20 Weeks

Emily took this picture of me today - Baby Girl is half way there! I am 20 weeks today.

Early Christmas

We had early Christmas with family yesterday. Here are a few pics of the girls and even a few superheroes showed up!

 Emily with Cousin Allie

Cousin Jacob

 Thanks Cousin Morrison for the coloring book!

Super Emily!!!

And Super Kara! (with Uncle Chris)
Can you spot Jingleheimer, our Elf on the Shelf?

22 months old

~ this sweet girl….love her! ~

She also had her bangs trimmed (by me) this month.

She still calls Emily "Lalala-ly."

And she calls Jingleheimer (our elf on the shelf) "Heimer." Which really sounds a lot like "Elmo."

She says "Tanta Claus" and "tar" which are both missing their starting S's.

And….she is going to have a new baby SISTER!

Sisters

The girls wore their matching Christmas dresses to church today. I told them to smile and I would only take 3 pictures….well I took 11 and here are the best!

Living ~ Blog #2

If you grew up in church, you probably know this song from 1 John, even in its King James:
  "Beloved, let us love one another (love one another)
   For love is from God and everyone that loveth is born of God
   And knoweth God
   He that loveth not...knoweth not God for God is love
   Beloved, let us love one another....1 John 4:7-8"

I was reading this passage this morning and the next verse - 9 - says "This is how God showed his love among us He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him."

What a gift of love- giving us life through Christ. But, I had to ask myself this morning, am I really living? And even harder- am I living through Jesus? That is God's gift to us- life in Christ. Am I taking full advantage of this gift?

I'd like to be able to say Yes! Of course! But some days, I'm living in my own strength and in my own flesh. I find myself living in a constant state of frustration- with my kids, with the mess in the house, with daily grind, with being sick and tired. And I know that's not what "living through Him" is supposed to look like. I know it. But, how can I live differently?

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self- control. And I know Jesus to be kind, loving, patient, compassionate, and selfless. Maybe if I picked just one of these attributes today and worked on living like that, I'd come to live through Him a little more. Today.

Santa's Wonderland

We went to see Santa last week at Bass Pro. There was a long line so I took some pics in the basket…waiting.

 After seeing Santa, we kept busy while Daddy shopped…

 (best I could get of the girls being still) so they decided to throw snow!

And a stranger took our family portrait- I have no idea if Kara is smiling or sneezing…

Merry Christmas from Bass Pro!

A few from Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving in Oklahoma with 21 of our family members!

 My Cousin Emily and her daughter Molly

Matt and me with our mouths full of thanksgiving deliciousness 

Emily and cousin Will decorating Christmas cookies 

 Matt and Emily watching Football

Grandmommy with 5 of her 6 great grandchildren (7 if your count the one on the way) 

 Where's Kara?

 Mommy and Kara

We had a great trip seeing family. Unfortunately we always leave Oklahoma with some sort of illness- this time, colds for all 4 of us. Boo!