Finding peace...

The last few weeks I have struggled with finding peace in my life.

Have you ever had that feeling? Just an uneasy...detached...hard-to-explain feeling? I'm not sure what is going on, but I do know that God is giving me this feeling for a reason. I'm in the process of soul-searching, Bible studying, deep listening, and heart following...

and it's not easy for me to be vulnerable and throw all this out there into "blog world"...

I'm just hoping you guys will cover me in prayer and help me find my way. Wait...not my way, but HIS. Thanks guys, I knew you would understand:)

Christmas 2009

Our Christmas has been filled with joy...

excitement...

sugar...

wonderful friends...

close family...

Christmas cheer...

sweet memories...

and love overflowing...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Christmas Candy...

Every year we have a tradition of making Christmas candy at Grandma Raber's as a family. Today was that day - and I'm still on a sugar high:) I'm usually in bed by 9 p.m., but it's 11 p.m. and I'm still going strong. I wanted to share a few of the pictures we took today -these are such priceless memories and I hope Max always remembers that close family bond we all felt today!

Here is Max helping his great-grandma...

Logan and Max - look at the difference in size:)

Grandpa and Grandma GG

Clay working on the caramels

Here is the finished product...yummmmm!!!!!

Pink Glove Dance

I just recieved this fwd. email from my mom - and I had to share it here with all of you. It is a YouTube video called "Pink Glove Dance," where a hospital has gotten all its employees to dance and promote breast cancer awareness! It takes a few minutes to download - but I promise it is worth it! You won't be sorry!! Click on this URL to watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEdVfyt-mLw


They are trying to get 1 million hits, because the glove company will then make a huge donation to the hospital and the hospital will offer free mammograms to the public. Hope you enjoy this video and it brightens your day!!

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas...

Max had his first encounter with Santa this year at the Farley Christmas party (my grandma's family). Although he informed me minutes before Santa arrived that "It's not really Santa, Mom, it's just Nick (my cousin's husband) dressed up!" As soon as Santa walked in the basement door Max's face had a look of shock. His eyes were HUGE and he just watched Santa walk around the room and greet people. He did end up sitting on Santa's lap - but I had to hold his hand and walk him up there. Here is my little brave guy opening his gift on Santa's lap!

He LOVED his gift from Santa - the Scooby Doo gang and their Mystery van...I don't think he has put it down since he opened it!

Max also had such a great time playing with his friend Lincoln - here they are being silly!

They hit heads trying to cheese for the camera - what little hams!!!!! Hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas season...we have done lots of eating, snuggling, and loving on each other. It's the perfect time of year for all three:)!!

Weekend...

Gabe and I are in Evansville for the weekend...

getting all our Christmas shopping done in one big trip:)

We have had so much fun -but mom called me yesterday

to tell me this sweet little story about Max and I thought I would share.

Max went to Grandma GG's for lunch with my mom and Uncle "Faye",

to have dinner with the whole Raber family. Max was acting great and just playing,

but before everyone knew it they heard him crying and saw him sitting in the hallway by himself. Faithful Uncle "Faye" went to him and asked:

"What's wrong, buddy?"

Max looked up at him with tears in his eyes and said "I'm gonna miss Nana and Papa's house when we get a new house to live in."

Clay tried to hold back the smile and told him "I don't think you need to worry about that now!"

So Max dried it up and started playing again...what in the world?? I always find it amazing to think what is going on in that little head of his! Don't worry, he will get lots of hugs and kisses from mama in a few hours...and we will have to talk about this whole "new house" thing...since there are no plans being made yet to move:)

Sparkly and Pink

How can you not be happy when you are wearing shoes that look like this:

I just had to post a picture because of all the comments I've gotten today at school:) All the little girls LOVE them, the boys stare at them, and Mr. Weisman (the guy I share a room with) told me that I am blinding him with all the sparkles and sequins.

I actually got them at a yard sale in Washington last summer - a girl that was selling them said that she had purchased them in New York and only worn them once...they just don't "go" with much. But I wore a pink shirt today and couldn't resist wearing them.

Nothing could make me happier on a Monday than wearing pinkish/purpleish sparkly, sequined shoes:) What is making you happy today?