The Yeti

This girl cracks me up. She told Tyler she hates "a true loves kiss", but has taken to calling the Yeti and her favorite frozen yogurt establishment "her boyfriend. Who is beautiful." and she makes the funniest faces. Her Grammy thinks she should become an actress. I could see that, although she'd need a better head shot...

Cool Hand Chels

Today marks a crossing off of a bucket list item for me: shooting a gun. It was awesome. End of story.

Tiny Dancer

Harp has been begging to start ballet and tap lessons almost from the moment we left the production of The Nutcracker before Christmas. She asked if we could go to the ballet again every morning before Christmas and it became difficult to explain why we couldn't so I promptly pulled out a parenting trick as old as time: bribery. I promised ballet lessons after New Year's and whaaala: the girl's a natural. She twists and turns from first position to second like a graceful prima ballerina. However, her listening skills could stand a good tuning... Here's my Tiny Dancer in all her glory. Stay tuned for the recital (which she's currently calling the recycle) in March.

New Year New Word

I really do intend to accomplish the first two. I always need to drink more water, and let's face it: even "glamping" is a stretch for me. Which is odd because I don't shower all that regularly;) I just really like heat, sleeping two feet off the ground, and the ability to leave food laying around. But in all serious: this year's word for me is: expectancy. Arms open to God and not folded in narrow expectation of Him. I think to live in true expectancy, we must live bravely because it means not really knowing what happens next. Choosing to live with open arms knowing that God always does for the good of us and to the cause of His glory is a scary prospect. But choosing to have rigid expectations is far worse because it breeds fear and bitterness. I want to be the kind of woman who does brave things while she's living in expectancy because in her heart she knows these things are always righteous: kindness, apologies, vulnerability, obeying, and remaining true to how God has made me while always listening to the Holy Spirit for guidance. I intend this year and every other to become more and more courageous, in that: I drop the needless expectations of myself and others and do the opposite of expectations, which I recently just learned is actually to live in authentic expectancy. The narrow path He calls us to is not a one size fits all picture of how life should look, but rather a full commitment to steering my sinful heart back along the narrow road to Him. Even if that means I have to do it over and over and over again with cliffs on either side. Expectancy and joy in the midst. That's my prayer this new year! Blessings to you, Mrs. B

Christmas Eve/Day 2013

Some really fun highlights this year: Shanna joining us unexpectedly, seeing my brother, the girls being so into the true meaning of Christmas, watching their joy, my new deer head, laughs, kyla reading the Christmas story, Steve's devotional, and being with those we love. Merry Christmas!

Our Card this year...

I think it speaks for itself...

Instagram Catch-up: December Edition