Perfection at Slacking

     Oh, lord...here I go again!  I made a promise to myself to be more consistent with my blogging and the best I can do is be consistent at not blogging.  I keep putting it off telling mysefl "wait until I can load some pictures up".  Well, we all know how good at that I am!  

But someone today, who is quite special to me, cleared my view and reminded me of the peace that I have in my life :)  I was so blessed to see an old but very dear friend, Melodi, as she was passing through the area visiting her family for the holidays.  I also got to finally meet her dear hubby and 2 adorable little boys!  I only wish we could have had an entire day to spend together, catching up and enjoying each other.  The first time I met her was in 2000 and to this day she still has such an emulating spirit about her.  I love the way I feel, spiritually, when I am in her presence. So how could I not get on an blog about seeing her!!  I only wish I had a picture of us, but it was a quick and short visit :(  You should see how crafty my friend is, check out her blog http://www.sparetyme.blogspot.com/ she puts us all to shame!

I had a wonderful time at my grandma's 90th birthday party on November 6 in NY!!  She looks absolutely beautiful and so energetic.  It was a fast visit, Friday to Sunday, but well worth the stress of getting there!  I took Ashlynn with me, as she was the 8th great-grandchild and the only one she had not see at that point.  She was so excited and pleased to finally see her.  I enjoyed some much needed time with my Dad, step-mom and awesome step-siblings (gotta love my neices who are the girls ages!)  Hopefully we can make the bi-annual family trip home this summer. 

Josh and I celebrated 6 years of marriage on the 23rd!!  It has been 6 years of many struggles but we have been able to stay focused on what is important and see the many blessings of life.  One day, I know in my heart, both of our lives will be forever changed.

The holidays are such a wonderful time of year, yet as each year passes I find myself more disappointed in our society.  What I have always loved as family time spent appreciating all that we have has turned into a mass media and society rush to spend money on so-called "great deals".  I wonder, if God charged to get into heaven, just how much of a "black friday" would he have if he ran sales?  Sadly, those who need Him most still would not have the resources to get in.  Or would they?  I always try to put forth more effort to the less fortunate (homeless) this time of year, but am starting to see that it is also the "wealthy" that need Christ just as much if not more.  I see so many people spending money on "things" and for themselves.  They all want the biggest, best, most technological items.  How sad that they may go to bed each night without the knowldege of salvation, that there is a life so much better.  Do they know what would happen to them if they died in their sleep?

I am eternely grateful for what God has blessed me with.  Friends, family, health and home.  I am not perfect.  But He knows that, and it is my strive to be a better Christian that He sees and looks favorably upon.  These next few months will be a struggle for my family as I work more than double my usual schedule, but the Lord has heard the words of my heart and is blessing my family.  His strength and love will carry us through and be the rock that allows me to maintain some sanity and be a serene example amongst the chaos that will more than likey prevail at times. 

She's got....PERSONALITY!

Oh....don't let that sweet sleeping innocent face fool you.  "Aww, she is so beautiful", "What a cute sweet baby"...wait until she opens her eyes and decides that to speak.  HO-LY. COW!!  This girl is showing her personality and it hovers between a loud yankee (me) and a stubborn scots-irish (dad).  Let's just say she knows what she wants, when she wants it and how to make it know that she want's it now.  She has me wrapped around her cute little finger and I admit it.  How could I resist holding and loving her??  She's the final in a line of 4, the baby that will only be a baby for a short while and I will cherish this time as much as I want.  Yea, I may be part of the problem but I do not forsee any permanent problems.  Hopefully, she will outgrow this phase, but if not...then we will figure out what kind of parenting skills we will come up to deal with it.  In the meantime, I'll suffer through the sleep-fighting where she arches her back and screams like she's in pain, the stiffening and screaming each time I put her in the high chair and every time I walk out of sight.  It's only a matter of time before CPS shows up at my door inquiring about abuse or neglect.  Or the Police come to issue me a noise citation for her decibal use.  I pity my neighbors when the front door and windows are open :) But hey, I gotta have some cool autumn air in the house!

Winsor Meadows HOA Fall Festival 2010

The girls had a blast with halloween this year!  To boot...they got the exact costumes they wanted!!  Abby, a cat and Keara Tinkerbell.  I'm not a fan of halloween as I don't see it as a holiday or celebratory day, but I gave in and we did the trick or treating.  Normally we only partake in the Fall Festivals and everything to do with the Thanksgiving Holiday.  

More importantly....I voted. Have you?