A Leap of Faith

I can't sleep. There is so much on my mind. There have been a lot of changes in the last month with our little family.  Brett received a job offer mid-December and needed to respond with his answer just before Christmas.  (Kind of a crazy time of year to make a big decision, but grateful for the job opportunity.) We gave it a lot of thought, and prayer and we felt like choosing this new job was the right move to make.  So...we are headed to Austin, Texas in 10 days.  Crazy!  I think I am in shock with the whole thing at the moment.  It still doesn't quite seem real.  I have had a flood of emotions the last few weeks as I have tried to digest all that has happened. We love DC/Virginia so much and it has become a big part of us.  A large piece of my heart is here and that piece will remain.  We have such wonderful friends that are like family to us and it is honestly breaking my heart to move.  I know we will visit and see them, but it's still so hard.  Through all this we still feel peace when we think about this job for our family and we are very grateful.  It should be a good fit for Brett and it's what he enjoys doing with law. This is definitely a leap of faith.  I have never been to Texas before, but I've heard it's a great place.  We are getting ready to step into the unknown, but it's those steps that make you grow right?!
There is a quote from President Hinckley about faith and change that I like:

“Faith in something greater than ourselves that enables us to do what we have said we'll do, to press forward when we are tired or hurt or afraid, to keep going when the challenge seems overwhelming and the course is entirely uncertain.”  -President Gordon B. Hinckley

 It looks like 2013 is going to bring a lot of change. Be still my heart.  Here comes the next adventure.  

Now I better try and figure out how to fall asleep.  Ha!

Botanical Gardens 2012

We made our traditional visit to the Botanical Gardens again this year. Kate was nuts over the trains, she could have stood there for hours watching them go back and forth.  I love it every time we go, and it's fun to look back and see how the girls have changed through the years. Abby was a baby the first time we went.  It's beautiful with all the colors, flowers and designs. I love it. 

Beautiful DC. So much to do, so much to see.

Fun to have the Rorings join us.  Such a great family.

'Choo-Choo'.  She was mesmerized.

Christmas Day

We had a wonderful Christmas.  It was nice to have a day to relax and be with family and friends. Christmas Eve was spent with our friends and lots of phone calls to family.  We had a nice dinner, read the Christmas Story in Luke, and just enjoyed the night.  It was nice to take some time to think about what Christmas is really about.  After the party we read some more stories together and took on the feat of putting the kids to bed.  Going to bed on Christmas Eve was quite the event.  The girls had anxiety over the idea that Santa was coming and they were on the lookout.  I must admit it was fun to re-live my childhood through the kids, even if it involved the lack of sleep.  Brett made sure to keep the tradition of wrapping up the wall so the girls couldn't see what Santa had brought.  Brittany and Jack even slept over for the night, which made it extra fun. Christmas Day arrived, as promised, and gratefully the kids slept in a bit.  After a good round of Jingle Bells, the kids tore through the paper.  I guess they had passed the test of 'being good' because Santa had come. We all took turns opening gifts, which became very entertaining. The girls would rip open a present and Jack made sure to taste each one, it was pretty entertaining.  For breakfast Brittany taught me how to make aebleskivers and they were yummy. The Andersons joined us for some games later that morning and we had a great dinner at Amy and Dillon's. It was a nice day. Thanks for all the kind gifts from our family and friends! You were so nice to think of us. It is such a great time of year and we're so grateful for our Savior's birth.
Merry Christmas!

(Thank goodness for phones to capture the moment because that's where these are from.)

A highlight was Skyping with family just before they ran through the wrapping paper.

 (Thanks for letting us wake you up at 5:30am. Haha.) 

Here's Jack tasting all the gifts.

Jack was fascinated with the stroller Kate received from Santa.

Breakfast

Cute Lily Belle

We adore the Anderson girls.

Santa

 On Christmas Eve we headed to DC to visit Santa's Workshop. We have gone to this Santa almost every year because he is our favorite. The girls were so excited to walk through his workshop, but for some reason they we scared to sit on his lap.  Ah, well, they had a good time.   It was fun to have Brittany and Jack join us.  I love the excitement of little kids at Christmas.

Kate loved the Christmas trains around the tree. She kept saying, 'Mommy, look!  Train.  Choo. Choo.' Definitely a favorite for her.

Abby freezing cold.

Kate and Jack held hands on the way home, it was pretty cute.

Miracles

This last year has had a roller coaster of events for our good friends/neighbors, the Rorings. It has also been a year of miracles.  Tony was diagnosed with cancer and has been undergoing chemo and treatments since May.  They have been amazingly strong through this whole ordeal.  I can't imagine going through all they have experienced.  We really look up to them.  I have to say that it has been incredible to witness a miracle this Christmas as Tony received a blood transplant from an anonymous donor. There are great people in this world.  The man that donated didn't know Tony at all and went through a painful procedure in order to help save his life.  My heart is so full thinking about what this man did to help another.  We are so grateful. The transplant has gone very well so far and we all have hopes that Tony will get to come home from the hospital on Monday after being there for 5 weeks and a year of treatments. Keep praying for this awesome family.  We love you Tony, Brit and Jack!  Here is more of their story if you are interested:  http://www.roringgoodtimes.blogspot.com/2012/12/transplant-complete.html

These pictures are from the Botanical Gardens.  We were able to go there just before Tony was admitted into the hospital for his transplant.

Happy New Year

There is much to write and say from all that has happened in the last couple weeks but until I have time to post, enjoy Kate's New Years celebration dance.  This kid has some dance moves. She loves to shake her hips. Our girls crack me up.

Happy New Year everyone!  May this year be a great one.  Bring on 2013!