Beauty day 25-30

25. Ornaments.  I have been putting Christmas stuff away this week.  I love looking at all our ornaments.  Special memories attached to these little ornaments.
We buy an ornament on every trip we take, it is easier than you would think.  Here are a few.

26. Change of plans.  We had planned to be in Florida this week.  Issues with Joe's work kept us here.  I have been able to get a lot done and we have spent a lot of uninterrupted time together. 

27.Purging.  With the extra time at home, I have been cleaning out rooms and the basement.  A trip to Goodwill is in store for today!  I love purging.

28.  Sound sleep.  I slept through another earthquake.  Amy was the only one who felt it here at our house.  4.1, she said the house shook.  I never woke.

29.  Dishwasher.  With us all home this week, the dishwasher has been getting a work out.  Our first house didn't have a dishwasher, so I am always thankful to not have to wash so many dishes!

30.A healthy extended family.  2 Christmas's and everyone is healthy, no major health crisis this year.  Let's hope the same thing for 2011.

Beauty day 25 babysitting

Amy is babysitting for 2 little ones at our house tonight.  It is fun to see her in charge, and being a good 'mom' figure.  They are one of her teachers kids, so it is really funny to hear them talk.  Especially when they asked why our bsement was so messy! haha(in my defense, I am putting the Christmas stuff away)

Watching your kids grow and mature is a thing of beauty.

Beauty day 24-one on one

We put in the movie "Letters to God" last night about 8.  It was a good movie, bring tissues if you watch it though, it is a tearjerker.

Aaron was at a sleepover, Ann was up in bed reading, and Amy went to bed early due to swim practice.

It was just Joe, Andrew and I.

This doesn't happen often enough.

We had fun snuggling, all 3 of us on our couch, talking about the movie, cancer, and anything else that popped into my 8 year olds head.

It was a thing of beauty.

Day of Beauty-day 23 A day at home

Christmas day this year was a quiet laid back day at home.

We didn't open gifts until 9am, after birthday cake and the Christmas story being read.  We have never really been a rushed early morning Christmas family.

The kids each get 3gifts and  their stockings.  Joe and I just did stockings for each other.  It didn't take long to open all of our gifts, and the rest of the day was spent enjoying them.

Watching movies, playing games, playing indoor basketball, and eating.  We had no where to go.  I didn't even get out of my PJs all day. 
It was wonderful.

We spent today at home too.  I really think our family needed this time to reconnect and just decompress.

A catch up-Beauty

I know I am behind.

A few things of beauty I have noticed this past week
1. dry clear roads-I don't like ice

2. Deer on the fresh clean snow

3.Plans that are changed- God knows the future not me!

4. a night home, alone with my husband. We have had a rough week.

5. Truth and light- where there is truth there is light.  It can be so hard to get to this point for some couples. I am glad we are there and have stayed there  for nearly 9 years.

6. Being able to say with conviction-"I have been there and God was faithful and saw me through." amen

7. God, not letting my past pain be wasted.  He is so good and merciful.

 Colleen's wedding

 You might not want to eat our cookies!

Haley and Annie- handing out cookies to our neighbors.

Beaty day 15- location

We have lived in many areas of Indiana.  There are good and bad to each, at different times of the year especially.

Christmas in Indy is fun though.  We are so close to big events, like concerts, plays, ballet.

I went on a field trip with Annie's class yesterday to the IRT's production of "A Christmas Carol".  Honestly, the story isn't one of my favorites.  I love redemption though- so that makes it OK.  I just like Gods redempting(is that even a word?) love better! 

Her class had read the book recently, and I also got to hear how much they differed.  Annie loves details.

Anyway, we took the bus downtown to the theatre.  The downtown is decorated so well, with the snow it was so pretty.

The production was fabulous, they did a superb job, very professional.

We then went to Circle Center mall for lunch and to walk around a little.  Being there with 10 year old girls was a lot of fun.

Being close to the arts is a thing of beauty for me!

Beauty day 14- 2 hour delay

I heart 2 hour delays!  They are a thing of beauty for this momma who likes to sleep.