blessed beyond measure

So it's New Year's Eve. A time for reflecting on the past and looking toward the future. A time to start over. New Year's Eve 2009 might have been ten years ago. Or maybe ten minutes ago. So much has changed. God is so good. There is absolutely nothing in me that deserves anything good, and yet in His great mercy He chooses to continue to give me the desires of my heart. Only God. It would be very hard to sum all that happened this year in one word. The joy over Aden's birth. The pain of Trey's rebellion. The exhaustion of everyday life. The ongoing humility of motherhood. But there is one word to describe how God has worked in my life. peace No postpartum depression. No tears. No worries over doing things right or wrong. Pure joy in new life. peace A rebellious child. Betrayed, hurt, sad and angry, refusing to be loved and at the same time crying out for the affection that was once his alone. Breaking the hearts of his mom and dad. And teaching them...

Two Christmas boys, both awake by 6:30. What began as a white-ish Christmas became fully white by day's end. This is it. My gift. Aden would like a cup of coffee, please, Poppop. One of Trey's gifts from Dad and Mom was a kid-tough digital camera. He took well over 700 pictures on Christmas day. Most were of people's torsos or inanimate objects. At least one would require censorship to post here. Don't ask. Giga helped Aden with one of his gifts. Aden was not overly impressed with the idea of opening gifts. Trey was. Here is a super-cool Buzz Lightyear shirt from Nene. And a gigantic racecar mat from Giga and Poppop. And a microphone, the other gift from Dad and Mom. Video coming soon. It's great. Dad shows off our 2011 date night funding - Ruby Tuesdays GC. Thanks Grandma Jean! Aden checks out, courtesy Nana. Some time later, Aden wakes up and has his first ever sips of Dr. Pepper. Loved it. Oh me. Now energized, Aden does a little light reading, shows off h...

Tears are falling, hearts are breaking How we need to hear from God You've been promised, we've been waiting Welcome Holy Child Welcome Holy Child Hope that You don't mind our manger How I wish we would have known But long-awaited Holy Stranger Make Yourself at home Please make Yourself at home Bring Your peace into our violence Bid our hungry souls be filled Word now breaking Heaven's silence Welcome to our world Welcome to our world Fragile finger sent to heal us Tender brow prepared for thorn Tiny heart Whose blood will save us Unto us is born Unto us is born So wrap our injured flesh around You Breathe our air and walk our sod Rob our sin and make us holy Perfect Son of God Perfect Son of God Welcome to our world May we not forget why, Who, we celebrate. The greatest, most precious gift of all time. Given in the strangest, most beautiful way. Given to each of us. For unto YOU is born this day in the city of David a Savior Luke 2:11 Merry Christmas!

Trey likes to play the piano. Aden likes to play the piano. So sometimes... ...it's a group effort.

With what snow was left, Trey and Daddy worked together... ...to build a snowman! Then, our usually cautious and tentative child insisted on riding the sled "all by myself!!" Had a blast .

Not the first snow Aden has ever seen, but the first he has been out in. And it was great. Trey had a blast stomping in his beloved snow boots. Our one small hill got a lot of business today. Mama couldn't resist getting in on the fun. Aden loved watching the chaos. ("I can't put my arms down!" Hahahahaha!) Three boys in the snow. Couldn't get much better.

Trey wrote his first word, "DOT". Dot is the preschool mascot, a pound puppy, who got to come home with us for a few days. Trey was so proud of himself. Aden has started sticking his tongue out, just slightly, sometimes when he smiles. As if he needed to get any cuter. Brandon's basketball team is off to its best start in a long, long time. We are really enjoying the games. January is going to be killer though, with 10 games in a 20-day stretch. Trey did so great as a cow during the children's Christmas play last weekend. He didn't moo, but he wore the costume and stood on stage in front of hundreds of people without having a meltdown. Aden had his first taste of table food, a very mashed up banana. Loved. It. Something's gotta give. It is virtually impossible to fill this kid up. Our dryer is broken. Poo. I've been eyeing those sleek stainless models for a few years now. But we're opting for repair rather than sleekness. I am not ashamed...