Goodbye 2009 Hello 2010!!!

I know I say this in almost every post but I cannot believe how fast this year has flown by! Yesterday and Today I have been overwhelmed with emotions, thoughts,and excitement! A year ago yesterday we brought our precious baby home from the hospital and boy did the year begin and our lives change! She is an amazing gift a gift that has so reminded me of Mary this Christmas season. What she went through in the conditions to deliver the Savior of the World. She was not in a plush room at Lakeside Women's Hospital like me and I cannot imagine the pain, the love, the heartache knowing Jesus would die for us, it has given such new meaning to me on the sacrifice, the obedience, the faithfulness of a mother and father!
This year has been so full of change in our lives and through it all as I reflect back I am so amazed at how Jesus has provided for us, changed us, renewed our faith in Him and allowed us to Enjoy life along the way. To say we are blessed is such an understatement. In May of 2009 when we made the decision for me to leave my job as a hotel GM and stay home with Bella I had no idea how we would make it, then 2 weeks later for Josh to loose his job I was quite shaken in my Faith to say the least. Today I am in awe as I look back and not only see how HE provided but allowed us to be apart of so many great things in the midst of it all. Josh started college in August, I worked part time and recently Josh was given an amazing opportunity to have his dream job while still finishing school. Sure there have been sacrifices and changes but so manliness when I really think about it! As we close this year I am so grateful for my healthy family, all the material things I have, friendships, parents, sisters, grandparents but more than anything MY SAVIOR! As we start a new year I have my usual goal to loose weight and be healthy but more importantly I want to serve HIM more. Do more for the kingdom, make a difference, grow my faith and live each day in the comfort and joy the no matter what GOD IS IN CONTROL! HE is more than enough and oh so Faithful through the good times and the bad! SO for the first time in a long time I am anxious for 2010 waiting to see what God does next! Thank You, Thank You, Thank You Jesus I just can't THANK you enough! So Happy New Year ring it in big and expect God to do GREAT things in 2010 I know I am!!!!

Bella June is ONE!!!

Cupcake for breakfast!
Carriage ride with Gayla and Tristan!

Cupcakes are yummy!

Lu
Lunch with Mommy and Daddy!

4 pounds 1o ounces I was so tiny coming home from the hospital December 2008!

December 23rd was the big day! The day our baby girl turned one! I cannot believe it where did the year go! She had a fun and busy day- started the day with scrambled eggs and a cupcake for breakfast! Then lunch and a trip to Toys R US to pick out a birthday present from mom and dad. That evening we spent having Christmas with Gayla and Tristan went to look at Christmas and had a yummy dinner! It was a fun day- a little emotional for mom at times as I thought about how hard her first few hours were and months for that matter. No words can express how blessed we are by this little girl, how thankful we are and how honored we are to be her mommy and daddy! Love you Bella Boo!

Christmas Light Tour 2009!!

Baby Bella so bundled up!!
The Family!

Betsy, Gracie, and Aunt Amy ready for the cold ride!

Daddy and Bella Snug as a bug!

In 2006 the first year Josh and I were married we started a family Christmas light tour. We have done lights by limo, train, boat and this year horse drawn carriage! We love it and truly look forward to it every year! It is always so cold, so special to me, and so much fun! Enjoy the photos!!

Just some thoughts!!!

This will be a boring post but just some things I will want to remember! Tomorrow is our precious daughter's first birthday! I am overwhelmed with emotions, thoughts,concerns, prayers and most importantly a heart full of THANKFULNESS. I have many times complained about my poor little girl sharing a birthday so close to Christmas but this week in a quiet, soft way I have been reminder of what a Awesome birthday she almost shares. Christmas the birth of our savior the one behind it all! As most of you know Bella was born at 34 weeks and her first 12-24 hours were scary she was lifeless I vividly remember the amazing peace I felt knowing that Jesus was in control and taking care of HIS baby- yet that was MY baby and I longed to hold her and "fix" it. We couldn't all we could do was TRUST and PRAY and oh how Josh and I prayed and clung to each other,our family, and our savior. It really was one of the most precious times of our life. We spent a lot of time in that room and NICU at Lakeside Hospital and I will never forget the precious people who cared for our baby and us, our family and friends who made celebrating Christmas in the hospital so fun as it could be and the quiet tender moments Josh and I shared with that tiny baby girl we are trusted with. So as we celebrate Christmas this year I have a deeper, renewed, and better understanding of the sacrifice God made by sending his baby boy to earth to die for me. Tomorrow I am reminder of that as I hug our Bella a little tighter and kiss her probably 1 million times- she is an amazing gift that we have been given a gift we do not deserve. Just like that gift of salvation none of us deserve! Thank you Jesus for my healthy, loud,active, beautiful Bella and more importantly THANK YOU for your son!

Santa Clause is Coming to Town!!

Bella had her first visit to Santa on Sunday! Sorry the picture is no that great I took a picture of it with my camera! I was too cheap to buy the CD! She was in awe and the pic is Adorable! Merry Christmas!

Bella's FIRST Birthday Party!!! 12-12-09

This past Saturday we celebrated the little princesses 1st Birthday with one heck of a party!!!! Her Birthday is the 23rd so we decided to have her party a little early! We had it at Deer Springs Lodge which was the prefect setting for our cowgirl theme party! Bella had so much fun and did great no melt down at all! She wanted nothing to do with her cake which was funny I even tried to force feed it to her and she cried. Must not take after her momma and have a sweet tooth! I was happy to have avoided the mess! It was a prefect day and a great party. A huge thank you to all our family and Friends for celebrating with us and all the amazing gifts! Love you Bella Boo and cannot believe you are almost 1!!