Life as we know it :o)

Hey slow down!! January is almost over! Can y'all believe it? Well another day another dollar around here. Big Joe has started his new job, which means a new schedule, which also means we don't get a whole lot of time with him...BOOO! But the good news is he is really enjoying it. He loves being in the field with the guys and teaching them. It's very different than the classroom teaching he was doing for the past year.

The kids are enjoying the tremendous amounts of snow days we've been having. I can't even tell you how many days they've been out...over a week though total. Craziness since it's only January and we can get snow into March.

(from an ice store we had...1/4 of an ice makes Kentucky an ice rink!!)

I have been busy with Army duties, kids, work, and working out. Big Joe got me a treadmill for Christmas and I am sooo loving it!! I've been working hard with a little incentive from http://www.lindsaybrin.com/ and her Shed 5 Fast contest going on right now. I know I probably won't win but wouldn't it be cool?! LOL I'm half way through the challenge and I've lost a couple of pounds as well as inches. I'm finding more self confidence and I am digging it!! I'm also keeping track of my miles on http://www.dailymile.com/ and I have run almost 100 miles! To me that's just nuts to think about :o).

So I don't think we posted our family pictures from the fall. if you got our Christmas card or are my friend on facebook these are repeats sorry.

Hugs and love to you all.

Joyful Years

So just warning you now...I'm going to get all philosophical on you. I promise to make it up with cute Christmas pictures at the end :o)

So I've has several people make the comment "I don't know how you do it..." to me. And I am happy to say it is usually followed "with such a good attitude". Life isn't easy...for anybody. I am sure you all have heard the quote about "...be nice to everyone because everyone has their own battle". Yes, my mother was diagnosed with brain cancer when I was twelve. Yes I spent about half of my time in high school in a wheelchair. Yes, I have lost two pregnancies and almost lost a child due to serious illness. And he still deals with medical issues everyday. Yes, I have delivered two children without my husband and watched my him leave for 40+ months across the ends of the Earth. Yes I have almost lost my own life. However, I love every minute the good Lord has given me. Every day has been a wonderful gift, and I wouldn't change a thing. I have the love of talented, strong, and God fearing man. I have three beautiful and wonderful children. I have a roof over my head and supper on the table. I have friends and family to support me. And I have faith in my God. In this I find joy. So no matter what I face the core of my being springs with joy.

When things get tough I remember that scripture tells us we will have trials. I think about people in the Bible. Did David have it easy when he faced Goliath? Did Job have it easy when he lost everything? Did Mary have it easy when she was engaged to a man and told she was pregnant? What about traveling for days on a donkey 9 months pregnant? Did Joseph have it easy when he agreed to marry Mary? Did Jesus have it easy when he faced the cross?? No. No person has ever walked this Earth without a trial. What matters is how you face them. You can ask "Why me?" or you can pray "Help me." Now don't get me wrong. I have my moments. I have fallen on my face in tears several times, but again so have other children of God. And it is in these moments that we grow stronger, closer to our families, closer to God. If you turn to Him He will help. My pastor once said, "When Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt they didn't jump, skip, or go around the Red Sea, their obstacle....they went through it." God will help you through.

So I don't need to hope on keeping resolutions (which is good since 40% of people don't keep their resolutions until January 7th!!). I don't need to hope this year will be better than the last. I will find joy in every year. New Years isn't a new start....God is the new start. There is a song on the radio right now that I love by Tenth Avenue North and part of it is this..

You are more than the choices that you've made.

You are more than the sum of your past mistakes.

You are more than the problems you create.

You've been remade.

Cause it's not about what you've done.

But what's been done for you.

It's not about where you've been.

But where your brokenness brings you to.

This is not about what you build.

But what he built to forgive you.

So thanks if you have listened to me this far. Sorry but this has been on my heart for a couple of weeks and it was just busting to get out :o). I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and look forward to this year! Here are some pictures from our family.
Told you.....cuteness :)