Winter storm!

Two years ago Monday (Dec. 1), we endured a winter storm the day we welcomed M into the world. Granted, the brunt of the storm was in the southeast part of the state but we got some weather as well.
Looks like Mother Nature is blessing M's 2nd birthday with a similar coating of snow.
We are dealing with a winter storm now as I write. I hear the wind blowing so I can imagine the snow that has been falling since this afternoon is all over the place.
According to Dad, who is on the road tonight (God, please put angels around him!), the roads are slick. Weather forecasts predict we'll get 3-5 inches by tomorrow morning!!

Happy Birthday, baby!

Our little M will officially be 2 tomorrow. For a long time, I have been thinking of her as older than she really is. She is so smart. She picks up on so much so fast. She is also very independent and spirited! She gives us great joy much of the time but other times we deal with the Terrific Twos, which can be trying, to say the very least!
I love seeing how she picks up on things so quickly. She wants to grow up so fast.
But I also cherish the moments when we do snuggle together. At night, when I put her to bed, we read stories and then she wants me to "ing." Sing. So we sing a few songs. And she almost always lays in my arms, to be rocked like a baby as I sing Rock-a-bye Baby, or, as M says, Rock Baby.
I cherish those snuggle times, which do not always happen with this little one on the go.
So go, baby. Enter into your 2's with curiosity and wonder and eagerness. But, please, try not to go too far.
Happy Birthday, M.

Good to be home

Things have been pretty low-key for us this holiday weekend and I love it!
I especially love having C home. He will be home until Tuesday. I am sure he will be ready to be back in his work environment by then but in the meantime I will enjoy every day he is home.
I love that we can do stuff together as a family, as a couple. He gets to spend more quality time with the girls. He gets to help with the care of the girls, which helps me too. It's nice to have an extra pair of hands. And he gets to check some things off his "To-Do" list, which has consisted of many outdoor tasks like the Christmas decorations, trimming down the summer foliage and building a cover for the air conditioning unit.
It is good to have him home. We are so blessed.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

My wonderful, loving husband has added Christmas cheer to our home.
He put up Christmas lights!!! Outside! He even used a ladder!!!!!! He worked all afternoon in the cold to decorate the house.
We now have icicle lights hanging off the porch and two outdoor decorations: a lighted angel and a six-foot light-string tree. Simple, classic and very pretty!
I can't wait to see how they look with the snow falling all around.
I'll try to post pictures later.

I'm thankful for....

Our loving Father, who has provided us with so much, even when we are not worthy of them.
My loving husband, who gives of himself at home, with the girls and I and at work.
Our girls, who give us many reasons to laugh, cry, smile, pull out our hair.
The opportunity I have to be a stay-at-home mother and a freelance writer. I am so blessed with the privilege.
Our extended family. We don't always get to see them but when we do, it is good to re-connect and laugh together.
Our home, given to us by God.
The many opportunities we have in this country.

Tunes

Here the music? No, it's not in your head. If you have your computer volume on, you can hear my play list. (It was free!)
Scroll down the page and you'll see the list of songs.
The first one is the Relient K song I've written about, I Celebrate the Day. I love the song!!
Sara Groves, Steven Curtis Chapman, Casting Crowns and Jars of Clay round out my favorites playing. I hope to add more in the future.
So enjoy the songs and let me know if you have any requests you'd like to hear while you are catching up on our goings-on.

450 Billion

Want another moving video?
Check this out!
If this doesn't move you, I don't know what will.