Christmas Week

We had a great Christmas. Our kids didn't even seem to notice that we stuck to the "3 gift" rule this year. It made for a much simpler Christmas. I didn't sleep much on Christmas Eve, I was so excited for Christmas to come and my sister and her family to come visit us. I started waking up around midnight. Around 5am Elijah got up and read by himself for a while. He was trying to make enough noise to wake Kayla up, without going in and waking her up. I got up with him at 6:30, he kept sneaking into our room, waiting on someone to get up with him...although he never actually woke anyone up! So, I played with him and ate breakfast until Kayla got up, at 7. Once she was up we pulled Matt out of bed and let the kids open their presents. They were very excited about everything they got and not at all disappointed about what they didn't get. They are amazing kids.
That afternoon, my sister, her husband and my niece arrived. We were all so excited! The kids opened some more presents and then just played with Clara.
On Wednesday, we just hung out, playing, talking etc...Matt and Bobby went and caught a movie in the afternoon and I took down the Christmas tree, with my sister's help. I wouldn't normally take it down that early, but we put it up early and I was ready to start putting the house back in order.
Thursday we baby-sat Clara so my sister and her husband could celebrate their 9th anniversary.

 

We had a very enjoyable and laid back week. Matt had taken the whole week off as well and it was so nice sleeping in!

"Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!"
2 Corinthians 9:15

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17

Christmas Eve 2012

Christmas Eve wasn't quite the relaxing day I had envisioned. It started with me realizing that although I had done all my grocery shopping on Friday, so I wouldn't have to go out on Christmas Eve, I had forgotten the pan for cooking the turkey and our cake mix (we always make a birthday cake for Jesus and sing Happy Birthday to Him.) So, I got myself out of bed (yep, that was before I was up!) and got ready to go. I asked Kayla if she wanted to run errands with me and she said no...was hoping for a little bit of girl time. So, I asked Elijah if he wanted to spend some time with me. He said yes :)
So, we headed out to Pineville to get daddy a Christmas gift. I had made a photo book for him, but it hadn't come yet. We went to Lifeway Christian Bookstore and got him Wow Hits 2013. After that we headed to Walmart to pick up those last minute groceries. While we were there I realized that I hadn't picked Matt up any cranberry sauce for Christmas dinner, so I grabbed that too. I still felt like I was forgetting something (of course I didn't have a list!), so I called Matt and asked him what I could be forgetting. He couldn't think of anything. So, Elijah and I headed to the check out to get our things.
From there we headed to Old Navy to get a last minute gift for my sister and niece. I was so excited that they were coming for Christmas that I just HAD to get them something! After that we put gas in the van and headed home. We enjoyed our outing, but we were gone the entire morning.
In the afternoon we cleaned the house, worked on laundry, Matt and the kids worked on Jesus' birthday cake while I paid bills. Then we let the kids open a small gift. We usually do open one gift on Christmas Eve, but this year we couldn't make up our minds if we wanted them to open anything or not. We had to do a smaller amount of presents this year and didn't want the kids to feel like they weren't getting much on Christmas. Finally, around 3 we started playing with some of the toys the kids had gotten on Saturday. We played until around 4, then worked on our Advent devotionals. Around 4:30 we started getting ready for the Christmas Eve service at Church. I wanted everyone showered before we went to Church since we were going to be getting home a bit later.
We left the house around 5:40 because we ALWAYS hit a lot of traffic on our way to Pineville in the evenings. We got to church in record time. I don't know where everyone was, but we had NO traffic at all. It was amazing and so nice. We really enjoyed the Christmas Eve service and the reminder of what Christmas is all about. The kids, especially Elijah hadn't really wanted to go, to Elijah, it was a change because we didn't go to on last year, and he didn't want the change (he doesn't do well with change). But, once we got there, he was SO excited. He couldn't wait for it to start. He sang along with the songs and really enjoyed the service, we all did. It seemed short to me and I was a bit disappointed when it was over! I wasn't ready for it to end :)

On the way home, Matt asked me if I had gotten him any cool whip to go on his pie. Oops, that's what I had forgotten!!! I was like, nope, it was on my mental list, but forgot again at the store. We were like, no big deal, we pass a million stores on the way home...would you believe they had all closed early? (good for them, the workers could spend Christmas Eve with their families, but alas, no cool whip for Matt's pie!) We'll have to get it on Wednesday. After that we drove around our neighborhood checking out Christmas lights. We saw some interesting blow up decorations, Hello Kitty, Elmo, Snoopy, a Christmas Dog...it was nice.
We ended our evening with a family cuddle on mine and Matt's bed, great hugs, prayers and lots of love. We reminded our kids that they are the best gift that Matt and I have ever had, with the exception of Jesus. They truly are our precious gifts and we are blessed. I want them to know and understand that they are precious, even when Mommy is cranky and not treating them as if they are special. It really made Kayla smile to be reminded of what a precious gift she is. May we always remember to remind them every once in a while of what an amazing, precious gift they are. God is so good.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change life shifting shadows." James 1:17

Christmas with the Davis'

Saturday we had Christmas with Matt's family. It is really nice, having us all within an hour of each other, making it possible to celebrate Christmas together this year...the first time in 5 years!!!
All of us:

 Our little Mozart...

                                                  He really thought it was Graham Crackers!

A truck as big as the boy! 

A great picture of them:

                  Trying to get a picture of the boys with their Stompeez, but they are fast, so a little blurry!

                                                The littlest one getting into his presents :)

Grandpa helping open the little one's present...



I see it as a precious gift that we were all able to be together for Christmas this year. Everything changes and you never know what a year will bring. For this year, for this moment, I am so thankful for family time together. God is good, all the time! We had a great time, the kids were happy with their gifts. One highlight for me was when Kayla opened a gift from Aunt Lindsay and it was in a cereal box and Kayla looked at Lindsay and said "Thank you!" with a smile! She truly thought she got cereal. It was so funny!!!

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change life shifting shadows." James 1:17

 

Flying High

So, Matt and I haven't been out on a date in MONTHS...the last time we planned a date, I ended up with pneumonia and we spent the evening on the couch watching TV. Part of the reason we've not been going out is because we are on a budget and money has been tight. However, my mom sent us some money for Christmas and Matt made a little bit of money on his recent trip to Utah.
Yesterday, Matt and I had a date. It started with my CT scan, followed by a doctor's appointment (exciting stuff). The good news is that my CT scan showed perfect sinuses...no surgery in my future. The next step is to follow up with a neurologist and see what else could be causing sinus headaches and pressure.
When we finished there we went to Bass, which has always been my favorite clothing store. I can always go in there and find clothes and shoes that I want. Our trip there yesterday was disappointing. Their selection has gone way down and the prices on clothes has gone up. I left empty handed yesterday, although I found shoes I wanted! But, I didn't need them.
After that we went to TGI Friday's for dinner. It was soooooooooooo good. Again, it's been forever since we've been to a sit down restaurant and forever since we've had a meal without the kids. It was so nice to sit and talk and hold hands :)
After dinner we went to Old Navy, looking for some clothes. I haven't really shopped there much, but they had great prices and I got shirts! I was VERY excited to find some stuff that I liked. The prices were between $4-8!!
Our last stop of the night was Books-a-million. Matt and I are bookaholics...and again, forever since we've even been in a bookstore. We spent at least an hour wandering around looking at stuff. I ended up buying "The Circle Maker" which is a book my Sunday School class is going to work through in January. I also bought a homeschooling magazine and "Your Girl" by Vicki Courtney...it talks about how to raise a godly daughter in an ungodly world...looking forward to reading my new books!
I know it sounds silly, they were all simple little things. But, not having been able to do them in forever, it really made us appreciate it more and appreciate our time together more. I love being able to hang out with my best friend and spend time making that friendship stronger! God is good!!!


"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change life shifting shadows." James 1:17

8 months later

Well, it's been a long time since I've been on here. It's been so long that I forgot my website and password...but luckily had it written down.

To say that life has been busy would be an understatement. To say that time gets away from us, would also be an understatement. Some updates since my last post...

In the spring Kayla played soccer...

 

She is #4...

In April we went to Bible Quizzing Finals in Atlanta, Georgia. While we were there we went to the Coca-Cola factory, the Aquarium and visited with the Cowan family (friends from Singapore!).

 

Elijah with his friend Dano :)

                                                   Me and Amber (Dano's Mom)

Kayla placed 6th place @Regionals out of all the quizzers there!! All the girls on her team did amazing!!

 

In May, Matt and I celebrated our 13 year anniversary :)

 

We also met his sister Emily's son Nathan for the first time! (They had him while we were overseas)

We think he's a keeper :)

 

In June we were crazy busy...we did a family reunion with all my siblings and my mom...

All the kids....

My brother Jimmy "Bubba", my sisters Lori and Jennifer, me (holding Clara, who was stealing the show!) and my Mom, Margaret...can you tell we are related?! Love being closer to them again!

 

After the reunion, me, Matt and the kids headed off to Myrtle beach with Lori and her family...

We had a great time...the thing that made the trip amazing, is that it was my mom, sister and nephew's first time to the beach!!! It was really neat to see it through their perspective.

After that, my two nephews spent a week at my house...we went to the pool, Carowinds, Discovery Place, the McDowell Nature Center, parks....

 

 

 

After that, we took my nephews back to Indiana and spending another week with them there...we went to the Indianapolis Children's Museum, parks, the pool....

When we got back it was July and it passed in a blur as well...

We had our friends, Mark, Lynette, Katelyn and Alex here for a long weekend (friends we made in Singapore who now live in VA). Then we did a bunch of play dates, trips to Carowinds, the kids went to Children's Church camp for 5 days, in Asheville, (I worked on lesson plans), then we made another trip to TN...

Before we knew it it was August! The kids went to Vacation Bible School and spent 4 days with Grandpa and Grandma. When they got back it was time to start school!!! Kayla started 5th grade and Elijah started 2nd...

 

We meet with a Homeschooling Co-op on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3 weeks out of the month...Kayla was busy with Gymnastics on Tuesday afternoons, Elijah had soccer skills Monday afternoon, soccer practice on Tuesday afternoons and soccer games on Saturday mornings. They are both involved with Bible Quizzing at Church, which practices Sunday nights, and they have a Quiz Meet one Saturday morning a month. They are also involved in our Church's Caravan program (which is like scouts) (I do a ladies Bible Study during this time) and they meet on Wednesday nights. They are also involved in our Church's worship Arts program, which this semester was preparing for a Christmas program. Not to mention that we attend Sunday School and Sunday morning services on Sunday....

 

 

Did I mention Matt was the coach of Elijah's soccer team??? Isn't he cute?

Elijah did score a goal this season and we were/are so proud of him...

 

I also had a sleep study in August...the findings were insomnia...go figure...pills for that...

 

In September I went on a ladies retreat with my Church to Ridgecrest, North Carolina...it was a great time of relaxation and renewal...

I also took the kids on a field trip to Old Salem with my friend Julie in the middle of the month...we were studying colonial times in our State Geography and the kids really enjoyed seeing how people lived "back then."

 

 

October rolled around and we were as busy as ever...my sister Jennifer and her sweet family came to see us the first weekend, bringing her puppy as well...

 

 

 

 

 

We went to a play with our co-op, "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" and we loved it!!! Matt got to go with us :)

 

Elijah broke his arm at soccer skills...him and a few teammates decided to challenge the adults to soccer, after practice...the result was a grandmother kicked the ball and it hit him "just right." It didn't slow him down, at all and he played his next soccer game...

 

Kayla hit double digits...

 

 

Halloween...

Fall festival at Church...

 

November hit hard, but finally showed a slowing down in our schedule...Elijah finished up his soccer season...got his cast off (the arm healed nicely!)...Matt's sister Emily and her family moved back to the Charlotte area, after living in Washington for several years...we had Thanksgiving break...where we headed to Virginia to spend time with our friends, Marc and Lynette...also stopping in to see our friends George, Jill, Julie and Claire (friends from Nairobi, but living 25 min away from Lynette (Singapore)....it really is a small world...

 

 

 

 

Which brings us to December (aren't you thankful?!)...Matt went to Utah for two weeks of training...leaving me in charge of the house...I got my 4th illness in 2 months (sinus infection, pneumonia, sinus infection, bronchitis), ended up taking both kids to the doctor, they went on antibiotics, the kids had their Sunday school parties this month, dress rehearsal for their Christmas program, had their Christmas program and we were very thankful that Matt's whole family got to enjoy it with us! We wrapped up the term at co-op, Kayla finished gymnastics and decided not to pursue it next year, Matt returned from Utah and we finished up our semester today! The reason I've had time to finally update my blog...the kids have gone to their grandparents house :) They will spend two nights with them and we will get them back on Saturday when we celebrate Christmas with Matt's whole family!

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, that's what's been going on with us for the last few months...my health still continues to be an issue, I am off antibiotics, but not completely healed. I went to an ENT yesterday to see if the problem could be with my sinuses. I go tomorrow for a CT scan and then follow up with the ENT doctor again. I am praying for answers...sorry it's been so long since I've written...I will try to be a better manager of my time so it's not another 8 months before I am on here again...but I don't make any promises!

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change life shifting shadows." James 1:17

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trails of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." James 1:2-3