Early Christmas surprise

Tonight, we revealed to the kids what their big Christmas present is this year! A PUPPY! Yes, I know we are completely insane to add a puppy to our already busy and chaotic lives but we are also very excited as well. Cate has been asking for a dog now for a long time and was her only request for Santa! We've thought and researched and thought and researched and prayed about this decision. I found a breeder of Goldendoodles in Gastonia with a litter due in December and it just felt like the right fit for us. We couldn't have a puppy on Christmas day due to traveling so this was ideal. We can get through the busy holidays and get settled into the New Year before the pup came home, but reveal and pick the puppy right before Christmas!

Tonight we went to pick out our puppy. We chose to get a boy before they were born and were 2nd in line to pick. The mom had 3 boys (and 6 girls) so we had 2 to choose between. They were both so cute but, as I had prayed, it seemed pretty clear which one we should chose. Don't ask me why...it was just a gut feeling. All the puppys have different colored "collars," and the one we chose has a brown ribbon. After we picked him, we were told he was the first born! So, for now, we are referring to him as "brownie" but a list has already been started by Cate for other names.

Now, we just have to endure the never ending question of, "when can we bring him home?"! While the time will probably go quickly for Jacob and I, it will be a snails pace for Cate. We will just these next 4 weeks to prepare and learn how to train a puppy! Wish us luck:)

You can also see pictures of the puppy we chose on the breeders website. Remember, "brownie" has the brown ribbon collar.

http://www.ridensgoldendoodles.com/photos/html

Click on the "photos" link to see the other pics of puppies from previous litter, growing up, for a preview of what our little guy will look like!

Cate's solo debut

The children led us in worship this morning at church. Cate tried out for one of the solo parts and received one! We are so proud of her and thankful for the love of music God has given this child.

Singing Bears

This morning we headed uptown to see the Singing Bears which we have also done the past few years! Jane Ramsey seemed to be the only one who really enjoyed them, however! She danced and jumped around and was eager to pose for pictures!!

Oh, my...she is cute!! I think she has entered the terrible two's a little early, though! She is VERY opinionated about her clothes and really would prefer not to change them at all. She'll throw herself on the floor, kicking and screaming. She hates to wear a coat which is unfortunate now that the highs are in the 30's. On the other hand, she is such a delight. She lights up the room with her smile, is content to color or play with her babies for good chunks of time, and she is talking more and more. It really is hard for me to believe that she will be 2 in a month. My baby is growing up!

The Big Bad Musical

Cate debuted in her first ever musical Sunday evening as a wolfette in "The Big Bad Musical," the trial of the big bad wolf! She had no speaking lines but was part of several dance numbers. She did great and was so proud, as we were. She has been taking a musical theater class at the Y this semester. This is a new program so this was actually the 1st muscial theater production they have put on and it was very well done! It was uptown in the newest theater venue, The Knight Theater.

This last picture is of Cate with her teacher, the head of the musical theater program as well. They were all given a t-shirt with the program/everyone's name on the back...a great memento. I did take some video which I hope to post soon.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

Today, we headed over to our favorite pumpkin farm, but instead of picking a pumpkin, you got to pick your Christmas tree. We took the hayride decked out with icicle lights to the barn where Santa greeted us in his sleigh. The kids were much more interested in the animals but Cate did sit on his lap. When asked what she wanted for Christmas, she of course replied, "a dog!" Maybe her wish will be granted?!?!? To satisfy her love of little animals, they all fell in love with the baby goat you will see pictured below. He was pretty cute, I must admit.

After the hayride and petting zoo, we found a tree and decorated it tonight! Drew was the most excited and involved with the tree decorating. He perched himself on the step ladder and eagerly asked if he could put up each ornament that one of us picked up! He's our helper for sure.

So the stockings are hung and shopping has started. I really want to relax and enjoy this Christmas season but I do feel a little bit overwhelmed with December's activities already. We hope to recognize and honor the advent season despite our business, though.

Snapshots from Thanksgiving

I Have to Believe

I have to believe that He sees my darkness.
I have to believe He knows my pain.
I have to lift up my hands to worship
Worship His name.

I have to declare that He is my refuge.
I have to deny that I am alone.
I have to lift up my eyes to the mountain
It's where my help comes from.

He said that He's forever faithful, He said that He's forever true.
He said that He can move mountains;
If he can move mountains, He can move my mountain
He can move your mountian, too.

Oh, I have to stand tall,
When the wind blows me over.
I have to stand strong,
When I'm weak and afraid.
I have to GRAB HOLD of the garments,
The garments of praise.

I have to sing praise
When the hour is midnight.
He unlocks these chains
That bind up my soul.
My sin and my shame, He has forgiven
And made me whole.

He said that He's forever faithful, He said that He's forever true.
He said that He can move mountains;
If He can move mountains, He can move my mountain,
He can move your mountain, too.

I wish you hear this song that we sang at church on Sunday and what I am clinging to right now. It has been a rough week and a clear reminder of how this world we live in is broken and the things that I like to comfort myself with (my earthly possessions) are going to fail me. It seems to be one thing after another...broken shower pan, broken garage door, car that won't start several times a week, a beg bug scare (but none the less, carpet beetles in our home). Cha-ching, Cha-ching, Cha-ching. It is overwhelming.

But, I know that my God is faithful and while these trials are hard, I know that it is through these trials that my faith is strengthened. God will provide and continue to take care of us. I feel the love and support of our church and neighorhood community...living as God intended for us to live...caring for each other.

I love the mental images of "grabbing hold of the garments, the garments of praise." I feel like I am desparetely holding on the the garments of Christ and holding onto Him right now with all my might. He is the ONLY way I have been able to have the strength I've needed for this week. I need to live this way daily, however, whether good or bad times.

I do have SO much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. For our health, for our home, for Jacob's job, for our family and friends...not to be cliche....I am truly thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Blowing Rock

On our way home, we stopped by "the" Blowing Rock. We'd never been before, nor knew the legend behind it. I won't try to tell you the story because my memory is terrible but I do know that the wind blows up there. So when it snows, the looks like it is snowing upside down! You can kind of see our hair blowing up in our family picture above. It certainly lived up to its "blowing" name, though, as it was quite windy. It was a fun way to end our weekend in the mountains. We then had to head home so we could trick-or-treat!

Tweetsie

Thanks to a neighbor, we were able to go to Tweetsie for free! Although it was quite cold and windy, the kids had a blast. They all enjoyed sitting on the horses, riding the kiddie rides, kiddie train, and chair lift!

Cate vividly remembers the big train ride from our last visit 2 1/2 years ago and would not step foot on the train again. So Jacob took Drew and Jane Ramsey, thinking Drew would love to see the cowboys and Indians. Well, he wasn't a huge fan of the "popping" (gun shots) and Jane Ramsey fell asleep in Jacob's lap during the shoot out. I guess we pushed her naptime a little too long! Overall, it was a fun family outing though!

Little Cabin in the woods

Halloween weekend took advantage of Cate's Friday teacher workday and headed to the mountains. I found this very authentic and rustic cabin to stay in! I'd love to hear the history and stories that accompany this cabin because there certainly are some.

Saturday we went to Tweetsie and the kids had a blast and Sunday we went to the actual Blowing Rock. I'll post some pictures soon.

Fall

We are finally starting to feel the cooler temps of autumn. We've had a busy fall so far with Halloween, a trip to the mountains and Tweetsie railroad, a weekend with the Hildebrands, and our regular weekday activites.

The kids enjoyed playing in the leaves one afternoon, Drew especially!