Christmas Whirlwind

Well our Christmas weekend was packed with joy! We arrived at my parents at 930 Thursday night, after a 5.5 hour drive over a clear and dry pass! Spent Christmas eve lounging around then headed out to my Grandpa Bruce's house {my dad's side} It was so nice to see so much family! Those of you who didn't make it, you were truly missed!! After a ham feast and gifts and hanging out and watching all the second cousins playing we headed back to my parents to open our traditional Christmas eve PJs. Christmas morning we woke up had breakfast and opened gifts, then went to Grandma Stubb's and ate snacks and opened gifts and then headed out to my Aunt Sandy's and had a blast playing pool and cooking up a giant turkey feast and opened up even more gifts!! The kids were so excited! In fact, Ethan was so happy he kept running around asking what other presents say Ethan on them?! I had to tell him to hush ;) We went back to my parents and Sunday headed to our old church and saw {almost} everyone! That was such a treat! Afterwards we went out to my bro-in-laws place and had a post Christmas ham feast and got to hang out playing games and catching up and watching all the cousins {all 12 of them} play!! It was perfect. We left there and headed out to the Sconyers house where some of our friends came out to visit and play more games. We ended up leaving there around 330AM to return to my parents. Didn't get much sleep. Packed up double what we came with. And made our trek home. Again, over a clear and dry pass, thank the Lord! Unpacked and picked up and then opened up our gifts here...We got a Wii...so as exhausted as we all were, we stayed up until midnight playing before we fell over sleeping! {PS the kids went to bed around 9, they melted before us} So all in all? A wonderful whirlwind of a weekend!!

Lyla's Language + Translation

• maa-maa{very loudly} = mama
• pa-pa {in a whisper} = papa
• poo-poo = well you know
• yi-ya = Lyla
• na-na = banana
• moe = more
• eeese = cheese NOT please
• no-no = no
• aaaahhhhhhhhhhh =NOO!!!
• uh-huh = yes
• e-ya-ya = Elijah
• e-teh = Ethan
• meee-ma = mima
• ah-de = all done
• ah-ay = okay mama
• happy = happy
• i = eye
• no = nose
• mow = mouth
• ewe = ear
• hah = hair
• if she rubs her tummy = please
• if she pats her bottom = either trouble or diaper change
• ni-ni = goodnight
• falls down on the ground whining = why can't you understand me?!? or i don't want to! or i want THAT!! or hey! i had that first! or.......well you get the idea
• hi = hi
• eeee = eat!

That's all for now! :)

Sometimes we just need a little reminder...

The Past. Dreadful. Ugly. Wicked. Past. At least that is what mine is. I hate that I did the things I did. And that hurt came unto me. No one really knows my past...I do. God does. It's ugly. And every once in a while it comes back to haunt me. To bite me. To bring me down. And I just need a little reminder. Ever feel like that? I do. Not very often anymore. Thankfully. But, I do, occasionally....and it's hard. And sad. But I am so so thankful that on November 21, 2002 I was saved from a terrible path. Leading me straight to pit of hell. God changed my life and my path. At times I faltered, yes I did. I am no better than any other person. And in this walk of Christianity, there are still hurts and hang-ups.But I believe the bible with all my being. You may not. And for that I am sorry. But I do. I always knew there was a God. But I did not always KNOW him. He has forgiven my ugly, wicked past. He has even forgotten it. I have not. But He is merciful. He is faithful. He is my God. And I am his child. He loves me. He wants me. And for that I am thankful. So very thankful. Sometimes we just need a little reminder. That God is good. So good. And He doesn't want our past to haunt us. But to help us. And to help others. So when the time comes. I trust that the Lord is trying to teach me something. And in turn maybe I can help another along the way. And in doing so, it makes it all worth it. All the hurt and pain. And wicked ugliness. Makes me thankful. Yes thankful even for my past. In all it's ugliness. That I can use it to do something so little as serve the sweet Jesus who gave his life for mine...

So when my world is shaking, and my heart is breaking. I never leave Your hands...