Merry Christmas!!

Oh, Christmas Tree

Growing up, mine and Bob's parents made sure we had a new ornament each year.
I'm so glad that they did. It's always a fun trip down memory lane when we decorate our tree. Now, Bob and I enjoy swapping stories about why we received an ornament, or why a certain one is extra special. This year was no different! And to celebrate our first year as parents, I just had to order this cutie!

Bob and I are so excited for our 1st Christmas with Ethan!

This was actually a McDonald's toy.
My mom turned some of my favorite ones into ornaments!

Every time I hang this ornament, I get a massive craving for chocolate
(and an overwhelming urge to bite into this chocolatey Santa!)

Bob is a great golfer, so his parents made sure he had a golfing Santa!

Growing up, Bob loved magic tricks.
It looks like this Santa has a few tricks in his hat!

One year, a friend and I went around to several houses and sang Christmas Carols. I think we were about 10. We came to one house, and for some reason we got so tickled. We tried to sing Silent Night, but couldn't stop laughing!! I remember the mom and daughter staring at us, with a confused look on their face.
I ended up running off and leaving my friend to fend for herself!
I was humiliated!!!

I grew up playing basketball, so any basketball ornament I have (and I have several) is very special!

For some reason, this is my all-time favorite ornament. There's really nothing extra special about it. I guess this one just reminds me the most of my childhood..and I had a great one.
I believe it's from 1993.

Bob and I have many more ornaments. I wish I could show you all of them, but it probably wouldn't be as fun for you as it would be for me! haha.
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*~The Reason for the Season~*

"And this shall be a sign unto you;
Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."
Luke 2:12

Our tree ~ 2009

I love how when Bob gets home, he's excited that the lights are on around the house. It's almost a childlike excitement. There's nothing like relaxing together after a long and hectic day, under the glow of a cozy Christmas home!

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.
~Burton Hillis~

Lord, we have so much to be thankful for!
Our home, our health, our family, our friends.
But most importantly, we have You:
Our Savior, Redeemer, the Greatest of Friends;
Our gracious, loving, merciful, all-powerful, risen Heavenly Father.
We praise You!!

Dr. Bob

I found out today, that the doctor who delivered Ethan passed away.
He had been fighting cancer for quite some time.

Dr. Robert Aikman was his name, but we all called him "Dr. Bob"

Dr. Bob always had a smile on his face at each appointment, and had to duck just to get into the room! He was 7 ft. tall!

While pregnant, me and my paranoid self would constantly search the internet for an answer to a little question I had, or to see if a certain pain I was feeling was normal. Usually, I'd end up diagnosing myself with something weird, or worrying that Ethan was going to come early. I'd relay my fears at each appointment, and every time, Dr. Bob would say, "You've gotta stop searching the internet!" Haha.

Delivering Ethan.
He's holding one of Ethan's little feet.

Dr. Bob was caring, gentle, funny, compassionate, and very good at what he did.

I'm so thankful that he was the Dr. who delivered Ethan.

Dr. Bob is survived by his wonderful wife, 7 children, and 6 grandchildren.
Your prayers for the family would certainly be appreciated.

"I believe in the innate, created wisdom of a woman's body to maintain itself in health, and to restore itself in disease; my role is to assist my patients in achieving that wisdom in every aspect of her life-physically, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually."
-Dr. Robert "Bob" Aikman
1940-2009

How 'Bout Them Taters

Ethan recently had his first taste of sweet potatoes!

I'm thinkin' he loved them! (NOT)

Several laughs later (on mine and my mom's part only), Ethan finally swallowed some of them taters!
I'm thinking next time, we'll need to back down a little (or a lot!) so that he won't be freaked every time he sees a spoon coming at him!
Slowly, but surely, he'll have an appetite just as big as his mommy's!

Welcome Josie Duggar!

Yesterday, via emergency C-Section, the Duggar family welcomed Josie Brooklyn Duggar, the 19th child for the family. She was only 25 weeks, weighing in at 1lb. and 6oz., and 30 cm long! She's currently in stable condition.

Please pray for the Duggars during this time. Especially remember Michelle as she recovers and little Josie as she continues to grow!

The Lord is our healer!

BLB (Blog Land Buddy)

One of the great things about blogging is that you get to meet all kinds of neat women!

And I've done just that! There are tons of blogs I enjoy reading. I get a lot of great tips, inspiration, and encouragement.

Several months ago, I met a fellow blogger who has a son born the day after Ethan! She's the sweetest gal! You can check her blog out here.

We talk on Facebook several times a week. We swap mommy ideas, talk about marriage, and laugh about our silly antics as women--it's a blast!

I'm so thankful for my new BLB!

What about you? Have you made any new friends via blog land?

Television Schmelevision!

I'm NEVER letting Ethan watch TV!!

Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating a bit here, but sometimes that thought crosses my mind!

I mean, TV these days isn't even fit for adults to watch. And now, most commercials
aren't either!!!

I enjoy a good show (when I can find one), so don't think I'm a TV hatin'-you-should-never-watch-the-thing-kind-of-person. But the older I get, the more angry I become at most of what's put on television for our "entertainment". Puh-leeeeze.


I've become so tolerant of a lot of the junk that's broadcast these days. There are shows I know I shouldn't watch. There's nothing edifying about them. There's no wholesome lesson to learn. But I watch them anyway, b/c afterall, I'm a grown up now! My parents aren't in the room telling me to "turn that thing off!"

But Jesus is in the room. Shouldn't that matter more?

Sometimes I want to throw the TV out the window.

But I know I'd probably miss it.

Television is an invention that permits you to be entertained in your living room by people you wouldn't have in your home. -David Frost-

Big Lesson From A Little Girl

The other night, Bob and I asked one of our friend's little girls what she wanted for her upcoming 5th birthday.

She's the cutest blonde hair, blue eyed little girl.

And in her sweet and innocent voice, this is what she said...

"Well, I already have quite a few toys, so I don't know where I'd put the new ones if I got some! I really don't know what I would ask for."

What?!?!

No Barbies, baby dolls, or play dresses?




Those are things I would've asked for!

I could hear the contentment in her voice though.
It was quite incredible.

A BIG lesson from a little girl.
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"But godliness with contentment is great gain"
1 Timothy 6:6

The Hoary Head

Sounds kinda weird, I know. But I've come to love this scripture.

"The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness." Proverbs 16:31

As a youngster, I had no idea what "hoary" meant. So when I found out it meant gray, the verse started to make sense to me.

And now that I'm older, it makes perfect sense!

Because I have a wonderful, godly, gray-headed grandma!

I hope Ethan can take in as much wisdom from her as possible!

My grandma serves the Lord and is a prayer warrior!
She's giving, caring and loving.
She has a great sense of humor, and a sharp mind.
She always has her Bible by her.
She always prays with us grandkids (and great-grandkids) before we leave.
She likes to send groceries home with us.
She gives the best back rubs!
She's just...awesome.

"It takes a great Grandmother to be a Great Grandmother"

Late Thanks

I know Thanksgiving has already passed.
But it's always a good time to give thanks, right?!

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I have been given an incredible family--my parents and my two awesome siblings--we had a blast of a childhood together!
For that, I am thankful.

I have been given a wonderful husband. He's my best friend. He loves me regardless of my many flaws.
For that, I am thankful.

I have been given a beautiful son. I now know how much my parents must love me. For that, I am thankful.

I have been given my dream job. Staying at home with Ethan, trying to keep the house in working order--it's the job I've hoped and prayed for my whole life!
For that, I am thankful.

I have loving in-laws. We have a great relationship.
For that, I am thankful.

I have a cool and relaxing home in the summer and a warm and cozy home in the winter.
For that I am thankful.

I have dishes to wash, clothes to clean, old friends to cherish, new friends to enjoy, a husband to love and respect, a baby to nurture, siblings to reminisce with, parents to listen to and grandparents to take care of.
For all these, I am thankful.

I know I'm leaving out soooooo much. I've often wondered how I could EVER count my blessings and "name them one by one", as the song suggests. It would take an eternity. Oh!! That reminds me...
I have a SAVIOR who died for me. Who lives for me. Who hears me, loves me, forgives me. I have a home in heaven prepared for me.
I am indescribably thankful for all these.

And most recently, the inspiration behind this "Late Thanks" post, my sister had a bit of a health scare, and I was terrified about the results we could possibly get. But GOD IS FAITHFUL. My sister is just fine, and the test came back negative.
For that, I am sooo thankful!!

Now, how about some pictures?
Here are just a few taken throughout Thanksgiving Day. It was a great time of family, fun, food and fellowship! We went to Bob's parents' first, and then in the evening we went over to my parents'! I'm so grateful both sets of parents live close by!

Now it's time for Christmas!!
I'm SUPER excited!!
We've got the decorations out and the tree up, we just need to decorate it!
I'll show pics soon!

Are You Smarter Than...

No, not a 5th grader.

Well, ok, maybe that could apply to this post.

Because all 5th graders know that in order for lights to work, they have to be plugged in!

The other day, as I was putting up lights around our tree in the front yard, I became so upset when I plugged them in and they didn't work! They were brand new! I tried plugging them in every different way imaginable..and still, nothing!!

I started talking out loud, trying to work myself through the situation. I took a step back, and just stared at the lights on the tree, trying to see where I'd gone wrong. I worked a little more. Unplugged here, plugged in there.

Quickly, my voice rose a few octaves. I started flinging things around and became needlessly annoyed. (I hope my neighbors weren't outside!) I called the lights stupid. I called the lights idiots. But I knew I was really angry when I called them stupid idiots!

So, I decided to go grab my hubby--before I lost all remaining sanity--and see if he could figure out why the stupid idiot lights weren't working!! Because I was about to rip all of them down and throw them away!

Bob came out. Looked at the lights on the tree. Unplugged one connecting set of lights...plugged them back in and said, "Is the extension cord plugged in in the garage?" "Well, yeah!" I said, shocked that he would think me so stupid!

...but just to make sure, I went into the garage to double check.

I plugged the extension cord into the outlet.

And all the lights came on.

It was certainly not my brightest moment
(No pun intended)

Thanksgiving

I hope all you ladies & your sweet families have a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration today!

Give Thanks. Live Thanks.

Picture Play

Last week Bob was out of town on business so I stayed at my parents for half the week and Bob's parents for the other half. It was like a mini-vacation! I have a lot of catching up to do in the blog world..I feel out of the loop! I hope you all are ready for Thanksgiving! I'm sooo excited!

Anyway, a blog friend of mine recently told me about a picture editing website that has a lot of free tools to help "spice up" your pictures. I had so much fun playing around! You can too, at www.picnik.com!

You can click on the pics to enlarge them.

My Little Stud

Recently, a missionary friend of ours, who also does photography on the side, offered to snap some pictures of my little stud muffin. Ethan did such a great job posing!

I played the part of the paranoid mom very well though, when our friend asked me to put Ethan at the base of a tree with lots of leaves around it. I kinda froze, and then spotted a huge black bug and a spider. No way! I also had to put a bunched up blanket behind him in one of the pics (luckily you can't see it) b/c he was sitting on a bike trail and I was so worried he would fall back a crack his head open! haha.

Thankfully, all went well--no spider bites and no cracked open head. Just some really cute pics of my baby boy!

Thanks

Veteran's Day has already passed, but I wanted to post a few pics of my cousin, who is a Captain in the US Army. He's currently overseas on his 2nd tour of duty protecting our freedom, along with thousands of other brave men and women. I'm so thankful for our soldiers. I didn't fully understand the risks involved until my cousin was sent overseas. I think about him often..praying. It's hard to watch the news and not worry.

How brave our soldiers are.
I'm so grateful for them.
So very, very grateful.

My cousin is a graduate of West Point.
Here, he's getting ready to shake President Bush's hand after receiving his diploma.


Army buddies

God bless America

My cousin has been asked if it's dusty over where he's stationed.
I think this answers the question..haha

I'm just so darn proud of him!

We love you! Thanks for your service. You're in our prayers everyday.

"The willingness of America's veterans to sacrifice for our country has earned them our lasting gratitude."
- Jeff Miller