A new year...

a BIG year.


I have given the blog a new look. For starters, my kids' pictures were a year out of date, but there are other reasons.  This year will usher in a new look for our family as well.  There are many unknowns at this point, but by the end of 2011, it is looking quite certain that a fourth picture frame will be added--a sixth family member, a fourth child, a second son, a new baby of the family.


No, I am not pregnant.
Yes, we are adopting.


Adoption: It is not a word that had crossed my mind too many times before last year. Now it is a word that enters my mind over and over throughout each day. It is something the hubs has always had a desire to do, but after our third was born, he became used to the idea that our family was complete likely because I had a tough adjustment to three. I was overwhelmed for a while, and some days I still wonder when it will all get done.


God had a different plan than I did....as He often does.  He began stirring something in me mid year, and it was something I could not just dismiss or ignore. I prayed that He would "stir" someone else, but He didn't. I wanted to be done. Life was just starting to get easier around here!  After a time of this, I had the nerve to bring it up to the hubs. I knew once I voiced it, that we would have to pursue the issue further.  The hubs reacted as I thought he would. He smiled and looked at me through excited yet cautious eyes, possibly realizing that sometimes my "great ideas" are fleeting.  He readily admitted it was something he'd thought about for quite some time.


And so it began. We spent many evenings discussing all aspects of it...domestic vs. international, the time frame of it all...this list is exhaustive really. What we finally came down to was this; Why would we NOT go through with it? God obviously placed the desire in both of our hearts, and it became clear that we would trust Him on this journey.


The verse I have chosen to banner the blog for this year will be my biggest challenge yet biggest comfort.


In Proverbs, it says "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.....and in ALL your ways acknowledge Him, and HE WILL make your path straight."  We set out on this journey September, 23rd if you want to track the paper trail.  I am acknowledging now that I'm not doing this out of my own understanding. It is in my understanding, that this is CRAZY. God, however, is not crazy. He promises that He will make our path straight. He does not promise that the path will not be very curvy and bumpy along the way though.  I am expecting some bumps this year.


Thank you Lord for stirring our hearts.  Because of you, a baby boy around the world awaits us.  Son, we anxiously pray for you and think about you every day. Our kids are excited to have another brother, and they don't even sound surprised that you come to us this way. We cannot WAIT!

(For the sake of the child's privacy, I cannot blog any information regarding him! sorry! He's super cute, and the girls have affectionately named him "chubby cheeks")


So with that said, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Christmas wrap up

I feel like I haven't blogged in years!  We had a great Christmas filled with family and fun.  I took the kids to my parents house before Christmas to see all their many cousins.  They are only ALL together about twice a year, so although it can be quite crazy, it's so worth it!

After a few days, we drove back home to have Christmas with the hubs who had to work during this time. He works every other Christmas, and after several years of this, I still am not too "good" at it. I love being home for Christmas, but it sure is a long day waiting for him to come home and enjoy Christmas with us! I cooked all day while running zone defense on all that "comes up" when new toys are involved...batteries, sharing, throwing, untying those silly twisty ties that are so ridiculous with each new package, etc. Finally at 4:30 pm, he made it home. We had a great evening opening presents, eating, and playing board games.

Why stop now?? We packed up again and drove to the other grandparents! Unfortunately, the cousins had all left. We missed Zach and Colson by a day, and Abby stayed in Dallas waiting for baby Hunter to get her next month! We missed all of you! I threw some pictures together to finish up my scrapbook for the year. Page 100..DONE! I can't wait to order it. Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!

Finally....a "framer"

A screeching hault

December is crazy for sure. Programs for church, school, and everything else. Parties, parties, parties....and then NOTHING. Guess I need to finish my shopping in that case. I haven't had time to organize all the pictures and videos, but here are a few.

Mary is starting to give me the, "DON'T POINT THAT THING AT ME AGAIN" look. Yikes.

I took these for our Christmas cards.  This wasn't our card, but I printed it out to frame, so I wouldn't have to put out three different pictures. Maybe some day, they will cooperate and all be in the same pic.

Are you catching on to the trend??  Again, she's not looking to thrilled with me. She did great at her dance program. Standing in a room where people are looking at her is her WORST nightmare. Trust me, I can tell.  She acted very uncomfortable, but I was really proud to see her loosen up. Maybe I'll eventually get some video posted.

Garret loves a good Christmas party. Actually he just loves to eat.

There's my poser! Thanks Mar!

Allie's school party was today. She's just a LITTLE excited about Christmas this year.

I was standing way back in the crowd when I took this. She saw me from a distance I guess, and looked right at me. I can't get her to look at me, when I'm five feet away though.  She had a tiny solo part in the school program, and she did GREAT! I was so proud of her boldness. Didn't get that from me...that's FOR SURE!

Hope your world has come to a screeching hault as well.  I can't wait until tomorrow....can't wait to do NOTHING!

This afternoon, I took some pics of a family here in town for a quick Christmas card.  Here's a little slide show of some of their pics.  

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Teacher gifts

Teacher gifts are NOT EASY!!!  I started giving notecards for Christmas several years ago mainly because I don't have to think of something new. Everyone always needs notecards lying around. I came up with these, and printed them out for the kids' teachers.

Today was Mary and Garrett's Christmas program at their school. I never thought Garrett would stand in one place for such a long time, but he did!

Christmas past

I found this video of Allie on our first Christmas tree cutting adventure.  She was a month shy of 3.

I think she resembles Garrett SOOO much, but what do I know:)

WPS!!

This post has NOTHING to do with football, but I'm VERY EXCITED to see the HOGS go to the sugar bowl!!! Thanks Auburn! I have ONE very crazy happy sister-n-law who is even more excited to go the the national championship....a very exciting Saturday!

We drove out to cut down our tree yesterday! We normally go right after Thanksgiving, but were a little late. Apparently a little late means that there is NOT much to choose from. There were trees that were a little on the small size, so we went with one of the few BIG ones left. It didn't look HUGE, but it does now.  Oh well!

Our annual picture

Just her size

Love this grandparent pic! Bunny and Pappy came in their sleigh on Thursday. The bounded down the chimney with gifts for all the good boys and girls in the house this year.  We will be here on Christmas, so they made an early delivery!

Silly us

Sweet Mary found one

My sweet MIL! I am trying to be more intentional about adult pics! I did much better this time.

Pappy collects John Deere tractors (little ones:). Boys love tractors. What a great pic of father and son.

The girls and I went to the Nutcracker today to see their little friend Emma Cate perform. They LOVED it!  

All smiled out...nothing a cookie bribery won't solve.