Saturday, December 31, 2011

2011 Highlights

I can't believe this is the last day of the year 2011.  It seems that the older you get, the more quickly the years go by.  As this year comes to a close, here is a brief recap of all God brought us to and through this year...



January 2011 Highlights:

  • Love Bug's first haircut!  She did such a great job sitting still for the stylist, and the stylist couldn't believe how well behaved she was!  Way to go Love Bug!!





February 2011 Highlights
  • Hubby Lovey turned 28!
  • Love Bug turned 3!
  • Hubby Lovey and I traveled to Brian Head, Utah for some quality time with each other, and some other couples from our marriage ministry.

Hubby Lovey with some of the other husbands


Me and the ladies

March 2011 Highlights
  • I turned 26!


April 2011 Highlights
  • We registered ZuZuBe for preschool!
ZuZu so excited right after we turned in all her paperwork!
  • My sister and I hosted a table at our church's Spring Tea, for the 3rd consecutive year.  What a joy it is to have a sister that is also my Best Friend!
Our Spring Tea table


May 2011 Highlights
  • May was filled with A LOT of baby showers and birthdays!

Some of my dearest friends and myself (middle right) at a sweet sister's baby shower!


Mom-in-law, Hubby Lovey, and Love Bug at our niece's birthday party


June 2011 Highlights

  • June was PACKED with exciting memories!  We kicked off the month with Hubby Lovey and I celebrating FIVE years of wedded bliss!  I surprised him with renting a Mustang Convertible for the day, and we headed up the coast to a beautiful museum. (We switch off planning our anniversary celebration each year, this year was my year to plan!)

Excited hubby right after I surprised him with the convertible!



The museum was surrounded by beautiful gardens
  • We were BEYOND blessed to be able to attend the 2011 Resolved Conference.  An awesome weekend of listening to some of our spiritual heroes! 
Sissy and I before the first session of the conference

We are RESOLVED!

From left to right: Brother, brother's girlfriend, Hubby Lovey, Me, Daddy, Brother-in-law, Sissy, Grandpa
  • We became Auntie and Uncle again when our sister-in-law gave birth to the FIRST boy of the family!  This sweet little man has captured our hearts and we are loving being his auntie and uncle! 
Awaiting Little Man's arrival in the waiting room

Me and my NEPHEW!  I love this boy!
  • We went camping!  This was a HUGE thing for me since the last time I went camping was when I was, oh, I don't know...EIGHT!  We invited some friends from our marriage ministry to come with us and we had a great time fellowshipping with one another. 
I helped build that tent!!

Sweet friends

Story time for the girls

Cuddling by the fire


July 2011 Highlights
  • We had a relaxing 4th of July, giving thanks for the great country we live in!

Watching the fireworks

  • We became Auntie and Uncle for the 3rd time when we were blessed by another sweet niece!  She is the most beautiful baby in the world, and has us in the palm of her hand!

Gorgeous niece!


August 2011 Highlights
  • One of my dreams came true when Hubby Lovey and I traveled to New York City for a 5 day vacation.  We went for a "Friendiversary/Happy Graduation/Happy Birthday" trip. (Really, we used any excuse in the book to go.)  I, of course, fell in the love with the city and am eagerly awaiting the day we can take the girls back with us!


Broadway show!
Chrysler building

Relaxing in Central Park
Lady Liberty

Rockefeller Center
Last night in NYC


September Highlights 2011
  • Hubby Lovey's dreams came true when ZuZuBe started her first year of soccer!

Proud Daddy and his girl

  • ZuZuBe started preschool...Mommy cried. 
Yes, she did this pose on her own. =)

First day of school drop-off


October 2011 Highlights
  • First school field-trip!

Me and my Zu on her first school field trip...to the farm!


  •  We attended our church's Fall Fest...my sweet Hubby Lovey is such a good sport! =)

The Bees, Butterfly, and Lady Bug


November 2011 Highlights
  • ZuZuBe turned 5!!
  • We gave thanks every day of the month by doing a Thankful Tree
  • Had 3 different Thanksgiving dinners praising and worshiping our Lord for all he has given us.

December 2011 Highlights
  • ZuZu's first school performance.

Our little star

  • Parties, parties, and more parties!  So many opportunities to celebrate our Savior's birth! 

Party #1

Party #2

Hubby Lovey MC-ing party #3

Ugly Christmas Sweater Party - #4
  • We were able to spend a lot of time with dear friends and family!

The girls helping their aunt and uncle open their gifts



Cookie baking!

Above mentioned new niece and nephew with sissy-in-law and Hubby Lovey

Presents

This would be courtesy of my brother. =)

Mom-in-law and Zu

Bed time stories for our girls, with two uncles, an aunt and a cousin

Great Nana sent these home-made ornaments from Virginia.  Such special keepsakes for our girls!

December 31st, 2011:
  • As Hubby Lovey and I cleaned the house today (took down all the Christmas decorations), I couldn't help but wonder what God has in store for us in 2012.  Our prayer is that God would continue to use us for HIS glory, and that we would be increasingly fruitful for the kingdom of heaven.  For those of you who have been to our home, you have seen our "family verse" which is prominently displayed in our dining room.  This verse is our family's goal, and it is no exception for the year 2012.
Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. Colossians 1:10


Our Savior has called Hubby Lovey and I out of darkness and into his marvelous light. May we walk in a manner worthy of Him all the days of 2012.  May you also know the One, Jesus Christ, who lived the life you couldn't live, and died the death you should die.  May this knowledge spur you to repentance (turning) from your sin, and trust that He has paid your debt before the righteous judge, the God of the universe.  May the year 2012 give you increasing opportunity to bring glory to His name!  Wishing everyone a safe and happy new year!  See you all in 2012!

Monday, November 28, 2011

A Dishwasher Full of Tupperware

We had 3 Thanksgiving celebrations.  THREE.  That's a whole lot of Turkey!  These Thanksgiving celebrations were filled with friends, family, thankfulness, eating, laughter, games, more eating, snuggly babies, football games, and MORE EATING!  Needless to say, I'm going to need to hit the gym hard this week.

I was at a holiday boutique last night and as I chatted with friends, acquaintances, and complete strangers, the pleasantries of conversation always made its way to, "how was your Thanksgiving?"  To which I jokingly would reply, "Which one?"  Then my friends, acquaintances, and complete strangers would look at me in bewilderment as I explained that we had 3 Thanksgiving celebrations.  Some reacted with understanding, some with sympathy, but most reacted with the wild-eyed look of anxiety as they thought through what cramming 3 Thanksgivings into a 6 day period would look like.  When I saw this look filling their eyes I would quickly say, "I know it's crazy...but it's just what we do."

As I was cleaning the house this morning, I made my way to the kitchen.  I was mindlessly loading the dishwasher when I suddenly noticed the entire bottom rack was filled with tupperware.  Tupperware from our friends and family. Tupperware that had been filled to the brim with left-overs from our 3 Thanksgivings.  Tupperware that came from their home, and was now in ours.  I looked at that dishwasher full of tupperware, and I was immediately filled with overwhelming thankfulness and awe.  I am in awe of the goodness of God, and all that he has given us.  I am thankful for the friends and family that he has surrounded us with.  I am thankful for the tupperware in my dishwasher.

If you were someone I talked to last night, I take back what I said in response to our 3 Thanksgivings.  I should not have responded with, "I know it's crazy...but it's just what we do."  I should have told you how thankful I am to have 3 Thanksgivings! I should have told you about the goodness of God, that he would allow us to have 3 opportunities to express our gratitude to him for all he has done in our lives.  I should have told you that it's not crazy...it's an awesome gift from our awesome God.

A dishwasher full of tupperware