Snow, Snow, Snow!!

It has been 5 years since we had some real snow around here, not just flurries or a dusting.  Ethan hardly even remembers playing in it since he was 5 the last time we had some and it was while we were moving-yuck!!  This was Charlotte's first ever snow.  She was not too sure about it at first, but warmed up to it quickly.  We had a lot of fun, and the 9 inches we got will be here for at least the next couple of days.  I love snow!!  Here are some shots of the kids enjoying the snow, Ainsley is under the weather and was asleep so none of her.  Hopefully, I can bundle her up for a photo shoot later today.

So I am rambling today

WEARY…..

I am in a word weary right now.  It is defined as exhausted in strength, endurance, vigor or freshness and I feel all of those things.  I have been sick for over a week now and on antibiotics but still not feeling physically 100%.  Also still struggling with being back at work, where I need to be financially, but where my heart is totally not .  And having to work through some hard decisions with extended family, it just makes me want to scream, cry, throw my fists in the air, but to what end that does that bring.  None, really.   Sure for a few minutes I feel an emotional release but it is short lived and best and leaves me asking why life seems so unfair at times.  It seems so trivial in light of all that is happening in the world.  All the suffering and tragedy, so many wondering where the next bite of food will come from and sleeping in the street, scared for the next after shock.  But I guess we all have our quakes of sorts to work though in our lives.

Two passages come to mind:

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."  Matthew  11:28-30

Do you not know? 
       Have you not heard? 
       The LORD is the everlasting God, 
       the Creator of the ends of the earth. 
       He will not grow tired or weary, 
       and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary 
       and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, 
       and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD 
       will renew their strength. 
       They will soar on wings like eagles; 
       they will run and not grow weary, 
       they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:28-31

But this too shall pass right?  I need to concentrate on what I can do, what I can move on now and rely on the ONE who has brought me here, brought me this far, given me an amazing husband and 3 incredible children, loving friends and family, and talents to share with others.   Frankly just thankful for a home, food, a bathroom and the basic needs I need to live, so many in the world don’t even have that today.  Praying for the people of Haiti, for the families that were/are in the adoption process and now in limbo, praying for the newly orphaned children in that country.  If anyone deserves to say they are weary it is most definitely not me, right?

A Recap of 2009

Stole this idea from a bloggy friend (thanks Jeanette), but it is a great way to remember 12 months of blessings!!  So here we go.....

January started the year out with a bang, I found out that I was pregnant.  This brought so many mixed emotions: excitement, hope, fear, uncertainty.  But we were hanging on to God's promises and knew we would be able to handle it whatever the outcome.

( yes, I took about a hundred tests, I just couldn't believe what they said)

In February our little guy was turning not so little and celebrated his 8th birthday!  He reminds us everyday what a blessing he is.  He is such a great brother, helper, encourager and just great kid.  Even strangers come up to us and tell us how impressive our Ethan is and how blessed we must feel to have him!

March had mommy working through the blahs of pregnancy but realizing that it was for real this time.  Ethan was gearing up for the upcoming soccer season and Charlotte was growing leaps and bounds in her speech and progress at school.

By April soccer was in full gear, Charlotte was really starting to come out of her shell, I was finally coming out of the 1st trimester blahs and Jay was as always keeping us all on track.  This spring is when Charlotte starting to talk more to people at church and on the soccer field and just really seemed like most 2 year olds.  We were realizing that she was catching up developmentally and emotionally.  All the hard work was paying off, and she was becoming a little girl.  Such progress in 17 short months.  Charlotte learned to walk, talk, eat solid foods, give hugs and kisses, play with toys, play with children her own age, color and so much more simply amazing!

May was a month of celebrations:  Mother's Day, Daddy's Birthday and our sweet cousin Hannah graduated from High School.  We had so much fun celebrating each with family and friends.  This is also the month we decided to put our house on the market.  A growing family meant we needed more space.  I know selling a house, buying a house and moving while 7 months pregnant seems crazy and it was, but we love our new house and so do the kids :)  Charlotte also had her third surgery which included a nose revision, new ear tubes and removing her adnoids.  She did an awesome job this time and let me console her in recovery.  She drank some juice and that was our ticket out of the hospital.  We did not have to stay overnight, which was an incredible blessing.

Charlotte loves her (Hammah) Hannah and we do too!!

 

Ahhh......finally June.  One of my favorite months of the year.  It means the beginning of summer vacation, our annual trip to the beach (Outer Banks, NC) and Charlotte's birthday!  And this year was no different, it was a great month!

 

 

Even with all this joy came some heartbreaking sadness as we lost my Uncle Bill.  We all miss him so very much and think of him all the time.  We love you Uncle Bill and we can't wait to see you again soon!

 

Not too much to report in July as I was really starting to feel extremely pregnant and HOT!!!  We spend lots of time at home hanging out in the cool AC or the pool.  Charlotte started swim lessons and loved them so much that she took all three sessions.  She was a water bug.  Not scared to go under the water or jump in.  By the end she was starting to use her front crawl stroke, it was amazing.  She loves the water, I see a future swim team member in our future.

 

August was a CRAZY month to say the least.  We sold our old house and closed on our new house.  Moved all our stuff, completely unpacked and started back to school (just one week for me.)  August is some what of a blur except for the hours upon hours I spent in the Doctor's office.  Since my pregnancy was high risk, I had to go in twice a week for non-stress tests on the baby.  So I would sit hooked up to the baby monitor for at least an hour while they monitored the little ones movement.  I was happy to know that all was well, but had so much to do it was hard to just lay there.  But we got through it and the BIG day was quickly approaching!  Jay and I also celebrated our 11th anniversary, so much has happened in just 11 years.

September brings one word AINSLEY!!  Just 2 days after the first day of school we welcomed our little angel into the world.  Everyone was instantly in love with this precious gift.  She is a true jewel, always happy and smiling.  She just lights up our lives and we are so thankful for her.

 

 

And on to October, the month Ethan earned his Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do.  After almost 2 years of hard work Ethan earned his Black Belt.  He does an awesome job in TKD, as in most things he tries.  We are so proud of our guy!

November 5th we celebrated 2 years with our Charlotte.  Can't believe how quickly time has flown by.  This was the first year she really understood what Gotcha Day meant (a little).  She knows that she came home from China on an airplane.  Little by little she begins to understand, we talk about adoption a lot in our house so there are no secrets there.  She was super excited to bring her ladybug cupcakes to school and celebrate with her class.

 

 

And finally December!!!  We made through another year.  A year of so many blessings and good times and some sad times.  But through it all God was at work, shaping our family and our lives.  We look forward to 2010 with much anticipation to see all that He will do.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."  Ephesians 3:20-21