Yes honey, you really are 40

My sweet husband had a birthday on Sunday and finally joined the decade that I have graced for the past 18 months.  I no longer feel like such a cradle robber.  He had a wonderful week leading up to his birthday, no thanks to me, we owe it all to a cute 20 year old who waved to him at one of Austin's games.  He never wears his wedding ring,(shame on him) and I was at home in my bathrobe eating chips in bed.(shame on me)  I gave him dinner and a night without the kids, thanks to Nanny and Papa, and he enjoyed his birthday weekend so much that he is demanding a birthday week since it is the big 40.  I think he merits it on his cuteness alone :)

The year of hope

Last year I had my friend who makes beautiful journals give me one that had bare winter trees, snow on the ground and a few cute bunnies on it.  I named it my death journal.  I knew that 2011 was the year of death for me.  This was meant in a mostly positive way.  I wanted to die to my selfish flesh in many ways.  I gave up some material pleasures, vanity pursuits, and struggled to turn my complaining heart into a grateful one.  I never did fill up the death journal, but it sits as a reminder on my side table in the sun room and occasionally I log something in it that doesn't seem right to post on the WWW.  2011 did turn out to be a year of physical death for my sil Jenny,and although I will never be done with the whole dying to myself theme, I want to leave the year of death, take what I've learned and live a year of hope.

May you find what the Lord has for you this year and be able to see it with the eyes of your heart. Live a purposeful NewYear!

A day for boys



This is Roxy. The newest member to our crazy clan.  She is a 5 year old Rat Terrier - Aiy! Chi-wawa mix.  She sleeps under the covers with the kids, is completely house broken, and does some cute little tricks. I think she is a keeper.



While Dania got her hair done, and I had some quiet time to clean the house, the boys headed to the woods to blaze trails, ride 4 wheelers, shoot guns, and build bunkers for the air soft wars that have invaded our territory.

Dad gives some instruction on form

That's the way.