Christmas 2011

Okay- so I know I am super late on these posts... but I want to have a record of these things, so I don't care!

We had made plans to have "Christmas" with James' sister and her family Friday night, unfortunately my body had other plans. I woke up feeling fine but by about lunchtime was not doing great and had a rising fever. So, I slept the afternoon and evening away while James and Brynlee went to celebrate. Luckily, I was able to keep my fever down over the next couple of days with medicine! 

Christmas was wonderful this year. It was a little different with it being on a Sunday but still great! Since Christmas was on Sunday, our church did identical services on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. So we went to the service Saturday night {actually myself and Brynlee ended up at the service again in the morning, just because!}.

Since my dad and James would be "working" Sunday morning we decided to have Christmas with my family on Saturday. We went over to my parents' that morning. James made omelets for everyone. Then we did presents and lunch and hung out until it was nap time for everyone! One sad note about Christmas Eve- my poor bother-in-law was super sick. So he was somewhat quarantined on the couch  away from all children. 

I just have to say that Christmas Eve service is always one of my favorite parts of the season! I loved that this year it was a little less reflective and more of a celebration- it was pretty wonderful! And of course we tried getting pictures of everyone {which is impossible with three small children}. SO we had a couple of Brynlee and Gracie!

Christmas day we went to church again and then to lunch with James' extended family! His entire family from his mom's side always gets together for lunch! We love going to see them. They are so much fun! We topped off the night by going to see lights at Rhema Bible College with my parents and the Smith's!

It was a wonderful weekend full of family, fun and of course the most important thing: Jesus!

Joplin

So I am sitting here watching Extreme Home Makeover which is rebuilding 7 homes in Joplin, MO. There are so many feelings that have come through watching this for the past couple of hours. It brings back all of the feelings that we experienced when the tornado happened {living 100 miles away and having lived in Joplin for 2 years in college}.

When it happened we were at small groups and completely oblivious to what was going on. My friend got a text from her mom {who lived in Joplin} simply saying not to worry because they were okay. Which of course completely freaked us out and sent me into a panic trying to figure out if my sister and brother-in-law were also okay. We are so thankful that they lived on the opposite side of town and suffered no physical effects from the tornado.

So many people that we knew lost everything. Some close family friends lost their entire house and everything in it. They have a daughter Brynlee's age. Luckily, they made the decision to go to a neighbors house to stay in their basement. All I could think about was the inability to provide for your baby. They literally had to rely on someone else for everything for quite some time. I can't even imagine being there, seeing the destruction immediately following the tornado and even being an active part of the clean-up.

I have also sat here reading my sister's blog posts that she wrote shortly after the tornado. She had graduated from college the previous day and wrote a post about graduation. Since she was done with school their lives would be changing. They were looking for jobs, planning to move and waiting on the next step in their lives. They really had no idea where God would be leading them next but didn't want to miss out on the opportunities they would have to serve while remaining in Joplin.

She says: 
"Until then we will love where we are and love the people here. We have a lesser role in the youth group now... but we have new opportunity to spend time with couples our age and I have a new opportunity for a Bible study. We will definitely be taking advantage of where we are and the great church that surrounds us. We know God is keeping us here right now for a reason, so we will use that."

She had no idea of the events that would occur later on that same day but she knew that wherever you are and in whatever circumstance, God is still there. And when you are living out God's will in your life you can find joy, peace and comfort through any trial.

"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NLT) 

As hard as it is to watch and relive the devastation, it is even better to watch Joplin rebuild and restore hope to each resident of Joplin, MO. 

Blogging Obligation

So I keep reading everyone's posts about Christmas and New Year's and Resolutions. While I would love to sit and write about all of those things in length, it may not happen for weeks to come! I want to write so I don't forget all the things we have done {mostly for Brynlee}. As of right now, our internet is kind of messed up {really this just means it isn't wireless anymore so it's impossible to get on while Brynlee is awake}. Oh well, I may just have to live with the fact that these posts will be happening over the next few weeks. Oh, and James has been home most of the last week so pretty much I have been hanging out with him! I definitely don't want to waste the extra time we have together!

So that's that! Now I feel better and somewhat free of this obligation to blog about everything "right" now!

Birthday Presents

Because Brynlee loves her birthday present SO much, it now deserves a blog post.

When Brynlee was born I really wanted to buy her the Anywhere Chair from PBK. However, we just really couldn't afford the chair. So we decided to buy her a similar chair for her birthday {the only present that came from us}.

seeing the chair the first time... she kind of went crazy!

so happy!

To say she LOVES this chair is a drastic understatement. At any point in the day Brynlee can be found sitting in her chair. She reads in her chair, plays in her chair and actually sits in the chair to watch movies. It is her very own chair and she is so happy to have it!

Winter One-derland Part 2

The cake. I think that is the one thing I have been asked about repeatedly all weekend, "what did she do to the cake?"

Overall, she liked the taste but not the mess. {Which is surprising since she will rub yogurt and applesauce up and down her arms no problem.} So at first it was all great. Then when it got all over her hands and face she was over it!

Winter One-derland Part 1

This weekend we had Brynlee's birthday party! Let me just say it was wonderful! I was really nervous about Brynlee getting overwhelmed and upset with all the extra people {a little over 30} in the house. But she did amazing! Mostly she chased all the big kids around!

For the party we did Winter One-derland. So we had all white foods and cake along with hot chocolate and apple cider. We chose to just do snacks and cake instead of a meal. There is no way we could get people around a table of any sort to really eat. So here are some pictures!

Food: White chocolate pretzels, powdered donuts, oreo truffles, white cheddar popcorn and chips and white queso.

 I picture from each month. Thank you pintrest.

 The cake my friend Laura made! She is super crafty and amazing!

Happy Birthday Brynlee {who is now up from a nap, so the rest will come later!}

One Year

Brynlee Anne-

It happened. Today you had your very first birthday. We had a great day celebrating with some carousel riding at the mall. Tomorrow we will have a nice, big party with the family! 

One year ago today, we were sitting in the hospital trying to get our arms around what had just happened. Less than 12 hours after entering the hospital {because I felt like I was going to die}, you were here. You came in your own time and on your own terms. Something tells me this won't be the only time that happens. 

Since that day we have experienced SO much together; lots of laughter and tears, joy and pain, sleep and no sleep, hugs and kisses, singing and dancing, playing and resting. Each day is a new adventure in our house. That is because of you! Everyday your smile brings a level of joy that does not exist without you. It is impossible to be upset or frustrated when you flash a smile! Your love and joy fill our hearts everyday. 

You are truly a gift from God. We never experienced this kind of love until you were born. What a great reminder each day of the love God has for us and for you! It is a sacrificial love. We pray everyday that you experience this love for yourself and are confident in His love and sacrifice for you.

There are so many things to say, so many things to recall from the past year. All the good times, happy times, sad times, angry times, frustrating times, and unforgettable times can be summed up in a few words from one of our very favorites books: "I love you through and through, yesterday, today and tomorrow too."