New Year's Devotion

When I worked at a camp one summer during college, I remember the camp director going over a list on a poster board with the first "rule": Expect the unexpected.

There were many times I just sneered when I saw that in the counselor's lounge! So many unexpected things happened during that summer: Some were good things, some were bad things.

One day, when things were not going as planned, I started reading the story of Jesus calming the storm in Matthew 8 during my break time. Two words stuck out to me that I had never noticed before: without warning.

Matthew says, "Without warning, a furious storm came and toppled the boat."

I'm the type of person that likes to feel prepared for things, so noticing these words didn't bring much comfort to me. I tend to react just like the disciples' did with fear and frustration.

Glance back to Mary's reaction when she got the news of her upcoming pregnancy, "without warning." I doubt Mary (and Joseph too) wanted or expected to be newlywed parents.

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May your word to me be fulfilled." (Luke 2:38 NIV)

She hadn't had time to really even process what the angel said, but she clearly accepted it! Something I noticed is that the angel didn't give her any advice or assurance on breaking the news to Joseph and her family. I doubt they were prepared to hear this "good girl" say she's pregnant before marriage! What's interesting too that she had to tell them (not an angel).

There's a bit of excitement and a bit of fear with the start of a new year. Life gives us twists and turns that we never thought would happen!

I think it's no accident we celebrate Christ's birth days before the New Year.

Emmanuel- God is with us...

I wrote this and put in the women's newsletter I do. I got some good feedback, so I thought I'd share! I thought a lot about Liz when I wrote it, especially since the 28th was the day of her death. Last year at this time, we didn't feel alot of hope or excitement in beginning a new year.

We've thought about her many times this past month and have missed her, especially during the holidays! Last year, Deda had given me a cute little black purse that was Liz's and I took that with me to the Hurricanes game last night. I think she would have liked that!

Five Year Anniversary and Hockey!

A few months ago, Jason and I decided we'd go to the Hurricanes hockey game on Dec. 29th in celebration of our anniversary! So, we left Hallie with my mom and dad and traveled to Raleigh!

The Canes haven't been doing well this year, so I was a bit nervous since Jason gets really frustrated when they're losing. Brandon Sutter scored the 1st goal and then the Maple Leaves scored. We were down by 2 goals in the second period. Then, in the third period, Eric Staal did a perfect breakaway and got the 2nd goal. A few minutes later, Dalpe got another goal, so it was tied!

I love when games are close and tied, but Jason doesn't! We went into overtime and got a power play with 2:30 left. Eric Staal got the game winning goal, which I got on video!

The game starting face off!

Action shot!

Jussi Jokinen in a face off!

Eric Staal and Cam Ward (goalie) in warm ups!

We were happy with our seats! The team did warm ups on our side!

Storm Squad girls...gotta love them!

Christmas 2011!

We had a very busy, but great Christmas! There are so many pictures so I only put a few here!

We had Christmas Eve brunch with the Helms. This is in front of Liz's memorial tree



Hallie loved giving kisses to Arlo too!







Christmas Eve we went to Grandma and Grandpas!

She started playing peek a boo! She does get a bump at the end but she was okay!

She's also started dancing and responding to music more!

Christmas morning, went to my mom and dad's. She got her first computer! LOL!

Lesley hand made this for her! SO ADORABLE!

We went to Billy and Joyce's on Christmas Day too!

Nana with the grandkiddos!

Later that night to Dean and Karen's. Hallie seemed to like to climb the presents more than anything!

Hallie playing in her kitchen at our house!

Playing with Rockin Elmo!

New Things She's doing:

-She surprised me when I said something about peek a boo and she put her hands over her eyes and then slowly removed them while I said "where's Hallie?"

-She says "Saiah" when she sees pictures of herself! But she did point him out on the computer in this video!

- She loves to climb and turns around to go feet first in order to get down!

-I think she's starting to say "mommy" and "mama!" Soon, she won't stop saying it!

Having fun!

Hallie had a great time on Saturday, when Nana, Papa, Will, Mandy, Aida, Athrun, and Lee came to hang out with us! Aida made her laugh by blowing on her belly!



She did well sharing her toys!

We had a doctor's appointment last week and she's around 32 1/2 inches long and about 19 lbs 10 oz. She didn't like being on the scale, so I'm not quite sure how accurate that is! But, it's probably close!

She's been saying a few more words, like "kitty" and what we think is "puppy" (sounds like "buppy"). She says "hi" and "hey" alot more; we're working on "bye". We thought she said "thank you" the other day at my parent's house when she was eating, but she hasn't said that again, so who knows if that was it!

She's loving banans and had tangerines tonight!


Here are some photos taken by Aida on Saturday! She did a good job!

Hallie loves being chased now! We can say "I'm gonna get you!" and she starts laughing and "running"! It's so cute!

Thanksgiving!

We first went to Winston-Salem for the Garth family Thanksgiving! This a pic of cousins and moms!



Then we went to Grandma and Grandpa's that evening!



She loved Granny's food!

Kisses from Aunt Becca!

We enjoyed that Chris, Lesley, and Isaiah came to visit! Hallie surprised me by saying "Zayah" (short for Isaiah) and pointed towards him when she said it! She also gave him lots of kisses!

We strolled them one day!

We played in the leaves at our house!

Daddy and mini me!

We went up to Blowing Rock for shopping on Saturday. Isaiah was very tired but after his nap, we went to the Park! They loved the slides!

We got to Blowing Rock downtown right after the parade ended and when we parked, saw Santa still on his float! He was nice enough to hold Hallie, but she wasn't too thrilled about it! Maybe next year!

Playing in the Leaves!

Hallie's been doing a lot better in her shoes and liking the grass/leaves! It used to be she would scream when you put her near the grass, but now she's better!










Jennifer sent me this from this week at daycare!





Here's her playing! We're looking forward to Thanksgiving this week!

Walking Progress!

Coming Soon (probably in the next few weeks).....running progress!

Baby Bumblebee!

Her hat says "Bee Happy." Jason brought her to my work!

She hesitated to take candy, but ended up liking the wrappers!

Hallie was great as a bumblebee, but got alittle tired late in the evening!

Grumpy bee!

Halloween family pic!

With Daddy!

Hallie is talking a lot, like in the video! And she climbed in the bottom drawer of our kitchen last night (second video!) She took 5 steps at Will and Mandy's on Saturday (no video, but hopefully will have one soon of her walking!)

Today, we were planning on going to Statley Springs with Dean, Karen, Lee, Grandma, Grandpa, Mitch, Erin, Michael and Brynn......but when we got there at 11:00, they wouldn't be able to seat us until 1:30 or 2:00! So, we ate at Bojangles, and then headed over to Boone to the Mass General Store.....not realizing it was Homecoming weekend at ASU and extremely crowded!

We then went to Blowing Rock to the park and ate some ice cream! Hallie loved the swing!

With Granny!

Here are some cute things she's been doing lately!

*She loves to jibber-jabber! She tells me about her day when I come home!

* She says "yeah" a lot! We really want her to say "yes", but it's so cute!

*She seems to think "daddy" (or more accurately, "dah-DEE") is a word for both me and Jason. She says it when I come home as well!

*She's discovered the fridge and gets a kick out of getting the salad dressing from the shelf!

*She loves to climb! We have the stool from the rocking chair near the bed in her room and she loves to climb on it, and then the bed.

*She loves drawers! She likes to put things in them and close them!

*She loves holding my mascara and concealer! I think she likes that tube shape!

*She loves to open an close doors as well!

Jennifer took this at Daycare saying it was Hallie's driving lesson!

Here's some vidoes!

Lazy 5 Ranch!

Sorry, I just realized this didn't post!


We went to the Lazy 5 Ranch on Saturday, October 1st! Rebecca wanted this for her birthday! We did the wagon ride, which was lots of fun! Hallie was very quiet, taking everything in! She was really good! We all had a blast feeding the animals!


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Whoa!!!