A VERY busy month

 I've had every intention of blogging but somehow before I could get to typing there was a baby needing changing, a box needing packing, a picture needing editing, a dear friend needing to say good bye to, a house needing cleaning...you get the idea.  Moving.....pshhh...over rated!  :)  All that to say, I will sum up this past Jan with some pictures (even though I lost my camera....not my nice one, but the one I use around the house...but still, I just bought the thing and it just got up, and done walked right out of my house...it's times like this I wonder if maybe it had another home..ya know, like Woody from Toy Story... and it was petrified because he (yes I believe all cameras are male..he) thought he might be lost...sooo he wondered out of the house in search for his long lost owner!)

  As you can see, I've given this way too much thought...

All of that to say, even with no camera...somehow I manged to steal peoples cameras for days at a time in order to document this ever so hectic month, knowing that if I didn't it would somehow get lost out of my memory bank forever!! Dramatic much Mary??  :)

So  instead of words...let me give you a glimpse into a very crazy, but exciting month!

The kids used the moving boxes and turned them into a fortress where they were hiding from an evil lion...naturally :)

Packing up the kitchen means kids getting lost in cabinets..oh wait, there he is..  :)

Malachi is getting tired watching me and his sister pack

 Manged to take time out to snuggle with some of our favorite friends...we had an "anchorman" party...it just seemed right  :)

 Charlie and his best buddy Ryan

Annabella FINALLY got her long awaited Christmas present, her very own jewelry box!  She was thrilled...to say the least.

Last game night with the girls

 Last goodwill run with sister for while....very very sad

 I.love.them.

My homegroup girls on our last "girls night out"! I will miss you guys soooo crazy much!

 My ladies

 Moving day!  Ryan is helping us repair a cabinet the boys ripped off haha

 More from moving day!  We got bored so we decided to pack heidi and put her on the truck

 What she didn't know is that I know no intention of letting her out!  (I told you I would find a way for you to come with me Heidi!!)  hehe

 safe travels!  :)

 Ryan and Charlie after a long moving day

 Charlie and I leaving our 7th house!!

 On the road again!  Chick-filla stop

 Just got to our new home!  Our awesome friends helped us move in!

 Annabella started her new Montessori a few days after we moved in...and the verdict, and I quote, "Why can't I just stay there all day and night?!"  I suppose that means she likes it. :)

 Seeing my beautiful amazing friends!!  How I have missed you!

 My dear, sweet Katiebeth

 Auntie Jenna snuggling 

 Katiebeth's beautiful baby shower for little Rainy

So there ya have! Sad to leave wonderful friends but excited to be re united  with old ones and to even meet new ones!!  So here's to a new chapter of our lives.  Thank you Jesus for all your amazing blessings!!

A new year...a new season

Another ridiculously crazy year as flown by and everyone is throwing out their New Years Resolutions for 2011.  I am one of those lame people that always come up with like 20 and literally don't 2.  But this year the Lord made it pretty clear....for this season of my life there are only 3 worth keeping. 

3. I want to have a mothers heart that is full with the heart beat of Christ.  I want to lead my children in a path of righteousness and guide them to the foot of the cross.  I want to see them more and more as my own personal disciples, in which I have been entrusted to Sheppard, love, and train.  I want to do more snuggling instead of cleaning, laughing instead of arguing, and dancing instead of phone talking.  I want to catch a glimpse of who Jesus as destined them to be and pray into that continually. This year I want to walk more into my calling of what the Lord has for me.....loving Jesus as I love on 3 amazing children.

2.I want to be a more loving and understanding wife.  I want to be less selfish, less self promoting, and less prideful.  I want to serve my husband more and for him to always know how much I love him.  I want to be less dramatic  and more care free.  I want to do less "to do lists" and more movie nights. I want to go on more date nights and less home depot runs for the house.  I want to be quick to say sorry and quick to forgive.  I want to ultimately put Jesus before him so that I can truly love him the way I should.

 1. I want to love Jesus with all my heart, all my mind, all my strength.  I want to spend time with Him every day even if that means things get left un done!  Heck, even if that means everything gets left undone.  I want to fall more in love with Him daily and have His heartbeat everywhere I go.  I want to know His love and as I bask in it, continually pour that love on others and at His feet.  I want to live a life of radical obedience; choosing to die to myself daily and giving over every desire, dream, and ambition to Him.  I want to rejoice in the midst of chaos, sing in the midst of  the valleys, and dance in the midst of suffering.   I want to know Him...whatever the cost, whatever the sacrifice..because He is where it all begins.

Here's to another year of  busy schedules, long nights, and dirty diapers...and the opportunity to choose JOY in the midst of it all. I know that ultimately, that if Jesus is my everything...then everything else will come into place. 

Happy 2011.  :)