Christmas 2014

This was the first Christmas that we haven't spent with family in WA.  We decided to stay home and although we really missed seeing everyone, it was nice and relaxing.  We started off the Christmas season with Reese's work Christmas party on December 6th.

 Then we had the kids party for all the kids from Reese's work.  Santa made an appearance this year and brought Christmas jammies for all the kids.

 Lane had a part in the Christmas program at church.  He was a towns person and a shepherd.  This was one big bonus of staying home for Christmas, Lane has never been in a church program, because we've always been gone.  I loved watching him!

 We had a gingerbread house making party at our house with some friends.

 On Christmas Eve we went to church and that night Lane read Twas the Night before Christmas for us. :)

 We decorated Christmas cookies...

 And Christmas morning was super relaxing. In fact I stayed in my pajamas all day!

 Lane got a skateboard ramp and Estelle got a Easy Bake Oven.  Just to name a few...

 And it was this sweet girls first Christmas.  Reese's Grandma Barbara has made these special stockings (socks) for everyone in the family.  They are special to us, and I love that I have one for Case.  We always hang his up.  My heart and my sock hooks are full now...  I love my family from here to heaven, and although we have many trials, I am counting my blessings!

Ingrid 4 months

 Well, better late than never is what I always say!  Ingrid will be 5 months old next week, but here are her 4 month pictures.  She is such a sweet baby.  At her 4 month appointment she was 26 inches tall and 15 lbs 14 oz.  She's a big girl, growing like a weed!  She is pretty much in 6-9 month clothes now.

 She is very aware of things around her now.  She was trying to grab the sign in this picture.

 I just adore this picture of Ingrid.  Her chubby, chubby cheeks!

And EVERYTHING goes in the mouth.  She drools a lot and wants to chew on stuff, so I'm pretty sure she is teething early like Estelle did.  She really likes to sleep in the bassinet next to our bed but she is getting way too big for it!  She the last 4 nights we've been making the transition into her crib.  This has made for a few nights of me getting up and down a lot.  She's been sleeping through the night for quite a while now, so it's hard since she now waking up a lot, but I think she's starting to adjust now.  Love this girl!  She looks so much like her brothers did and even gets the rosy cheeks like Case did.  

Matters of the Heart: Peace

I went to Anchorage last week for my recheck. I was feeling good, confident, peaceful. They did an echo and I sat through that 1/2 hour test very calmly. I met with my doctor and waited for her to tell me the number. Now I had told myself as long as I am in an upward swing I will be happy. I told myself, if I am in the 30's I will be ecstatic. The doctor came in, she told me that the echo read that it's at 38% and by her estimate it was around 30%. Yes! This is what I hoped for! But she thought the numbers should be higher... Okay. She continued on with my appointment. My physical exam looked good. She told me to get in contact with a heart transplant center. Not because I need one, but because I need to make these connections now, while I am "healthy." I left my appointment with such mixed feelings. I felt my joy was stolen from me. Maybe the doctor had a bad day and didn't "feel" like being quite as encouraging as she had before. Maybe satan saw an opportunity to steal my joy. In the last week I've had anxiety, so much so that my body shakes and my teeth chatter. I am being real right now, honest. Why? Because I have dark days and I need prayer. 

"God favors the darkest places so you can see His light the brightest." Ann Voskamp

I am reading "The Greatest Gift" by Ann Voskamp. It is a devotional book for Advent. It is a powerful book for me right now. So much truth is spoken and God shows up when I read it. 

Some days I have to try hard to seek Gods peace. Other days it comes easily. I know it's there for me if I just seek it.

"When you are brave, you give yourself the gift of facing and touching the torn places. The places where we're torn to pieces can be thin places where we touch the peace of God." Ann Voskamp

I have to allow these torn pieces of me to be touched by Gods peace. Beauty can come from ashes, but I have to allow that to happen.

"Faith is the gift of God. So is the air, but you have to breathe it; so is bread, but you have to eat it; so is water, but you have to drink it." D.L. Moody

This Christmas season my eyes have been opened to what Christmas really is. It has to be found, not bought or decorated. I am trying my best to find joy and peace in Christ this Christmas season.