what is to come

In case you're wondering, here are some of my 'resolutions' for 2010:

• learn to sew (courtesy my new Singer)
• read a ton of books (my list is already large but I'm always open for suggestions!
• pray for Emery every day (hoping this calendar keeps me accountable)
• read my Bible every day
• lose weight (original, I know)
• be nicer to my husband
• be more intentional about staying in touch with people
• invite more people over (I should clarify by saying more variety)
• change-up my menu--I want to try new things this year and buy more fresh ingredients!

What are your plans for 2010??

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2009: A Recap

This year I kept a calendar on our refrigerator which may have been one of the best decisions of the year. It started out as a simple meal-planning calendar but I ended up using it to record all our goings-on for the year. I am so glad to have this now since it's hard to think back on a whole year and remember what we've done! Plus, it's handy to refer back to when I'm feeling uninspired for dinner yet again. I also enjoy looking back to see dinners crossed off with 'Date Night!' because that means we were able to have a last-minute date (yes!). It also means we have awesome friends and family who watch Emery to make those dates possible (thanks, guys!)
Here are a few highlights from 2009:
Trips: 1 trip to Nashville; 1 trip to Gatlinburg (we were big fans of Tennessee this year!)
Meals at home: 210! The other 155 were either eating out (probably at Don Pants) or at family/friend's places!
Books read: 63
Jeopardy total: positive $9400! yes!
Movies watched: turns out, I didn't keep track but we've watched a whole lot. We love movies!
Diapers changed: also, didn't keep track because that would be depressing!
Personal Highlights:
Emery: walking and climbing. try to stop her now!
Amanda: personal growth. I've learned a lot about who I am and who I want to be. I'm looking forward to how this is going to work out in my daily life from here out.
Nolan: "having our little girl love me." He said there's nothing better than when he comes home from work and she runs to hug his legs and yells, "Dada!". (Seriously, those were his words!)


In 2009 we witnessed four couples begin new lives together; celebrated several sweet babies entering the world, and sadly said goodbye to a wonderful, caring woman. Each year brings some sad and a lot of good. I am excited to see what 2010 will bring. That's my favorite part of starting a new year: fresh potential!

What was your year like? What are you looking forward to most in the coming year?

So I know I said I wasn't going to be able to add anything before Christmas but I found some time! These pictures are from an impromptu lunch with Nolan in Tremont. Emery and I decided to visit him at work and go out to eat as a family before our hectic Christmas schedule started. Aren't Nolan & Emery awesome?! (and adorable!)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Merry Monday!

Only 4 more days til Christmas! I'm psyched! My family is heading over to spend the week with us starting tomorrow. I love when we're all together even though we don't have rooms for everyone just yet and we'll be a bit cramped. All will be well because we're going to be making a lot of delicious food, playing fun games, and opening presents! I know I'm 24 now but I still get excited about opening presents! I love surprises! Since my fam will be staying in the 'office' room I don't know how often I'll be able to update the blog so I'll be saying Merry Christmas to all of you now! I thought I'd also add lyrics of a song we do not miss every year! Hope you all have a Merry Christmas and I'll be looking forward to updating with pictures!

Bless us All who gather here

The loving family I hold dear.

No place on Earth, compares to home

And every path will bring me back from where I roam.

Bless us all, that as we live

We always comfort and forgive

We have so much that we can share

With those in need we see around us everywhere

Let us always love each other

Lead us toward the light

Let us hear the voice of reason

Singing in the night

Bless us all with playful years,

With noisy games and joyous tears,

We reach for you, and we stand tall

And in our prayers and dreams we ask you bless us all.

Anyone know where that comes from? Ried's don't get to guess. Merry Christmas!

thursday thoughts

So I've started a new post about 5 or 6 different times in my head this past week but never got around to writing them out. I decided instead of writing a long 'serious' post about one subject, I'd write little blurbs about all the things I almost started writing about..or things that are just taking up space in my brain. Here goes:

• Em is getting really old. She talks a lot and has her own sassy personality. She now realizes I'm not the only one that can entertain her during our days so she's constantly asking for: Elmo, Abby, Barney, or a cookie.
• I've always enjoyed names. Right now I keep pondering Emmanuel. It's probably my favorite name to describe God. Emmanuel=God with us. What a comfort! As a sidenote, I'm not thinking about it as a child's name; however, I am thinking of 100 others because I have baby fever. Don't tell Nolan (I already did).
• Peace. At first I was thinking on a large scale what a great blessing Peace will be when Christ comes again. Nations will no longer be fighting each other and the world will be at peace. Just imagine that.What a great relief. I also long for the days when life won't be so hard and everyone can be in perfect relationships with each other. I can see everyone taking a deep sigh of relief and a burden being lifted from us.
• My sister and I are going to start a women's Bible study beginning in February discussing The New Eve by Robert Lewis. I love listening to her vision for teaching and I am excited to be next to her in this endeavor. It's so great because that book came into my life by 'chance.' We were on vacation in TN with my fam and we visited a bookstore (of course). I was browsing and saw the title of the book and the author's name. My first thought was, "What business does a man have writing a book for women? If he's going to tell me how to be a woman or stay in the kitchen, I'm going to throw his book!" When I picked up the book and opened the front cover the flap said, "I know what you're thinking, how can a man be writing a book about women?". I thought, " I AM! I am thinking that!" Naturally, I had to read-on. Turns out, the book is awesome and helps define a Biblical description of womanhood and now Shan & I are going to be sharing his insights with the women in our church. I hope it resonates with them and changes their lives like it has mine.
• Speaking of 'chance' I'm also reading Silas Marner by George Eliot and she wrote a great quote: "Favourable Chance, I fancy, is a god of all men who follow their own devices instead of obeying a law they believe in...The evil principle deprecated in that religion is the orderly sequence by which the seed brings forth a crop after its kind." So good, right? I love finding different ways of saying, 'you reap what you sow' because it is Truth.
• Another quote I found recently and love: "The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches, but to reveal to him his own" -Benjamin Disraeli. Add that to my parenting mantra!
• I would really appreciate some snow. I'm trying to get into the Christmas spirit. Really, I am. We watched part of The Grinch tonight (cartoon style), I've wrapped presents, our tree has been up since Thanksgiving, we actually hung the garland this year, I've been drinking hot chocolate at least once a day, Shan is getting me some boots tomorrow, Em has all her snow gear, I'm thinking about peace...I mean, how much more do I need to do?! I need snow! Please. I plan to make paper snowflakes with Emery tomorrow in hopes that it encourages the real snowflakes to feel welcome at our home!

I hope you all have had a wonderful Thursday and will have an even better Friday!

thursday treat

A trip to Aldi in 15 degree weather to get 1 tsp. of vanilla extract and 2 cups of flour. That's all I was missing. I mean, of course I bought the whole bottle and bag but I was barely short of materials. Plus, I had to drag my adorable toddler in all her snow-gear glory. She kicked off her boots and gloves countless amounts of times. On top of that, when I got to the checkout I realized my debit card was in the diaper bag. In the car. I had to step out of line (after someone was nice enough to let me pass since I only had 3 items and they had a cart-full); grab Em and run out to the car (15 degrees, remember) and then back into the store. All so I grant Nolan's request for chocolate chip cookies. He's worth it though!

Plus, Emery and I had a mommy-daughter bonding moment while making the cookies! I can't wait to actually bake things with her and she's a help rather than an added distraction. She's so adorable that I don't mind it. I mentally prepared for a kitchen disaster but she was actually pretty calm and clean--I was so proud! She poured in the vanilla, the sugar and ate some of the chocolate chips--trying to keep the cookie-to-chip ratio in order. In the midst of baking I was able to capture a few moments. Enjoy the photos while we enjoy our cookies!

Mommy's little helper

chocolate!

"i'm just counting them, Mom"

I don't even pose her this way! It's her natural reaction to 'no'. Love it!

Mom caved!

schedules

I have to say, I love Emery's new schedule. It goes something like this: Bed anywhere from 8-8:30 (normally goes down just fine). Wake up: anywhere from 8:30-9:30 (except today was 10! yeah 10!!). Nap around 1 or 1:30 and in dreamland for at least 2 hours! What a great schedule! It fits perfectly into our lifestyle (or at least the lifestyle I enjoy at home.) Those two hours in the afternoon=letting me do whatever I want. Today that included sobbing over this; browsing this and then watching Ellen. Thanks, Nie. Thanks, Ellen. Thanks, Beks and Thanks, Nolan for showing me how to do links. Now, off for some time with the hubs! (since I don't have to get up early!)