Sometimes it's all about MOM.......

Let me start with an apology for anyone else who may reading our family blog. This post doesn't have any cute pictures or funny stories about the kids, it's truly for me.  This blog is my way of capturing our lives as they happen and sometimes I have to stop and share the feelings that are also experienced within this amazing ride we call Life.

This morning has been consumed with nothing but raw emotion for me.  I have spent some quiet time with my sweet savior reflecting on the person I am and the person I want to be.  We started our new Bible study this week called "The Frazzled Woman" and boy does this fit me to a tee.  This weekly bible study is so what I need right now.  I am yearning for that deeper, more intimate relationship with God.  I need to find peace in the midst of daily life. The memory verse for this week is "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness , and all these things will be provided for you" Matthew 6:33. My study talked about some benefits as we grow in intimacy with our Lord and as I was reading those things, I realized they are THE things I need in my life and that I want in my life.  Some of them were being calmer, laughing more, getting along better with your children and  life having more meaning.  I realize I have a GREAT life and I am already so truly blessed beyond my wildest dreams, but as I grow more in my relationship with God, I want to spend more time with him and want to be a better person for my family.

Today, my wonderful husband listened to me with out judging as I talked through some things that have been weighing heavy on my heart or maybe the better way to say this is... He let me vent without hanging up on me when he had tons of work to do.  I love him for that more than he will ever know.  Today begins a new improved journey for me to be a better person.  For new beginnings I am grateful.

Kanon decided to go on his first mission trip this summer, we paid his fees yesterday.  I am so proud of him.  He is turning into a remarkable teenager.  Thank you God for my husband and children.  I want to leave them someday with a legacy that they will carry on because I made a difference in their lives.  "Help me Lord to be that person", Amen

Daddy's Angel

Ok, this was one of those sweet moments that happens on a random day at our house.  Grayson had been playing dress up all day waiting on her daddy to get home.  She told me that when he got home they were going to the ball.  I so remember dressing up and pretending when I was a little girl.  When Don got home that afternoon, I pulled him to the side and quietly told him Grayson's plans for them.  He smiled and before I knew it he had gone to the bedroom and came out with a tie on and requested a dance from her.  She had the sweetest expression on her little face as her eyes lit up with pure joy.  Don proceeded to twirl her around the living room and she squealed with laughter.  Thank you Jesus for these special moments.  Someday Daddy will be twirling his baby daughter on the dance floor on her wedding day and remembering their "first dance".

Snow Pictures

"Artic Blast" for us that is 2011

Wow, what a unique week this has been for our family.  We went to bed on Sunday evening and awoke Monday Morning with a beautiful snow covering the ground.  The children have had a blast sledding and building a snowman and just being out of school.  Someone posted on Facebook that "God knew we needed to rest, so he sent snow to give us a break".  If that is true, it definitely worked.  God is soooo Good to us. This week I have managed to clean out my closet, clean and organize my desk and actually feel as if I may be catching up with my life.  Even though I must say, I think secretly I like being busy.  I also learned to skype this week and that has made for better communication with those I work for as a consultant.   I only wish the grandparents would venture out of their comfort zones and embrace technology.  The kids would love to be able to actually have a conversation and see them at the same time.  I promise to post pictures of the snow soon.

A New Year

Happy New Year!!!! 2010 has been jammed packed with fun activities, school, vacations, happy times, sad times, ball games, family time, Church, friends, volunteer meetings, holidays and work, but through it all we have felt the hand of our sweet savior leading and guiding us day by day.  He has held our hands through good times and picked us up when we have fallen.  My prayers for 2011 is that our family will continue to grow closer to you God. I am extremely thankful for my sweet family and for our many blessings.

Christmas Day 2010

Christmas morning finally came.  We always wake up to our living room filled with goodies from Santa.  Papaw always joins us a little bit later for breakfast.  This was the first year my mom was not able to watch the kids open up Santa, but we headed downstairs to see her just after breakfast.  My favorite part was when the kids looked at us and said "this is the best christmas ever!"  Funny thing is, I think they say this every year, but that's ok with me.  I love it when they are happy.

And then the best gift of all came...... It started snowing beautifully!!! This was the first snow on Christmas Day in 120 years.  What more could our family ask for..health, happiness, each other and a beautiful snow to enjoy on this day.  Thank you God for continuing to pour your blessings upon us.

Christmas 2010

Christmas Eve finally arrived and the kids were so excited to get presents.  We loaded up to make our annual journey to Dalton to spend some time with the Norris side of the family.  Each year we go to my Aunt Lorine's where we enjoy playing games, eating and opening gifts.  This is something I can remember doing every year on Christmas Eve since I was born.  The only thing that ever really changes is we all get a little older and the tree gets smaller (a joke for my Aunt "rene").  She used to decorate with the biggest tree complete with the train tracks around with a working train.  I have always loved it, but over the years in our hectic world she has put up a smaller tree and we kid her that the tree gets smaller every year.  This year I promised that I would decorate her house next year....Oh my! I may just have to do that. 

You never know what tricks my dad may have up his sleeve and the one this year was right up there.  After a late lunch and exchanging presents, dad summoned my children to the kitchen. If I had only known what he was up to, I probably should have ran. Dad and the kids came out spraying silly string in the air and before we knew it, the entire room had broke out into a silly string fight.  The children loved it and thankfully my aunt did not kill them for messing up her house.  She was laughing right along with them, thank heavens for her being a good sport about it.  I myself would have passed out if someone had sprayed silly string all over our house.  The kids definitely have a funny memory from this to share with their friends and I probably have video to share with Americas funniest home videos.

After our trip to Dalton, we came back home and went to the Christmas Eve service at Church. Due to the different time of the festivities in Dalton this year, we were able to go for the first time.  We saw family earlier so Grandma could get home before dark, after all she is only 93.  Attending Church on Christmas Eve made Christmas so much more special, after all Jesus is the reason for the season.  This will definitely be added to our list of traditions and will be one of the most important ones.  Don and the kids said the best part was singing Silent Night by candlelight.  I must say that was my favorite too.

Christmas Eve is so busy...family, church, baking cookies for Santa and putting out the reindeers food.  After all that we were tired and ready for bed to wait for Santa.  Grayson and Parker had been tracking Santa's Sleigh earlier from Don's IPad.  That's pretty cool, I wish that technology had been around when I was a little girl.

Our Tree

Grayson and Grandma Norris (excuse the blurry picture)



My Aunts living room at the end of the silly string fight



After Christmas Eve Service at Church

Tyler and Kanon clowning around, look at those smiles!

Putting out reindeer food

After putting out the food for the reindeer, to cold to take too many pictures outside

Grayson and Parker's cookie creation for Santa