Blog Break Over!

We gave effort in taking the month of December to... enjoy December - to not rush through anything. For the most part we succeeded. Although the blog was left as a ghost town, I did want to go back to post a few memorable moments in our 2009 holiday.

It was filled with A LOT...

...a lot of family walks & talks...

... a lot of brother & sisters cuddling on the couch...

... or finding their way into the same bed to tell late night stories to each other until exhaustion gets the best of them. I took an extra moment to stand in dark & stare with such joy about them.

Little man so dear to me.

A lot of together

A lot more cuddles...

I have each of my babies in this 'bittinger' hat on their first Christmas'.

stocking unstuffing

Our 2nd annual Christmas breakfast tradition... delish!

a lot of decorating & admiring old things & new...

A LOT OF COOKING with helpers!!!

Love it!

A lot of reading together around a beautifully lit tree... almost every night.

really, a lot of reading & cuddling :)

a lot of thankfulness... like for a girl who appreciates words SO much.

a lot of special meals together by candle light. This was our 'fancy' Christmas Eve meal... with red chargers, green cloth napkins, extra special drinking glasses & of course candles. Ali had so much fun setting the table for this 'fancy' meal. The kids loved the candles so much that we decided to do it again the next night... then the next, and so on. We have eaten a candle lit dinner every night since Christmas Eve!

I even got two hand painted wooden candle stick holders from one of my favorite antique shops for Christmas so now we don't have to eat by tea lights anymore :)
A lot of traditions... new & old.

A LOT OF CHRISTMAS CAROLS...

We actually got all the words to many many of our favorite carols and sang them together by the glow of candles & tree nearly every night. I really wanted to do this but didn't want to push it on the kids but was surprised that they requested we sing together every night!

Our 8th annual family picture in front of our tree. We have a small photo book that just holds this tradition. It is fun to open it every Christmas and see how our family & our trees have changed each year. Ali especially loved the year that our picture showed her in my belly... so very sweet... the memory, and now the sweet girl to share it with.

a lot of early morning cuddles on the couch :)

a lot of friends...

a lot of holiday parties & get togethers...

a lot of being together... and loving the moments... good or bad because we are family and THAT is what this month was about to me. Jesus was born into a family when he came to earth and we celebrated its importance. A gift that is matchless to any decorated package under the tree.

... a lot more cuddles on the couch

An early Christmas with Ma-maw & Pa-paw who met Ella for the first time.

The Ending of A Decade

Dan took me to breakfast at our favorite coffee shop downtown (without A & B... thanks Gwen!). We had great conversation completely without interruption. As sweet as the 'interruptions' are, it is a rarity to go without. It was especially treasured today.

Ali, Ben, & Ella,

Today I turn 29... and more than ever wish to have this conversation with my mom. What did she think about life as a 29 yr old mother of two? What wisdom would she give me having lived this decade for herself? So, my attention turns to you. Maybe never again will I be apart of or accomplish so much that I'm proud of in a single decade.

What have I done with my twenties?

• fell in love with my best friend and joined him in matrimony forever -2002


• graduated college - 2003


• been apart of giving 3 lives a beginning - 2005, 2007, 2009


• followed my partner in building a home for those little lives

It is good to look back. There are things that way outnumber this list that I'm not proud of in these past 10 years. Be choosy what you focus on. The only thing on this list that I ever expected to accomplish was graduating college. I never imagined life with you. And on this list, college is the least important to me. Dream not big, but dream. God will take care of the 'big' part. What is big to us isn't significant.

Nothing could have prepared me for this life other than living. Life gave me and will give you a lot of cr*p. If you ever find yourself unhappy, know there is a better way. I'll do my best to show you how to find it for yourselves... though it will always look different from anyone else. Never believe the lie that you are stuck... no matter the reason. That is the sweet spot.

What will I do with my thirties?

• dream


• follow God even when I'm scared

God provides and He is with you as long as you want Him to be... always have the 'want'.