Good Evening! I love January! Usually I hate it but this year i've decided to embrace the fact that I am the type of mom who prefers to be home. I prefer to not be driving my kids all over kingdom come, at least at this age. I love that I have friends who have thier kids involved in a lot of things and I see such great rewards in that type of lifestyle, but it's just not for me-right now. I don't feel guilty about it anymore. At least today. :) Gary had a snowday on Friday since it was -11 degrees PLUS windchill!! BRR!!! he also has tomorrow off for MLK day so it's been a nice little mini vacation for us! We even said Thursday night we should have traveled somewhere! :) Congratulations to Kelsey and her baby number FOUR born yesterday! I can't wait to go see her and get to hold her! We also got to see our cousin Nikki and her baby Elizabeth who's almost ONE already. I can't get over it. Grace is 20 months today. She's almost TWO!?! Where has the time gone?! How can I make it slow down!?!? :) We're truly blessed and thankful for each and every day. Tonight while feeding Grace I had a 'thought'. This will make you mom's laugh. I always hear about how men are built for war. They just have to go to battle in one way or another. men are made for it. I get that and sure see God's wisdom in it. However, i think one way to "heal" them of it would be to make them stay home all day every day with some toddlers. You go to battle over jumping on the couch, putting the toilet seat down, eating your green beans, not screaming in the van and about a thousand other things every day, you're way to tired to go marching across some field killing other men. :) I just thought it was funny. Men are made for battle physically, but women are made for it too. Just in different ways. Tonight the Steelers are the AFC Champions!! Gary's dad, Uncle Mike, brother and Lia are there. It's got to be freezing but what an experience to get to see your favorite team (especially true for Uncle Mike!!) achieve that at home! I really don't care for football all that much, a side affect of growing up in Cleveland where frankly, football is nothing to cheer about round here. We do have a bit of a connection now to the Steelers through Lia though and i'm excited that Mike gets to be there for this. Gary's dad however, is going to be very tired this week! We expect he'll get home around 1 am and has to get up around 5am to go to work. We had the cold bug around the house big time this week. Grace has had more nasal drip than seems possible. However, she learned for real how to blow her nose! She's been doing it occasionally for awhile but now she's really getting it! It's SO cute somehow and so very helpful. She does better for her daddy of course... daddys girl through and through. i'm veryt hankful that the illness did not turn into this flu thing we've been hearing so much about. I hear this years flu is particularly nasty. Have a wonderful week everyone! Happy Birthday Dad!

Phillipians 4: 4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.