Christmas 2012

Our Christmas was absolutely wonderful and amazing! Not because there was an over abundance of gifts (even though we were all spoiled, of course ;), it was all about the family, the love, and remembering that TRUE meaning of Christmas with our children! :) As 2012 comes to an end, I have to say that it was certainly an awesome year for our family, but so many families have hurting hearts, so its hard to be truly happy about what you have when so many are suffering, but I pray that 2013 brings joy and happiness to all of those hurting hearts! Here's to a great 2013 for all of you! :)

And for good measure (some pictures of Christmas Eve, before we headed out for our annual festivities! :))

 We tend to keep Christmas Eve more "casual" and break out the dresses and suits for Christmas Day :)

Manuel actually took this picture of Manny and I..not too shabby! :) (however, I do look 9 months prego and I promise, right now, there is no baby baking in my belly! ;)

I pray that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and cheers to a great 2013! I hope that 2013 finds me blogging more and re-connecting with all of my blogging buddies who I "lost" through the latter part of this year because of being SO busy at work! :)

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to my blogging friends! :) May the peace and joy of the Christmas season fill your heart. PLEASE remember it's not about the gifts, it's about family, giving, joy, and most importantly the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I'm finding it a bit difficult to fully embrace Christmas because my heart is in Connecticut with all of those grieving families. I can't even imagine their pain, however, I feel that it's a disservice to all of those lost lives if I don't make myself get happy and enjoy Christmas with my husband and children in honor of those angels.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

via

Day of Silence

Saddness

The reality of my life is this..11 out of the 20 deadliest shootings have occured in the United States, 6 (I believe) of those 11 have occured since 2007...that is a staggering, heartbreaking, awful statistics. Words can't even begin to explain how sad my heart is over what happened on Friday. Babies, sweet, innocent, babies, who had their entire lives ahead of them, gone, at the hands of a madman. And those poor teachers...mothers, sisters, daughters, aunts, wives and friends. SO senseless. SO heartbreaking. My heart has been aching (literally) since this all happened, then add in the mix a memorial service for a very dear friend (on Saturday morning), my heart has reached it's maximum sadness quota, and to think I am just a bystander, looking in. I can't even begin to fathom how those families feel...to lose a loved one so unexpectedly. My heart just hearts, plain and simple.

Please pray for those families, please pray for our country, please pray for the world. PLEASE come to know Jesus if you don't, please, please, please. I can say this, what happened on Friday will FOREVER change me as a mother! FOREVER! A majority of those sweet babies that died were Manuel's age...can't.even.fathom.

Today I share my Facebook status from Friday night...

there is so much tragedy in todays events, one of them being our ability to SO easily forget...this time next week I'd venture to say people will have moved on, people will have "forgotten" (those not directly affected, of course), and they will be going on and on about the SUPPOSED end of the world (12/21/12) but friends, lets not forget what the Bible tells us, "Therefore keep watch, because ...

you do not know the day or the hour." So instead of forgetting, instead of moving on, instead of these sweet precious "babies" being taken in vain, lets DO SOMETHING ABOUT!!! Learn to be kinder, love deeper, reach out to a stranger, help those in need, do something simple as saying thank you when someone holds a door open for you, raise your children with morals and values, be the change you want to see in the world because if not, the rest of our lives (however long it is until He comes), will be spent dealing with these tragedies, which sadly, will probably be happening more and more!

 

The entire country is in my prayers tonight...as we are planning on Christmas day, planning our next holiday party, families are planning funeralsl..just entirely too hard to wrap my brain around. All I can do is pray!

If you feel led, please participate in the blog day of silence on Tuesday. I know people might not "get" the idea behind a blogging day of silence, but it just shows solidarity, rememberance, love, compassion. If you feel led, please do so...

 

Lets see if this works...

Hello dear friends! :) It's been awhile, because honestly, what's the point in posting if you can't upload pictures?!?!?!?! I know $3 a month to be able to upload pictures is a small price to pay, but I just don't find it necessary at this point, since I really wasn't blogging all that often, recently. Perhaps if I get pregnant sometime soon, and want to document my pregnancy, etc. then I'll think about it. But for now, I saw a suggestion on another blogger about using a photo website, getting the HTML code, and posting that here, so we'll see if that works! :) Time consuming if I wanted to post an entire events pics (Thanksgiving, post-Thanksgiving bonfire, etc.) but for a one pic post, it'll work! :)

Speaking of the holidays...our Thanksgiving was WONDERFUL! Truly, truly awesome! Such a blessing to be surrounded by family and so much to be thankful for! :)

Ohhh, I have to post my favorite picture from Thanksgiving, so this will actually be a two pic post! ;)



Christmas is fast approaching and we are really excited! Manny and I have decided not to exchange gifts this year and instead of have spent our Christmas budget for each other on giving back to charities. My gosh, I can't even begin to explain the joy it brings to my heart just to give back. It's awesome!!!!!!And being able to teach the kids along the way about giving and how important it is, is just an added blessing! :)

We took the kids to see Santa last night! Manuel and Mia were very excited UNTIL we crossed the threshold into the Santas Wonderland, then Mia froze up! :) She wouldn't look at Santa, she wouldn't talk to him, she wouldn't even face him! :) Santa wasn't even trying to press the issue so he just immediately invited Manny and I to get into the picture too! ;( I wasn't mad, but I would have liked him to have tried a bit harder to warm her up to him, especially when there wasn't a long line AND had I known we were going to be in the picture, I would have made sure Manny and I wore Christmas colors! ;) But either way, here is the end result...



I continue to pray for all of you daily. I pray this Christmas season is alive in your hearts and minds, even if it your pockets are empty. It's not about the gifts, I promise you! :) It's about love, family, giving back and MOST importantly, the birth of our Savior!

Lots of love to you, my friends! :)

Thanksgiving

I don't know why I even ATTEMPT at putting my 30 Days of Thankfulness on my blog every year...I NEVER succeed! ;) I post religiously on Facebook, each and every morning, but the process of putting it over here too is obviously something my brain can't handle! ;) However, I did want to log on and wish you all a VERY Happy Thanksgiving! I pray with all my heart that your hearts (and bellies ;) are filled this Thanksgiving. When I sit and think about how much family I'll be surrounded with tomorrow and the love that my heart will feel, it saddens me (beyond words) to think that there will be people who tomorrow (and possibly everyday), will be without loved ones, without food, and without knowing the TRUE spirit of Thanksgiving! :( I pray for those people. I pray with my whole hear that they would find someone, even just ONE person to spend the day with.

Be well my sweet friends! :) I have offered to give the prayer before dinner tomorrow, which I'd like to share here, as my prayer to you and your families, as well as a picture of my adorable kiddos from last year. It's crazy how much they grow in ONE year! :)

And for good measure...
*Well, apparently I'm out of space and can't post anymore pictures unless I buy space! :( That might be something I'll look into, but not now! :) In case you need to see my children from Thanksgiving last year ;) go back to my Thanksgiving post 2011.

For now, here's my prayer:
Jesus,
   Thank you for this...the ability to sit here, surrounded by family, together, with all of this food in front of us, happy and blessed. Please bless the hands that prepared it. As we begin our meal of Thanksgiving, Jesus, please help us to remember that no matter what worries are in our hearts at this moment, no matter what burdens we may carry, we have so much more than so many others and should be thankful! Help us to remember your words, "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus"
(1 Thess 5:18) And we ask all of this in your precious Holy name, forever and ever. Amen.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!! :)

Day #11 of Thankfulness and Ravens game :)

Manny and I went to the Ravens game today...it was an awesome game to be at, and the weather was P-E-R-F-E-C-T! :) Hubby and I had a wonderful time! And the kiddos had a great time with Nonna and Poppy! :) But on to my thankful thought for today and some pictures...

Day #11...today I am thankful for all the men and women who have fought for our freedom. I particularly hold this day close to my heart as I remember my grandfather, who I was never able to meet, who lost his life in the Korean War. He died a hero, as he saved many others and was given the honor of a purple heart!

 All geared up and ready to go (excuse the mess in the background...that, my friends, is reality! ;))

 Special tickets to go on the field before the game...such a cool experience!

Waiting for the game to start! :)

 Very touching Veterans Day tribute

 Our beloved coach, John Harbaugh :)

 Our beloved players :)

LOVE the scoreboard! ;)

 

I hope you all had a fantastic weekend! I've taken a vacation day tomorrow since banks are closed and I can't fund loans...yeah for a Mommy & Mia day! :)