More Snow

I guess this could be the title of almost every post since we are living in Minnesota. It seems to snow just about every other day. It is pretty right now since I am home now and watching it come down from inside my warm house. However, when I was shopping in the white stuff it wasn't nearly as fun. :) Madison is out playing in the snow and Ben is shoveling. Fun, fun!

We are looking ahead to New Years now! We already took our tree down. I just got into a cleaning mood yesterday and had to get it down. It feels good to have my house back in a sense. We plan to lay low New Years Eve and do our usual dips and goodies. It has been somewhat tiring going nonstop over the Christmas holiday and I am ready to have just a peaceful night with the kids. I am sure the girls won't make it till midnight.

BTW, Madelyn slept from 10pm to 7am this morning. I couldn't believe that! I am amazed how she sleeps so well. She is still such a blessing! We are all enjoying her so much. Mercedes has been a wild wire over the holiday. She seems to act up even more while the kids are here or when we have company. She definitely continues to keep us on our toes. Madison is entering into a more "mature" phase and voicing her independence with it. Sometimes it seems all she wants to do is argue. So, we are learning to deal with her at a different level too. Harley has been coughing too much to cause any trouble. ha! Everyone's big concern over break was Ben and him going into the military. I think we all give up! If he wants to do it so be it! He won't listen to any logic it seems.

I need to get Mercedes up from her nap!

Have a great day!

This is OUR life

We had a great Christmas! The kids loved all their goodies. Ben is wearing his Carhart jacket all the time, Harley loves his MP3 player, Madison constantly wants to play or lose her Nintendo DS, Mercedes loves her dolls and stroller, and Madelyn is fine to be wearing her new sleepers!

Jason and I got to go see "Marley and Me" the other night while Big Mommy and CT watched the kids. They offered to give us a "break" and it was surely needed. The movie helped me reflect on some things.

*We love OUR life! We have had so many people share their opinions with us about our moves in the past. However, every move we have made has blessed us with something. We learn new things, see new landscapes, and meet new people. We love our life. It obviously isn't for everyone, but for us it has worked out just fine. The kids get to share things in school about the different places they have lived. So many people see it as all bad, but there is good that comes from moving too. We try to see the positive in things rather the negative. Our class is half full not half empty.

*Our family is our single most important thing. We do all things to better our family and to provide for our children. Some people don't get that, but we know our purpose in things whether others get it or not.

*I will not give up! I feel that others try to tell me I can't do the impossible, but all my life I have continued to do things that amaze myself. I will not give up trying to lose weight, pursuing different degrees, and trying to become a better person that is more Christ-like everyday. I am far from perfect, but I try to do my best each and every day. That is all each of us can do.

*This life is the only life we have so we plan to make the most of ours. Some may not understand our want to travel or our love of seeing new places, but we know this is the only time we will have this opportunity.

I hope this inspired all of you to move above and beyond in whatever area you have dreamed of!

Airport Delays

Well, it seems that the boys' grandparents may never get here. Their flight has been canceled 3 times so far. They are now on their way from Huntsville to Atlanta with hopes of finding a flight out of Atlanta to Minneapolis. We will see what happens. They were supposed to be here yesterday at noon and now they plan to get here some time this afternoon. Crazy! I just hope they end up making it up here. The kids would be so disappointed if they didn't make it.

I need to get to some cooking. Must be prepared for whatever happens. Have a great day!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!!!!

This was the latest snow that came to Minnesota. We got another 4 or 5 inches on top of all the snow we already had. Can you tell we are living in a Winter Wonderland?

We are having fun in the snow. Madison loves the snow. Mercedes cries to begin with, but had fun eventually.

Jason and I in the snow...we were having fun like little kids!

It seems we are in this pattern in Minnesota of getting snow every other day. Crazy! They said they haven't had this much snow in about 5 years (that was the last winter we lived up here). So, whenever we live in this state it snows a ton! ugh! I love it now before the holidays, but some March and/or April I don't think this snow will seem quite as pretty. I will miss my Georgia weather then. Actually when it is below zero I miss it already. ha!

My cousin and her family made it up on Saturday. They left early from Illinois so they wouldn't get caught in the bad weather. They stayed overnight and we visited and had a great time. Her 2 boys are about the same age as my boys and madison. The kids all had a blast together.

Today the boys' grandparents were supposed to be here at noon, but their flight was canceled and they were placed on another flight that won't be in until 10 tonight. That actually works better for us so we are fine with that. The kids are all so excited to see them. They are in for a shock when they get up here.

I better get some cleaning done!

BLIZZARD

Hello all-

If you are reading this from the south you will find this much more interesting than those that are enduring this nasty weather with me. It isn't a blizzard where we are in MN, but it sure does feel like one. The kids didn't even get a delay in going to school and it is -7 with -30 windchills. I didn't even want them out there waiting for the bus so I had Jason bring them to school. We didn't get a ton of snow, but the wind and cold is amazing. I will be making some Chicken Wild Rice soup tonight. Everyone will need it once they get home. Yes, I am asking myself why we moved to this state???? I can't stand the cold. It is okay that it is here now before the holidays and makes it all festive feeling, but I dread January and February. yuck! June can't come soon enough! ha!

Jason, Madelyn, and I went out on saturday and finished our Christmas shopping. We had a good time, but it got to be a long day. I was really tired by the time we got home. I am glad it is all done. Now I need to wrap it. I have a little bit of baking left to do today and then that is all done too. I am just about ready for the holidays.

My cousin and her family will be here overnight next Saturday. I can't wait to see them. they are coming up from the St. Louis area and heading to her home state of North Dakota. It will be nice to see them for 1 night though. Then, on Monday the boy's grandparents will be here from Huntsville, Alabama. They will be staying with us for a week. The kids are all looking forward to their visit. They are so good to all of us. I am so curious to see what they will think of this crazy weather.

I have 1 more week of online work to do and then I am on winter break for 2 weeks. I am really excited about that too. I look forward to that all year. that is the only time of the year I have a break and don't have online work.

Well, I better get to baking and get Mercedes dressed! Have a great day all!

CHANGE

I have finally come to realize in my life, after 34 years, that I can only change myself. I cannot change others. I have found myself in perplexing territory near this holiday season as some things have me re-evaluating my life. I have had to come to terms knowing that the only thing I can do is work on me. That may sound selfish to some, but the working on "me" is acknowledging my wrongdoings and trying to humble myself to become a better person. I have also come to realize too that I can't read into what people say. What they say is what they say. I am really working at trying to take things only at face value. That is really all we have unless they tell us more. I know I have done things wrong in this life and I hope to only make improvements from here on out. I am not about living in the past! I want to make use of the here and the now. I pray that God will guide me into all righteousness and allow me to work in a way through others lives that will always bring glory to Him. If I am not working for my precious Lord than I am against Him! I want to always allow others to see through my life that I am for Him!

God bless each and everyone of you!