MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!! I am doing my best in the middle of all the chaos to remember the real reason for the season. The Baby that was born so that we could all be saved and spend eternity in Heaven with Christ our Lord and Savior! My prayer for all of you is that you will have the PEACE that only HE can provide. With Love, Julie

Oh, No! Christmas tree!!

The kids had a great time decorating the tree. I have let go of the thought of a perfectly decorated tree and have been letting them do most of the decorating for the last couple of years. Very often it is very heavily decorated at the bottom, i do put a few up at the top to try to balance it out a little.

Anyway, we have a very big artificial tree, it doesn't look like it but that is because we only put up about a quarter of it in order to fit it in our tiny living room (got a great deal on it and someday we will have enough room for all of it). Because only part of it is up it is very off balance, every year I tie it t a cement block in the back to keep it stable. I did that this year too, but must not have tied it tight enough and as Nick was looking at some of the ornaments the tree toppled over on him. It scared him but did not hurt him, as Emily and I kind of stiffled our giggles and I tried to fix the problem. Just as I thought I had it fixed, it fell again. This time it was not even funny a little bit. So now, it is up it is stable, only one ornament was broken, and next year I am thinking a small table-top tree might be just perfect! The bonus though, my curious, mischievous 2 year old will not touch the tree now. He thinks it will fall on him again!

Decorating with style!

I love this picture of Nick decorating the tree. He often stand like this when in he is being silly which he usually is! This is so him, it looks like he has filled his pants but I assure you it is just the way he is standing. He is so full of joy and mischief. He really keeps us on our toes. I don't think we have ever laughed so hard as we have at him. He always has a way to make us laugh, and often it gets him out of trouble! I think we are really in for it!

Aren't they Cute!

I am learning not to take them for granted and to cherish every moment. I have a friend who really has shown me a thing or two-hundred about being a great Mom. I know I will never be Jody, but I can always try! Thanks Jody for your inspiring words day after day! For always doing your best to let God shine through you. Believe me He does!

What works for me...

or maybe it's what doesn't work for me. I think I have finally figured it out, drugs are great! Now don't get nervous, I am talking about anti-depressants. For a long time I have put off asking about them even though I knew I was needing them. I was in a hole and I couldn't climb out. I was thinking very irrationally, telling myself things I knew were not true. Even worse, I started to believe some those things. In the month that I have been taking the pills I have changed. Maybe others haven't noticed because, on the outside, nothing was wrong, but I know something is different. I no longer dwell on all the negatives I am able to go thru life without focusing on the bad things. I want to take care of myself, look good for my husband, and I like my children better now. So anyway, hating myself, putting myself down, and not valuing me, these things no longer work for me. WOW, what a difference a month and some little pills can make!

A Face only a Mother could Love?

I certianly don't think so! This is the newest member of family, adopted from my mom and dad. My dads allergies just got to bad and they had to get rid of him, so here he is. What a blessing! He is such a sweet dog, loves the kids and minds very well. He wieghs 94 lbs though and it ought to be real interesting trying to bathe him! I will let you how it turns out. By the way do I have any readers at all out there?

This is my not so little boy. I can't begin to tell you the paces he puts me through! Through and through he is a BOY! He does things at times at that you have to wonder if that really happened or if you just imagined it, and then he does it agian! Like for instance, he very often will jump in the air stick his legs out in front of him and land fully on his bottom. OUCH! If I did that there would be a lot of things permenently out of whack!
But, no matter how goofy or strange, or maybe sometimes becuase of it, I love him like crazy!

1 down many to go!

Not the greatest picture, but one of the greatest loves of my life! I can't believe she almost 6 and just lost her very 1st tooth! It is amazing how she grows and matures and yet it never really hits me until something major comes about. Like, losing a tooth, or the first day of Kindergarten.
Now kindergarden is almost over and summer is almost here. Emily is playing soccer for the first time and next fall school all day, every day! I really need to remember to cherish this time with her because next thing I know it will be time for High School Graduation.
Well, enough rambling for today. Don't even know if anyone is reading. But, maybe this will be therapuetic for me. Have a BLESSED Day!

My First Post

Well, I only really only signed up for this so I could reply to Nitty Gritty Nannies site. But what the heck, I guess I will actually put up a post and see if anyone stumbles across. If you are reading this blog please comment, if for no other reason than just to boost my ego! :)