Some Updates and The Radical Disciple.....

This little sweetie started piano last week and although she has the smallest hands ever she has the biggest heart for music and LOVES it. Plus it helps that her music teacher Miss Heather is young and hip and always has some kind of "bling" or crazy shoes on. This week she had bright polka dot rubber rain boots on. When I see them together i am certain it is love at first sight. :) Morgan also started Spanish this past week with the Rosetta Stone. The first day I was concerned that she was to young and that it moved to fast but when SHE asked to start Spanish in class before math the second day I realized she was absorbing it and she did the lesson all on her own. Ryanne is going to do it as well but I am afraid she will then have another language to tell me off in! Ugh! Speaking of Ryanne.......................I know this picture is a bit blurry but do you see anything wrong with what she is doing? Those are all naked barbies being submerged head first into a bucket of water. Should I be concerned? I mean I don't know if I should be more worried that there are like eight naked men and women in the "jacuzzi" together or that she is taking GREAT pleasure in drowning them. I am thinking instead of the college fund we set aside for each month that possible a counseling fund might be more called for. :)

A Radical Disciple...................................

What is a radical disciple? It is that person who will follow Jesus Christ no matter what. The radical disciple is sold out to Him. Nothing else can sway that person. The eye, the heart, the mind, and the soul are fixed on Jesus. In perilous times, in successful times, in times of challenge-no matter where that person is-Jesus Christ is given free rein to live and move and work. A Heart That dances By Catherine martin

This week was the perfect time for me to read this in my time with the Lord. A new president was sworn in and I was reminded that though I didn't vote for him he is now the leader of our country and I am instructed to pray for him and all of our other leaders that were sworn into office this past week. If as Christians we can all stop complaining for even a second and focus all that energy to the Lord and what he is capable of doing, can you even imagine? So exciting!

Also, as the economy gets worse by the day and people are loosing their jobs and homes my heart often focuses on the "worldly things." I get scared for friends, anxiety at where we will cut back if the new budget goes through at my husbands job and fear that it will only get worse for many people. I found this past week that when stress would creep in my eyes would shift down instead of up where my hope lies. As Christians I believe now more than ever in my lifetime thus far that this is a great time to get our priority's in the right order. To become radical disciples. To follow Christ first no matter what, letting nothing else sway us. Not the economy, not our health, not who or who is not running the country and most importantly to let that attitude of worship overflow to those around us. In perilous times, in times of success and times of challenge.

Something I read today and LOVED

The heart that is forever captivated sees things that others cannot see. It has a view of heaven and a vision of the extraordinary. It experiences things that only God can do. A person with such a heart lives a supernatural lifestyle. He or she never gives up. Although circumstances appear hopeless, by faith the captivated heart knows that with God all things are possible. God has a plan and will carry it out.

By Catherine Martin in A Heart That Dances

A Couple Random Things.............................

I had to share this cause to me it's VERY exciting. I have ALWAYS wanted a piano. I mean ALWAYS. I have wanted to learn to play worship music on the piano for a couple of years now. Whenever I would hear someone was selling a piano I was always so bummed at the horrible timing of us not having the money or the space or whatever. So last week we were in Long Beach with Dan's family for our annual "Christmas with the Cousins party" and Cindi (Dan's cousin) asks if anyone wanted the piano that had been in the family forever. I think I practically levitated across the pool deck to make sure she knew I was serious. :) Dan's uncle bought it 29+ years ago and had it all refurbished. Its old and used and loved and worn just the way I like. So on New Years Eve Dan's cousin had the piano movers move it up from her house in LA and here it is in its new home ready for Morgan to take lessons in Feb. I can hardly wait cause ummm yes I totally plan to learn along side her. What? I have been itching to learn something new so this is perfect timing. Heck, when she was taking guitar I almost killed myself trying to learn those cords cause I couldn't stand not understanding what someone else was learning.
Oh and one other little thing; if you sent us a Christmas card with your photo attached to it you are HERE! :) This is our bulletin board we hung up in a place where I spend lots of time (sad to say) the laundry room. Anyways, we hung this bulletin board here not to hide your beautiful faces but to remind me as I wash clothes to pray for you and your families. We clean it off every December and add all the new cards from family and friends. Its fun to see everyone change and the kids grow so big. Love praying for you all! I have been missing those that are far away that we don't see often. :( Love you!

Word For The Year

sneaking a kiss..........................
got my new ride.......................
trying to get all the cousins lined up by height.................

Does the picture really need words? ;)

Morgan and her NEW missing tooth. :)

Happy New Year Everyone! Last year my fellow blogger Christy P. decided to come up with a word for the year that she was going to live by instead of a resolution. I liked her idea so much I did the same thing last year. I chose BALANCE. I thinking back over my year and thinking about my life and if I was able to find some kind of balance. Say no more often, but say YES to the really great stuff. Let things, people, situations go that I cannot control. Allowing God to be God and do his job as apposed to me stressing over the little things or even the big things really. Sleeping lots, eating well, exercising, reading the word every morning and letting Gods love and grace sink in to my heart and flow into my actions. Ya' I think balance was the perfect word for me last year.

This year as the clock was ticking away towards midnight I started to think of what word I wanted and how I could honor God in my decision. I chose worship which is funny cause our worship pastor taught on Sunday about that very word and it really ministered to my heart and confirmed my decision. Worship is so much more than singing praise songs on Sunday mornings or even praying with our kids. Worship is NOT about us but about God. It is to be our outward reaction to what he is done inwardly in our lives. Think about that. If random people you come in contact were to describe your behavior would it be a reflection of Gods grace and mercy? His love and care for you? I desire this next year to be one where my outward response to people and to the Lord is one that reflects what a mighty and powerful God I serve. Capable of doing anything, and changing anyone.....................even me. :) I will attach a few photos below of our last few weeks. Sorry I have been a bit flaky with the blogging; we have had some sickness and other things going on here on top of the holiday craziness. :)

We Have A Saying In Our House.................

We have a saying in our house and it goes like this;

"WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING, NOT WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN!!"

This is a picture of Ryanne after she ran into our wall/fire place. I have this long medal Christmas card holder hanging from this tall wall and as Ryanne was running to get into bed she ran smack into the wall and card holder. Seriously? Since the child could walk she has been smacking into the same wall/fireplace like we just built it. Ugh!!! Dan & I often hear ourselves yelling through the house,"WATCH OUT RYANNE!!" Poor kid, hopefully she drives better than she walks.
The funniest part is we get to her classroom yesterday morning and I am fully aware that everyone is obviously going to ask her what happened but here is what went down.
Teacher: "Ryanne, what happened to your face?"
Ryanne: "uummmm, I don't really know."
Me: "Are you kidding? You ran into the wall, remember? Almost knocked yourself out, I packed your face in ice, ringing any bells here?"
(Random parents just staring at me.)
Its then that I realize you sound like you have beat your kid and are trying to get them to tell a different story.
That's OK, I hear they serve a mean turkey dinner in jail this time of year!
"RYANNE WATCH OUT!" Gotta' go!!!

Answer to Prayer

For two weeks now Morgan has been telling me that she was praying for a cold, white Christmas. I kept telling her that Christmas is usually warm and that we often are wearing flip flops playing outside on Christmas morning. I said,"I just don't want you to get your hopes up honey." Well, if you will look below you will see that believing in God is ALL about getting your hopes up & child like faith.Morgan got her Christmas prayer answered as it snowed off and on all day yesterday and through the night. The above picture is taken off the back side of our property.
Here are the girls in our backyard. We went for a walk at 7am this morning and got to see our little bobcat friend walking around and playing in the snow in our yard as well.

This one is taken from our front yard.

And last but not least this one is taken from our back patio. It was fun because last night at like 7pm it was snowing really hard and we noticed Caleb and his dad playing out in the snow and building a snowman so we got all dressed in our snow gear and headed out to bomb them with a sneak attack of snowballs. It was really fun out in the dark until I got hit right in the eye. Thanks Caleb! I guess all those baseball games are paying off huh! ;)

Firefighters Christmas Party

Last night was the firefighters Christmas party and it turned out really nice.

Mindy was showing off her fancy dance moves here. hhmmmm............

Oh ya' and yesterday I cute 9 inches off my hair! Man I think I lost about 5 pounds! So what do you think short or long? I think I might actually like it short. :) The food was great, music was fun and we had the most amazing view over looking the city from our table. Have a great weekend.