Blessed

I can always look back at my life timeline and can easily see the hand of the God guiding our lives each and every step of the way.

The timing?

Always perfect.

The Answers?

Always right.

I think I would say I'm a rather patient person when it comes to life... maybe someone reading this might think the total opposite... and no, I'm not always patient with my kids... but thats not what this is about. ;)

I'm usually pretty patient in waiting on the Lords timing.... and it always pays off. The latest notch in our time lines??

We SOLD our house... 

as in they did NOT back out on us... 

as in its really happening. 

As in they're the real deal!! 

As in we close in 2 weeks.

YAY!!!

Answered prayer #1.

So obviously, that leaves us open to start thinking about our next home... we've been in this little 2 bedroom, 600 sq. ft house for 6 months now, and I feel like I am ready for the next step. Ready for more space. I am SO grateful that we had this house to move back to TX to, and to think that the kids and I would have been in NM these 6 months, trying to sell our house as Nat worked makes me even MORE grateful we had this home. We've thrown around the idea of building... and we've looked around all over in places we'd want to live... and we pretty much settled on building what were wanting. 

Good- Because we would build exactly what we wanted, and it would be our forever home.

Bad- Because we would be in this house for quite possibly another year or more.

... that just did not settle well with me. Mostly because I want the kids to have their own space, their own dressers, for heavens sake. The girls share a twin bed, and I dream of the day when bedtime will consist of separation, and alone time for each of them. I feel like that is important for them... and quite possibly my sanity. ;)

I'm sure that most of y'all know, and its just a known fact, that we are not livin'-in-the-city folk.... well, I did my whole life, but when 2 became 1, and I married a not-so-city-boy, I came to love the life that he did... and we just did not toss around the idea of living in town. I was 100% ok with doing what my husband wanted, as he took a huge leap of faith moving us all back here, and making sacrifices for us to be close to our families. 

Then my dear sweet sister in law had a little chat with Nat... My family has always teased him about moving me to the city... and its always been that, just a joke.... until this particular evening, we were having a family get together and the topic came up... and I just sat there, sealed lips, as they talked. I knew it was going in one ear and out the other so I wasn't gonna entertain the idea.. 

When we left, he called me and asked me if I wanted to "go look at that house" they were talking to him about....

Say Whaaaa????

Who are you, and what did you do with my husband?

We went and looked... and talked... and talked... and prayed and talked some more. 

He was all in. 

I was the hesitant one. 

I did a little more looking around, and there was no doubt, this particular house we looked at was just what I was wanting. There were a few key factors for me that sold the idea of moving to town.... and Lord knows I had some serious stipulations to move me and my 

worst-case-scanrio-too-used-to-country-living- brain 

to actually live in town with my wee little babies with a husband who could potentially work many hours... Don't fret, tho... this mama knows how to use a gun, so if ever an intruder should want to visit.......

agghhh... and there it is, 

my worst-case-scanrio-too-used-to-country-living- brain 

kicking in.

So we made the big phone call to our loan officer and we grabbed up the house!! 

CRAZY?!?!

I know, I still can't believe were doing this!!

But I am SO excited!!! The thought of being so close to taking Madelynn to school, and being close to society definitely gets me excited!! 

and so far, all has gone smoothly and we shall soon be in our new home!!!

A poem.

This is a poem I wrote.

Dry Wipees

The day she was born, the greatest day of our lives, 

6 lbs, 1 oz. she had perfect blue eyes.

Her daddy used the first one on her tiny little bum.

little did we know, that would be the first of many to come.

The days went on and 13 months later, 

she graced us with her presence, another perfect one from our Creator.

7lbs, 5 oz's this time, with a squished little nose.

Daddy was the first, again, to clean our new little Rose.

... and then we had 2.

We soon found ourselves needing more. 

Two little girls who went through them galore.

Many diapers a day, little cheeks and little hands,

mommy was always on demand.

Eleven months later, another blessing from the One above,

5 weeks early, another 5 lbs 11oz's for us to love.

Daddy was there...he wiped that little hiney,

Our very first boy, you were so very tiny.

Mommy bought boxes each time she went to the store, 

for those 3 little babies, she did so adore.

One by one, you each got out of diapers,

yet mommy still saw no end in needing all those wipers.

Life goes so fast, it never slows down. 

I reached in today, and found myself a frown

The wipees-

the ones that have wiped all my babes,

wiped all those tears away,

wiped the blood from to much play,

and cleaned the messes that little hands have made. 

the wipees that I've relied on for so long,

They were dry.

So squeeze those babies tight, 

for soon, they will take flight. 

The Trip

Okay, so I possibly have avoided this post from anxiety of not knowing how to weed through all my pictures. 

I'm a freak, I know... I could never be a photographer cuz I get all uptight when HAVING to choose a select few from my huge amount of pictures. 

Whew, now that I got that outta the way, I guess its pretty obvious that out of my 450 pics I took during our trip, these are the FEW that I've picked to share with you.

For starters, to say we had a blast would have to be an understatement. It was just what the soul needed, some quality time with the husband, and my absolute best friend. Just doing things us girls do (and a really great husband who has just as much fun with us, as we have together)... Lots of laughing, lots of memories reminisced on and lots more made. LOTS of shopping, a few glasses of wine, and lots of time in the hot tub. 

Our whole purpose of the trip was because she graduated from nursing school... and its NOT something we wanted to miss!!! Although we live 1,300 miles apart, I feel like I've been on this journey with her... through the good and the bad, and I would have hated to miss celebrating the end with her!! The day of her graduation, we were at the school early so I snapped a few pics of her in her nursing outfit. 

To  say that I was fascinated with the absolute beauty that is Michigan would be an understatement.

Holy.Cow. 

Us poor, neglected, naive Texans. 

I could literally just stare at the nature all day long. I have several hundred scenery pics. 

Eeep... I felt like a proud mom, watching her daughter get pinned.

HA! 

Her family (who have been close, close friends with my family for about 26 years) came to town, so we had a lot of fun with them, catching up, and playing card games. ;) 

Ohhh... back to the scenery... the neighborhoods, the homes. Just breathtaking!! 

The trees.... I am slightly planning on going back up there in the spring/summer to see it in even more beauty when the leaves are back and its REALLY green,

After a few days in MI, we headed to Chicago for some fun. A few days in a hotel downtown, ON the magnificent mile (a mile of anything and everything shopping you could ever want!!!).... oh yes. Does the soul some goodness. 

This was our first stop in Indiana, where it was SNOWING. So ya, this was the jest of the snow that we saw. 

We made it to Chicago and our first stop was the Shedd Aquarium. 

A-MA-ZING!!!! It was a ginormous aquarium with so much neat stuff!! It was different to get to experience that type of thing with no kids. ;) Although, every time I saw a small child my heart skipped a beat, and ached for my babes to be there with me.

I also had my first REAL Chicago Dog. I'll admit, when we walked up to the hot dog stand, starving to death, the LAST thing that sounded good was a Hot Dog loaded with a buncha nasty stuff...

But, I tried it... cuz I HAD to, right?? You can't go to Chicago and NOT try a Chicago dog.

I was wrong, It was sooooo yummy!!! 

It was sooo chilly there. They don't call it "the windy city" for nothin. Oh, that wind was bittter!!! 

But, this was our first view of the Chicago sky line. So beautiful!!

SkyLine at night.

We were super excited to get to our hotel room and just chill!

We ordered a Chicago style pizza, and had it delivered to our hotel for dinner. We were all exhausted!!

The next day was our only full day in Chi, and we had a full list of sight seeing, and shopping! I wasn't sure if we would be able to fit everything in, but thanks to a few Taxi rides, we managed to complete the list!!

First stop was the SkyDeck... 

AKA The Sears (now Willis) tower. 

At 1450 ft,  Its the tallest building in the US

It was quite possibly the coolest thing ever... definitely one of those things that was on my imaginary bucket list.

Going up!

The observation deck was breathtaking to step out on. 

We then went to Millennium Park to see the "bean"

It was pretty awesome as well.

Then for some shopping.

Holy 2 story Target.

I had to go in... just to say that I did. 

we got some yummy popcorn form this place! Definitely a must do in Chi town.

After a LONG day of shopping, and really, super sore feet, we got dressed up and took a taxi to the Navy Pier.. 

Which was closed.... and as we were all pretty bummed about it, I think we were all equally relieved that we didn't have to walk that much more. ;)

Luckily, there was 1 restaurant open down there and we grabbed a bite to eat and took a taxi back to the hotel to get packed and read to fly out the next morning. 

We were ready to be home, and soo excited to see our babies!!

Were home!!

...And soaking up some sweet time with our babes, whom we missed so dearly. We took them out tonight to visit Santa, go look at Christmas lights, followed by Ice cream comes. It was wonderful!!!

T-minus 13 hours

Ohhh goodness!! We are officially under the 24 hour mark to leave for our trip!!! I've been so super excited about going.....

until last night as I washed one last load of my we little babies' clothing... and gently packed them away in their suitcases...

and I was all alone as they slept in their beds... and I sat in my chair.... Lord knows thats when the mind starts wondering.... and P.S. It it TOTALLY the wrong time of the month to be leaving them.

Okay, so I make it sound like I'm never seeing them again. That is not the  case... and I have to keep telling myself: 

we survived the trip to Key West without them. 

We survived the cruise without them.

I WILL survive this!

They're in good hands with their grandparents...

and mommy and daddy are going to be refreshed in our mommy and daddyness.

... and I'm super excited that when we get back, it will be full on Christmas time!!!

Fail

Nothing, and I mean NOTHING rips my heart into a million pieces more than to forgot my camera at a camera worthy event. 

Literally, I feel my heart drop a little.

Soooo, yep, I did it!!! and my phone camera wouldn't cut it!! 

Madelynn's class had a little part in the Cornerstone Christmas program this past week.... and guess what?? 

Well, really... is it that hard to figure out?? 

She did so good, and looked so beautiful in her little Christmas dress. To top it off, she sang our favorite Christmas song!!

Away in a Manger.

Well, excuse me as I lie to you. 

This is the only picture I got. 

Classy, right??