It is hard to believe that almost a year ago exactly my little guy was snug in my belly! No really he was!


And now he is here with us! He truly has changed our lives in the best way ever!


It is amazing the things that can happen in a year! 2013 is almost upon us so I decided that I would do a look back on 2012.

I am going to be reposting my three top posts from this last year within the next few days so stay  tuned! I hope you enjoy them!

Tis the season! Christmas is almost here! This morning Jason and I were looking at pictures from the last year and I just have to say that I am feeling so very humbled and blessed! God is so good!

I am sorry that I have not been posting as much as normal. We have moved to a new apartment and internet access is very limited. I really appreciate people checking up on me just making sure we have been ok :) You are all such a blessing!

You know how we all go through different seasons in life? For example:

Christmas season 2011 we were still in Florida. We did not have our own Christmas tree because we came back up to NY for Christmas to visit. 

Christmas 2012? Well, we are officially moved back to NY. We are now in our own apartment that we absolutely love and our sweet baby boy is now eight months old!

Eight months!

When did that happen???

My photographer friend Holly came and just blessed us with a session with Elijah and wow what an adorable little guy he is (no I am not biased at all lol).

If I could think of one word to sum up my little man it would have to be this: He is a character.


This is my little guy! The little hat, suspenders and bow tie-what a cutie :) Can you see the twinkle in his eyes? It is there most of the time :)


See those eyes? Oh my goodness I love this kid so very much! I don't know when he started to grow up but oh my he is growing up so quickly-too quickly!


See that smile? He literally smiles almost all the time! I have never seen a more contented kid! He is so very happy! So happy! Such a joy to have around :) He melts my heart with that smile :)

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IT IS COLD!!!!!!

Tonight we went over to a friends house and watched this movie:


And all the sudden-I was in the Christmas spirit.  I sat there and pondered what my Savior went through to come to this world as a little one. What his parents went through as they followed God and chose to trust Him.

It was made even more special as my own little man kicked me the entire time we were watching the movie! What a miracle life is and even more so a life in Christ!

So tonight-I am pondering-my Savior. And I am thankful, so very thankful, that He CHOSE to come to this would to save a wretch like me!

Christmas.

A time to ponder our Savior :)

Blessings!

Ps: I do not have time to do my weekly update but I did do the picture. I have been compared to Pooh bear, a teletubby and Santa Claus. Lol :) I am so thankful my son is growing! I can hardly wait to meet my little man!!! :)

So, I have been working on this series of our story for like-well, forever. Ahem. But tonight I feel as though I need to go a little out of order. See, in 19 days we will be heading back to NY to celebrate Christmas with our families. The fact that I can hardly wait is an understatement!

Christmas. I have been thinking about it lately. Somewhat hard to here in Florida. Seriously, I turned on the radio the other day and "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" began to play. I looked around at the blue skies, sunshine and thought about the fact it was in the 70's and smiled. Yeah right! I love the weather in Florida BUT there is something about snow to put one in the mood for Christmas! :)

So then I have been thinking about last Christmas. What a difference this year! Last year I wasn't even engaged-yet! And this year? Married almost seven months with our little man on the way!

So how did it all happen? Well, I will tell you. So settle back for a story:

Our whole Family including our dogs :)

My sister Jen and I

Stocking Candy is a SERIOUS business ;)

Jason and I with my actually OUR candy that he ate so much of! :)

A few days before Christmas Eve you had given me a few "half-kisses" as you called them. I had told you not to kiss me till you were absolutely 100% certain that I was the one you wanted to spend the rest of your life with. So after those half kisses I knew you were going to propose pretty soon that that is what you kept telling me too! :)  I told you that I would be content with a rubber band for a ring and a tent for a house and I meant it! :)

So on Christmas day (ok, it was like 12:05 am) in my kitchen at my house we had just read the Bible and I went to get up off the floor and you gave me my first real kiss. See, you were the only man who ever kissed me and the last! :) I saved my lips for you alone Jason Samuel. And oh-was it worth it...

So, you kissed me Christmas day 2010 and I knew for sure then that you were going to ask me to marry you very soon. You even said that night that maybe you should propose on Christmas Day instead of in Key West (where we were going to be heading on a missions trip in January) because you would be able to remember it better.

I was definitely expecting a proposal Christmas day especially when you kept saying you were going to just buy a silly band ring off Connor and Emma (or niece and nephew).

So the day stretched on. We were at your families and it was getting later and later but I hadn't gotten proposed to yet so I was trying to not be as excited. I figured you would do it some other day. Well, 6pm rolled around and I was in the living room with Meghan, Lydia and Liz and you were not there. In fact, I had not seen you in quite awhile which was kind of weird because normally we are always together.

I was sitting there wondering where you were and finally you came in and asked it I minded if we went to your brothers to watch a movie because "Emma wants us to". I was tired but said yes anyway :) So we watched a bit of a comedy DVD then-we left.

The whole way over to their house you talked about the house and the steps we needed to take to build it and the time line. You would think I would have gotten a little bit suspicious but I was (thankfully) totally and completely oblivious!

We get to their house and we walk in only to find it was totally quiet which actually I did not think anything of. I just figured they were down in the basement. Then I noticed the lighting was dim (candlelight and Christmas tree lights) but I still did not even really think about that! Well then I walked in and there you were in the dining room. "Look what someone left us," you said quite smugly and there was candles and tea and cookies. I was in shock! 

So we sit down and by this time I just KNEW and so I am on the edge of my seat and you-start eating calmly! Lol :) Then you go, "Are you waiting for something"? I don't remember if I said anything or just stared at you! Either way you started clearing dishes away. Honestly the next part is kind of a blur but this is what I remember-

"I have a question to ask you," you said, and you pulled out a ring box and opened it. Nestled inside was a green (both of our favorite colors) silly band giraffe rind. "Now I am not going to be traditional and get down on one knee because I only bow my knee to our King (Jesus) but I am truly asking-will you marry me"? The words I had wanted to hear all my life.

"Well, you will have to put the ring on," I said. So you put that green silly band on my finger (which I was completely content with) when all the sudden you went: "Hmmmm, that looks like it doesn't fit very well." And you handed me the most beautiful diamond ring that looked like it was tailor made just for me.

I gasped and as you slid it on my finger you asked it that was a yes and I said "YES!!!". Then you gave me a hug, sweetly kissed me and then we prayed right there just surrendering our future to God. Then we read the Bible and just wow! It was perfect!
We went home later on to show my family and they were so excited for us! We were so excited and even though we had no idea what the Lord had in store for us-we were ready to take whatever came next together.
Truly it has been a journey and an adventure! I am so thankful though that I saved myself for Jason and that God saw fit to bring him into my life! I am truly blessed among women! So, the Christmas season is now very special to me for many reasons :) One of them being the sweet memories of 2010 :)

Yesterday I went to a ladies house and was watching some tv while she napped and was shocked. All over there were ads for great buys and specials that were going to come on but...not once was Christmas mentioned. It was all about the "holiday season". Now, do I think that it is wrong to say holiday? No. But I do think that it is sad that we are forgetting the true reason for the season.

What is that reason?

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 Christ is the only thing that makes CHRISTMAS. Lets not forget the TRUE reason for the season! Jesus is the only thing that can make our holidays happy! Lets not forget that! :)

So what are your plans for this Christmas? In a few short weeks we are heading back up to NY and I can hardly wait! We are going to be spending time with both of our families and I just am so excited! One of the most exciting things to me is being able to play piano in church on Sunday, Christmas Day 2011 (a year to the day when we got engaged which-I need to write that story soon) with my sister Abby. What a special gift that will be. My Dad is a pastor and for years Abby and I were the pianists and church and I miss that! Super excited :)

What blessings are you looking forward to in these upcoming months?