Merry Christmas from Us to You!

Just want to wish you all a very Merry Christ-filled Christmas and a Happy New Year! God has blessed us with good health, a happy little baby boy, two beautiful girls who love God and are both on their way to Heaven, family, friends, and most of all, Salvation through Jesus Christ alone!

A special answer to prayer

Yesterday I received some very good news! Three years ago this coming February, I was in a car accident that totaled my vehicle and left me with three+ years of rehab. The day we came home from the hospital with Caleb, I received a summons to appear in court as I was being sued by the Insurance company of the individual who hit and totaled my car. 

To make a long story short, we've been battling back and forth with them for 9 mos. and yesterday I received notice from my lawyer that, based on conflicting evidence through a second accident report that was filed after the case was supposedly closed 2.5 years ago, the other insurance company has decided to drop the case and everything should be closed out and finished before Christmas!

God is so good.

This case will finally be closed and there will be no opportunity for it ever reopening after these last few papers are signed and filed. I am so relieved that this is almost done with. It has been hard enough to deal with the physical struggles that have accompanied me these last three years without having to deal with the offender trying to sue me for his bent fender. :-) BUT, God has been faithful. He has given patience, and has enabled me to totally take my hands off the situation and let Him take care of it. True to His nature, He has. In His own time. Not my timetable, but His. 

God has a plan for each of His children and we cannot see that plan sometimes until months/years down the road. Later on we can look back and see God's ever-guiding hand leading and directing each of our steps and decisions to the perfect outcome. His outcome. Is the outcome always what we think we need or want? No, but it is perfect in the way that it makes us draw nearer to Him and become more like Him. 


As I have said many times before, I am NOT a patient person:-) I like schedules, order, discipline, structure, etc...and this situation has been the complete opposite:-) It has been a good "sharpening" time for me as I have had to let my "take charge and get it done" self go and let my Heavenly Father order all the steps, accomplish the goals, and finish the task.  Hasn't He done such a good job? :-) Way better than I could have ever done it! 


As I sat at my computer last night reading the lawyers email, I must admit that I let out a quiet "whew...this.is.done." Is it really done? No:-) As a result of all this extra expense that my insurance company has had to put out for the legal battle, they will more than likely drop us. But you know, I'm not worried about it:-) God has brought us this far and I know that He, who sees even the tiny sparrow fall, will make a way for me. 


"Jesus is the JOY of living, He's the dearest friend I KNOW!"

 

Someone special is 9 months old today!

Today is another special milestone for us - 9 months! 9 months ago today, our littlest man entered the world with much fanfare and excitement...lol! Though I would not want to EVER go and repeat the events of that day EVER again, I wouldn't trade them for anything.  He's our special baby and we love him to death! Forever thankful that the Lord spared his life and has given us 9 wonderful months with him!

He is a busy baby that is trying to cut two more teeth, to bring him to a total of 8! aaaahhh....life has been interesting the last few weeks to say the least! He says "Mama" all the time, laughs hysterically at the girls whenever they're around, LOVES the piano, LOVES being outside, and yes, has a hissy fit if you don't take him out when he wants to go out;-) 
He is finally sleeping through the night most nights that his teeth aren't bothering him, so we're starting to feel more "normal" **as if parents EVER feel normal their entire life;-)** Now that I've said that, he'll go and switch things up on me and I'll be going crazy again!! lol!
Love his sweet chubby cheeks, slobbery kisses, and scrumptious little baby feet like crazy, so it makes up for all the other not-so-fun things that take place within the first year. Can't imagine my life without him and cannot thank the Lord enough for letting me keep him with me just a little while longer:-)

He's the happiest when he can see outside or be outside:-)

See all my teethies?

wearing his "Baby's first Christmas" bib from his Aunt Cissy!

 

November Family Fun and Blessings

My goodness, it doesn't seem like November should be ending and December beginning, BUT it is happening and what a wonderful month November has been! 

We started off the month with a family getaway to Gatlinburg TN where we enjoyed the company of Emily, Brannon, Harrison and Silas, Rose, Grandmom, Mom, and Dad. It was so fun having the littles all around and the cousins got along famously! Here are a few shots of the week's fun:-)

Another highlight of the month was having JD and Kaylah over to "help" decorate cookies for Thanksgiving:-) This is something that I do every year with my girls and whichever of the nieces and nephews that can come. Kaylah was NOT interested in anything but eating a cookie, but JD...well, he REALLY got into the icing thing...

This year we felt like the Lord wanted us to do something different for Thanksgiving. We have all year to be "full and thankful" for the Lord's blessings upon our lives because He daily loadeth us with benefits and we wanted to "pour out" instead of "fill up" this Thanksgiving day. Through a friend of mine, we found out about the Ronald McDonald house in Winston-Salem and their need of food for the residents there who did not have a place to go. We excitedly volunteered to make all the bread needed for the day and then got busy! 250 rolls later, I finished, bagged, and loaded them up to make the 2.5 hour drive. What a wonderful day we had! It was busy, but at the end of the day, there was not that "I'm so full-draggy-pooped out-can't wait to go to bed-feeling" that normally accompanies the day. Instead, we were full. Full of the joy that comes from serving others and our Lord! 
There was SOOO much food! I've never seen so much food donated and the people who showed up to organize and cook were amazing! One of the ladies who made several cakes and stayed all day to help was supposed to be on bedrest...instead, she spent her day serving others and I believe the Lord will bless her in a special way for her sacrifices. 
We enjoyed our time of fellowship with "old" friends, Deneen (Mulvaine) Bryan, her husband Steve, and six children.  Addy and Emma hit it off right away and we hardly saw them all day...lol! I did not get as many pictures as Deneen did, but it was SO good catching up on 18 years;-) with her and her family. Many memories were shared throughout the day and our girls made new friends and enjoyed a different day of Thanks-giving! 

 Such a wonderful day! We feel so blessed that the Lord allowed us this opportunity and we look forwards to making it our new Thanksgiving tradition!

Tonight is Handel's Messiah at ABC and a perfect way to end this special November month and begin the month that celebrates the birth of our Saviour and reminds us of all that we have in Christ! Have a blessed Thanksgiving and Christmas Season!