guy is sick.....

I took him to the DR. yesterday, where his fever was 104.2! They are currently growing a strep culture, to see if that's what's going on, & they also diagnosed croup (which we have had so many times in this house, I already knew that! Ha!)

He had no fever this morning when I checked him, so I'm thankful for that!