2013

Since we got home on Friday, life has been a whirlwind.  I'm truly exhuasted, and if I stop to think about it, very overwhelmed.  Josh started back to work the minute we unloaded the car.  In addition to 2 a day practices, he's had to arrange all meals (I've prepared dinner every night,) and supervise the dorms at night He's also had to make a late night run to Memphis to pick up a player at the airport.

It took me 2 full days of unpacking, organizing, and cleaning to even make a dent in the housework.  Plus, the girls have both been under the weather and had a doctor's visit.  They've both had a hard time adjusting to normal bed times and wake up times and Langley is so obsessed with some of her new things that she's woken up in the middle of the night (think 3,4 am) to PLAY.  And, she's coughing.  The cough is not fun for anyone.  Mommy is tired.

Tonight is our annual team Christmas party!  I'm looking forward to it; the girls will watch a lot of tv/movies today so I can cook and prepare.  Just keeping it real.

2012 and 2013 were the hardest years of my life. 2013 definitely got better as the year went on, but I'm excited to see what 2014 will hold.

Top 5 in 2013
1.  Selling our house!
2.  Trip to North Carolina for FCA Coach's retreat
3.  Josh being inducted into the CBC sports hall of fame, our Eagles setting a school record with 19 wins last season
4.  Taking Langley to the circus and disney live; taking her and Aubrey to the movies, to the beach, and on the "grandparent tour"
5.  Watching the girls experience Christmas.  They loved the music, the decorations, the lights, celebrating Jesus' birthday, the treats, and the presents.


Here are my bible verses for 2013. Again, looking back, each verse fit perfectly what we were going through at the time:

• The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.  Deuteronomy 33:2

• My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.  Psalm 73:26

• Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.  Psalm 27:14

• Surely You have granted me eternal blessings and made me glad with the joy of your presence.  Psalm 21:6

• In Your unfailing love you'll lead the people you've redeemed.  In your strength, you'll guide them to your holy dwelling.  Exodus 15:13

• Be imitators of God...and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up.  Ephesians 5:1-2

• I will praise You forever for what you have done; in Your name I will hope, for Your name is good.  Psalm 52:9

• You are my lamp, O Lord; You turn my darkness into light.  2 Samuel 22:29

• Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known to the nations what He has done.  1 Chronicles 16:8

• Stand firm, let nothing move you...you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.  1 Corinthians 15:58

• Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.  Deuteronomy 6:6

Christmas in Pictures

The girls had a great Christmas!  They loved everything about it, and brought joy to everyone around them.

I took a few pictures on my real camera, but they are currently stuck there.  Hopefully I can retrieve them soon, but for now, here are the phone/facebook pictures of our  holiday.

Christmas is Over?!

Someone is not ready for Christmas to be over...

Santa 2013

Classic

Langley's Big Haircut

December 3, 2013

11 inches cut off !

Baby, it's cold outside...

...but the sun is out today!!

Melt!  Melt!  Melt!

We've tried to make the best of the last 5 days.  I am NOT A FAN of winter weather.  So, don't let these smiling pictures fool you, we've had our moments!

Iced In

We had a winter storm.   It started Thursday night and the roads are still icy. We've been out of the house twice. The college canceled finals and the public schools are still out. Praying for above freezing temps!! We are very thankful we never lost power.

The Holiday Season

This may be our best Christmas ever.  The girls, their ages, and many other blessing from the Lord are allowing us to just have a festive, happy, fun time of the year.  The past few years have not been like this, so it really is exciting.

We had a nice, low key Thanksgiving with my mom and nanny here.  They brought the food.  We ate the most delicious food and didn't have to do anything.  Winning.  We just ate, visited, and rested.

I did go to WM that night because of the $9 crock pot and the $5 disney princess.  I was a first-timer with the whole black friday/thursday thing.  It was crazy.  But, successful.  And, I just wanted to get out of the house.

We started decorating for Christmas over the weekend.  The team came over for dinner on Sunday night, and yesterday I put up 2 more trees and cleaned up from the night before.  Yes, I have 3 trees.  yes, it is excessive, but the girls LOVE it.  They are in awe.

A highlight of my 31 years happened last night as both girls sat in my lap and we watched Charlie Brown Christmas with only the lights of the trees on.  Such a sweet moment.

It's a hectic time and we are expecting a winter storm, but I'm just trying to soak in all the good.  Christmas is good.  We celebrate the birth of our Savior, the love of family, and the joy of friends and loved ones!

Too Cold for an Outdoor Activity

So we drove up into Missouri to the Bootheel youth museum. The girls had lots of fun!