2008 Awards

Well, I haven't been the best blogger as of late (I've been in a bit of a hibernation) but I thought I should get one last post in before the new year. So here is my small year in review.

WELCOME TO THE 2008 AWARDS!!!

LIFETIME SERVICE AWARD -(longest friend)
My older sister, Judy. We have gotten closer this year and it has been fun to become better friends as well as sisters.

NEWCOMER AWARD - (coolest new friend)
My neighbor Helena. I have been able to get to know her more this year through the friendship of our two dear daughters. She is quite witty and creative. I always enjoy our talks together.

BOSOM FRIEND AWARD:
My dear friend Joslyn. "True friends are always together in spirit" (Miss Stacey--Anne of Green Gables)...even though we don't see or talk to each other daily you are my true friend (as Talia calls it). My prayer partner, encourager, cheerleader, secret keeper, ministry dreamer, giggle maker, Starbucks sharer, and theologian discusser. I miss you dearly and am so thankful for you!

SHOUT OUT SUPPORT AWARD:
This has to go to two groups of women.
1. My Grace Group gals. Through the Grace Group process I learned a lot about myself and the Lord started a work in me this last Spring. I have to give a Shout Out to the support, encouragement and listening that group of women gave me.
2. My Pirate girls. A tidal wave of friendship....it ebbs and flows as life brings changes and challenges. I'm so thankful for each of you my pioneer women!!

HIGH POINT OF THE YEAR:
Becoming a family of four in May. Our sweet Liliana Hope makes me smile every day and I am so thankful that God has blessed us with her.

LOW POINT OF THE YEAR:
God has been very faithful to me and while there have been some low points I know that God has used them to change me and mold me into who He has created me to be. I will say though that having my dear friend, Joslyn move away has been a quite a low point but I know full well that the Lord is using her and her dear family for His purposes.

BEST HOLIDAY:
Christmas…..especially fun this year as Talia has grown more in her faith and in her imagination. To see her enjoy the excitement of the season and to ask even more questions about our dear Savior’s birth.

BEST FOOD FOR 2008:
Subway after having Lil of course.

YOUR SONG FOR 2008:
“Mighty to Save” by Hillsong United

MOVIE FOR 2008:
Bella

WHO WAS YOUR BEST KISS:
K$ of course!

WHO DID YOU SPEND VALENTINES DAY WITH:
My sweetie…low-key but wonderful.

FAVORITE PASTTIME OF THE YEAR:
Reading and blogging (even though I haven’t been keeping up with blogging)

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR:
El Paraiso (Snohomish)

BOOK OF THE YEAR:
Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers (even though I have had these books for years, I finally read through them….they are WONDERFUL!!)
I also discovered Lori Wick this year (Thank you Amber M. for introducing me to her books & Amanda & Kaitlyn for supplying my habit).

BEST DECISION MADE THIS YEAR:
To have Kyle go back to the City of Bellevue

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR:
DISNEYLAND!!, Go to my sister Judy’s wedding in June, Whistler in August, Have Kyle finish grad school (Yippee!!), continue to pray/research homeschooling, de-clutter my house (again), read more & watch less T.V.(Also, see resolution question)

TV SHOW OF THE YEAR:
Toss up for me as I am still stuck in the reality show rut….Amazing Race, Biggest Loser & Survivor. Also very partial to “The Office”.

BIGGEST CHANGE OF THE YEAR:
Adding a new member of our family and Kyle changing jobs.

NEW YEAR RESOLUTION:
I’ve never been good at keeping a resolution so instead I will make some small goals and will offer myself some grace if I struggle in keeping them. All in all I would love to grow closer to the Lord this year, grow in disciple to spend more time in His word, help my husband more, give my children more undivided attention, be better at balancing my time, spend more time connecting with my friends, be a better housekeeper, and be a better communicator.

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT OF 2008:
Having our sweet Liliana Hope join our family. Becoming a family of four has been sweet, challenging and joyful all together.

LONG LOST FRIEND OF 2008:
Lots of different friends I’ve reconnected with on Facebook.

JUST WON’T GO AWAY AWARD:
Cleaning the house, just when I think I’m on top of it all it just gets dirty again!

GOING THE DISTANCE AWARD:
Goes to Kyle….he continues to amaze me as he balances working full-time, going to grad school full-time, being a daddy, a husband, and a friend. He has a lot on his plate!!

REFLECTIONS WITH THE LORD AWARD:
While there have been many things that the Lord has taught me, reminded me and had me reflect on this year here are the top threeish--
1. His grace is sufficient for me.
2. He has created me for His unique purposes, in His image and that I am His child.
3. In order to truly be His disciple I must lose my life to find it.

WRAP UP:
This year has been full of memories and great experiences. I am amazed at how the Lord has blessed me with the life I have. I am thankful for so many things but most of all His saving grace, my husband, my daughters, friends and family. I look forward with anticipation to what 2009 brings!

Thankful

Thankful......

For my Savior who created me, redeemed me, loved me, covered me, protected me, rescued me...

My husband who loves me just as I am, works hard to provide for his family, & is my best friend.

My children who smile at me, teach me, challenge me, hug me, giggle at me.

My warm, cozy house.

Two vehicles that run well.

Food in our pantry, clothes on our backs, love in our hearts.

My family.

My friends who encourage me, cry with me, laugh with me, keep me accountable.

Psalm 100

"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the Lord is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations."

Quotes of the Week

Yesterday's random conversation at lunch....
Talia: "Mom, I like church picnics like at Grace Fellowship."
Me: "Oh (thinking what made Tal think of this?)......why do you like them?"
Talia: "Because you eat food at them, especially hot dogs....yummy!"

Tal: "Mom, who is my husband going to be?"
Me: "I don't know Tal, but I know that God knows if that is part of His plan for you."
Tal: "God will tell me when I'm older right Mom?"
Me: "Yes, Tal...when you are much older."
(I don't know why she thinks about her husband so much but this is usually a weekly conversation.)

Tal: "Mom, when is the last of the last days."
Me: "I don't know Tal, only God knows."
Tal: "Mom, I know God will tell us when it's time, right?."
Me: "Yes, Tal"

As I have mentioned before in this previous post Tal's preschool teacher will often ask the kids a question and then put their responses out for the parents to peek at while they are waiting for the kids to be finished with class. Today's question was "What gift would you give Jesus?" Tal's response was "I would give Jesus my friends." When I asked her about this on the ride home she said that she wanted to give Jesus her friends because they need to know His love. Pure joy to this Momma's heart. I pray that Tal's example would be a reminder to me to be continually lifting up those who don't have personal relationship with Jesus.

Kind of Flashback Friday

Talia 7 months

Liliana 7 months

Meditating on.....

Hebrews 4:12
"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

2 Timothy 3:16-17
"All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

7 months in....

Another month has flown by and Lil' is now 7 months old!

She is a happy, curious, sometimes serious, smiley girl.

This past month she has been full into trying new foods and now eats: sweet potatoes, peas, carrots, turkey, chicken, apples, apricots, peaches, pears, winter squash, butternut squash, bananas, oatmeal, green beans, and cheerios...on to new things this next month.

She isn't crawling yet but can make her way around a room just fine by rolling over, scooting and pushing herself around.

As you can see below she has been experimenting with her voice and loves to "talk" to us.

She loves her big sister and shows it by lighting up when she sees Tal.

She is getting more comfortable with new people (still likes to be able to see Mom).

Such a delight to see her grow and change!

Can't wait to see what this next month brings!

Yes, I'm trying to have her say my name first......

Semi-Wordless Wednesday~My girls

My little bookworm

Kyle found another tub of books from my classroom

buried underneath the Christmas decorations.

Tal was tickled with new books to read.

If it wasn't for bath/bedtime she would

have been there for a couple of more hours.

My little "screecher"

Someone has found their voice!

Feelin' yucky

Mastitis=No fun

Praise God for Drs. & antibotics

Oh happy day

Paid $1.89 per gallon to fill up the mini-van this morning.

Candy Cane Joe-Joes (Trader Joe cookies)~oh, yummy goodness!

Spending time with Jesus.

Watching "The Star of Christmas" Veggie Tale with Tal and giggling together.

Digging out my "Listening Center" from my classroom complete with 20 different book-on-tape sets for Tal to start listening to.

Finding a leotard/tu-tu for Tal at a good price at a consignment store.

Praying for friends.

Cuddling and playing with Lil'

Seeing the sun come out.

Knowing Kyle gets home in about 4 more hours.

A good day indeed.

Wordless Wednesday~Playing Together

Just another Monday night

Complete with sushi & a cute chicken...

And of course....Lil

(who is rolling over, scooting across rooms now)

I've emerged.....

Where have I been everyone keeps asking me...why I haven't been blogging lately. I've been in sort a hibernation lately. Kyle went on a business trip about a month ago and I just didn't have time to blog that week as I was flying solo and then after he got back days went by with no blogging, then a week and now a month. So I will try slowly to catch all of you up on the happenings in my life. I will say though that I have been planning for a while now to take over Kyle's grad school laptop so I can blog in the family room on the couch...and now that I have accomplished that goal there may be more blogging in my future. So here is what I've been up to:

• Finished up Talia's soccer season (Very happy it's all done)
• Working on a discipleship study with our community group
• Meeting up with old & new friends on Facebook
• Watched "Bella"....if you haven't seen it, watch it! It's a wonderful movie
• Co-hosted a baby shower for a good neighborhood friend
• Reading through some new Lori Wick books
• Tal had an ear infection and Lil is still teething...both kept me pretty busy
• Trying somewhat successfully to declutter my house again
• Organize/Go through my old classroom boxes....what to keep, what to throw away!
• Contemplating home schooling...reading, praying, thinking
• Broke up with MOPS
• Lil' starting solid foods
• Playing "Candyland" & "Go Fish" over & over again
• Visited with some old but good friends
• Early Christmas shopping
• Laundry, laundry, laundry....
• Reflecting, praying, responding to what God is teaching me right now

Prayer

Please pray for my Mom as she has been home sick this week with pneumonia.

Thank you!

Happy Birthday Heather!!

Sister in Christ

Kindred Spirit

Encourager

Thinker

Good advice giver

Challenger

Truth seeker

Crafter

Cheerleader

Co-wall-flower

Genuine

The real deal!!

So thankful to call you friend,

I love you!

Happy Birthday Heather!!

(*I tried to make the font red but it looked too funny with my dark background...so I had to settle for a light "shade" of red)

Wordless Wednesday

Six months in....

Liliana's stats at six months:

18 lbs. 1.5oz. 26"

• rolling over in both directions
• trying to scoot
• almost sitting up by herself
• moving toys from one hand to the next
• still taking 3 naps
• gives open mouth kisses
• likes to drink water from a cup
• loves her mommy, sister and daddy
• trying to turn the pages in books
• loves her thumb
• is ticklish
• calms down when I sing "Open the eyes of my Heart"
• making all sorts of sounds & jabbers....the latest sounds pretty close to "da, da"
• recognizes her own name
• still likes to splash at bathtime
• enjoys grabbing and sucking on her toes
• likes peek-a-boo (us doing it and Lil doing it by herself)
• is weary of strangers
• giggles when I make a buzzing bee sound
• likes to be cuddled & tickled
• is teething ALOT..(wish they would come in!)
• usually sleeps through the night
• still spits up
• so far likes sweet potatoes & peas
• fascinated by her reflection in the mirror
• Happy, healthy, joyful, loved little girl!
  

1/2 a year old already!!

Much needed prayer

I haven't had a chance to play catch up on blog posts from this past week but the following post is much more important now. I was blog hopping this evening when I came across this post from Amanda Jones' blog (she is Beth Moore's daughter). As I read through the post my heart just broke for this family and I feel a strong need for all of us to be praying. I don't know this young woman, Kristi but I do know from Amanda's post that she is a sister in Christ who is very sick. This young woman is a wife, a mommy, a daughter, a friend who is fighting for her life. Each of us come with baggage in our lives everyday, many things on our hearts and minds, things we are in the midst of but please take time to pray for this young woman. Please lift up her family, her doctors, her friends. I can't imagine what it would be like to be in her situation. I love that the body of Christ works together...that even though I don't know Kristi or even Amanda for that matter I can still pray for them and lift up these dear ones to the One that we all have in common, our precious Lord Jesus. Please be praying with me.

For Aunt Judy

Proof that Tal plays with all her princesses

My happy girl

Flashback Friday

Talia at 5 months
Liliana at 5 months

Things I don't want to forget #5-8

#5. Liliana waking up...she get so excited to see me

(Sorry the video isn't the best quality)

6. The look of discovery when Liliana explores or sees something new. Yesterday we were out running errands and she was watching the leaves blow in the wind. So simple....such a delight to watch her.

7. Talia getting her step stool from the bathroom so she can talk to her sister while I'm changing her diaper. In the morning she usually says "Good morning baby cakes"....she only calls her "baby cakes" in the morning.

8. The way the Liliana kicks her little pudgy toes in the bathtub. She is trying to sit up and reach her toes all at the same time as she squeals with joy.

Quotes of the Week

Me: "Tal what do you want for breakfast?"
Tal: ".....ummm, pancakes!"
Me: "Oh, we actually don't have time for pancakes because you have school this morning."
Tal: "Okay, we then I'd like a hamburger."

Me: "Do you want a ponytail or braids today?"
Tal: "I want a Jesus ponytail."
Me: "A Jesus ponytail?"
Tal: "Yeah, a Jesus ponytail....strong and mighty"

At Tal's preschool, the teachers asks the kiddos a question about once a week and then puts the answers on a clipboard where the parents can see the answers when they are waiting for the kids to come out. This week's question was: "Why are you special?" Tal's answer was: "I am special because I am different." When I asked her about this she said because "God made me special....no one else is just like me".....it made this Mommy's heart smile.

Talia's first post

Trying out Daddy's new shoes
Pretending to go to work like Daddy...

Tal was pretending to go catch the bus to Bellevue
"I love it when my Daddy tickles me...it's my favorite.

He works so hard for me, for our family.

I like to go to the Aquarium with Daddy.

My Daddy loves me, my mommy, my baby sister, Jesus and his family.

We like to play games together.

I love it when my Daddy takes me out to lunch...at Red Robin...yummy!"

I love my Daddy!

Wordless Wednesday

Things I don't want to forget: #1-4

1. Talia often sings when she prays. It always delights my heart and makes me smile.

2. Liliana is a smiler. She smiled for the first time at 3 weeks. Her smiles are so big they usually take up half of her face. I love it!

3. Tal thinks it’s very funny if you say “what’s it” when you are talking. If it every comes up in conversation…she will stop you and say “Mama, you said…what’s it”…usually followed by the following: “Was that your best joke?”.

4. When Lil is ready for a nap, she turns her head to one side and starts sucking her thumb. I often will give her some kisses on her cheek when she does this. She smiles while still sucking her thumb and lately she has been reaching her other hand up to touch my face and try to hug me.

Diggin' it

I may be behind the times as I am just discovering this song but I LOVE it. It pretty much sums up my heart in a bottle right now. (Sorry for the cheesy YouTube link & video)

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?"

~Matthew 16:24-26

Kyle's solution to the financial crisis

After having a discussion this morning about our grocery bill and the cost of food Kyle shared with me his new plan.

Kyle: "We will just start making food out of flour and water....some sort of nutritional paste."

Talia: "YUCKY!!!"

I personally think it could become a staple (for the compound??).

Quote of the morning...

Talia: "Mom, where's my blueberry muffin doll shoes?"

Me: "I don't know Tal, you better ask your dad or his friends....they were throwing them last night."

Kyle: (very serious tone) "We were not throwing them...we were flicking."

Still haven't found the shoe.

Anyone watch "The Office" last night?

Not sure if any of you are Office fans. Last night's episode was pretty funny. I couldn't stop laughing the entire episode. Here was one of my favorite clips.

Flashback Friday~For Aunt Judy

My older sister Judy is a manager of a Starbucks in San Diego...her store is closing today so I am hoping that these pics will cheer her up a little bit.

Judy~

Hope these make you giggle as you get through this day.

You are prayed for often and loved very much!

Psalm 121

"I lift my eyes to the hills--

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip--

he who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, he who watches over Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you--

the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm--

he will watch over your life;

the Lord will watch over your coming and going

both now and forevermore."

Tee-hee
Sisters
Nice hair huh? Even better are the cabbage patch sweater vests...we were stylin'!

Me in my "Flashdance sweater pjs"...NICE!!

Playdate

Tal is having her one of her friends over right now while her mommy goes to a hair appointment....pretty cute to hear two little girls giggling and talking as they play.

A few quotes I've heard so far...

"No, thank you I don't want to play with that because I'm a mermaid and I live under water."

"I'm a princess and that's what my plan is."

"Uh-oh, oopsy, doopsy."

"I want you to say "oopsy, doopsy" every time you have an accident....okay."

"What was that...you like to play with boy toys?"

"Toss the toy under the sea for me to catch...cause I'm a mermaid."

"Let's play ponies....YEAH!!!"

"Oh...I love you...you are the best kid I ever seen"

"Oh, I love you too Talia."

Wordless Wednesday

Although......

Any of these would be okay too....

Disneyland
Paris
Cancun
Ireland

Wishin'

I'd like to go here
Swim in the ocean and lay out in the sun reading a Lori Wick book
While drinking one of these
Maybe trying to do this again (the 1st time I did this it didn't go so well)
And definetly soaking in many of these

Feeling word: Exhausted

Both girls up two times in the middle of the night (each at separate times) makes for a tired and cranky mommy. I was thinking about this post last night. I remember when I wrote it thinking that around September or October I would be getting more sleep....I must have been day dreaming because I am not getting much. Once again I don't want to wish this first year away with Liliana but at times I am tempted to do just that as I am so tired. I am going to try to be optimistic and have a better attitude...now if I could just keep my eyes open.

My sweet girls

Flashback Friday~5 months today!

Quote of the Day

Some houses try to hide that fact
That children shelter there.
Ours boasts of it quite openly--
The signs are everywhere.
For smears are on the windows,
Little smudges on the doors.
I should apologize, I guess,
For toys strewn on the floor.
But I sat down with the children
And we played and laughed and read.
And if the bathtub doesn't shine
Their eyes will shine instead.
For when, at times, I'm forced to choose
The one job or the other,
I want to have a lovely house,
But first I'll be a mother.
--Author Unknown

Good Ol' Fashioned Fun

Since Talia has been hit & miss with her naps lately (mostly misses) I have decided that I am tired of fighting her on this. In the last couple of weeks she has napped one time and the rest of the time I spend trying to get her to stay in her room for some quiet time. So today I thought instead of fighting this I would have her have some quiet time outside of her room for a change. What does a Mom do with a long rainy afternoon....build a tent of course. Tal and I had a picnic lunch under the tent and then we relaxed together. I didn't get any chores done but my little girl sure had a fun time. Maybe we'll try quiet time tomorrow....or maybe we'll develop a new routine of some combo of Mommy chore time/Talia quiet time. In the meantime, I'm gonna go cuddle with my gal who before I know it will be too big to fit under a homemade tent.

(*Note: the Strawberry Shortcake dress-up)

Semi-Wordless Wednesday

(Tal, Daddy & Mommy Friday movie night)
(Do you think Liliana is stashing nuts for the winter in those cheeks?)

Today

Current feeling word: Cranky!