Happy 2012 Homies!!!

I have a feeling this year will contain lots of surprises....this is something that leaves me excited yet uneasy at the same time.

Some things that I am looking forward to .......

These two are getting hitched.....come this fall there will be a new Mrs. and I couldn't be happier these two are perfect for each other!!


These two are going to be adding another to their family and although the timeline is not solid and the anticipation continues to grow, we are beyond excited for whenever we get to welcome a little one home. I have never encountered two people that are better suited for this challenge. The Jagers are so excited for this!


And us...well we have a lot of things on the back burner(s) right now. Some of which I am not even sure I am ready to share. We are just going to focus on the year broken up into seasons...this seems to be the best way to deal.

I am thrilled to see where God takes us this year. I am thrilled beyond belief for the surprises.

2011.......What a Year.

This last year was at best nuts. Good nuts, bad nuts, crazy nuts, busy nuts, relaxing nuts, rush rush rush nuts.....sometimes just nuts. I can say I have memories that I couldn't live out and others that I am hoping disappear. I gained knowledge and made mistakes. I learned things about myself and changed things about myself. I gave up some things and gained others. I enjoyed my family and friends. We argued and made up. Laughed and Cried. We did it all this year. I am not sure I could pin point anything we missed out on.

I have learned a lot about myself this year. I have learned I am just fine the way that God has made me to be. I am not sure if every woman feels this way but each year brings me more security ad more contentedness in my own skin and I like that. Long gone are the days that I strive for the things that are just never going to be important to me. I will never be the woman with the perfectly clean house and the flowers planted during the correct week of May. I will never have my decor just right or have my laundry completely caught up...because well because life happens and I am okay with that. My home does not need to reflect the seasons changing in order to be a home and well if a dish or frame breaks or if the dog pukes on the couch I probably will get over it pretty quickly. I have found in order for something to matter to me it needs to hold a purpose or meaning....and the rest of it can go. I am realizing more and more that my purpose is to be their for others first and me last. I have come to understand this confuses others at times......I'm okay with that to. I have come to know that my worth hardly ever revolves around someone elses understanding of me. God knows my heart..........And over and over again I realize that having a full house and life and plenty of love means being surrounded by others who feel the same.

This year I was challenged with a thought of living a life connected. I had heard a sermon towards the end of 2010 that challenged to live a life connected. A life in which you lived more in communion of others. A life that caused you to question the definition of family. A life that caused you to live your life in a spirit of putting others needs before your own. Giving in a way that Christ would give. Welcoming people into your home without thinking if it is convenient. In fact it was the complete opposite of convenience. You were supposed to question that as well. Connecting yourself with others in a way where your desires were their desires and vice versa. Their hurts were your hurts and vice versa. Living in complete community and examining what that would mean. It was an experiment and at times it was hard especially at the beginning. But I can tell you in the end this is the most rewarding way to live and i am a better version of me for it. It has caused me to question a lot of things in reflection. Concepts of service and love and attitude and sacrifice have been taken to limits that I have never experienced before and sometimes I failed miserably. But other times, the times in which I let the one who challenged me from the beginning to take full control, HE triumphed. His love poured through and His will was done and that is when the blessings that were intended for others blessed me as well. I plan on continuing this experiment into the next year. I plan on continuing to live a life connected to others which ultimately means living a life connected to Christ!

I don't want this year to end rather just continue on into the next. I turn 30 in Tminus 7 months and I thought about doing a 30 before I turn 30 list but immediately changed my mind. I do have a few goals though and I think they are worth mentioning.
-I want to finish my book this year......not sure if this is realistic.....but if I work hard and allow myself to really pour into it I think I can do it. I'm not even sure what I will do with it when I finish it.
-I want to enjoy life completely in a spirit of gratitude and after reading, 1000 gifts, I am going to have gift journal that I keep out all the time.
-In spirit of the last item I want to focus more on the simpler things and less on the nuts.

And there you have it. No grand plans, because they aren't mine to have.

Can't wait to see what the New Year Brings.

Welcome 2011

So last year was great, crazy but great. We experienced a lot of new things some good some bad some a little of both. Me working full time this past summer was a little of both. Our Jager camping trip was good. And learning to live without loved ones that were fixtures was bad. But in all these things we grow and with growth comes knowledge, realization, renewed strength and lots of love and with saying that I feel warm and ready to face a new year.

So for 2011 and I am pledging to find time for more leisure and less work (hmmmm who knows), less stress and more enjoyment, and a promise to look at all things with fresh perspective and less expectation. Sounds complicated and a bit confusing...but I think it can be done.

Christmas break was fabulous. I think we could all say it was one of the best Chrsitmas' in the history of our little family. I tried on my new resolution for size and I think even though some things were different-different isn't always bad-it was relaxing and enjoyable and I never once felt like I needed to lock my children up for bad behavior or exhaustion....SUCCESS:) We were able to focus a lot more on the reason for the season, spend a lot more time listening to Elliot give Grace theology lessons that were wrapped in the hope of Jesus' birth and topped with of course you want to go to heaven Grace.

To finish that story Grace and Elliot recently had a conversation about heaven in which Grace told Elliot she didn't want to go because God seems scary.( I think the massiveness of God is a bit overwhelming for her right now) She went on to ask Elliot if they had food in heaven because she hungry all of the time. He went on in reply that she need not worry we wouldn't have our earthly bodies....and I am pretty sure that got lost and translation making her desire to stay put here even more severe. All in our own time I suppose it sure is cute to hear their conversations though:) It is such a gift to witness faith from a childs perspective, I think they are still teaching me more than I teach them at this point.

Back to 2011 and the new year though....we will be celebrating a lot of milestones and looking forward to more in the following year. Our grandparents all turn 80 this year and Brian turns 30, my sister will have her first baby. Brian has been working for Verizon for 5 years this month and we have many conversations about how thankful we are for his job and the stability it provides for our family. The day before Christmas Eve 5 years ago we got word that he would be laid off from AT&T with one more day of work remaining to close down the store, it was a depressing Christmas, we had a lot on our plate with plans to buy a house and two little kids to provide for. But with much prayer and lots of support we made it. 3 weeks later Brian had a job with better pay and amazing benefits and a lot more opportunities. God always provides, He always prevails, and He is always in control, we just have trust.

So this year I am expecting to be full and great and wonderful and I can't wait to unwrap all of the blessings and changes that I am sure God has planned for us. I hope this new year finds you well too!

Welcoming 2010

Tried out a new restaurant with a bunch of our regular buddies on New Years Eve. Three of my Four sister in laws were around and being as they are a bunch of fun they joined us as well. Milagro was great, delicious and fabulous. If you like Mexican food I highly recommend it. It is in Fairhaven.
Don't have much to say because it was a while ago now.... I would have posted about it sooner however my camera is not communicating with computer for some reason. This makes it a bit difficult to get my pictures put on the computer. But I have a new method so expect more picture updates.
Lame Post I Know. I Promise More Excitement In The Next Post:)