ending well.

can you believe it? it's almost a new year! another year wrapped up in MUCH growing, in laughter, heartaches, great adventure, new life, sharing, falling, nurturing; a year of much. it is always amazing to look back and see where i went physically and spiritually.

i've been thinking about the end of this year and how to end well and start well. five days to be intentional. not sure what it will look like, but it will be time for rest and reconnecting with my heart in order to start well. there has certainly been a disconnect.

2009 highlights
1) Visiting Jess in Scotland
2) Tennessee
3) Holding Emma
4) New Tunes
5) ... You fill in.

2010 - I hope to blog more, laugh more, cry more, take pictures more, hike more, read more, sing more, live life more. See you then.

Cheers.

praying you sense Emmanuel's sweet peace today.

Oh Me. Oh My.

I have not blogged in ages. This seems to always be the start of blogs though. I can't catch you up so lets move forward and go see my sweet Emma. She's a keeper.

Winter is here. There was a week or two where it felt like the sun would never return! Thankfully it did this week. My spirit seems to be influenced by the weather.

I'm not in the typing mood so I'll end here, but wanted to share photos with you. I'll return soon. Surely we can have a conversation on here.

Monday-Saturday's I am up until midnight listening to IHOP . (International House of Prayer) IHOP is located in Kansas City. Right now revival is going on there. Healings that are pretty amazing. If you click on that link, click play in the large black square. I pray your heart is encouraged and challenged as mine has been. It's from 6 PM - 12 AM.

Blessings to you and yours.

Fotos.

I posted some pics of Anna on my photo blog. Go LOOK!

November 2nd?!?

Goodness gracious, where do the days go?! Where has the year gone? Pretty soon, if not already, we will be listening to the annoying Christmas songs over and over again in retail stores. Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas music - I am known for singing jingle bells year round amongst others - but come December I am sick of it all. Then I withdraw from singing for a month or so and pick up jingle bells again.

I wish I could tell you fascinating stories, but all I have is dirty diaper stories. Perhaps other things will come to mind.

Bananas change everything!!! Nathan is now 4 months and has started eating some solids. He wasn't having this whole rice cereal business, so one night for some excitement sake, we tested out bananas. The faces he made were pretty funny. It was like he was eating sour patch kids. So diapers. Since he's been eating bananas and sweet potatoes, I have been majorly pooped on and have had 3 other close calls!! Solids change everything; my clothes included.

Last week I took evening duty with both kiddos while Deb went to a work dinner. My predictions on how the night would go were completely altered as predicted. (ha) Anna did so well. She tried to test me on boundaries, but I was prepared and she was impressed. So while Nathan slept, we ate and then had a dance party. It's funny because when it's just me and Anna, I can totally get my groove on (jumping really), but if others are around, my legs go white. ha! Dance parties are pretty fun. I learn new dance moves from Anna and Deb all the time. The rest of the night went well with bath, books, rocking, praying and bed. Anna really is a joy to be around. Somewhere in between our routine Nathan demanded attention. Glad we all survived and everyone was fed, clean, clothed and sleeping when mommy got home.

This past weekend I got a little sick. No, it's not the pig, bird, donkey or whatever. I had been feeling yucky off and on later in the week, but a lot of it had to do with allergies. Saturday night though I had chills which equaled a fever of 100.5. Thankfully Sunday morning the fever was gone. I'm still snotty, but getting better.

I'm not sure how much the news has covered this story outside of Corpus Christi area, but last Wednesday 2 Lt. Navy Pilots went missing from my brother in laws squadron. These men were on a routine training flight not far from base when they lost communication. As of Friday, one body was found. Please pray for these 2 families. You can read some of the story here. Also, with this tragic news being close to home, it has heightened worries for our own family. Chris, my brother in law is a Lt. Navy Pilot like these men were. Chris and Shannon (my sister) just had their baby, Emma Grace, 2 weeks ago. Please pray for them as these last 2 weeks have been joy with Emma's arrival, but also tears from Chris' grandma passing away and loosing fellow pilots.

Wednesday I am taking Miss Anna out to do a photo shoot downtown. Should be loads of fun. I'm sure I will post pictures.

Well, looks like there was more to talk about than dirty diapers.
All is well. I am thankful for grace, patients, and communication.

Always growing.

All for now.

blessings.

PS: I'm watching a lady bug walk across my ceiling. I wonder where it's going. hmm ... You know there is a statistic that we eat a certain amount of bugs in our lifetime while sleeping. Hope I'm not eating lady bugs tonight.

PSS: Did you know that lady bugs smell when you kill them? It's not a lasting smell, but still a strange scent. Okay, sorry bug lovers, but I grossed myself out at the thought of eating a lady bug so I had to kill it. I'm sure something more dangerous will fly into my mouth now tonight.

Emma Grace.

Born October 16, 2009. 6 pounds. 19 inches.

I can't wait to hold her.

So happy for Chris and Shannon. And so thankful for skype. : )

great outdoors.

i went out on a hike this weekend. i'm hardcore; i hiked with toms shoes. my poor feet.

it was good alone time with my canon 40d and ipod. equally needed in my life.

i don't do this often, but here's a photo i will let you steal. it's full pixels. perhaps your fall background? enjoy.

In other news, my niece, Emma Grace, will grace us with her presence this Friday! So looking forward to meeting her and watching her grow.