Looking Back and Forward

The year 2008 has been interesting. Hard is the more accurate word. It seems for me there were many relationship losses and personal disappointments but in the mist of pain, a beautiful wonderful boy was born and his personality as it comes out more is such a joy to see. I would have to say the birth of our son was THEE highlight of 2008

The hardest pain to work through in 2008 was the loss (not physical loss) of my nephew. He's with his mother and they have each other. That was really hard....and still hard. Learning how to grieve was important in that I learned how to work through that loss.

Seeing Morgan grow up more was fun, interesting, and challenging. We're still growing and that's good.

I felt that Jesus personally challenged me to trust him in some areas of my life. And I can say that I have grown in that area. Thank you that it's a work in progress and his mercies are new every morning!!

Here's to 2009. There will be another nephew born...Congrats Cullen and Melissa!! and our kids getting older. We're looking forward.....

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Happy Birthday, Jesus!!

Surprises

I love when I my husband shows up where he knows I'm going to do an activity or an errand and he is just there....great surprise!

Some surprises are hard to work though because there disappointments. It just hurts..sigh

I can hardly imagine how surprised the shepherds where when they saw angels in the sky....pretty cool

I'm looking forward to how surprised Morgan is going to be when she sees her stuff animal Nemo.

Christmas Week

I'm so excited about Jesus' Birthday this week. More then I have been for years. I know this is due to having a 2 and 1/2 year old and getting to see her experience everything for almost the first time and her being able to participate and understand what is happening more than the past years.

The innocence of her spirit and her 100% trust in what I say makes me scared sometimes but also makes me realize what Jesus meant when he said to make yourself like little children. I find that I am jaded by my 'knowledge' of the world' and that life experiences have left their scars or walls around my heart. Thank you that Jesus is able to heal and restore.

Weeks Highlights

I'm thoroughly enjoying the snow today. Mostly because I'm inside and have had only had to drive in it once.

As soon as Morgan saw the snow covering her outside slide she exclaimed "oh no my slide" and ran and got a napkin out of the kitchen drawer and I let her outside where she tried to wipe the snow off her slide. This lasted 5 seconds until the extreme cold sank in. If only snow could be removed that easily.

Caden has quite a grip and hasn't learned how to release his hands as fast as he graps on to something. While I was changing him he discovered that there are areas down there that really hurt if you pull on them!! I felt really bad for him seeing the shock in his eyes and as he was screaming his head off and didn't know how to let go :(

Sunday morning's speech Louie gave was very refreshing and made me glad we didn't play hookie that morning ;)

Most memorable was the high note Morgan was able to reach when she was screaming when Andy was taking her out of the sanctuary this past Sunday. I just chuckle and smile rather then cry now.

Growth

I've always thought I've been a mature person as I was growing up and as an adult. I felt that I was pretty level headed.

Even after I met Andy I thought that I have matured in some areas. Unfortunately probably in the last couple of years, I have felt that I am going in reverse in some areas of maturity and my husband has growth spurted through areas of maturity or concepts that have taken me a long time to get through. I've ever delighted and amazed to hear words come out of his mouth that are so profound and he says it in probably just a couple of sentences and when I least expect it. The same thing in would take me 15 minutes to explain.

Like wine.. he just gets better with age

Rock Climbing

That's Melissa (my sister in-law ) in the red sweater
Hotness!
That's me above. Trusting my sister-in-law in a deeper way (as she's what would keep me from falling)!

Andy's brother, Cullen, and his wife Melissa are avid rock climbers. We went with them and Andy's parents to do some rock climbing for their dad's birthday. It turned out to be alot of fun. I actually climbed part of a very large rock ( with Melissa's help). Andy climbed the same rock with much ease. Morgan tried it as well and lasted a whole 2 minutes!! ;). I had a few seconds of panic when I looked down but then quickly looked up to focus on the next grab ahead of me ( a life lesson that I'm using every day now as we are minus a dear family member.

I'm not even close to an expert but was glad that I tried it.

Brooks

Brooks- Dec ??, 1997 to Dec 3, 2008

You were a great friend and dog and we're glad your not in pain anymore, Brooks...We love and are going to miss you.

Sick Doggie

Our dog is sick :(. She turns 11 next year and besides arthritis in her back legs which cause her to limp and has earned her the name tripod, she has been a pretty healthy dog.

Till Friday, since then she hasn't wanted to eat, barely drink, and not move from where-ever she is. She moans when she moves and is pretty listless. So, Andy and I took her to the vet today and their doing some test as I type. During the physical exam the vet said that her pulse is weak and that her heart doesn't sound as strong as it should. . I'm cautiously optimistic that this is an acute illness as it came on her so fast and isn't something chronic. I'm probably in denial though. The question with an older dog is how much do you want to do to prolong her life.

As Morgan would say...poor rah rah