Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday to the Greatest Mom Ever!
I was able to spend the weekend with my parents and grandfather. It was good to be with them. I hate that we don't live closer. I am fortunate to have wonderful parents. I am so glad that we have always had a close relationship. I couldn't have been blessed any more than being born into my family!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!
The kids are having a great day. They slept in the living room last night just in case Santa was real and not pretend like we have told them. They were very excited and enjoyed opening their presents. I have spent the day opening boxes, trying to actually get toys out of the packages and putting them together.
Julia got a digital camera. Not sure if that was a great idea after all. She has managed to take at least ten shots of my rear end. Those will not be posted on my blog. Perhaps she will have to start a blog of her own.
Hope everyone has a great holiday. I miss everyone and hope to see you soon!

Happy Birthday Paul!

Happy Birthday to my husband and best friend.
I am so glad he was born.

Miss Suzie Homemaker I am not!

If you want to know what I have been doing the past two days....
I have been making Truffles for the first and last time. Everyone online talked about how easy these were to make. I don't know where they got their definition of easy! I also made Chocolate Cherry Cookies, Reese's Peanut Butter Cup cookies, and Ginger Cookies.
I think I have had my fill of baking for awhile. Fortunately, I don't even feel like eating any of them. Hope everyone else enjoys them!!!

Harrison's first program

Harrison had his first program at school this week. He did a great job with all the hand motions and dancing, but forgot to sing!
He is in a very rotten stage. He is in destruction mode. He writes "H" on anything he can. Refuses to potty train. But he flashes that smile and says "I love you!" He is an Eddie Haskell in the making for sure. The last photo is of him taking a bow at the end of the show.

You are Mine

I am completely obsessed with this song, well Mute Math in general.
Their lyrics are amazing.
It makes me really think about what my "prized possession" is.
I don't think I have been this moved by an album since U2 Joshua Tree.

You Are Mine Lyrics
Artist(Band):Mute Math

Everyone has their obsession
Consuming thoughts, consuming time
They hold high their prized possession
That defines the meaning of their lives

You are mine
You are mine
You are mine, all mine
You are mine

There are objects of affection
That can mesmerize the soul
There is always one addiction
That just cannot be controlled

You are mine
You are mine
You are mine, all mine
You are mine

Everyone has their obsession
Consuming thoughts, consuming time
They hold high their prized possession
They hold high their prized possession

"You say it's your Birthday...."

Yes, it is my Birthday!
Sometimes I get nervous that I am going to be disappointed with my birthday. It is funny how I still look forward to them (even though the candles are multiplying). I think it starts as a child making such a big deal out of the day. It makes you feel like it is the one day that you are special. You get to set the rules for the day and according to Julia "get the first piece of cake."
It has been a really nice day. I was able to get up and go the the Y to workout while Paul took the kids out.
Lorie and I went and had coffee, and a stroll around Target. (thanks for the pants!)
When I got home Paul and the kids brought me cards, gifts and a cake!
Harrison actually took a nap, (so Paul and I did too!)
Tonight we are planning on going out for Mexican with some friends.
So, I would call that a successful birthday! (and I am not disappointed!)

I do feel special and loved today. I am blessed to have wonderful people in my life.

Relationships

I just got off the phone with a good friend and realized how blessed I am. I have so many wonderful relationships in my life. I know I am not the easiest person to deal with these days. I am thankful for each person in my life that loves me despite all my craziness!

Happy Birthday Lor-Lee

Happy Birthday to my sweet Lorie!
Thanks for letting us celebrate your special day together.
I love you!

Halloween a little late

I know I am only a little over a month late posting these, but they just got off my camera today!
We had a great Halloween party with our friends from church.
Steve was the winner of the pumpkin carving contest! (I won the costume contest, but no picture of me!)

Freedom

I cannot even begin to describe what God is doing in my life. It is huge!
I have found myself being stripped of every ounce of control I have in my life.
This is a very tough thing for me being the control freak that I am.
I have allowed my heart over the last oh almost 33 years to be hardened. I realized in telling my "story" in small group that God has always been a big part of my life, but I have been legalistic and self-righteous. I have followed all the "rules" in life not out of my love for Christ, but out of rule following to be the perfect person so that others would be impressed by my perfection. Ouch!
God has found me lying in the mud eating dirt. He has through some tough stuff that is going on showed me that I am not perfect. He showed me the dirt that I am settling for. He found me at the well and he has given me water to drink.
My heart feels a freedom that I have never felt before. It is good and it is scary at the same time. I am afraid of feeling prideful and falling in the dirt again.
I know that temptation will come my way and I will snack on a morsel of dirt every now and again. But I feel like I now know how to get to the water again.
I feel this love from Christ that I have not had before. I knew he loved me, but I had never felt this intimacy before.