My Heart is Filled with Thankfulness!

Ever have a day where you have one song in particular on your mind all day long and you just sing it over and over - out loud or inside?  I have - well actually all week and even this past weekend.

It's this one...

My heart is filled with thankfulness

To Him who bore my pain;

Who plumbed the depths of my disgrace

And gave me life again;

Who crushed my curse of sinfulness

And clothed me in His light

And wrote His law of righteousness

With pow'r upon my heart.

My heart is filled with thankfulness

To Him who walks beside;

Who floods my weaknesses with strength

And causes fears to fly;

Whose ev'ry promise is enough

For ev'ry step I take,

Sustaining me with arms of love

And crowning me with grace.

My heart is filled with thankfulness

To him who reigns above,

Whose wisdom is my perfect peace,

Whose ev'ry thought is love.

For ev'ry day I have on earth

Is given by the King;

So I will give my life, my all,

To love and follow him.

"My Heart Is Filled with Thankfulness"

Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend

Copyright © 2003 Thankyou Music

We went back to Carrollton this past weekend for a friends' wedding and to celebrate my birthday with my parents. It was quick and short and definitely didn't get to see everyone we would have liked to but it is always so good to go back to Carrollton for a visit (I never thought in high school I would say that - I couldn't wait to leave Carrollton.).  I love being around  our family and friends there!  I leave feeling so encouraged and uplifted!  I feel free to share prayer requests and know that they are lifting me and my family up in prayer.  I love catching up on what is going on in their lives and knowing how I can better be praying for them.  God continually uses them to encourage, remind and show us just how faithful He is!


It at times has been lonely being here in Augusta, as we adjust to a new city, a new church, new groups of friends, but knowing we have so many people praying for us makes those times a little bit easier.  Thank you for caring and investing in us so we can in turn invest in others!   Many of you will probably never know the impact you have had on our lives.  Thank you for reminding us that we are a part of the body of Christ in Carrollton, Augusta and around the world!


As much as we miss Carrollton, we were excited to come back to Augusta.  We know this is where God has us and we are excited about the things He has planned for us this year and the things we will get to be a part of!  We joined First Presbyterian Church, Sunday night - an hour after getting home.  It was a little crazy, but we are excited to be a part of First Pres and the body of believers here.  We look forward to getting to know and serving alongside these brothers and sisters in Christ.


Monday, Laura (my sister) had the day off of work, so the girls and I enjoyed a day with her!  We went "shopping" and then after the guys' Bible Study, John and Laura enjoyed a homemade pizza dinner with us.  It's always fun to spend time with them!


Tuesday night was my "family birthday celebration" as today is Stephen's busy day.  Stephen made my favorite Ethiopian dish - Dora Wot!  So good!  Ethiopian food has been my favorite since my family lived in Kenya.  We hope to go eat at an Ethiopian restaurant sometime soon but for now homemade will do.  The girls gave me their present - Cadbury chocolate - another long time favorite! :-)  Then John and Laura came over for dessert.  Laura made some yummy cheesecake with peanut butter chips and we had mint chocolate chip ice cream.  I can lose the weight all year long right!?!? :-)


Today, (yes, my birthday) has been great so far!  The girls and I went to the Women's Bible Study Brunch.  The girls enjoyed time with their friends and I enjoyed some Mommy Fellowship time.  I enjoyed reconnecting with new friends after a long break.  I am so thankful for the friendships God has already blessed us with here in Augusta!  I am excited about the new study and look forward to it.  We came home and Emma took a great nap - which allowed me computer time. :-)  I had time to read many sweet birthday wishes from family and friends literally all over the world, to blog, to catch up on emails and to even write thank yous!!!  Thrilling, I know, but I've enjoyed it! :-)  I am looking forward to my birthday date with my husband Friday night.  I'm thankful that my sister and her husband like my kids so much, to be willing to watch them two Friday nights in a row!

These two girls enjoyed a night out with Daddy last week!
I can't wait until my turn! :-)

My heart is full! I have so much to be thankful for!  Emma's awake now, so back to the real world. :-)

We recently enjoyed creating snowy scenes with "snow paint!"
It was super fun and easy to clean  up (just shaving cream and school glue - no paint)!
Our favorite part was that this was one project Emma could join in on!

December Update

We enjoyed being a part of the Tour of Homes!  Both nights combined we had over 150 people come through the tour!  We met many, many new people, even some neighbors we didn't know.  Stephen was able to share why we have chosen to live down here and what he does on a daily basis.  He even got three new volunteers for tutoring!  Caileigh and Emma did really well considering the late nights and lots of strangers!  I was thankful we had a December wedding (2006) and still had many Christmas themed decorations from that special day!

One question I was asked several times was if I felt it was safe raising my girls down here.  My response, I do!  I truly believe this is where God has my family and I am overwhelmed how He has provided such a wonderful home, neighborhood, neighbors, church family, and friends for us!  I can see in my life where God has given me a greater passion and love for the "least of these!"  Seeing such hurting and darkness around me has made me so much more grateful that Christ came into this dark and lost world to bring salvation - to bring light!  I used to worry that it would be hard for Caileigh to daily see the homeless pushing grocery carts full of random items down our street - she does notice and we have had many opportunities to talk with her about the brokenness of this world without Christ.  I see in my girls a love and a desire to help those who are hurting.

Caileigh is constantly seeing and thinking of ways to help those around us.  From wanting to help our landlady sweep up outside to giving her Christmas parade candy to a homeless man to praying for two other homeless men to find jobs and a home to wanting to give some of her dress up shoes to one of her friends whose dress up shoes had recently broke.

Emma knows no strangers and loves to be around other people, her smile is quite contagious and attracts all sorts of people which excites her and they are often rewarded with a much larger smile and even a "Hey!"  Their example of unconditional love has constantly humbled me!  Throughout this Christmas season I really enjoyed the many displays of Christmas lights around us.  I was continually reminded of the Light Christ brought into this world.  I pray that my family would reflect His light into our circles of influence.

We loved Mrs. Deb's star!

We had a wonderful Christmas season and enjoyed many festive things as well as some great times of family and cooporate worship!

Putting our puzzle together - Christmas Eve

Some highlights:

decorating our home,
our family advent times (we added a new resource this year - Truth in the Tinsel, which was perfect for our little ones!),
special worship services at church,
seeing Christmas lights,
lots of family time,
Christmas movies,
Stephen and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary with a two day trip to Charleston, SC,

A friend took this for us.
Thank you Anna Leigh Photography!

Caileigh discovered she LOVES Egg Nog,
Emma learned that we weren't suppose to "eat" the pretty lights on the tree,
and most importantly celebrating Christ's birth!

Christmas morning 2011

We ended our year with lots of traveling to see family.  The girls did great so that made it enjoyable for all! :-)  We spent Christmas day with Stephen's parents and brother and his family.  We spent the day after Christmas with my parents and sisters and brother-in-law.  (Unfortunately, I don't have pictures from these two days!) The next day we went to Kansas and enjoyed time with my mom's side of the family!  The weather was great so we were able to enjoy lots of time outside on the farm!

The Farm at sunset

Caileigh riding Boots with Sarah

My grandpa will be 90 in July.  He has had parkinson's since at least the year I was born.  It was so good to see him - we haven't seen him since last Christmas.  He doesn't talk much any more but he enjoys the company. It isn't often you see a smile on his face,  not because he isn't happy but because it is hard for him to control the muscles in his face.  His eyes told it all   though!  When Emma would come up to him and rest her hands on his knees and smile at him - his eyes would twinkle.  He seem to get a kick out of us grandkids gathered around the floor playing games and seemed to enjoy the movies and hugs him and Caileigh shared.  I am so thankful we were able to see him this year.  People often ask what we do in Kansas?  We spend time we family, play games, soccer, football, ride horses, feed animals, enjoy catching up and lots of good food!  The farm was our home away from home.  On furloughs, my family would pretty much live with my grandparents.  It's always good to go back!

4 generations: Emma was named
for my Grandpa's mother.

Grandpa and his family!  We are missing four!

Exploring the "timber" with Grandpa and Great Grandpa

Emma was a HUGE fan of the outdoors
and especially the animals!

2011 brought many new things for our family, some wonderful memories and so many things to be grateful for!  We look forward to what God has in store for our family in 2012!  Thank you for all your many prayers for our family!