My favorites from 2011

The best parts of this year included........................

Plans, hopes, and dreams for 2011 (a review and new challenge for 2012 to come soon!)

My graduation with a Master's in Counseling

Different challenges we did in February, March, (review) and April, (review)

Traveling to North Carolina for a wedding

Being challenged and evolving as parents and as Christians

Our 3rd anniversary

Mushroom hunting with Joel's extended family (and part 2)

Mylin's 1st birthday!

Attending Mat and Abby's wedding in Chicago

Our weekend away in Dublin, OH (and part 2)

and, finding out we are blessed with another pregnancy!!!

Some of the end of 2011 will be posted next week - but I will leave you with one picture that was arguably the BEST part of our Christmas break this year

An amazing dinner and game night with Mat and Abby Mifsud!

We love this couple SOOO much!
We haven't been able to visit with them in person since their wedding in July - and will most likely not see them for 2 more years :(
This night was so wonderful to reconnect with each other spiritually and relationally, and just enjoy conversation and lots and lots of laughing
We love you guys!

What were the highlights of your 2011?

Birthday boy!

Happy 28th Birthday, Joel!

You are such a blessing to Mylin and me!

I don't know why God chose you for us, but am thankful every day for His provision!

You are such a calm, patient, silly, and loving father

An attentive, understanding, forgiving, and hilarious husband

And a selfless, giving servant to our family, friends, and faith community

I love you so much!!!!!!

Thanks for teaching Mylin how to color :)

Make sure to wish Joel a Happy Birthday today!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas family and friends! In 2011 we celebrated 3 years of wedded bliss. We continue to be amazed at how God grows the depth of our love for each other and Mylin. He is sooo good!

Joel celebrated five years of working at Franklin Electric in June. Since he is at the corporate headquarters, he will be part of the move to Fort Wayne, Indiana as they plan to build a brand new facility there within the next few years. We are thankful that the location is not too far away to commute, but will miss getting to share lunch together every day as a family.

Rachel graduated from Huntington University in May with her Master’s in Counseling! She has enjoyed the transition into part-time work and spending more quality time at home with Mylin. We are tremendously blessed with her job at Life Matters Counseling, which is a ministry of Youth for Christ. She works two days a week and truly enjoys the opportunity she has to minister to those in our community.

Our little Miss Mylin turned 1 in June! She has continued to surprise and entertain us every day. We love watching her sweet and silly personality develop! Her constant chatter has begun to form into words and even some singing – we say every day how she is just the best thing in the whole world! She’s so fantastic, in fact, that we thought we would ‘duplicate’ her. That’s right; Mylin is going to be a BIG SISTER!!! Just before Mylin turns 2, God-willing, our 2nd child will join the family!

Please stay in touch, letting us know how we can partner with your family in prayer. Through the joyful moments and the difficult decisions, we are so thankful to have family and friends to be vulnerable with and hold us accountable. We would love to be those people for you too!

“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.” Colossians 3:12-17

Joel, Rachel, and Mylin

Worst weekend or Mini vacation?

So this past weekend I was 'sick'
I don't know what was going on...pretty sure it wasn't the flu, but it definitely kept me from doing anything for 48 hours

It all started Friday when Joel surprised me by coming home early to go with my to our doctor's appointment for the baby!
We then went out to eat at Logan's and to see New Year's Eve
Logan's was awesome - and I STUFFED myself
We got some truffles from DeBrand's to eat in the movie and walked around Jefferson Pointe for a few minutes
The movie was fun and cute and feel-good

We went home to a baby-free house (thanks Grandma!) and thought we were going to get a great night's sleep
Not so :(
I woke up at 4:00 with horrible stomach cramps!
This continued on and off for most of the day - keeping me in my pajamas and our bed or on the couch
Joel took care of everything - including all of Mylin's meals, playing, and diapers
It's starting to sound like vacation now, right?!
I know!!!

Anyways, as soon as I would start to feel better, I'd be flat on the floor again growning...
Only for it to mysteriously pass by the time I woke up Monday morning!

While it felt like a waste of a weekend...I did get lots of R&R and literally did not have to do anything I didn't want to - Joel is my hero!
I am so thankful that this happened during the weekend so we didn't have to have extra help and I didn't have to miss (too much) work (I took off part of Monday to continue recouping and not tire myself out!)
Also, Joel left this morning for a work trip (boooooooooo) and we are both so thankful I didn't get sick while he was gone!
I don't know how I would have done it!

So......does it sound like the worst weekend?
Or kind of like a vacation of relaxing with no resposibilities?!

My first Ugly Christmas Sweater party

So last night I was a part of my first ugly Christmas sweater party!
My creation was inspired by this commercial which I laugh at every time I see it :)



So even ghough I didn't win first prize (bummer!) I still got a lot of laughs and had SUCH a great night of fellowship with friends from MomLife!!

And yes, I totally found a sweatshirt at Bargain Hut with a cat on it - then safety pinned our random ice skate ornaments to the cat's feet - I know, I know, it is awesome.

:)

And here's someone who can pull off any look in any season - even a straw summer hat in December!