Happy New Year!

As I reflect back on the year that just was, I can't say it was a great year or a bad year... rather... it was just another year.... which is a good thing. Another year I got to spend with my wonderful husband and children. I feel like this year my children have grown up a lot. Luke started kindergarten, which I will admit goes up there as one of the hardest days I've had as a parent. He is so smart and so mature for his age. I am proud of that little guy! :) Emma seems really grown up as well... all potty trained for 6 months now and in dance class and she thinks she can do anything that Luke can and most of the time she can. I feel that Andy and I continue to grow closer to one another every day. He is my rock. Love him.

So here are a few "resolutions" for the new year:

1. Do more "M.A.D." (make a difference) things with Andy and the kiddos. Such as volunteering together. We kind of slacked off on that a bit last year.
2. Get back into my Wii Fit rountine each day. I kind slacked off on that in the month of December.
3. Finish my Esther bible study and continue to deepen my personal relationship with Christ.
   
4. Less Facebooking.
5. Less Shopping.
6. Less spending.
7. I need to continue to SIMPLIFY in this year. I did a bit of that last year, but I need to continue in the new year. Simplifying even more.

Overall, I need to DO more things that matter and have less stuff!

"He must become greater and I must become less." John 3:30

Happy New Year!

A prayer

Dear God,
Thank you for those moments when you remind us that You are the one in control. I am having one of those moments and I am trying to figure out what exactly it is that You are wanting from me right now. I am listening... waiting... trying to wait patiently. I feel You calling me, but I am not sure exactly what You are calling me too, but I am waiting. I know You are in control and You will let me know when the time comes.

As much as I desire to be omniscient, I know that I am not.... only You are.

Sincerely,
Your faithful servant

"Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take." Proverbs 3:5-6

Christmas 2010... a white Christmas.

It is still hard for me to believe this Christmas is already over. It went by so quickly!! We've spent most of the day today and yesterday clearing out old toys and making room for the new ones. That's always a job. This Christmas was super busy as we spent lots of time with family and friends.

On Christmas Eve we went to the Children's Mass at St. Luke. We got to church a half hour early and the place was already packed! We sat in two folding chairs at the front of church. Emma sat in my lap and Luke was in Andy's. During this Mass, Father Bush always has all the children come up to the front of the church and he read them a story about Christmas. This year was the first year that Emma got to go up with Luke and listen to the story. She sat very well with Luke and listened to Father Bush. Then Father Bush gave them all a snow globe with the nativity scene inside. The kids just loved it. Here's a couple pictures of us before church.


After church, we headed over to Aunt Terry's house. We had a wonderful dinner which included Terry's cheesy potatoes which are my very favorite. We had a smaller than usual crowd at Terry's house this year as many kiddos were sick. After we opened a few presents, the kiddos wanted to watch a movie. Emma chose Sleeping Beauty.
Here are the three cousins under a table, pretending it was a tent, watching a movie. :)

After Terry's we came home and made cookies for Santa Claus. Here are the kiddos leaving out cookies for Santa. Also, we always leave something for Rudolph too. We figure he's doing as much work as Santa, right? :)
Christmas morning, Luke was so excited about his new real camera. He is a little shutterbug just like his mama. I think he took over 300 pictures on Christmas Day. He also got an iXL, which he loves and has already worn out a set of batteries while playing it! Santa also made Luke a chair for his art desk and left him lots of new art supplies!
Emma got a little pink chair for her room, a camera and the Baby All Gone she wanted from Santa. She was so excited on Christmas morning. Andy went in her room to wake her up and she ran out of her room to see what Santa had left for her.
Emma got to put baby Jesus in the manager on this Christmas morning.

Andy always likes to read the Christmas story from Luke's gospel on Christmas morning. You can tell how well the kiddos paid attention this year!!

Granny and Papa Johns came over Christmas morning to check out all the kids new stuff. The kiddos were so excited to show them all there new toys! I am so glad they stopped by!
After Granny and Papa stopped by, we headed to Yaya and Grandpa's house for brunch. My parents had a wonderful meal ready for us when we arrived.... bacon, sausage, eggs, biscuits, hasbrown casserole, and cheesy grits. It was wonderful.
After our brunch the kiddos got to open all their presents. I love watching the kids open presents. There is so much sheer joy on their faces when they open each gift. It is so much fun!



Santa Claus delivered a package to Yaya and Grandpa's house and it had a pillow pet for each grandchild. Whoever came up with the idea for the pillow pet is a genius and a billionaire I am sure. I think every kid I know got one for Christmas. In every Christmas picture on Facebook there is a pillow pet. My kids love their pets.
I really wanted to get outside and get a family picture in the snow. This was our first white Christmas in 11 years and of course it was both Luke and Emma's first white Christmas, so I needed a picture of it! :)
After we all rested a little while, it was time for Christmas Round 2. My extended family, aunts, uncles, cousins came over for Christmas dinner. Then we played games and opened presents. It was a fun night.
Emma and Luke started playing the music on Luke's iXl and put on a dance show for us! It was pretty cute!
Here are a few pictures from the church the day after Christmas. Luke wanted a picture with the poinsettias.
At the Nativity scene outside of church, Emma stopped to clean the snow off Baby Jesus.
We had a wonderful Christmas... and a white one... which was a bonus. I still can't believe it's over though. Hope everyone had a great Christmas!

Christmas Past

It's hard to believe that this will be our seventh Christmas as a married couple. I decided I wanted to reflect back on our past Christmases.

2004
That first Christmas together seems so long ago and to be honest I can hardly remember what Christmas was like without kids. I can remember that we both bought each other way to many presents that year. I was still working at Stein Mart, so Andy got lots of clothes that he still wears 7 years later!! HAHA!! Here's a picture of us at my parents house on Christmas morning 2004. We look so young. I was 4 months pregnant with my sweet little boy Luke here.
The above picture was us together on Christmas morning in out PJs. What I can't get over is our puny little Christmas tree!! :)

2005
Below our pictures from Christmas 2005. My first Christmas as a mama. Being a mom was truly the greatest blessing I have ever received. I just love it!! Christmas with kids is so different and it just seems magical again. This was such a special Christmas for me!

Here's a picture of Jen and I with Syd and Luke on their first Christmas! I remember my mom went crazy with the presents for her new grandbabies and my sister and I ended up opening them b/c Syd and Luke were so small. :)
This picture makes me tear up a bit. This was Andy's granddad's (Luke is named after him, Luke Sanders) last Christmas. Here are four generations of Johns' men on Christmas Eve 2005.

And above is a picture of all three of us together at my parents house on Christmas Day.

2006


This was the first Christmas when Luke actually, "got it." It was so much fun watching him rip into the presents. We started a lot of our Christmas traditions this year.... like letting Luke put the baby Jesus in the manger and reading Luke's version of the Christmas gospel on Christmas morning. Traditions we've done every year since 2006. Here we are on Christmas morning after opening our presents.
Luke with his Singing Seseame Street tool bench that Santa brought him.
Here's a picture of us on Christmas Day all ready to head to Yaya and Grandpa's house for breakfast.


2007

This Christmas was lots of fun! I remember Luke and Sydney ripped into their presents like crazy. Luke really got into Santa this year as well and he wanted Santa to bring him Little Einsteins Pat Pat Rocket. Santa had to look very hard to find it, but he did!! :) This was the first year Luke saw Santa at Christmas in Wilmore. Below is our family picture on Christmas Day. I was 5 and a half months pregnant with Emma this Christmas.
Here is Andy reading the Christmas story from the gospel of Luke.
Luke unwrapping one of many presents....
Jen, Syd, mom, Luke and me (with Emma in my belly) :)
My handsome little Luke on Christmas Eve.
Opening a present at Aunt Terry's house on Christmas Eve.


2008

This was my sweet little Emma's first Christmas.
Here she is trying to open a Christmas present. She wasn't to in to opening presents. She just like to put the paper and the tissue paper in her mouth.
Here is Luke teaching Emma about out family Christmas traditions... putting baby Jesus in the manager on Christmas morning.
This was also Emma's cousin, Reagan's first Christmas. The girls are only 3 and a half weeks apart. Here they are together on Christmas Eve.

Emma and Luke with all their presents from Santa. Luke wanted a "little red kitchen," and that is what Santa got for him.
Here's our family picture on Christmas Day. Notice the paper chain on the mantle? Those were hanging all over our house. Luke loved making those.


2009

This Christmas Luke really wanted Santa to bring him a jeep. He talked about it from about August all the way until Christmas. Also, Luke was really into teaching Emma about Christmas and all the traditions that go along with it. Emma was also much more excited about opening presents this year.
Here we are on Christmas Eve before Mass.
Here on Luke and Emma on Christmas morning. Luke got the jeep he wanted.
Here we are on Christmas Day before going to Yaya and Grandpa's house.

Some things have really changed since that first Christmas together... we've been blessed with two wonderful, healthy and kind children. Two children who've helped me remember the true meaning of Christmas, because teaching them about it has helped me remember what it is really all about. And that is the sweet baby boy who was born to a virgin and born to save us!

Isaiah 7:14

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Merry Christmas!!

Give Me Your Eyes

Another song I love and wanted to share. During this Christmas season, try to slow down a little and have eyes like God. Look around and see the people in need and try to give them what they need most this Christmas... love like God! :)

Love, Boot

Dear Mom,

I am sorry I came into your room meowing so loudly and pawing all over you this morning!! I know you don't like to be woken up so early in the morning, but I knew it was time for you to take your next dose of antibiotic and dad was in the kitchen making your breakfast. I really would appreciate it if you would acknowledge me and maybe even pet me when I am meowing and pawing on you instead of just trying to push me away and roll over and go back to sleep.

Love,
Your faithful cat, Boot

PS- I am also sorry for trying to eat your breakfast this morning, but you know I like eggs.