LOOK WHAT PETE CAN DO!

I am very thankful for a husband who is willing to learn something new in order to save some money!! He put in a backsplash for our kitchen which I love. I also hope that when we plan to sell it sets us apart from the other similar houses in the area. He did such a good job, now we just have to grout :) The before picture is the last.... opps!!

Is Thinking...

I am thinking about stopping blogging. I just don't do it alot and I don't know if it is worth the time or not. Alot of my family doesn't use the computer and those who do see us all the time... just thinking about it. Who knows what will happen :)

I cannot WAIT for 2010!!

Life has been WILD. Pete has been over the road it seems like more then he's been home. While it's hard to have him gone, we are very thankful for the work! He has also been able to see some new places like Canada, Texas and South Carolina. He had a chance to go to Denver yesterday but we passed it up because.... I NEEDED HIM HOME!

I had to have my appendix removed on Christmas Eve. Yes.. more drama to add on to 2009. The baby is ok and I am feeling much better so we have alot to be thankful for. However, I haven't been able to have much pain control because of the pregnancy and I am not able to lift anything over 10lbs or drive. Being the mom of a 1 1/2 year old requires alot of lifting so I've been relying ALOT on family and friends.

The baby has been kicking like crazy and is constantly reminding me that it's still doing good. One out of four babies do not survive the surgery so we are constantly thankful to have this baby in our lives still. Pete came home from South Carolina at 3:30am and took me to the ER at 4:30 am and I was out of surgery at 2pm... so it was a wild Christmas Eve for us!! I came home from the hospital on Christmas and we've been staying with my mom and dad since. Pete has been wonderful. I do not have the words to explain his love for me and my love for him...and how thankful I am to have a husband who shows it to me even when I'm tired, in pain and so very emotional. I am crying all the time, lol.

We are planning on going to WI this weekend for our Christmas with his family.... but I am praying that it's not too much. I am telling myself I'll take it easy, so hopefully I will!! We are just planning on relaxing and giving my parent's a break :) Our plan is to be back to normal on Monday, which will be 10 days after the surgery. I have a doctor's appointment and I will also be able to drive and lift Makenzie again.

That is one of the MANY reasons I cannot WAIT for 2010!!!!

I'M PREGNANT!

I am so happy I can shout it outloud! We are expecting another baby June 10th, 2009. We are sooooo very happy and thankful. I have been sick, tired and crabby but all that is starting to go away now that I am in my 2nd trimester. PRAISE GOD!

Timmy's Latest Visit :)

I love seeing him but it makes me miss him so much more!!! While he was here we celebrated his 4th Birthday, went to the condo in WI to go swimming and see my in-laws, took cousin pictures at JCPenny's, went to the Shedd, went to Catom, and did a few projects/crafts. Makenzie got really sick while he was here so I didn't get to take as many pictures as I would have liked to. HOWEVER, we made the best memories with the two little ones I love so so much. Here are some of the shots I did get...

So much to be thankful for!!

Oh how I love the holidays. It just makes me happy... thinking about the REAL reasons that we have to celebrate. We have a lot to be thankful for and I am keeping that my focus during Thanksgiving. We thank God for our health, our families, our own little family, a roof over our heads, jobs that provide and we enjoy, and mostly for His love and the faith that we have in Him.

THEN, when Christmas rolls around we are making our focus Jesus and not just the food, gifts and fun. Sure, those are all wonderful things... but I don't want to forget what needs to be our focus. There are so many traditions that I really look forward to and we have most planned out which makes me VERY happy!! The Jensens are going to join our yearly downtown day, my dad & I will make the turkey and homemade stuffing for Thanksgiving, we will then go to the Jensens for their dinner, THEN (a new thing)... we are going to SUNDARA overnight to celebrate Lily's graduation, for Christmas we are making Christmas cookies, we have a gift wrapping day to look forward to, cutting down the tree and decorating, decorating the house, taking our Christmas picture... and so much more. It will be fun but it will be refreshing to keep all of it in perspective. While I look forward to these times, I need to keep my eyes on the fact that the picture is SO much bigger then this all.

PS: I'll post about Timmy's trip here soon!!

Enjoying the Fall

The weather is unseasonably cold here, but it is a nice chance to slow down a bit. I am feeling unlike myself in the way that I would rather relax then get something done... but I'm enjoying the freedom from clean floors, organized pictures and all the toys being picked up each night. I don't know how long my little break from my obsessive desire to have everything under control... but I will enjoy it while it lasts! It is nice to enjoy the small things and appreciate that Makenzie is changing every day. I know when I get older and it's just me and Pete at home, I won't think "I wish that the windows would have been cleaner" but rather "I wish I would have spent more time playing." SO, hopefully I have finally got that through my thick skull.

God has been teaching me alot in the last few weeks. After being audited by the IRS for several months, we received word that the audit was over with no penalties and fines. I wasn't worried that we did anything illegal but just stressed over the amount of work it was to provide the auditor with what he needed. Also, you just never know what they are looking for. It is a huge relief to have that over. It is crazy to me that we were audited by the IDOT and IRS in the same year (both things are huge fears for most trucking companies) and that we survived them both without any fines. Praise the Lord. It was also helpful from a spiritual perspective because all my anxiety and fears had to be prayed over and worked through, thankfully with the help of a loving God who desires for us to lay our worries on His back and trust that He is faithful.

Pete is good. He is happy to be in an 18 wheeler more and has even done more road work. Last week he went to AL on the 18 wheeler and loved it. He likes the freedom and the excitement... and I am just thankful he is working! He just spent a day paint balling with Collin, Russ, Brad & Luke. It sounded like they had a great time!! If I get my hands on some of the pictures that Collin took, I'll post them! Since he was gone from 4:30am to 8:00pm, Makenzie and I decided to get out of the house and do some visiting ourselves. We went to breakfast with Rachel and then over to her & Neal's new house to visit before we made our way over to Michelle's house to spend the rest of the day. Mich was dog sitting and Mak LOVED the dog. I really wish we could get a dog for her, but with all of our crazy plans for the future and how much we enjoy throwing everything into the car and heading up north... it just doesn't seem to be the right time. She is learning how to use the "big girl potty" and is so proud of herself. I had no idea how much work an 18 month old is... but I guess it's just one of those things that everyone else laughs when you mention it!