New Years Focus

So I usually don't set out the year by setting a new year resolution. This year I'm not planning on making a resolution, but I have been thinking a lot about a few areas I would like to focus on this year. Of course, there are the obvious eat healthier, work out more and get organized but I have been praying the last few days about some areas in my life that need a little more focus. So I'm sharing because I think it will be helpful to look back and there is a commitment in the written word. So here are a few things I'm going to try to concentrate on in the new year...

First and for most, I want to continue to read and study the word of God. I have always been a christian, a believer and follower of Jesus, but I have just recently started to really STUDY the Bible. It has been eye opening and life changing. I want to focus on the Lord and his messages in his written word this upcoming year.

Secondly, I am going to focus on happiness this year. I know this sounds kinda crazy, but the mind is such a powerful thing. I want to wake up each day and CHOOSE to be happy. Each day is a gift, and when my feet hit the ground I want to be smiling. Lately, I feel like I have been in a funk and feeling sorry for myself. Moving is not an easy thing and I miss my friends, my home, my job, our parents, our neighbors...the list can go on and on. If I continue to put my focus on what I miss back home, I will miss out on so much right here in front of me. My kids are completely affected by my mood, as the saying goes..."if mama's not happy, nobody is happy" so I'm going to make a point to let the kids know I am choosing to have a great day and be happy.

Lastly, and this is a very hard one for me, but I'm focusing on giving up trying to control things that are out of my control. This is extremely hard for me. I'm a planner. I want to know what the next step will be in every aspect of my life. I'm not a big fan of grey...I like things in black and white. But living life trying to control everything is not fun, so I'm going to try to "Let go and let God" this year.

I can think of more, but I think I need to keep the list small so I can truly FOCUS on these areas. So here is to a God filled, happy and less controlled 2011...wish me luck!!! I wish you all a joyful and exciting 2011...

Much love, Amie

Christmas 2010

I can't believe that Christmas has already come and gone! We had such a wonderful time. It was very different from years past...we are in a new state and a new home. My parents came in the wednesday before Christmas and stayed until this past wednesday morning. It was so nice to have the company. We had 3 big dogs and six people in an apartment...like I said this year was different from the past, but the more the merrier...right?

The days leading up to Christmas we went shopping and explored the area. My parents were enjoying the warm Florida weather. They have been in Alabama fixing up their new river house, and the weather there has been pretty chilly(for Texas folk anyway) so they were loving the Florida sun and warmth.

Christmas Eve Emerson woke up with a small fever...she was ok, but a bummer. I guess it would not be a major holiday unless someone was feeling under the weather. We usually go to church service on Christmas Eve, but we were unable to because she was not feeling her best. It was nice to just spend the afternoon hanging out. We got pizza and just relaxed that evening.

Then...Santa Came!!! Yay!! The kids got WAY more than they needed, but they loved every minute of it. They are still enjoying all of their Christmas loot. I hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Christmas.

Here are a few pictures from Christmas...I always look back and wish I would have taken more pictures...grrrrr. But, at least I took some, and hopefully next year I will remember to keep clickin.'

This is a picture of Emerson with her new American girl doll, Lainey, that Santa brought. She is loving her and of course taking her everywhere. She made her a New Year's party hat at school the other day...it's pretty cute...I will have to post a picture of it.
Hudson grinning from ear to ear. He is holding his new Wii game system that Santa brought and wearing his new RG3 Baylor jersey (the two things on his Santa list).
The Santa loot...Santa put the girly stuff on the left and the boy stuff on the right so everyone could find their own toys.
The kiddos in their new Christmas pj's on Christmas eve...anxious and excited for Santa's arrival.
Love and Hugs to all, Amie

My Two Goofballs

When deciding to start a blog, one of the things that I was looking forward to was journaling the everyday life of my kids. I feel like in between the errands, laundry, lunch making, phone calls, cleaning, cooking and list making I forget to just stop and "smell the roses." I'm trying to remember to just slow down...the dirty dishes, the piles of laundry and the everyday tasks will wait. But my kids are growing up before my eyes! So in the spirit of enjoying the everyday...I came across theses pictures the other day. The kids love to hy-jack my camera and take random pictures. Usually they are snapping photos of the toilet (which they find hilarious) or the wall, but apparently they were posing for each other during their last photos shoot. I had to share because they just make me crack up...they are my little goofballs!

Air-guitar!!!

Sunday...Fun day

Sundays are always a favorite around here because it means family day...yay!!! Today was a great day. It started out by trying a new church. We have tried a couple before today and just have not felt quite comfortable yet. Today we tried a church named New Day Christian Church and we really liked it. We ran into a couple people we knew (which I am learning happens a lot in this smaller town of Port Charlotte). Emerson had someone in her Sunday school from her class at school so she was happy. We enjoyed the music and the preaching. The pastor met us after church and overall we felt it was very welcoming. We definitely think we will visit again.

After church we hit Wal-mart. We hosted the Christmas party for Seth's store tonight so we had to go get all the food, games and prizes. We quickly made it home to a full afternoon of baking and cleaning...

Tonight the employees from the store came over. We have been blessed with a wonderful team!!! They are all very welcoming and have a lot of fun together. Tonight was a night of food, fellowship and fun (what more can you need...right)? We fed everyone lasagna and bread. Then we had a white elephant gift exchange...those are always fun and a highlight of the night

After the gift exchange we broke into three teams and played a holiday edition of "minute to win it." If you say competition around that crowd...it is on!! They love to challenge one another. We had a great time and had lots of laughs!!

I had such a wonderful time with this group! I laughed until I literally had tears streaming down my face! I hope you all had a wonderful Sunday!

Welcome to the world of blogging

So never in a million years did I think I would have a blog of my own, but my ideas changed since recently moving away from all of our family and friends. I thought it would be a great way to stay in touch and to keep everyone updated on our family. So I'm giving it a go...

We have recently moved to Port Charlotte, Florida. We have been here for about a month now. Things are going well, but we REALLY are missing our family and friends...here is a recent update on the last month...

Hudson started kindergarten here at a small private school named Community Christian School. So far so good! He has made friends in his class and usually is grinning from ear to ear when I pick him up from school. His teacher runs a tight ship so to speak, but Hudson really seems to strive in the structured enviroment. He is learning cursive (crazy in kindergarten) and his reading skills have really taken off. Seth and I have discovered we can no longer spell things out around here because he usually can figure it out. Too funny!

Emerson is her usual easy going self. She started a preschool here in town four mornings a week until noon. She really LOVES it and adjusted quickly. Praise God! I was a little worried b/c she had a hard time adjusting to preschool in August, but she just took to it right away. She has made new friends and loves her new teachers. Today we attended the party of one of her new friends...so needless to say Emmy has not missed a beat. She does frequently ask about her San Antonio friends, and wants to know when they can some over for a playdate. Poor babe...she does not quite get it...

Seth is working his tail off. He loves his job, and his new opportunity as interim manager in Port Charlotte. He usually works around 60 hours a week. We are so grateful for the "Closed Sunday" policy of Chick-fil-A. It provides us time to go to church together and just hangout as a family.

I am adjusting to life here in Florida. I am loving being back together as a family. I am amazed as I look back on the last two years, and I wonder just how we did it. I know that it was only through the grace of God. It has made me appreciate our time together so much more, and has given me a new perspective into some of the everyday things I would take for granted. For instance, I now enjoy cooking and preparing meals (something I have never really been a fan of) because I am so grateful we can sit around the dinner table and have a family meal and discuss our day with one another.

I am missing my friends terribly! I have yet to make many friends around here, but I know through time I will. I am so very grateful to God for blessing me with so many amazing women in my life that I have the pleasure of calling friends. I love each and everyone of you, and I hope that this blog helps us all stay in touch.