Merry Christmas 2014

This Christmas season was especially precious to us as my parents Nana & Papa came to visit.  This was our first time ever having family in town visiting us for Christmas so it was monumental!

In the week leading up to Christmas the girls made gingerbread houses, 

sewed dresses 

and baked cookies among other things.  

  
We had a really wonderful time as a family and made great memories.

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah,the Lord.
- Luke 2:11

Sitting with Santa 2014

We took the girls to our annual Santa visit at Bass Pro Shop.

This picture pretty accurately shows how much the girls enjoyed waiting in line to see the jolly old guy.

But after they visited with Santa and made their Christmas requests they were all smiles!

Probably not too many more years of getting them to do this, so I will treasure these pictures!

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
- John 16:33

A day of thanks

This year, as always, I feel so blessed and I have more to be thankful for than I can list.  Two of my greatest blessings are pictured!

My prayer is that I don't wait until next year to dedicate a day to being thankful for all the blessings in my life.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
- Psalm 107:1

Frosty the Snowman on ICE

We took the girls to the ICE Frosty the Snowman where over 2 million pounds of ice are handcarved each year into different characters depending on the theme.  Last year was our first year going and the girls loved it.  We had even more fun this year!

Slides made out of solid ice!

Chris and I as a snowglobe!

Both girls got to hold a hand carved solid ice apple which they thought was so amazing!

This angel carved out of ice was so amazing it made us catch our breath.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness
- Galatians 5:22

Happy Halloween 2014

We had another fun Halloween.  We kicked it off with our annual "ew I won't touch the icky insides of a pumpkin" ritual while Chris carved with the girls!

Once again our little community hosted a Monster Mile where kids walk up and down our main road and get candy and pose with different popular characters.  The girls were so excited for this and counted down the days until they could go!

We enjoyed another great night of trick-or-treating in our neighborhood.   We have such nice neighbors and a great neighborhood so the night is always really fun and we all look forward to it. As you can see from the picture, the girls wanted nothing to do with pictures, they just wanted to go out and get candy!

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

- John 1:5

My little runners

When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.

- Proverbs 4:12

The day my running dream became my reality

I have long had a dream in my heart to train for, and complete, a half marathon.  Like every other mom out there, it is so easy to put our dreams and goals on hold until it is more convenient for the family. This year I was brave enough to bring one of my dreams to the front burner and make it a reality.

On the first weekend of October, my long held dream became a reality as I crossed the finish line of my first half marathon.  I achieved my goal - to finish strong, run the whole race and complete my training injury free (including my love/hate relationship with long runs).  

There are no words to adequately describe all of my feelings as I rounded the last bend to the homestretch and I saw Chris and my baby girls cheering for me.

I cried after I crossed the finish line with a rush of feelings; joy, relief and a huge sense of accomplishment.  I couldn't be prouder of myself, but most of all, I am so proud that my girls were there to see me.  I want to raise them to be strong, and to work hard and to know that no matter your age or your weight, you can accomplish mighty things.  More importantly though I want them to know that with God as our guide and our support, we can amaze even ourselves.  I am not a born athlete and I know I was only able to finish this race because God ran next to me the whole time.

Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
- Hebrews 12:1

First Day of School

Since we started homeschooling our girls, we are on a modified year round schedule which makes first day of school pictures difficult!

For the second year, both girls are involved in a local branch of Classical Conversations, a Christian homeschool group that meets once a week for classes.

I took these pictures on their first day of Classical Conversations for the 2014-2015 year.
  

Start children off on the way they should go,
and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

- Proverbs 22:6

Take me out to the ballgame

The girls first night game.  Texas Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Rays.  They had a great time and kept score with Chris.

  

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

- Psalm 100:1

Happy Independence Day

Happy Independence Day.

I am so glad that we have a day set aside where we can stop and reflect on our independence as a country and to appreciate the freedoms that we enjoy every day and take for granted.  

This year we were lucky enough to have my in-laws in town (Grandma and Grandpa) during the 4th of July.  We had a great time visiting with them, however, I did a horrible job at documenting this visit with pictures.  Sadly, the grainy iphone picture below is about all I got.

You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

- Romans 6:18

Our Colorado Vacation

This year when we began to discuss possible vacation destinations, the first one that popped into my mind was Estes Park, Colorado.  On past visits I have fallen in love with the mountains, the hiking, the cool air and some of the most beautiful geography that I have ever seen in the United States.

We decided to drive since it was ONLY 13 hours away!  The girls were champions in the car and it was a great start to a wonderful family vacation.

The girls took their Junior Ranger program books very seriously and started working on them as soon as we got to Bear Lake.

Both girls talked of nothing but horseback riding from the moment we told them that we were going to Colorado.  They couldn't have been any happier when the big day arrived.  They were both given full size horses to ride, and in spite of Chris and I having heart attacks watching them ride - they did amazing.

  We saw some moose on one of our last days there and we were so excited.

The girls were real troopers on our daily hikes which made the trip so much more enjoyable for all of us!

We saw elk everywhere, after a week we became so accustomed to seeing them that we wouldn't even stop to take pictures.

Thank you Colorado - once again you didn't disappoint.  We had such a wonderful week and can't wait to come back!

In his hand are the depths of the earth,
and the mountain peaks belong to him.
- Psalm 95:4