Christmas Day 2009

Right now as I write this it's SNOWING light fluffy flakes outside! It started about 6:30 last night on Christmas Eve. When we went into church for the Christmas Eve service in was raining and when we came out it was SNOWING. Now I am not a real fan of snow, but on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, WOW! This never happens so perfectly! God knew all in Iowa needed to have a WHITE Christmas. Christ does wash our sins whiter than snow, and what a wonderful thing!

This is a bitter sweet Christmas for me. We are leaving for Texas on the 30th. We will be spending the New Year in a rental home near Wayside Church. John's new place of work. And we hope it also becomes our new family. I say new family because leaving our family here in Iowa is going to be very hard. John's sister Jenn told me last night that she is making the kids a box of gifts to open on our way to San Antonio. Now for the whole trip the kids get to open a new thing about every few hours. What a BLESSING! I don't even have to think about that. We will be reminded of Aunt Jenn the whole way down.

My mom went to Hallmark and bought one of those books you can record your voice and the kids will be able to hear my mom read them a story any time they want to! When they opened the book this morning mom's voice started reading! It brought tears to my eyes! I almost could not compose myself. Mom also got emotional, we got through it! The kids will really enjoy this!

John car had to have a new starter this month. What can I say, when it rains it pours. What a blessing to be surprise with his parents helping us out with that expense! Wow, we did not see that coming. I also need to say a big thank you for ALL the babysitting they have done this month. We are going to miss that!

As I still feel a peace about leaving Des Moines, tears will be flowing when we drive away from the loving ones that mean so much to us. God has blessed us with TWO sets of Godly Christian families. This Christmas has been so special! I think one of my all time favs!

OK, before I end up in tears right now, from the snow to family and the wonderful birth of Christ this truly has been a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

John told me to post!

Ok, John just told me that it had been two weeks since I had last posted some thoughts, so here goes.

We are now living with the Stark's. We will be here until the 30th of December. John is going to finish the last newspaper of the year at FFC that week. So, Wednesday morning we will drive to San Antonio! I have had some fear this week about leaving my home town. We are still trying to figure out if we should buy or rent. Your prayers would be appreciated!

This week on Thursday, Ean vomited up his morning milk. Only at Grandma's would this happen. He choked on some mucas and was after a nap was asking for food and drink. I am so glad that he was not sick!

That same day, after her nap, Emma decided to color Grandma Mary's desk with a BLUE sharpie maker. Yes, once again, only at Grandma's. Who would have thought that a Scubbing Bubbles wipe would get marker of a computer screen, yes, I did say the computer screen! I did get most of the mess up, but Emma still has maker all over her tummy. Thankful for a Grandma who gave Emma a hug and kiss after we told her what happened. Yes, Emma is loved very much!

I hope that my posts in the future will be less messy and gross. I am also thankful that I was not even home to help clean up Ean. Dad and Grandma helped with that.

Did I metion that chili and fresh baked cookies awaited me after my long morning at work today? Are we sure we want to move away?!

Name?

Still trying to think of a cool name for my blog. I love my sisters "simply Judy" cute!

Maybe I will just keep changing it every once and a while. Not really sure I want to use my name? Hmmm...

Tag, your it!

Jayme put me up to this, so I will try and finish it today!

1. What were you doing 10 years ago?

I had been married for 4 months to my husband John. We lived in Beaverdale in a cute little two bedroom house with a BIG tree out front! I was working at First Bank in WDM as a teller.

2. What are five things on you to do list?

Shop for food.
Laundry.
Pack clothes for two months.
Finish making dinner.
Clean kitchen.

3. What are the snacks you enjoy?

Chocolate, cookies, chocolate, cake, chocolate, take five candy bars, and chocolate!

4. What are the places you have lived?

Beaverdale, Windsor Heights, Beaverdale, Urbandale and Ankeny, IA. Soon to add San Antonio, TX to the list!

5. What are five things you would do if you become a billionaire?

Pay off debt.
Give some to my church.
Buy my mom a house.
Buy place tickets for my family to come see me any time they want to in Texas!
Travel, back to Hawaii for sure, want to visit every island this time. And Florida!

tag...your it! Judy, John, Jenn, Mom, Justine, Nikki, and Becca!

Our house is sold!!!

We are thankful that the Lord gave us a buyer at the perfect time! I say this with some feelings of anger, sadness and frustration. We had to take a big cut on our asking price. I know now how everyone feels about this stupid market right now! But I feel that a weight has been lifted from my shoulders, and that is GOOD. Our closing date will be December 1st. We will move in with John's parents for about four weeks and then it's off to Texas!
My emotions are still all over the place. I am so glad that movers are going to pack us and move all of our stuff to San Antonio. I don't think, no I know, I would not be able to pack up everything myself. I think the daily job of putting stuff in boxes would send me over the edge. It is so nice to give that task to the movers.
Right now I keep thinking about all the people I need to say good bye to. I have made a list. Going to try and work on this each week that we have left. This will be sad, but kind of fun to have a lot of friend and family time. My mom and I already have TWO movies we are going to see in December, can't wait!

Nice...

This week, on our weekly trip to Wally world, Ean was just so nice! While walking to the toy sect ion, he reach up and kissed Emma ,in the cart, on the cheek and said "Emma, you are so nice". To which she responded, giggling, "hee, hee". What a GREAT big brother!
Later that day, no I am not kidding, while Ean and Evan were playing Batman on the Wii, Evan asked Ean if they could put the Star Wars game in. Ean, who really never listens to Evan, says "Yes, I will put Star Wars in". Evan goes, "Ean, that is so nice". Now let me remind all of you that this changing of the games always comes with some not nice words and maybe, just maybe and hit from a fist or two. Evan, of course, had to yell up to me and tell me that Ean was being nice. I was VERY happy to thank Ean!
I don't know if the training is FINALLY working or if this was just to be a NICE day? But, I will take them when they come. Trying to remember the good! I really love my kids! Glad that the Lord remined me they really are going to turn out ok!

God is in control....

After last week with only one person coming through at our open house, today no one. This is really going to be a test of faith. All the worries of having to slash the price so much that we don't take any money to TX, are becoming scary. I have been wondering why now in this economy do we have to sell our house?! I am trying to rest in that verse for every time there is a season. I know God will provide a buyer at the perfect time, but it's really hard to trust that. I want to know when and how now!
Next weekend we may try and have open houses on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday night is Ean and Emma's birthday party. We are having it at our house. Don't know if I can be ready for a party and open house on the same day. This is going to be a week of prayer. A lot of it!
God is SO MUCH bigger that this. I am going to try and remember that this week!

WOW!

I now have six followers! This is great!

I have had several of you let me know that running in the LHF race would be fun. My girlfriends from Farrell's really want me to. I am kind of worried about training for it. I will be done going to Farrell's on Nov. 5th. Well, the race is the 21st! Can I train for a couple of weeks outside in the cold?! I don't know! I am so not a self motivated person. Get this from my Dad. Wish I was like my Mom, Brother and Sister Judy. They could work out ALL day and LOVE it. Whatever! I am still thinking.

John would you want to give this a try with me?! HA HA!

Will it never end....

I saw a news story on the Today Show this morning that made me angry. Ralph Lauren has photo shopped a model to look like she only has a waist that is 2 in wide. I am not kidding. Very sick. And we wonder why women are so obsessed with our body images? We all need to stand up and say NO to this hype of being tall and skinny.
This has been on my mind a lot due to the fact that my body is not what it used to be. After three kids and ten years of marriage, it has had some ups and downs. I have worked hard this summer to become more healthy and have lost some weight, but I still think it needs work. But why? I should be happy that God made me just the way he wanted me to be. It sure is hard to think positively about it when all the images we see of other women are retouched and not even true. If we even have to retouch a size 4, 5 10", 120 pound model, something is wrong.
I pray that as I raise a daughter, I can encourage her with a healthy body image. This is going to be a challenge, but with the Lords help, I hope Emma will learn to love her body.

Exciting!

I have one follower!!!

Living History Farms Race....

I am wondering since I had to miss the Beaverdale Dash in Sept. if I should run at Living History Farms in Nov. The gals at Farrells are wanting me to run it with them. I don't know. Will I live! I know it's fun and all, but the COLD and getting wet do not thrill me. Hmmm...I will keep you posted on these thoughts.

I am also very frustrated with our computer. (or my lack of knowing how to fix it) I can't get my camera to down load. I have this pic of the kids at our new park that I want to use as my bolg pic. I want to use the colors in it to make my page look better. I am still learning about all of the blog stuff and want to keep up. Jayme, your page is CUTE! I love the green.

Well, my mom is coming up to print out her e-tickets for Calli tomorrow! She gets to see the Ocean for the VERY FIRST TIME!

My first blog on google blogger!

I know I am going to like sharing my part of the world with you all in the next few months! Change is in the air....

Jer. 29:11 "For I know the plan I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

This is my life verse right now, I am going to need this reminder ever day for a while!