Happy New Year y'all. I love my kids, my grandkids and even my wife. We have a good life.
Am I a poet and don't know it?
My new year's resolution is to get my Christmas letter done before Epiphany.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Caroline waits for Bama and Pop Pop
Caroline just can't wait to see her Bama and Pop Pop! She has been saying the whole time they were gone, " Pop Pop is at work still" " Poor Pop Pop" I have tried to explain where they were but she still insists he is working. Too funny. When I tell her where they were she says " I want to go to Clair's house. And she has been talking about Beau a lot too. All her new stuff like her view finder, she says "I am going to show Beau this, Beau will like this" I guess it's because it has a bunch of animals on it. And the other day I gave her a piece of candy I had left over from the Halloween candy I sent to the kids and I never said a word about it and she says " i am eating this piece for Luke, this is Luke's piece and i am going to eat it for him" she remembered it was the candy I sent back in Oct. She amazes me. Anyways, I told her when she wakes up in the morning she will get to play with Bama and Pop Pop and show them all her new stuff. She is looking forward to showing her Pop Pop her new computer. She has grown since they left and now all of a sudden can touch the light switches and turn them on and off now. And Abiageal is growing even before my eyes so they are going to be shocked when they see her. I will let everyone know how tomorrow goes, good night. And welcome home mom and dad.
Love, Elizabeth
Love, Elizabeth
Sunday, December 28, 2008
A quick note
Bella loved seeing the pictures Anna has taken, she will try to share some of hers tomorrow. Bella also loves the walking frog. Claire likes the doggies. Good night all my babies. I hope to figure out photo placement tomorrow.
Mom
Mom
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Beau's Photography
Beau, such an interesting boy, this was his choice of pajamas for Christmas Eve, and yes he wore the slippers to bed too. I obviously took this one but the rest only he would find the inspiration (or something like that) to photograph.
Beau's first self-portrait. He loves his new face cover that Bama made him, he won't walk out the door without it. I really like this picture of him although I'm glad the scarf covers up his nostrils or we'd be looking right up his nose.
Bama comforting Luke, not all that great of a picture, but we all know this is what Bama does the best and what she enjoys the most.
Anna posing with her puppies, there were lots of these, this one looks like Oscar is going to eat her hand. She loves her dogs.
And of course PopPop, what is really scary is Beau and Anna both had this exact same picture on their camera, same face and everything. Crazy PopPop!!!
I don't know about this one, he took a picture of his foot, somebody have any idea why he would have done this. Maybe he was sending it to Mike for a referral.
His culinary tastes are coming through in his pictures of food in the kitchen, the clarity is excellent and he focused and zoomed well, he is good, isn't he.
Yet again, another Crazy PopPop picture, the kids love seeing these.
Zip, asleep on the floor, Beau really got done and got a good angle at this one. He really does have an eye for taking pictures, and he has so much fun. I have a lot of fun going through and looking at them too.
The fireplace, Beau got a lot of awesome pictures of the fire blazing, I am going to have to figure out a way to frame one.
There were a lot of pictures of his bionicles too, those will be saved for their own post one of these days and I'll let Beau write the story to go with them.
Enjoy!
Beau's first self-portrait. He loves his new face cover that Bama made him, he won't walk out the door without it. I really like this picture of him although I'm glad the scarf covers up his nostrils or we'd be looking right up his nose.
Bama comforting Luke, not all that great of a picture, but we all know this is what Bama does the best and what she enjoys the most.
Anna posing with her puppies, there were lots of these, this one looks like Oscar is going to eat her hand. She loves her dogs.
And of course PopPop, what is really scary is Beau and Anna both had this exact same picture on their camera, same face and everything. Crazy PopPop!!!
I don't know about this one, he took a picture of his foot, somebody have any idea why he would have done this. Maybe he was sending it to Mike for a referral.
His culinary tastes are coming through in his pictures of food in the kitchen, the clarity is excellent and he focused and zoomed well, he is good, isn't he.
Yet again, another Crazy PopPop picture, the kids love seeing these.
Zip, asleep on the floor, Beau really got done and got a good angle at this one. He really does have an eye for taking pictures, and he has so much fun. I have a lot of fun going through and looking at them too.
The fireplace, Beau got a lot of awesome pictures of the fire blazing, I am going to have to figure out a way to frame one.
There were a lot of pictures of his bionicles too, those will be saved for their own post one of these days and I'll let Beau write the story to go with them.Enjoy!
Anna's Photography
Anna has really enjoyed her camera. She takes it with her everywhere except Christmas Eve Mass because the batteries were dead and she had a meltdown about it. My favorite pictures are of her taking pictures of Luke taking pictures of her. Luke is a good subject and is never short on poses for her. She took her camera in the car on the way to Great Falls yesterday she got a couple nice shots through the window for Mike. Aunt Sarah wants to show just how beautiful God's country is...or something like that. (More likely she wants him to see how in the middle of nowhere she is).
The picture of the back porch is to show the snow that isn't there anymore, it didn't melt it is still cold, but the wind is blowing ridiculously and it blew all the snow away. Crazy!!!
Ben and Beau are off being lumberjacks, hope they are having fun. Sarah and I have all the organizational bins so now we just need to put them to good use. It was a productive shopping trip got all the bins she wanted, then found a winter coat for me and one for Anna that is much thicker then what she had.
Anna does take some strange pictures but they are fun to look at later. The one above was her first shot at Mattie and then she is working with the zoom and the one below shows a better result. I'm impressed with her focus.This morning she and Luke are playing house, I'm a little concerned, the parents are dead and she is the big sister and she told Luke the parents died because they were in the Army and the bad soldiers killed them with their swords. What the heck?!? Where did all that come from, I don't know but we might be talking later.
Just one more of her favorite specimens, she likes taking pictures of the dogs, but I deleted a lot because they were just pictures of dog butts. She is still perfecting the art. She told me when I was getting ready to put them on the computer that some of them weren't very good I said that was fine and she said no I want them to be perfect. Agh! What am I to do?
Friday, December 26, 2008
Better late than never
So, I'm fashionably late to this whole blog, but here is my Christmas letter:
This year has been incredible for my family! As you all know, I have been working at Edward Jones for exactly one year know, and every time I think, "How did God know?" As Ryan mentioned, it feels good to be around people who get it...and get me. It's funny that I had to enter the corporate world to find such genuinely KIND people. I love going to work everyday, and for the first time ever, I feel at peace about being a working mom. It has not always been easy, but this job has allowed me to provide for my family in so many ways, but more importantly, I can come home and focus on my wonderful husband and amazing children.
Ryan, I believe, should go straight to heaven. He is such a blessing in my life! As a husband, he is, in every sense of the word, the definition of sacrificial love. He teaches me everyday about it, and again, I think, "How did God know?" He is also am AMAZING father! I love the fact that he can get up every morning, get out 2 girls ready for school, get himself ready for work, drop them off, teach a bunch of 10-year olds, pick the girls up, come home and make dinner.....and STILL be able to do all of these things with so much love in his heart for his family. He joked last night that he is going to make a "Man Shed" since he was knee-deep into princesses and demanding little girls (which includes me!). But, I know he loves "his gitls" and we are so grateful for him!
Bella turned 5 a few days ago, and like a dork, I cried to think that my baby is growing up. She is, as Ryan describes her, fire and ice!!! Bella definitely tests our parenting skills on a daily basis, and from someone who lacks patience, Bella certainly gives Mommy lessons on that. "How did God know?" Despite the extra work we do with her, Bella also has a heart of gold. And sometimes, when she thinks no one is looking, she is the best big sister ever!
Claire, of course, has grown to be such a little starlet! She started dance this year, and based on those videos, I might be in for it for a loooong time!! She continues to amaze us with the things she does and says, but I swear this is due in large part to Bella. Of all the singing, dancing, and overall performing that Claire does, though, my favorite thing about her is when she is getting ready to go to bed and she says to me, "I love you so much!". Seriously, "How did God know?"
Lastly, I want to take a few moments to talk about my family. For as long as I can remember, we have been getting together for every occasion...and sometimes it seems we make things up just as an excuse to get together! I feel so blessed to be a part of a family where tradition is as strong as our love for each other....just like this new family of mine, and this blog, and all the traditions you have added to my life! God must have known!
As the year winds down, and a new one begins, I'm reminded everyday that God ALWAYS knows what's best for us. It may never look quite like we pictured in our heads, but somehow, He leads all of us into His perfect plan. (I just hope that his perfect plan for me includes a 3500 sq ft home and a million dollars....and an NCAA Men's Basketball Championship win for my Wildcats!). "Not our will but YOURS be done". That is my prayer for all of us in 2009!
With love,
Mary Rose
This year has been incredible for my family! As you all know, I have been working at Edward Jones for exactly one year know, and every time I think, "How did God know?" As Ryan mentioned, it feels good to be around people who get it...and get me. It's funny that I had to enter the corporate world to find such genuinely KIND people. I love going to work everyday, and for the first time ever, I feel at peace about being a working mom. It has not always been easy, but this job has allowed me to provide for my family in so many ways, but more importantly, I can come home and focus on my wonderful husband and amazing children.
Ryan, I believe, should go straight to heaven. He is such a blessing in my life! As a husband, he is, in every sense of the word, the definition of sacrificial love. He teaches me everyday about it, and again, I think, "How did God know?" He is also am AMAZING father! I love the fact that he can get up every morning, get out 2 girls ready for school, get himself ready for work, drop them off, teach a bunch of 10-year olds, pick the girls up, come home and make dinner.....and STILL be able to do all of these things with so much love in his heart for his family. He joked last night that he is going to make a "Man Shed" since he was knee-deep into princesses and demanding little girls (which includes me!). But, I know he loves "his gitls" and we are so grateful for him!
Bella turned 5 a few days ago, and like a dork, I cried to think that my baby is growing up. She is, as Ryan describes her, fire and ice!!! Bella definitely tests our parenting skills on a daily basis, and from someone who lacks patience, Bella certainly gives Mommy lessons on that. "How did God know?" Despite the extra work we do with her, Bella also has a heart of gold. And sometimes, when she thinks no one is looking, she is the best big sister ever!
Claire, of course, has grown to be such a little starlet! She started dance this year, and based on those videos, I might be in for it for a loooong time!! She continues to amaze us with the things she does and says, but I swear this is due in large part to Bella. Of all the singing, dancing, and overall performing that Claire does, though, my favorite thing about her is when she is getting ready to go to bed and she says to me, "I love you so much!". Seriously, "How did God know?"
Lastly, I want to take a few moments to talk about my family. For as long as I can remember, we have been getting together for every occasion...and sometimes it seems we make things up just as an excuse to get together! I feel so blessed to be a part of a family where tradition is as strong as our love for each other....just like this new family of mine, and this blog, and all the traditions you have added to my life! God must have known!
As the year winds down, and a new one begins, I'm reminded everyday that God ALWAYS knows what's best for us. It may never look quite like we pictured in our heads, but somehow, He leads all of us into His perfect plan. (I just hope that his perfect plan for me includes a 3500 sq ft home and a million dollars....and an NCAA Men's Basketball Championship win for my Wildcats!). "Not our will but YOURS be done". That is my prayer for all of us in 2009!
With love,
Mary Rose
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Let me first say thank you so much for writing such wonderful letters this year and I think this blog is a great way to stay in touch.
It is clear that though we are so far away, we are yet very close in our hearts.
So let me make this short and sweet or not.
This is has been a very eventful year for all of us but through it all we have had the support of each other and offer to you my thoughts of this family
F is for our faith which gives us the graces to follow God and try to keep the secular world at bay. I know that every Sunday you are all hearing the same word of God as your father and I and this makes me feel close to you.
A is accepting each others weaknesses and forgiving each other as we try to stay connected to each other while living our seperate and busy lives.
M represents Gods Master Plan. I know He has a perfect plan for all of us and though I try to twist it the way I would like it to go, He continues to surprise me with moves _ though not to far as Sarah said, grandchildren, and constant reminders that He is in control and all my children are a gift from Him to be cherished but He has there lives planned and I am but a observer. Let go and let God as I constantly remind myself.
I Imperfect though we may be individually, as a family we have each other to lean on. Knowing that we are unconditionally loved by our heavenly Father, we strive to be His hands and feet on earth and to help each other to achieve a spot in heaven with our prayers. Save in our knowledge that we are also unconditonally loved by each other.
L Love is what ultimately holds us together as a family, sharing our triumphs and our failures, knowing we have each other no matter what.
Y is a bit difficult to explain but perhaps the most important. It is for yearning.
Yearning to do God's will
yearning to be perfect
yearning to be in control
yearning for what we do not have
yearning to live closer
the list could go on and on, but in reality we have all we need. God's love and guidance and God's gift of us - a FAMILY
Good night my babies, I love each and everyone of you for who you are and am thankful everyday that you are my family.
Mom
It is clear that though we are so far away, we are yet very close in our hearts.
So let me make this short and sweet or not.
This is has been a very eventful year for all of us but through it all we have had the support of each other and offer to you my thoughts of this family
F is for our faith which gives us the graces to follow God and try to keep the secular world at bay. I know that every Sunday you are all hearing the same word of God as your father and I and this makes me feel close to you.
A is accepting each others weaknesses and forgiving each other as we try to stay connected to each other while living our seperate and busy lives.
M represents Gods Master Plan. I know He has a perfect plan for all of us and though I try to twist it the way I would like it to go, He continues to surprise me with moves _ though not to far as Sarah said, grandchildren, and constant reminders that He is in control and all my children are a gift from Him to be cherished but He has there lives planned and I am but a observer. Let go and let God as I constantly remind myself.
I Imperfect though we may be individually, as a family we have each other to lean on. Knowing that we are unconditionally loved by our heavenly Father, we strive to be His hands and feet on earth and to help each other to achieve a spot in heaven with our prayers. Save in our knowledge that we are also unconditonally loved by each other.
L Love is what ultimately holds us together as a family, sharing our triumphs and our failures, knowing we have each other no matter what.
Y is a bit difficult to explain but perhaps the most important. It is for yearning.
Yearning to do God's will
yearning to be perfect
yearning to be in control
yearning for what we do not have
yearning to live closer
the list could go on and on, but in reality we have all we need. God's love and guidance and God's gift of us - a FAMILY
Good night my babies, I love each and everyone of you for who you are and am thankful everyday that you are my family.
Mom
My Wish
Merry Christmas to our whole family. I miss everyone a lot and this Christmas I wished we could have been together. We did have a great Christmas, though it was kind of quiet. I just have to say before i go any further with this letter and say I thought it was cool we could all blog our letters BUT not so happy about not being able to listen to your voices reading them out loud to each other, to respond to each others words, and of course, cry together( for some of us cry babies). Anyways, i had to write that down. Now back to my day, i was extremely blessed to have my mama here with us for Christmas this year. It has been a really long time since i have had her home for Christmas. This past Feb. we moved my mom home from Florida and she was in real bad health. I wasn't even sure there for a while, but her being home i feel has saved her life. Caroline and now Abiageal really has help her a lot and keeps her going. Mom and dad have just been awesome with opening their home to her so that she can come and stay for a few days here and there and i love them so much for that. Like Sean said living with mom and dad still is not where we want to be and isn't always easy for any of us ( except mom, she never wants us to leave, well dad too) it is just where we need to be still. I am forever grateful for them and thank God for them everyday.
Well, this year we were blessed with another baby girl as you all know. Our Abiageal Marie what a beautiful baby God has given us. I will not lie it was really, really hard at the beginning this time for me. I'm not sure why. Sean says it was because she had such a hard time the first two months of her life and the fact that we didn't sleep hardly ever (except when Bama stepped in for night duty and Aunt Sarah was able to come to the rescue a couple of times thanks for that). It was more then that for me though, but i prayed all the time about it and God helped me through it. And now I can't keep my hands off her. She is doing so good and growing a lot.
Our Caroline , what should i say about that little ball of energy, she is almost PERFECT :) She fills my whole heart with love. She is so smart. I can't believe the words and expressions she come up with. My mom asks all the time if she is 12 years old or 2? I love being home with my babies. I wished always that someday i would be blessed to have babies and be able to be a stay at home mom. Sean has given me my wish. He works so hard for us and I love him so very much. We have our sacrifices else where because of it but it will get better. I really think Sean will have a good 2009 job wise. Please pray for us.
Another great thing that has happened this year is that my brother Billy has chosen to leave the drugs behind and has found God. He is going to church on a regular basis now and is doing great. I feel like i finally have my brother back and i pray he will never go back. Please keep him in your prayers.
Well, getting back to Christmas, Sean took Caroline to the nativity set first thing this moring he layed Jesus in the bed and we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus. I am so blessed to have found a man with such a blessed family that will teach my children the true meaning of Christmas. I still can't believe it sometimes that I was given such a wonderful gift.
God bless you and Merry Christmas! LOVE, Elizabeth
Well, this year we were blessed with another baby girl as you all know. Our Abiageal Marie what a beautiful baby God has given us. I will not lie it was really, really hard at the beginning this time for me. I'm not sure why. Sean says it was because she had such a hard time the first two months of her life and the fact that we didn't sleep hardly ever (except when Bama stepped in for night duty and Aunt Sarah was able to come to the rescue a couple of times thanks for that). It was more then that for me though, but i prayed all the time about it and God helped me through it. And now I can't keep my hands off her. She is doing so good and growing a lot.
Our Caroline , what should i say about that little ball of energy, she is almost PERFECT :) She fills my whole heart with love. She is so smart. I can't believe the words and expressions she come up with. My mom asks all the time if she is 12 years old or 2? I love being home with my babies. I wished always that someday i would be blessed to have babies and be able to be a stay at home mom. Sean has given me my wish. He works so hard for us and I love him so very much. We have our sacrifices else where because of it but it will get better. I really think Sean will have a good 2009 job wise. Please pray for us.
Another great thing that has happened this year is that my brother Billy has chosen to leave the drugs behind and has found God. He is going to church on a regular basis now and is doing great. I feel like i finally have my brother back and i pray he will never go back. Please keep him in your prayers.
Well, getting back to Christmas, Sean took Caroline to the nativity set first thing this moring he layed Jesus in the bed and we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus. I am so blessed to have found a man with such a blessed family that will teach my children the true meaning of Christmas. I still can't believe it sometimes that I was given such a wonderful gift.
God bless you and Merry Christmas! LOVE, Elizabeth
Misposted
Well, my post is up but for some reason it isn't right. I've messed with it for a long time and I'm completely fed up. So I will try again later to make all the words readable but I've got to go pay attention to children and help Sarah paint.
Ugh, I am so frustrated. My great idea isn't seeming so great right. I have never had any problems with this blog stuff and Sarah and I both had difficulties today.
Apparently cutting and pasting into the blog creates some problems. I'll try to learn more about this and let you know more.
God Bless.
Bridget
Ugh, I am so frustrated. My great idea isn't seeming so great right. I have never had any problems with this blog stuff and Sarah and I both had difficulties today.
Apparently cutting and pasting into the blog creates some problems. I'll try to learn more about this and let you know more.
God Bless.
Bridget
Merry Christmas
Change seems to be the theme of my life, of all of our lives. Each year change happens, each year we are blessed by change. Our family has been blessed with 7 beautiful children, with the addition of my Goddaughter Abiageal this year. Mary Rose has taken a new job, Ben and Bridget have moved (again...), mom and dad are getting ready for another move back to the other side of Michigan (you don't go too far do you?) and me...well my changes are never quite as big as everyone else's. In fact this year I even stayed in the same apartment. As you all know the big "change" is my return to public schools and special education. I am very blessed to have received a job in a very nice neighborhood in a quickly changing school. After a brief 3 weeks as an assistant principal (this caused me to almost puke every day.) I thankfully came to my senses and find myself more at peace than I have been in years. I don't find myself on teh internet weekly looking for places to live or new jobs to take. I am content...well almost. I am online looking for places to volunteer this summer in Africa. My roommate has found one in Uganda that looks promising, I plan on filling out the application after I complete this letter. Go to http://www.ugandaruralfund.org to check it out! After I have spent my years in an inner city schools and volunteering I am at peace (for now) in working in the public school as long as I can give some of my time each year to others. I love flying around the country (or driving to Michigan) to see all of you, but as some of you may have noticed my summers have been spent for me lately. I love visiting all of you, but the time I spend in the city during the summer and volunteering in various places gives me the evergy to make it through another school year. I hope you understand that, and I visit when I can. I love you all of you, and though I may lead a very different life than each of you, I am for the first time in a long time content and happy with it.
Merry Christmas!
Love,
Sarah
Okay, it is Christmas morning and I got up before seven because I remembered I didn't do my letter yet. Bella and Claire are still asleep. Presents are waiting to be opened. Mary Rose is in the shower.
Happy Birthday Jesus! This has been an excellent year for us. When mommy is happy everyone is happy. Getting the job at Edward Jones has been a tremendous blessing for us all. It is so great to have a job where you are rewarded for hard work. My wife works so hard and her new coworkers see her for who she really is. Thank you God for people who think about other people first. We need more unselfish people in this world.
I can usually write better, but this morning my mind is not running full speed. I have a lot of things out of order so I'll just write whatever I think about.
I'm so happy for Mom and Dad that they get to see the grandkids over Christmas. It was fun building the swingset with Dad and going to Claire's dance recital with both of them. Bella turned five and we had two parties. I think they made it for Beau's hockey game. Mom hasn't cried too much yet. When we told Bella that she was coming she said, "Bama cries a lot. Her eyes are always red. She cries when I leave a lot." Thank you Bridget for this idea about the blog. I've wanted to start one because I want to post all of the funny things Bella and Claire say. A couple of days ago I Claire was whining and yelling. I asked her what her problem was. Then a little bit later Mary Rose wouldn't come eat or something and Claire yelled at her, "Mommy, come eat. What is your problem." She is a kooky little girl.
Christmas this year has come very quickly. Last night didn't feel like Christmas Eve for me. I'm not sure why. Maybe because we have been so busy.
When had been working for MDS fundraising for a couple of years I started tithing. I got about three raises right in a row and was able to buy a new car. I miss that car. The green frog-mobile was good to me. Sean and I took the greatest trip two brothers could take in that car. Anyway, the last couple of years it seems like we have been tithing better and God has blessed us with this job. I just wanted to stress that whenever we give to God he blesses us ten times more than what we give. I know there is a scripture about that, but I'm not sure where.
As far as for me pray that I can find a new job teaching middle school next year. I can't handle elementary any more. There are too many details.
Well, I better get going and get ready for church. I love you all. I miss you all. I hope and pray we get to see everybody sometime next year. I'll start posting more pictures and videos. Merry Christmas and Happy New Ear. That is what Bella says, Ear not year. God bless you all, my family, and may your Christmas Day be Holy. Mike Endredy prayed a great prayer last night. He prayed that we have more encounters with God and His people and opportunities to do His will. Amen to that. Praise be to our Saviour, Jesus, who comes to us as a baby this day.
Happy Birthday Jesus! This has been an excellent year for us. When mommy is happy everyone is happy. Getting the job at Edward Jones has been a tremendous blessing for us all. It is so great to have a job where you are rewarded for hard work. My wife works so hard and her new coworkers see her for who she really is. Thank you God for people who think about other people first. We need more unselfish people in this world.
I can usually write better, but this morning my mind is not running full speed. I have a lot of things out of order so I'll just write whatever I think about.
I'm so happy for Mom and Dad that they get to see the grandkids over Christmas. It was fun building the swingset with Dad and going to Claire's dance recital with both of them. Bella turned five and we had two parties. I think they made it for Beau's hockey game. Mom hasn't cried too much yet. When we told Bella that she was coming she said, "Bama cries a lot. Her eyes are always red. She cries when I leave a lot." Thank you Bridget for this idea about the blog. I've wanted to start one because I want to post all of the funny things Bella and Claire say. A couple of days ago I Claire was whining and yelling. I asked her what her problem was. Then a little bit later Mary Rose wouldn't come eat or something and Claire yelled at her, "Mommy, come eat. What is your problem." She is a kooky little girl.
Christmas this year has come very quickly. Last night didn't feel like Christmas Eve for me. I'm not sure why. Maybe because we have been so busy.
When had been working for MDS fundraising for a couple of years I started tithing. I got about three raises right in a row and was able to buy a new car. I miss that car. The green frog-mobile was good to me. Sean and I took the greatest trip two brothers could take in that car. Anyway, the last couple of years it seems like we have been tithing better and God has blessed us with this job. I just wanted to stress that whenever we give to God he blesses us ten times more than what we give. I know there is a scripture about that, but I'm not sure where.
As far as for me pray that I can find a new job teaching middle school next year. I can't handle elementary any more. There are too many details.
Well, I better get going and get ready for church. I love you all. I miss you all. I hope and pray we get to see everybody sometime next year. I'll start posting more pictures and videos. Merry Christmas and Happy New Ear. That is what Bella says, Ear not year. God bless you all, my family, and may your Christmas Day be Holy. Mike Endredy prayed a great prayer last night. He prayed that we have more encounters with God and His people and opportunities to do His will. Amen to that. Praise be to our Saviour, Jesus, who comes to us as a baby this day.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Imperfection Creates Perfection
God taught me a large lesson this year building our house.
It began with tiling the floor in the guest bathroom. There was a piece of tile that we had to cut a hole in to get it to go around the toilet. We started with a regular piece, drilled a hole in it which was extremely difficult and then we had to chip it out piece by piece. It was under the toilet so we weren't too worried about i
t until we finished and it looked like this.
It began with tiling the floor in the guest bathroom. There was a piece of tile that we had to cut a hole in to get it to go around the toilet. We started with a regular piece, drilled a hole in it which was extremely difficult and then we had to chip it out piece by piece. It was under the toilet so we weren't too worried about i
t until we finished and it looked like this.
It wasn't pretty. We left it like
that for the night and went to bed,
we were defeated. All along I've
wanted every thing to be perfect
to not have a scratch or a dent
or a defect. But through it all I've
realized just like me my
house will not be perfect.
God wants perfection from us,
but He knows we are always a
work in progress.
Psalm 18:32 says It is God who arms me with
strength and makes my way perfect.
That is oh so true. It has been such a hard year, selling a
house, moving faraway, Ben getting sick more than once,
then getting in an auto accident, then building a house,
we've been taught a lot this year. But God has been there
to continue to lift us up.
2 Corinthians 13:9 We are glad whenever we are weak
but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection.
I can't say I've always been glad when I was weak, the
second miscarriage was definitely a struggle that didn't
have any strength to endure, I didn't want to endure it
and I wasn't really willing to, but God stepped in people
lifted me in prayer and God responded with overwhelming
love. I was able to step back into life and make new
friends and be stronger because God was
holding me. He is always holding us.
2 Corinthians 11 Finally, brothers, good-by.
Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind,
live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
Aiming for perfection, I feel like everything I've done this
year is falling short of the mark, I am so not even close to
perfection. But God heals, and He will continue to forgive
me and lead me towards perfection.
Phil 3:12-13 Not that I have already obtained all this,
or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take
hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Brethren, I do not consider that I have made it my
own; but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and
straining forward to what lies ahead.
This for me is a monumental task forgetting what lies
behind and straining towards tomorrow. Sometimes
the pain of the past shadows, the joy of the future and
in working towards heaven I need to remember to look
ahead and not behind fix tomorrow not yesterday.
The things building this house has taught me, we
couldn't find water but you can't keep drilling an empty
hole, you must start fresh in a new hole or look for other
resources. When my sources of water (friends, family, etc.)
aren't here I need to look for other ways and continue to
find new sources. I don't like making new friends it is
hard to put myself out there over and over but for tomorrow
I need to do that today. I love my friends I've made
but they aren't here and I have to have people in the
flesh to help me in day to day things. This has humbled
me much this year to have to ask from people
I don't know well for help when I'd rather be able to do it
myself. And family, I mentioned in last year's letter that
I'd call more. I'd keep in touch better, ah did I mention
don't look back look forward. Thus the blog, this will
be my way and I'm looking forward to
daily or weekly laughter and tears in checking in
eachother's lives. I will continue to press on and face
the challenges God lays out for us in the coming year,
as you all continue to face your own challenges,
I am praying for you, please pray for me.
1 Peter 5:10 And after you have suffered a little while,
the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal
glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish and
strengthen you.
There has been what seems to me to be a lot of
suffering this year, suffering in big ways and small ways.
And he has strengthened me. Through
each part of the building process I feel like we were
torn down and rebuilt. Wrong cabinets, make it right,
bad electrician, do it yourself. God used this year to
lead me more fervently to His word, that is why
I am sharing His Words with you so that you can see
what I am striving for in my life. May we all be
strengthened through the suffering we have
endured this year even though we would rather have
gone around it than gone through it, we know
God's plan is greater.
Ecclesiastes 7:20 There is not a righteous man on
earth who does what is right and never sins.
This verse speaks volumes to me this year, I've blamed
Ben for a lot and not all of it was in his control.
And we all sin, I am no more perfect than him and
I had to look in the mirror long and hard after some of my
outbursts (and continue to need to do this) with him
because being together all of the time isn't something
we are used to and it isn't always easy.
But he gave me a wonderful Christmas present,
he signed us up for a Marriage Encounter weekend
in February, I'm shocked.
As with the rest of my life our marriage is no where
near perfection we have so much work to do and we
need prayers to get there. The retreat will be great
but it may be overwhelming, please pray that God
speaks the words to us He wants us to hear and
that Ben and I grow closer through Him during our weekend.
One final verse.
1 John 4:12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one
another, God abides in us and His love is perfected in us.
I have seen each of you show God to me through phone calls,
e-mails, pictures, all the little ways. Through forgiving one another,
through praying for one another. God lives among us in our
family He is perfecting me through each and every one of you and
I thank each of you for showing Him to me when I need Him most.
God Bless each of you this Christmas day I love you.
Oh and about that tile job. So we worked so hard. We got another piece
drilled, we had it cut there was only a few more snips and it was ready to go.
We were feeling so good about starting the piece over and trying again.
This is the result.
There is still a large crack. It isn't perfect, but neither am I.
God used some strange things to get me to see this and be okay
with and to strive for the perfect me that God wants me to be.
I'm thankful for this year and all it has taught me.
Peace and love to you all.
God Bless,
Bridget
Mom Joins The Crew
I told mom about the blog. I've shown her how to use it. Now we all just need to get our letters posted by midnight tomorrow night. Well before then would be good, but just remember to get them done. Ryan still hasn't logged on, come on man join in the game.
Looking forward to reading everyone's thoughts from the year.
God Bless and Merry Christmas.
Looking forward to reading everyone's thoughts from the year.
God Bless and Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas to the whole famn damily
Merry Christmas everyone. First of all I miss you all and I wish my girls could play w/ all their cousins every day. This year has not exactly gone as planned but has actually turned out like I thought it would. I haven't gotten any raises or a new job in order to be able to afford a house for my family, but thanx to Mom and Dad I am able to have a home. I know it hasn't been easy for them or us for that matter, but everything is going very well. I am just thankful that we have such wonderful parents that give whatever is needed and then some. Without them I don't know where we'd be this Christmas, maybe I'd be working two jobs and barely staying afloat. Anyway, I just hope that I can be as good a parent to my girls as mine are to me.
Caroline and Abiageal are both getting so big I can't stand it. Together they are quite a handfull. Caroline amazes me more and more every day w/ her intelligence and memory. She can sing the entire alphabet and sometimes count to 15, Bama says she counts to 20 though. Abiageal has been eating much more this past week and I think she is growing every day I get home from work. We just got back from midnight mass and I held Abiageal the entire time and now have a new pain in my back. These girls are going to break me :) but it's all worth it. Hopefully they can take care of me when I get old and decrepid.
Elizabeth has been wonderful as usual. I know she wants a place of our own as much as I do, but once again she is making due w/ what I can give her and luckily she gets along w/ Mom and Dad quite well as you all know. I am thankful that I have her although I just wish I could do more for her. Someday I will.
Work is going well but slow. I am very secure in my position, just not really going anywhere fast because there just isn't any work. I would like you all to pray for a job that I am supposed to be hearing about hopefully soon. A friend's wife works for a company that should be creating a new position that I hope to be qualified for but they are not doing anything at the moment. I pray that I hear some good news shortly after the first of the year.
We love you all and look forward to reading your letters.
P.S. Aren't you proud of me, my first Christmas letter ever. :) Hope it's a good one!!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Welcome To Our Blog
This is my Christmas present to Mom. A place we can all come and post updates, share letters, or stories or just a quick something funny that someone said. I hope to hear from everyone at least once a week and I thought this would be a great place for us all to post our Christmas letters for Mom. Please post them by Christmas Eve so I can bring Mom to this website and show her how to use it so she and dad can share too, especially about their upcoming move.
Love to all and hope this goes well. I will be e-mailing detailed instructions about how to use this space soon.
Love to all and hope this goes well. I will be e-mailing detailed instructions about how to use this space soon.
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