This is my confession.

If you have read either one of my blogs over the last several months you've probably noticed, there has been a lot going on. Moving, school, holidays, crafts, cooking, cleaning, laundry, parties, deaths, a pregnancy announcement and A LOT of praying. What you may or may not have noticed is a mention of the George family attending church. It may not be completely out of the ordinary because I don't really broadcast each and every service we attend. But the truth is...we haven't been going. It was never because we were "backsliding" or revolting against organized religion. It wasn't because we don't LOVE going. It was for a few reasons, which are not even remotely acceptable when I look at what all God has done for me. Thankfully I serve a God who knows I'm not perfect and He will forgive me for my brief hiatus.

God sent me a sign in the form of TWO children who asked a few times in one week, "Momma, when are we going to go back to church?" Ouch. Talk about a humbling experience. Claire was VERY excited about trying out "medium church" and Cohen was excited about going to the "big boy play land!" I was thankful for our "guy" who has been Cohen's teacher since birth. (And that is really saying something in a church the size of ours...he is truly a blessing!)

So after a few months of lazy Sunday mornings, we are back. And let me tell you...it felt great.

Stream of Consciousness

Taking a cue from MckMama I decided to try my hand at this. Just my thoughts...unorganized as they may be.

Life is hard. I'm thankful that I am a Christian and can cling tight to my faith knowing there will be a day...when we will live with no pain. No tears. No cancer. I love my family. They are God's gift to me on this earth. My kids...oh my kids. They make life worth living and some days are THE reason I get out of bed. As much as I love them, I lose my patience with them. I need to work on that...staying calm. I often feel like I am walking around with the weight of the world on my shoulders. My husband is my rock. I hope he knows how much I adore him. Sometimes my actions might be quite contrary. I need to get that in check. I can make or break the mood in my home. If momma ain't happy...ain't nobody happy. What power...what responsibility. I use these....too much. I feel judged by people I don't know. Why do I care? It must be my people pleasing ways. I worry too much, which apparently means I need to pray more. I am blessed with so many people in my life who I know are praying for us. I'm scared. I miss Bible study. Being a grownup is hard, but the reward of raising a family is so much greater than anything I could imagine.

So there you have it...my thoughts. Interesting I know.

This kid...

melts my heart into a big puddle of mushy goodness...pretty much daily.

On Saturday, Grandma Connie watched the kids so Big Daddy and I could have a little date. We went to see The Blind Side and it was a GREAT movie. But nothing compared to the story I heard when I picked up my little lovelies.

Claire had decided to make up a game for her, Grandma and Cohen to play. She wrote names on note cards and stacked them up. Each person was to draw a card and say something nice about the person on the card. Here are some of Cohen's answers:

Nanny: "She has a clean house and she is a very good Nanny."

Papa: "He is a very good fisherman and I love him."

Aunt Sandy: "She is nice to me, she makes good soup and I love her dog Mulligan."

And the best one....

Uncle Gary: "I am sorry that he died but he is in Heaven with Jesus and I love him...so does Jesus."

There it goes again....a big puddle of mushy goodness.

Since Christmas....

I have taken the first picture with my new camera.

Celebrated New Year's Eve with some pretty great people.

Let my son creep in on a family picture.

Freaked the kids out. (Dancing Santa is always good for that...especially sans head.)

Danced with my boy to "Big Green Tractor" (A FEW times.)

Woke up to a winter wonderland.

Let my husband take my picture without makeup.

Played in the snow.

Chased Claire in the snow.

Watched Claire slide down the hill "like a penguin."

Kissed this face often.

...and that was just AFTER Christmas. Maybe if you're lucky, I'll let you in on what I did BEFORE and DURING Christmas!

I Am...

in LOVE with The Vintage Pearl! It's too bad there isn't anything like Valentine's Day...or a 30th birthday just around the corner. I'm just saying.

And THIS one couldn't be more perfect! I remember reading "Guess How Much I Love You" to Claire as a baby. I would tell her, "I love you to the moon and back!" As she got older, she said it back and tried with all her might to find a way to "top" me. She would also mix up the name of the main characters Big and Little "Nutbrown Hare" and it was HILARIOUS. Sick and wrong....but hilarious.

Treat from Heaven

Remember THIS post, where I mentioned something had happened that I would share about later? Well, it's later.

I mentioned in that post that it was my Uncle Gary's birthday. I was sitting at my computer that evening and I received a message from my cousin Amy, Gary's oldest daughter. It said, "So, I'm with Angela and I just took a pregnancy test...the line is really light but it's there. What does that mean?" I started crying/borderline sobbing. I think my response was something along the lines of, "IT MEANS YOUR EGGO IS PREGO!!! CALL ME!!!"

That's right. On what would have been my Uncle Gary's 49th birthday...his daughter finds out she is with child. I prayed that night and thanked God for His faithfulness. He never forgets us...His children. He knew that December 10, 2009 was going to be so hard for Uncle Gary's family. He also knew that would be the day Amy would learn that her life was going to change in an incredible way.

I can't wait to watch Amy blossom into motherhood. I am thrilled for Chad to have the chance to be the amazing daddy we all know he will be. My arms ache to hold the "baby bot." I think it will be a boy. Most of all, I am thankful that this baby will be welcomed by a mother and father who love the Lord with all their hearts! Amy and Chad, we love you and pray every night for your growing family!

Priceless.

Cost of a "Black Friday" shopping trip in Branson= $UNdisclosed.
Nutcracker=$14.99
The perfect place to hang your "Scoobs"=PRICELESS