The Holidays

I am so thankful for so many things.  I am thankful that Jesus sacrificed himself for little old me.  I am thankful for my amazing family and friends who make me laugh and smile EVERYDAY.  I am thankful for my home, my job, and my life in general.

Today, we visited our friends church.  There youngest daughter was being dedicated and we didn't want to miss it.  Satan had other plans.  First, I did not have a good night sleep AT ALL.  Then, Madison woke up and was completely CRANKY.  Nothing was good, everything was bad, yucky morning for Madison.  Then when leaving, it was such a gross and nasty day.  I was determined not to let him take control of time to worship in the house of the Lord.  Needless to say, we made it.  It is actually the church that is in the community in which I teach so I knew most of the people there.  There preacher is actually the brother of my preacher.  It is amazing how similarly they preach.  I also have his daughter in my classroom and have for 2 years so I know them very well.

The dedication was beautiful and we were able to go to lunch together after the service.  All 20 of us!  Madison wouldn't let anyone eat until she prayed, which is hard to do when you have 20 people eating at a buffet.  

When we came home, we put up the Christmas tree, decorated the hall and dining room, and put lights on the front porch.  Madison is SO excited about Christmas this year.  I think that she is truly understanding the reason behind the season as well as the Santa, good girl/bad girl.  She TOTALLY ROCKS!

I pray that you all have a fantastic holiday season.  Please remember that it is so much more than presents (although that is fun).  Be kind to people, even the ones that cut in front of you when driving.  It is so easy to be "on edge" during this time of the year.  Just take a deep breath and smile.

Lots of love to all!

~~Mandy

4. Get Madison back into her bed.

Well, it only took 7 night lights and a "Build-a-Bear" but we successfully got Madison back into her bed. Last night, Andy tucked her in while she was watching Shirley Temple (one of her favorites). I layed down for a couple of minutes when I heard the pitter patter of 4 year old feet down the hallway. I thought, here we go. She came in and said, "Mommy, I am tired". So I told her to turn her TV off and I would come in and tuck her in. She did as I asked and there were no problems. She came back into my room at 7:30 am. I told her to climb up in bed with me. She told me she wasn't tired but ended up sleeping until about 10:00.

Andy and I had her small TV on her changing table and her armoir in the other part of her room (her room is the room that I had as a child . . . it is two bedrooms with an opening between). We moved the changing table out and the armoir in. We took out her small TV and brought up her TV that Santa brought her last year (it had been hooked up in the play room). I pray that tonight goes as smoothly as last night!

She is such a big girl!

If we have another baby, it's room will the the attached second bedroom (to Madison's). We will just put in french doors or something. Madison thought that was a good idea. She said, "That way, when the baby wakes up, I can go take care of it and I will let you sleep". I asked her how she was going to feed the baby and she responded with "A spoon". Well DUH! I explained that Mommy would need to feed it with "Mommy Milk" but there would of course be times when she could help.

I just hope that we will be able to have another baby. We tried 2 summers ago with no success. Maybe we will give it another try this coming summer. Andy and I just want to be in a good place financally. We have some friends that are having babies and are just not in a good place. Andy and I know what needs to happen before we start thinking baby. I just pray for the strength to accomplish what needs to happen so we can try to have another child.

Either way, I am blessed with Madison. She is the light of my life. I pray that if it is the lord's will, we will bel blessed with a second child. I am handing it over the Him. That is a hard thing to do, I am a total control freak!

This turned into a crazy blog. Sorry!

Yeah! Madison slept in her own bed!

List update

32.  Wear jewelry to work everyday.

I used to be really aware of wearing jewelry everyday but got out of the swing of things for a couple of weeks.  Now I am back on track.  Jewelry EVERYDAY!

83.  Have a good cry with a good friend.

Work has been kind of crazy recently.  It all got to me and I started crying to Lauren.  She is such a GREAT friend.  LOVE HER!

Candy or Potato

Madison really enjoyed trick-or-treating this year!  This was the first year we actually visited the neighbors houses instead of just family and friends.  Madison was dressed like a ladybug and Nana came down too!  

The last house we visited, the lady came to the door with 2 baskets.  One was filled with candy, and the other was filled with potatoes.  She asked Madison which one she wanted, and she looked at the woman, and then she looked at Daddy.  She of course chose the candy but laughed all the way down the sidewalk saying "that lady had potatoes"