2010 is gonna be a good one..

Happy New Year's Eve to Everyone!

... we're starting our evening by playing dress up

with Kenzie....

then headed to hang out at my parents house

watch the typical shows, throw confetti,

wear silly hats and yell "happy new year."

Twice. Once on New York time.

Once our time.

I don't know about you,

but I'm looking forward to 2010!

From Snowy Texas...

I'm wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

It snowed for hours today.

A beautiful Christmas Eve.

Snow falling. Candle Light Christmas Service.

Christmas dinner and presents with some family.

Looking forward to seeing Kenzie's

face light up in the morning...

Project 320- Bonus Bundle

Give water this Christmas.

And get the chance to win

a HUGE bundle of handmade goodness!

Head on over here: Project 320

donate. and enter.

The bundle is worth over $1000!!

Because of an amazing outpouring of love 

and donations, Charity:Water will build a well that will give

clean water to a village in Africa.

And a second one is almost complete funded!!

Visit Project 320 to learn more, see the bundle, and donate!!

Time-Out.

If I did not already realize

how many times a day

I repetively ask Miss McKenzie,

"Do you need a time out?"

I would be fully aware now.

Because this morning she had her baby

and suddenly asked her,

"Need a time-out?"

And then baby apparently did indeed need one,

and was sent to time-out.

I smiled. Laughed out loud. Cherished the cute moment.

Today.

I've got lots to do.

Sewing.

Baking.

Wrapping.

cleaning.

Preparing for the

Four Seasons Market.

Not to mention,

trying to resist eating

EVERY. SINGLE. ONE.

of these little cupcakes my hubby brought home...

Trying to keep the reason for the season

at the front of my mind everyday.

And cherishing

every moment with my family.

Heather Bailey

Finally spent my birthday gift card.

I got pretty yummy goodies in the mail yesterday.

I was stoked!

(to say the very least)

Another one from our little christmas card shoot.

Searching.

Yesterday we visited a second new church.

I've been at our church for 22 years,

David's been there since he was born...

So this is a challenge.

Leaving our comfort zone.

Following a tug that's been gently pulling

at our hearts for some time now....

I'm embarrassed to say for how long.

Certain events finally kicked us in the butt

(for lack of better words)

and we visited the first church a few weeks ago.

It was wonderful. Different. Nothing bad to say at all.

I felt good about it. We felt good about it.

But, it felt as though we were still searching.

This past Sunday, we visited another church.

Just right down the road. Didn't even take us 2 minutes to get there.

As soon as we walked in,

we were cheerfully greeted.

And greeted again by several different people.

It was so warm, and welcoming.

Just as how I've always felt it should be.

what a breath of fresh air.

We were invited to Sunday School,

told where they meet.

Introduced to the man who leads it.

They were helpful, and caring, and involved.

again. Such a breath of fresh air.

And in worship service.

I felt so intensely,

the hands of God.

I felt His embrace,

like I haven't felt in years.

I was in awe.

Breaking.

Healing.

It was...

everything I needed,

and everything I didn't know I needed.

Tears in my eyes now,

as I remember the flood of emotions that

washed over me yesterday morning.

As I remember that closeness.

The yearning.

The comfort.

Everything.

We're still praying.

Returning back next week to try their earlier service

and the sunday school class that follows.

The uncertainty, at this point is caused by

our uncertainty in where we'll be living in a month.

Our lease is up, and we're looking for somewhere else to live.

I know that if this is where God has lead us.

If this is to be our church home,

He'll make it work.

... and just a sample from the many photos I took yesterday

for our Christmas cards:

Project 320

Pain and Suffering
makes us realize we're all broken
& we live in a broken world
Pain, suffering, and hardships
can bring us together,
make us see we're all the same.

I believe in miracles,
amazing amazing things,
can come out of the other side of pain.

Cora's Playground was an example of this.
It brought a community together,
it brought bloggers together,
Cora's Playground was built
and the love of Jesus and the hope we have because of him
was shared with so many people through the Cora's Playground fund,
and Jess and Joel's story of hope and faith.

I wish it hadn't of had to been what it was.
I wish that one sweet couple and sweet family
didn't have to endure that kind of heartache

And now I wish that children weren't dying
That mother's weren't burying those children.

... through the suffering and the pain they've endured
God's love will be shown to others,
shared with a broken world.

I am in constant awe of his love.
Of his grace.

And so thankful for the big heart he's given to Julie.
She has an amazing way of taking a need,
and finding the perfect, most awesome way of filling that need.

Project 320
supporting Charity:Water
Giving to those in need.
So they can have clean drinking water.
So they might not suffer.

Over 300 items have been donated for the prize bundles.
And many have already started giving the gift of water
before the bundles have even been shown.

To Give.
and win.
Go here: Project 320

Jingle Bells.

From the backseat of the car this evening:

"Jingle Bell, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bell...... Jingle allthe way"

Melt my heart into mush kind of a moment.

Kenzie, being your mama is a daily crazy adventure,

and one of the greatest blessings I believe I'll ever experience.

This year has passed much much too fast.

Where did the time go?

How is my baby almost 2?!

For Christmas this year, I'd love nothing more

than for time to slow down a bit...

Beautiful Sunsets.

What beauty!

I only had wished I was out in a wide open field

rather than driving through the city.

But it was still pretty stunning.

And some cutie patootie rose hairpins I made for this weekend's market.

Also, I'm an aunt as of yesterday!

My sister in law had a baby girl

(they didn't find out the sex till the baby was born)

She weighed 6lbs 7oz.

I wish I was in Pennsylvania getting the chance to meet her.

She's not even 2 yet.

At our house, we have 'unofficially'

entered the terrible twos.

Throwing tantrums at home, at restaurants, at Oma and Opa's...

Sunday we didn't make it to church, and were headed to brunch

with some friends... we were minutes from needing to leave,

And a time-out was needed.  

It wasn't even noon yet. 

Monday she hit me.

Time out again.

Then she threw tantrums 

about not wanting to sit in her highchair at dinner

and another one was necessary. 

Luckily, yesterday there was nothing 

that warranted a time-out.

But, I felt like I was going to pull my hair out 

by the time David got home.

And then there are those funny, cute, special perfect moments..

Like her singing and running back and forth in her crib 

after we've laid her down at night.

And all the things she can say and the sentences she forms.

Like pointing to her christmas tree and pronouncing,

"I LIKE it!".

Or her silly 'fake' giggle.

Or a million and one other things,

that make all the other  'bad' stuff 

feel like it's not that big of a deal.

Whether it's a day full of crazy.

Or one filled with hugs and kisses 

and an agreeable little girl.

I'm lucky to have her.

Blessed to be her mama.

But, it is much easier to remember that

when I'm being snuggled and kissed on

rather than when being hit with a toy.

Sometime Soon. Hawaii pictures.

Some day soon I might post pictures from Hawaii.

I've got 2 days sorted through, working on day 3-7.

I'm so lame.

I'm lame.

My blog is always neglected.

Probably because I still feel

I haven't found my voice with it, yet.

I have lots going on, and much to share.

And pictures I always want to show.

But, I just don't know how to throw it all together.

I don't know why this occurs...

I use to love to write, and tell stories and put my heart out there...

(those old days in which I had a xanga)

sigh.

The Four Seasons Market is still going

And I'll be out there for the next 3 Saturdays.

So... everyday I'm working on new pieces.

I finished 11 today... a very productive day

if I do say so.

The market takes my anxiety level up.

Makes me more self conscious than normal.

But, I LOVE it.

I love being in front of my potential costumers.

And even though I'm shy, I love meeting everyone.

I enjoy the immediate feedback I can get from a 'face to face' encounter.

Whatever feedback that may be.  Even if someone says nothing,

I can still gauge how my items are being perceived...

what needs work, etc.

We put up Kenzie's tree last week.

It was so much fun this year.

Last year she barely said a few words

and wasn't walking.

It's not more fun, just a different fun.

I cherished every moment of it,

and hope I'll never forget.

Hadn't seen my sweet baby cousin, Morgan, since April

Needless to say, she had changed a bunch by Thanksgiving.

Her 1st birthday was today (well, now yesterday).

McKenzie is just shy of being 2.

Morgan has the biggest, brightest blue eyes ever.

which don't come across in any of the three pictures here.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday

I enjoyed Black Friday insanity with my sister and friends

and then worked a lot and slept very little

getting ready for the market that saturday after.