YEAH Kristina ....

I just wanted to say thank you to my dear blogging friend Kristina for helping me to recover my password.... I haven't been able to log in for weeks because I had to change my password about a month and half ago. I didn't write it down. Silly me! I had to go create a new email account (with cox communications) and thankfully no one had my old email address there that I had created in 2006. They set up the same account for me again since that address had no been used and so I was able to reset my password there and recover it. WHEW!!! I surely didn't want to have to create a whole new blog after so many years! Thank you again Kristina! I appreciate you so much! Now hopefully I can be better at blogging! LOL!

Piercen *AND* potty training....

I just wanted to post a quick pic of Piercen. This is one from his 2 yr pics and I love them! I just have a question .... anyone have potty training tips? It is time to begin. He wants to sit on the potty - he isn't scared of it and we 've been doing a LOT of talking. He comes to me when he needs changed now and even asks for his diaper to be changed. I just wanted to know if anyone had any tips to help this be a 'quicker' process? THANKS!!!

Blogger & Baby Caleb

Just wanted to let everyone know that my best friend is now blogging! Maybe she will be better at it than I am. HaHa! If you get a chance check out her blog.... what is it this time, Lord? www.whatisitthistimelord.blogspot.com


Also, if you have a chance stop by and wish my cousin Robin and her husband Jake a CONGRATS on the birth of a son, Caleb Thomas! You can visit her blog at ... and baby makes three!
www.jakerobinharper.blogspot.com


Happy Thursday!

Cupcakes AND Deliveries

Here are a few pictures... I was so proud of myself! Anyone who knows me knows I am so not the baker OR the cook. I have several things I do enjoy making dinner but as far as our 'Chef' that would be Jeremy! I would choose to clean up any day! I got this idea and we ended up making 72 cupcakes and delivered them ALL with the exception of a few Piercen decided to eat. He enjoyed every single minute of it... especially handing out his Valentine Cards. Here is a picture Jeremy took of us & Piercen happened to have a picture card in his hand. Precious!

Happy Valentines Day friends....

I hope that everyone has had a wonderful day! I know that I sure have. My actual "Valentine" took me to dinner & movie on Thursday night while my mom & dad kept Piercen for us. Jeremy & I rarely do this sort of thing so it was really nice. I realize Piercen is now two but he and I both were just discussing Thursday night how nice it is to get away, having a great conversation over dinner is awesome BUT after about four hours we are both itching to see the baby. I have heard many couples say this so I know it is 'normal' haha! Dinner was *yummy* and we went to see "New in town". It had a great story line AND was funny. Jeremy really got a kick out of it. I have to add that I loved the fact we went Thursday night and not actually tonight because of the crowds and lines to eat. I liked it so much we might have to do it like that more often.

Jeremy & I watched Fireproof a few weeks back and we began the Love Dare book. It is awesome! I am loving every day of it. Even though I have an awesome marriage I have learned so much. I have gained a lot of knowledge and I have learned that even when I thought I was good about biting my tongue - ha. I am not a lot of times. I was really aware of how often I had to catch myself. Isn't it funny that just when we think we have it all together sometimes the 'little' things sneak up on us? It does for me. I love the fact that we decided to do this and it just so happens todays dare was "Love promotes Intimacy". How perfect for Valentines Day. We shared a lot of personal thoughts today and it has been special. Thank you Jeremy for being my Love, my Valentine!!!

Here are a few pics of our little guy --- our valentine! He sure is cute if I do say so myself. I get so cracked up at him because I take so many pictures of him that now when I even touch my rebel he says "Cheese" and stops whatever it is he is doing. Sad huh? I tell everyone it really wouldn't be any worse if I would have had a girl. :D He is a lot of fun though and he keeps us smiling. I totally cracked up at these pictures because I didn't tell him to pose or anything! This is all on his own. P*E*R*F*E*C*T

We made cupcakes and when I say cupcakes I mean cupcakes! TONS of them! 72 to be exact. Friday we delivered them to Mema, Cousins Jen & Bekah, our girls at Trimmers Ginger & Becky, our sweet friend Christi so she'd feel extra special today, my best friend Heather & her family, Michelle, and Shelly. Today we visited Uncle Aaron & Aunt Britt, Nana, Paps and Uncle Aaron... they all LOVED them! Oh and I can't forget Sonya, Doug & the boys! They were a hit. It was my first attempt and I was pretty proud of myself. I actually left my camera in the suv or I'd post a pic. It is raining outside so I will get it and post a pic of my creations soon!

Isn't he just a cutie pie? He is growing up so fast!
God bless you guys... I hope that today was perfect for each of you!

I pray that more than anything that you are filled with the LOVE of God!

hugs,

Christy

Well... I did it...

I did it! Finally! I changed up my blog a lot and I hope to get busy using it more often. I've been a terrible blogger. I know. I find I enjoy reading others most of the time than writing. I'm excited though to get back into writing more often. Kristina, thanks SO much for your help. I followed your steps and it worked. Whew! I just have a few more things to change up and I'll be good to go.

Hope everyone is having a good week! I am really looking forward to Valentines Day! Love it!

My baby boy....

Turned "2"... Happy Birthday Piercen!

What a wonderful two years it has truly been. God has been so awesome! I never knew I would love someone so much! Of course I love Jeremy with everything I have but it is a completely different love. AND I must add, there is SOMETHING about a mommy & her B*O*Y!!!

Here are a few pics to share with you over the past two years... OH how I love him so!

Piercen, the plans God has for you will some day soon all unfold... I pray that my love with always give you roots & may you always, always, walk in the truth!

love,

Mommy

I can't believe it is this time of year already...

Hey friends! I am such a horrible blogger. It seems every time I get ready to write actually write something I get side tracked and need to jump off of the computer. I am starting to think it is the devil keeping me from writing like I one time did here on my blog! I get so busy traveling with Jeremy, spending time with Piercen, church, family & friends I seldom have much 'free' time if you will... honestly, when I do I spend it reading a lot of what others write! :)

I hope that you have started your December off to a good start and aren't rushing around trying to get all of the shopping done at the last minute (that would also be me!) Ha Ha! I've had such an awesome year. I can't imagine what God has in store of us in 2009. Jeremy has yet calculated how many souls we have seen saved but I can already tell you, we have been in some of the most amazing services ever. In the midst of a world filled with confusion, strife, businesses closing, people loosing jobs, homes being taken away, families falling apart, God is still on HIS throne and he is still moving amoung us. If we will only seek Him, He will come!

Here is a picture of us that my best friend took a few weeks back. I love it. I love the background, I love the cute little smirk on Piercen's face. He is growing so fast. I can't believe he will be TWO this month. I am taking in every moment with him. Jeremy & I have enjoyed him so much the past few months as he is putting sentences together, learning colors, and he must take his bible and guitar *every* where we go. He is pure joy! Every time I see his big brown eyes, hear his laugh, and feel the warmth of his xox oxo I realize once again just how much my heavenly father loves and adores me! Oh what an honor! I am so unworthy!

I pray that as Christmas approaches that we all will keep Christ in our Christmas... He was born in a stable, died on a cross and he is a soon coming KING! I look for him any day! Thank you for the friendships I have made and the blessings I have had just knowing you all.

He is growing so fast...

Just a few updated pics of my little guy... I am so in love with him. I never knew I could love him so much.... I never imagined a love like this before. He is such a joy and we try to hold on to every second with him because he is growing so fast... hard to believe it has almost been 2o months! He loves the piano and honestly, he doesn't just get on it and *BANG* around... he will stretch and play over it just perfectly! I love watching him... He also loves his guitar! I am proud of him! For so long he would play a little then stop and sing and then play some more and then stop and sing some more. NOW he has it down!! He can play & sing !!! Isn't it precious how they learn ??? Piercen loves it now that he can play and mommy sings ....

The top picture is how Piercen likes to be super silly! The *H*A*T* on his head is actually the saddle that goes on his pony -- where he came up for that who knows! He cracks us up. He more me laugh, the sillier he is! He is so much fun! I am posting an upclose pictures so you can see the HUGE smile!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Isn't it Strange...

Isn't it strange how a 20 dollar bill seems like such a large amount when you donate it to church, but such a small amount when you go shopping? Isn't it strange how 2 hours seem so long when you're at church, and how short they seem when you're watching a good movie? Isn't it strange that you can't find a word to say when you're praying but.. you have no trouble thinking what to talk about with a friend? Isn't it strange how difficult and boring it is to read one chapter of the Bible but how easy it is to read 100 pages of a popular novel or ZANE GREY book? Isn't it strange how everyone wants front-row-tickets to concerts or games but they do whatever is possible to sit at the last row in Church? Isn't it strange how we need to know about an event for Church 2-3 weeks before the day so we can include it in our agenda, but we can adjust it for other events in the last minute? Isn't it strange how difficult it is to learn a fact about God to share it with others; but how easy it is to learn, understand, extend and repeat gossip? Isn't it strange how we believe everything that magazines and newspapers say but... we question the words in the Bible? Isn't it strange how everyone wants a place in heaven but... they don't want to believe, do, or say anything to get there? Isn't it strange how we send jokes in e-mails and they are forwarded right away but when we are going to send messages about God, we think about it twice before we share it with others? IT'S STRANGE ISN'T IT? Now that you've read this message, will you forward it to anybody that you consider a friend, family member or foe (enemy).If you choose not to share His message you may deprive yourself from being blessed as well as depriving others... who may need God in their life.


I thought that was just awesome! I hope everyone is doing good. I am not sure I have any readers since I seldom have the time to write anymore. I do read though - I promise! I would love to hear from you! I am going to post some pics of Piercen , he is getting so BIG!

Question....

Does anyone know what happened to Veronica?

I am not dead... I am really alive. I am!

Okay I know.. it has been three months since my last post but so much has been going on. Forgive me! I am sure I have lots all of my readers even though I promise I have still been following you.

We began the process of house hunting which lead to applying for a loan and that whole process. For those of you who are home owners you KNOW how time consuming & complicated it can be. Complicated? Did I say that? HA! We had all of our papers filled out, approved in NO time and our close date set --- it was pushed back a week, had our final day set to close on a Wednesday and got a call about 10 am on a Monday morning and our loan officer says "I am sorry to tell you this but our company can not give out any more loans". At this point I was like "OK, so were we just not approved and your covering or what?". I had every possible thought go thru my head! I was so upset! Well.... he calls back... he tells us he has a buddy who will take over and we should be closed in three weeks. He did just that but three weeks turned into six! We were ONLY supposed to have to fill out a few papers and we ended up doing the entrie process from scratch!

The good news is that we finally close after three additional close dates and we are proud 1st time home buyers!! We took three weeks and worked on the house laying tile on the counter tops, retexturing walls, completely redoing the bathroom b/c MAN! It had brown all over and well..... it needed remodeling. We replaced all the light fixtures, all new ceiling fans, new front and back door, my daddy painted the outside taupe and we hung new black shutters.... tiled the utility room and had a painter come in and redo the entire inside. It was hard work but it is almost finished. We have a few things left ... we want to put in new windows in a month or two and then put up a privacy fence because the fence now is chain link. Even though it was alot of hard work it was fun actually AND we hope to make some money off of it so in a few years we can build or buy again before Piercen starts to school.

Piercen is growing fast. I am posting a new picture so you can see our handsome little boy. He never ceases to amaze me at all the things he comes up with. His latest thing is he has been carring his little red bible around for weeks. I have tried to get him to put it away and only carry it to church...hoping that by offering another book, ANY other book to him he'd do so but OH NO! He carries it EVERYwhere! I am talking to play outside, to the restuarant... you name it. The other day he looks down, opens it up and begans to jabber... I hear "Bible" . He then pauses and points and starts to babble! I asked Jeremy "Did you show him that" , "Have you been coax him"... NO he says.. NO way and actually I'd never seen or heard him say anything other than "Lets get your bible for church"...... it was priceless! I can honestly say it doesn't matter if he ever becomes a preacher as long as he knows what the word of God says and is as eager to KNOW HIM and have the desire to serve him just as he has the desire today not to let that little red bible put away for another book. Isn't that how it should be for us? We must read them as often as possible and use them like no other book... if they get messed up we can get another one. After all the ones that are worn are the ones who have had the greatest use!

fyi.. I am going to post some pics of our projects but I need to get an updated pic of the house on the outside ... will do that soon!

... what a week

WhEw! I have had one busy week. Sorry I am just now being able to post. I know some of you have asked what is going on and wondering where I've been ... we applied for a loan on Monday, got the news back on Tuesday we were approved (early that morning, less than 24 hrs to be exact!), found the house we wanted to make an offer on and did that on Wednesday - they counter offered and we signed papers on Thursday afternoon! We had been looking for about two weeks so we kinda knew what we wanted to do. Some might say that was *qUiCk* and yes it was!!!! I

This house is not the house I want to be in forever but it is a great start for us! I can't wait to get closed and get the things done to it that need to be done before moving in and making it our first home! I will take a picture of it and post it asap! I plan to post pics along the way because we are going to paint the outside, inside, hang new light fixtures, tile the counters in the kitchen and bathroom, put in a new dishwasher, tile the laundry room and redo the flower bed! This neighborhood is one that my best friend Michelle grew up in when we were kids. I remember spending the night there many times. We have driven by at many different times to see if it is still a nice area and it seems to be. It is quiet and Jeremy and I both have peace that this is what God has for us.

I do want to ask you to pray for us ... we are renting right now and it was supposed to be long term. The couple has asked us to move because they are wanting to be back here from LA. Well, we need to be out by the 15th of April and it just isn't going to happen... the end of the month yes and maybe even that next weekend but not by the 15th. You know how it goes, if you move in some place and it needs things done chances are they never get done! PLUS, these things are a must. Also, my son hasn't slept well since we moved here! Infact, he began sleeping **ALL** night long at 7 weeks. We moved here in late August when he wass eight months old and he hasn't slept all night ONE time since we moved. Jeremy & I know why and now it all makes since that we have put two and two together..... that would be a whole other blog post! Needless to say we have no idea who lived in our new house but we will be covering it in prayer and for those who believe as we do we will be annointing it with oil and covering it in the blood! Every evil spirit and things that aren't of God will be rebuked! So if you will pray with us on that...

Also, I wanted to share something ... God has really been showing me some things during this whole experience. Jeremy pastored for several years and we lived in a parsonage so there was no need to buy a house. During those years we traveled alot, bought expensive clothing, jewlrey, had many different hobbies and spent alot of money on even furniture. I was one who seldom cooked much because we always dined with friends or went on many *dates* together. Over the past several years while renting when Jeremy began evangelizing we have spent over $30,000 on rent... RENT ALONE! This made me sick. I couldn't see us continuing to do so. When we found out we needed to move again I began to pray for God to open doors for us. What I didn't realize was that when opening them I'd first have to repent. You see, I didn't want to live here or live there because it wasn't 'this' or it wasn't 'that'. But once I began to seek HIS will for us instead of what I wanted or where I wanted to be he began to open one door after another very quickly. I've looked back over the last several years and am amazed at what God has done in our lives but also what he has done in ME! HIS way is always best and HIS timing is always perfect.
After making the offer on this home we found out that the closest thing in the neighboorhood in sq ft and price is $22,000 more than what we were able to get our house for and it only needs about $2,000 put into it. Once again God has enabled us to not only be blessed by buying our first home but it is something we are going to be able to sell one day and make money in the process!

I know that I know that I know --- I'd rather be in His PERFECT will than His permissive will any day of my life!

Praying for Gods will....

Hey friends... hope this blog post finds you all doing well. Thanks for visiting me even when I am not faithful to write or post anything! Everyone has been such a blessing to me over the past several years. I am blessed to call you my friends!

I would like to leave a prayer request with you today and ask anyone who stops by to pray for us. We have been married for almost ten years and during those ten years Jeremy has both pastored and evangelized. During the times of pastoring we lived in a parsonage and during the last 4 1/2 years we have been renting. It is with much prayer that we are trying to get everthing finalized today to begin the process of building our very first 'home'.

While this request may sound materialistic for a home it is really not I promise. As much as I'd love to build the home of my dreams in all reality that isn't what will take place. However, it will be much more than a house, it will be our home. I look forward to it being ours, no more rent each month and thousands of dollars invested into something each year that we can not call our own. It is my prayer that if it be Gods will that he will continue to open the door that has been set before us. We will find this out either this afternoon or tomorrow and I am believing for what God has in store for us.

the SICK bUg, tEEtHinG & MY *fabulous* hubby

You got it right.... the SICK BUG has been at my house! I have no idea what I came down with but it hit me so fast it didn't even matter. I went to the doctor last Wednesday for a routine visit and I came home with something I did *NOT* ask for! A sick bug.... it followed me home and boy was I ever sick... I was honestly sick until Saturday night. Finally yesterday I began to feel like myself again. I won't go into the details of all of illness.... I will leave you with wonder haha! I promise you -- you appreciate me for it! Needless to say I aqm still SICK! Stick at my stomach. I cried like a baby lastnight too because of it.... I went to the laundry mat Saturday night. Call me 'miss goodie 2 shoes' but I hate going there! It isn't that I am too good because I am not - I just don't like to wash my things where other people do regardless of the hot temperatures! I had to get my wedding done, fast so my hubby could finally get back in bed with me (Come on, I was sleeping with the sick bug on Valentines day, not my hubby!) and so I took it all to get caught up F*A*S*T! Needless to say last Tues night I had taken my compact flash card into Wal-Mart to get copies of a picture I had taken of Piercen for his Valentines Day Cards I mailed out ..... I had misplaced it. Last place I KNEW I had it was my pocket.... so..... pocket... flash card.... laundry mat! NOT a good combination! I've been sick ever since! My compact flash card, its not at the laundry mat, it sure isn't in my pocket anymore and it is isn't anywhere to be found. I have prayed for God to help me find it.... I've prayed he'd perform a miracle (call me crazy but I knew he CAN make it appear to me) and I don't know what else to do. I had dowloaded almost all that was on it but Piercen's 1st hair cut and his pictures I had snapped for 13 months..... I've been great about getting tons of pics and video so the 13 months snap shots I could deal with IF they weren't pics of him in the tub. The thought of someone might having pics of my family and pics of my baby in the tub makes me even SICKER! I've called Wal-Mart, went back to search the laundry mat, washer, dryer, my van, you name it...... so needless to say I've just been sick, sick, sick!

Piercen has been teething like crazy.... four jaw teeth all at the same time! Three have now broken thru and the fourth is well on its way.... he hasn't been feeling well but he also had shots a week ago.. this is the 5-21 day period for the mmr shot of which he could run fever and have a rash... He has had fever! I think its a combination of teething & the shots! I am not chancing taking him to the doctor unless he gets worse - we need no other sick BUGS at our house! Once these monster teeth are in all the way my son will be able to eat some steak with those teeth! ha ha!! And for those of you who have heard as I did that they don't run temps when the cut teeth I'd have to say I'd disagree .... what about you? Did your children or do your children while cutting teeth? This is a first but it has happened this round of FOUR at once!

Inspite of our week and weekend I have to brag on my incredible hubby! God has been so good to me... I didn't even get to spend Valentines day cuddling with him! He has taken such good care of Piercen, cooked, cleaned and taken even better care of me! Thank you honey for being so amazing! It is a good thing we've always celebrated our love and not just that one day a year that has been set aside.... I was a little disappointed but I promise -- I'm making it up to you!

I've got some awesome pictures to show you soon -- I've got to go to Sam's and get a new compace flash card to take them first haha! But God has been so good to us and I'll be sharing them with you before long..... Hope you guys are all doing well.... Veronica, thanks for checking in on me.... sorry it has been a while .. as you can read I've been busy but things are better for sure! **HUGS**

Piercen's "FIRST" bIrThDaY party....

Check out those precious lips and long eye lashes... I prayed for those! I am telling you... he may be oNe but he knows how to get into that paper & ribbon...

We'd been telling him about his birthday cake & he enjoyed playing in it !!! I know before long there will be a 'theme' to everything... who knows what it will be... maybe spiderman, superman, bob the builder, barney (oh my), I loved green & blue and dots and stripes are fun so mommy got to pick out the cake this time.. he loves bright colors ...

...... and as you can see, he had a FUN time.. he smiled & laughed a lot! A time to celebrated HIM! God is good.... some of our 'little' friends Bree & Bodey (Cousins), Aiden, Megan, Avery & Zac.... the older kids were busy eating !!!

The bIrThDaY BOY with Chuck E Cheese..

I just wanted to post a few pictures from Peircen's birthday party... we had such a great time! Even at ONE he had a fun time! There was no way in the world we had enough room for all of our family & friends so we decided to call Chuck E Cheese and let them do all the work! It turned out to be a great success... the kids had a great time, we had plenty of room AND it was warm and we could invite eVeRYoNE !!! Of course mommy did have to design her own special cake for PK and have Paul's bakery make it... yUMmy !!! Can't have a birthday with a cake from Paul's... it was a great night! My baby boy is ONE!

People have asked me is it really different with him being 1... YES it is... he has changed a lot the past two weeks. He now sings at the TOP of his little lungs when we sing AND I am not talking just a few seconds... He starts out and gets louder and louder.. it is precious... he also learned tonight to drink out of a straw... we are having so much fUn !!!

Thank you God for out little man!

Isn't he precious .........

Ok so I have to be honest.... I have the BLUE's bAd !!!

I can't believe my baby boy is alreay OnE !!!

Where in the world have time gone and how on earth will I treasure each little memory - forever!?!?! How is it possible.... there are sOoOoO many !!!

I remeber back when praying I would ask the Lord if it would really ever happen... would He ever send us a baby boy or baby girl.... I knew He'd not given me the desire to be a mommy for simply no reason at all. I begin to pray "God if it isn't your will then please take the desire away because I am so miserable."

I learned quickly when praying HIS will that HE was waiting on ME!

Jeremy & I had arrived in South Carolina for a revival and we went with a few people out of the church as well as the pastor & his wife to pray for the services for the next morning. It was a Saturday night, one I will nEvEr forget. It was then and there that the Lord delt with me that I had some things in my heart he was waiting on me to release so he could finish the work he had began in me.... Jeremy & I had left a church where Jeremy was pastoring and he began full time evangelism. Jeremy let go of things more easily than I ever did... we were hurt very badly. You see, God was wanting ME to get rid of anger, bitterness and even hate! Once I became totally free from it all he could finish what he began in me... I see now how much I learned, how much I grew but I will also never forget the freedom that night. When I knelt it was the 1st time ever I really stayed til I prayed thru! I was determined I'd not get up til I was free.... Not only was I free from all of that but I was free from FEAR of never having my desire to be a mommy fullfilled.... it was THAT week that the Lord blessed us with a child and one month exactly that we found out we were expecting a baby. The journey has been simply amazing... my pregnancy was unbelievable! I will never forget the day we found out what we were having, every movement and BIRTH day! When I reflect on that day I can't help but stop and praise HIM for such an awesome day... the dr, myself and complete OR team had prayer before ANYthing began - I felt NO pain! Complete awe of how HE has blessed me...
Since the birth of this baby boy my life has never been the same. I thought it was different carrying him but I had no idea how much him being born would actually change my life forever.
I never knew the love my heavenly father until the moment I held him in my arms for the very first time. It was then that I finally 'got it' !!!
I've laughed, I have cried, I have prayed, I have sang, I have cuddled and I have kissed and I could never imagine my life any other way.... I am so thankful for Piercen.
A year has come and gone and as much as I am 'blue' about the passing of an ENTIRE year with him I am excited what this next year holds for us... as much as I miss feeling him kick inside of me or hear him now say momma I am excited to see him learn to walk without falling, learn and grow over the next year. I pray that I will continue to be guided each and every day as his "momma" and that all I say and do will point him to Christ. I realize that every single moment with him is priceless and IT matters! My heart is so full .. I am so blessed to be your momma Piercen Kennedy...

Can you tell I have the BLUE's ??? Man, my baby is ONE!!!! HOW ???
....Time has flown....

Christmas Photo Shoot....

I hope everyone is enjoying the most wonderful time of the year! I hear that saying so much during the holidays! Thing is, I think that we should celebrate the birth of our savior every day of the year! I wish that the spirit of Christmas, the warmth of the holidays and the love of this season was actually demonstrated 365 days a year! I have to admit, I think even I find myself happier during the holiday season!

I am so excited about this Christmas that I feel like a little child all over again.. I've always loved giving but this year is so different.... I can not wait to see Piercen's little face on Christmas morning. One might say, he isn't even ONE just yet (December 28th is just around the corner!) but even at ONE he understands alot of things.... I am so proud of him. Friday night right after the Thanksgiving we decided to take him for the very first time to see Christmas lights. There is a place about 15 minutes from us that displays lights along with music and the story of the birth of Jesus on a radio station that you tune in to as you circle the area. It is amazingly beautiful! Last year Jeremy and I tried to see this atleast three times and each time the traffic and lines were so long that we didn't even attempt to wait. I am glad now that we were unable to see it because this year it was even prettier than what I expected and we were able to take Piercen with us.

Jeremy has been singing Happy Birthday to Piercen for a little while now so maybe he'd understand a little more that he will be turning ONE very soon! We love his little expression when we explain to him why we are singing! He KNOWS it is all about him if he doesn't understand anything else! I've also been talking to him about Jesus and how it is HIS birthday! I've been singing Happy Birthday Jesus to him and sharing with him WHY we celebrate! During the trip to see the lights display on that Friday evening we came to the manager scene and we stopped the car telling him about the animals, Mary, Jospeh and baby Jesus! As the music played and the story began my son says JESUS! I am telling you --- my heart was over joyed!

He has been walking around saying it every since and gets so excited when we praise him! If only we as Christians were this excited every day of the year!

I wanted to share a few pictures of Piercen that my best friend took for us.. she does such a great job. If you know me, you know I like unique and being creative. I am so proud of these pictures, they were perfect for our Christmas card of our son! I pray that you too are enjoying your holiday season and the memories you are making with your families..

A letter to Santa from Mommy....

Dear Santa,

I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor and sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the schoolplayground. I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows whenI'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.

Here are my Christmas wishes:I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze, but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store.I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.

If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music, a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals, and a refrigerator with asecret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools.I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother," because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.

If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is calling and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold.Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always,
MOMMY...

P.S. One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in Santa.

*Santa has asked that this gets passed on to all the mommies you know




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New hair....

Ok Ladies so tell me what ya think... I went really, really dark and chopped some of it off! Jeremy LOVES it and I have had a ton of compliments! It is harder to see in a b&w pic so I am adding one of myself with one of my best friends!