Swashbucklers (October)

1 little monkey jumping on the bed

Christmas Eve Morning

The Elf in action! Brian is FULL of Christmas spirit -and exhibited it by vacuuming the whole house, tidying, and doing a little redecorating. My hero!

Introducing.....The Grinch! Brian's favorite Christmas movie.
All snuggled up to do some serious movie watching.
And a sad little story -my shrinky-dink project. We'll give it another shot tomorrow. I need to keep a better eye on them in the oven. But what fun we'll have!

The Heart of Christmas

Celebration Church paired with several other organizations this season to bring the spirit of Christmas to those in need. The Maldonado family in Weir, TX received home repairs, housewares, furniture, Christmas presents and groceries, but also gave more than they knew. By allowing others, including myself, to bless them through their gifts and talents we all were blessed by serving and loving others. I am so grateful for a chance to truly give this Christmas.

Pajama Playtime

We had a fun morning romp in the studio yesterday. Here are a few photos from our fabulous fun!
This is his working-real-hard face. He's about to do some major climbing.
Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree!

More climbing.
Wilder loves throwing things into the tree -it's rather magical to him seeing them disappear, and it's very entertaining seeing Savannah go nuts trying to find her ball when he pitches it in the branches. Thank goodness for artificial trees. We aren't decorating it completely since it's getting so much "use." Still the 5 ornaments hanging high up and the cheesy tinsel garland do dress it up a bit.
Exploring the floor and snuggling with his #2 favorite, Blue Blanket. Ba, the blue puppy, is still his #1. I think Brian and I rank in the top 10, but not sure where. He has his priorities and since we're not soft and blue we're not quite on top. But that's okay, we snuggle him anyway -no matter how annoyed he gets.

Merry Christmas Eve, Everyone!

Sending our love!

The Christmas Letter

I see an obvious theme to the past year. Turning points. New chapters. Fresh journeys. Beginnings. Brian returned from war, I am pregnant, we'll be exiting active duty in the Army come spring, Uncommon Women started in the fall, my photography business is taking off, we've been growing as a family through memories and precious time together. What a rich year.

I originally started this letter with a laundry list of the most exciting events that occurred, but Brian vetoed it. "If they want to know what we've been up to they can skim the blog, honey." No need to be redundant, I suppose. I appreciate my partner, the Voice of Reason, and his input. So instead of regaling you with a play-by-play of the last year, it would be a joy to share the two things that have been most meaningful.

Family Time. It seems as if Brian was never gone; the time we share together as a family is so stinkin' sweet, so cherished, so valuable that we have amnesia when it comes to the rough separation we endured for a year. I ask Brian time and again, "How can I make home life better for you? Are you happy? How can I meet your needs?" and he always answers, "Just the normal stuff is enough for me. Dinner with my family, time together -nothing extra special. That's special enough for me." Having been without the comfort of home, the pitter-pat (or stomp-and-tromp) of Wilder's feet, the cozy warmth of snuggling up on the couch together, normal family life feels like heaven to him -and having him home is all I could ever want. I love seeing my guys play together, wrestle, snuggle and bond. The way Brian steps in and meets Wilder's needs; he is such an active father, totally devoted to us. It's not uncommon for Brian and I to bust out with a cheer, "I love 'Us'!" Family time is highly coveted in our household and we've never been happier in our lives.

Fresh Beginnings. This category is mainly -okay, rather exclusively- mine, but I had to include it because it has been so significant. After my father passed away in January 2001 I gave up my faith and completely rejected God. Oh, I still believed in his existence, but I felt I could no longer trust his character or the scriptures. It was the classic, "If God is loving, how can he let bad things happen to good people?" I went on my (un)merry way living according to my own desires and rejecting all of the godly principles I was brought up with. It's a heck of a long story, but the point is that this summer I experienced a major change.

I knew that during those years of rejecting God he never left me, but I could not face those questions nor his true character because of the hurt and walls I put up. Finally this June I found myself sitting in my living room faced with reality.

The reality was I had a beautiful home, a beautiful family, a quiet and very enjoyable little life but I felt completely empty. I was pointless, purposeless, living selfishly and I ached for more to live for. I reached out to God, finally opening my heart fully to him and asked him to truly use me, to show me how to live a purposeful life. In that time of searching and submission Uncommon Women was born -a calling to empower women of all ages to be confident, godly, beautiful inside and out while pursuing lives of passion and greater purpose. The organization started up and has been building ever since, but God didn't stop with just the birth of this vision. He took me back to the place where I rejected him nearly a decade ago and healed my very broken spirit.

Having 9 years to grieve the early loss of my dad, I wasn't still holding on to that pain. Instead I was still aching from feeling abandoned by my heavenly Father. It was only a few months ago after an evening church event that I was brought back to that pivotal place where I fully and whole-heartedly rejected God. With arms wide open I embraced him and his true character -the one of an Almighty, Ever Faithful, Always Present Father. The healing that occurred was life-changing. I am at peace; I am confident in my God, his character and his amazing abilities. I am restored. I am whole. I am home.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with swelling.

Psalm 46:1-3

The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

Psalm 18:2

He never promised us a rose garden. Sometimes it seems like we've been handed a briar patch, thick with thorns and hip-deep in weeds. But we can be confident that he never intended us to walk this life alone. We have him, we have others and we have the resources he provided us with at birth -our spunk, spirit and initiative. We may not always succeed, but we must keep trying because giving up is a dead end. How blessed are we that we can hold on to the promises written above and challenge God to amaze us with his faithfulness?

With this new year and all the adventures I know lay ahead I am excited to see what God will do. My goals are to live in daily submission to him, to love my family and others with all my heart, to seek the greater things instead of settling for the good, and to be committed to my relationship with Christ. I feel that Christmas has already happened, the gift of his love drapes my heart -as undeserving as I am of it, I am blessed beyond imagining.

We expect great things for 2010 and so should you. I encourage you to reflect on the past year; as you think forward to this time of new beginnings, what do you want -out of life, out of love, from God, from yourself? Let's reach for those desires and seek to live full lives, ones without regret, ones of wholeness and most importantly, ones of hope and love.

Many, many blessings to you and your families during this beautiful season of promise. May God do wondrous things in your heart today.

Love,

Kelly, Brian, Wilder (& -soon- Waverley)

Waiting for Waverley, or A Pregnant Pause

With the peace and comfort of the season steeping in my heart like a tea bag of holiday cheer, warm and soothing, I am embracing the quietness and also the reality of having a precious baby girl in my arms very soon. Feeling very pregnant and, more often than not, aware of her presence, I can't wait to hold her. 33 1/2 weeks down and maybe only 3 1/2 to go, according to my doctor. Yes, the doctor said Waverley may make her grand appearance as early as 37 weeks with the way things are going. I have another appointment this Thursday where we'll do another ultrasound. That may tell us more, but as you mothers know these babies come on their own time and this is where doctors and weathermen/women have great similarities in their ability to make predictions.

Tonight we had an idyllic moment as a family. Burning log in the fireplace, warm dinner in our bellies, "Polar Express" on and Wiley and I snuggling on the couch while he drank his cup of milk, us warm beneath the blanket in the glow of the fire. The sweet smell of his hair and the warmth of his little body cradled in my arms; Waverley bouncing around inside, already trying to nudge at her brother. I told Brian, "I hope this is what heaven is like. This is perfect."

Many moms have said that as they had more children they wondered if they had enough love or the same kind of overwhelming love for this new baby as they had for their existing children. I've wondered that, too, though I've wondered more if I had enough patience and sanity to handle another one -especially if she's of the same caliber as Wilder. But I do -enough love and the extra dose of patience will surely be there. Realizing this brought so much peace to my heart. It's no longer, "Oh yeah, and I'm pregnant," but "Okay, so when can I hold you?!" Entering the impatient and relatively uncomfortable stage of pregnancy.

I'm glad I have the holidays to help distract me now -and I'm glad that the holidays are about focusing on family and friendships. Those are wonderful distractions. I also anticipate doing a little sewing at the start of the year; I'm anxious to make a few blankets for my little girl.

Dear Waverley, I am overwhelmed with love for you. I am already so proud of the person you are, the person you will become. I cherish you, my precious girl. You already bring me so much joy.

Love,

Mama