It's precisely midnight on the East Coast... which means it's 10pm here. STILL! 2014 is looking good, even if 2013 wasn't all that bad. Here are my favorite moments via Instagram/Flipagram from 2013.



I know... it goes fast and there are a lot of them, but it was really hard to narrow it down!

Do you have any resolutions for 2014? I decided this year I'm just going to go with it. I have a lot I want to accomplish, but always putting pressure on the year seems to make it, well, stressful. I don't want to do that this year. So, here's to making this year one of the best, least-stressful years!

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! We had such a wonderful day full of family and fun. I will make sure to share details with you very soon. At the moment, we are on the road once more headed for our new home. Please keep our travels and moving process in your prayers!

Two years ago we spent Christmas with my family in Kansas, their previous home. It was also the year that Michael was baptized, and the first time the cousins were together since they were born. It was such an exciting experience, and it definitely ignited the desire to make sure Maile and Michael (and any future littles) grow up close so that they can be the best of friends.



I'm biased, and I love spending Christmas with my family, but I have a feeling upcoming years may get more and more complicated and it won't always be the same. But, like many say, home is where the heart is-- and that's what I always make sure to keep in mind.

Boy has it been a week. Not only is our move in full swing, but we faced some serious challenges earlier in the week. Do you ever feel like you're making the right decision, and then everything comes crashing in and you wonder what the heck you were thinking?

No... we haven't been feeling that way at all... I was just curious, that's all! HA!

Dear Weather, Please keep for us while we make our way across the Midwest. Having spent many winters in that part of the country, I know what it can be like. Hauling a trailer, a toddler, a dog, and a cat that way is intimidating. Please, PLEASE don't have any blizzards on our route.

Dear Clark, I am so very blessed to have you as my better half. Not only did you surprise me with the best Christmas present/ last NC date imaginable, but you have kept your patience with all the frustrations of moving and with me, as I have no been patient at all. Thank you for supporting your family with your entire person. You don't just support us financially, but spiritually and emotionally. I'm just so blessed to have you. Oh, and by the way, HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY! (Tomorrow he's the big 2-5, haha.)

Dear NC Friends, I am currently still in state, but in just two days we set out into the "unknown". Those of you we left behind in the Asheville area, I already miss you.

Dear Christmas, I'M SO EXCITED! Michael is going to have a blast being with his cousin Maile, aunts, and maternal grandparents this year. I just can't wait. Plus, we're spoiled, because we're having Christmas with the in-laws today.

Things to look forward to:

2010 was the year we spent Christmas with Clark's family. We always tend to do Thanksgiving with them, Christmas with mine. This was because my family has always been the farthest away and Christmas is ALWAYS the time of year we have the most time to go somewhere.

But, in 2010, my family was about the same distance from us as Clark's... so we switched it up. Thanksgiving was with my parents, and Christmas was with his.


Their traditions weren't quite what I was used to, but it was so much fun to spend it with them. I think we've finally decided that after a little recovery time, holidays will be switched every other year. How do you divide holidays with your families?

This has been a busy week. We've been trying to squeeze in time with as many people as possible. Moving across the country means, of course, that people suddenly want to see you as much as possible. I'm not complaining. I feel so incredibly blessed and loved, and with that comes the sadness of leaving all our friends behind. That's not to say we won't be in touch or stay close, but you know what I mean.



Dear December, You didn't exactly listen to my plea of taking your time. We are leaving in six days. Please stay calm and let us miss all the bad weather when we hit the road through the Midwest. We are prepared, of course, for the worst... but we'd really love for it not to come to that.

Dear House, You are a mess, and for once it's ok. All the boxes are piling up and it's hard to figure out what to pack and what to keep out. Be patient with us as we empty you out. And, if we're being honest, I may miss our home but I don't think I will miss you all that much.

Dear Readers, Please watch the video below. Maybe it seems small, but it made me bawl. This time of year is the time to remember how helping and giving to people, big or small, can mean so much. After all, God gave his only son to us so we may know true grace. We received the best gift of all, so shouldn't that inspire us to give to others in any way we can?



Have a happy weekend! Less than two weeks to Christmas!

Things to come:

White Chocolate Chex Mix

Be Our Guest: Breaking Out of the Bubble, a special post from ShaCarol

When Clark and I were first married, my parents were stationed in Germany. It was like a fairy tale getting to spend our first two Christmases overseas in a place where Christmas is taken very seriously.


Now whenever Christmas time comes around, we can't help but miss it. We always think of the Christmas markets, the hot apfelwein, and all the glorious food. Some day we hope to take Michael to experience it, because it's house most of our Christmas traditions began.

Do you have somewhere you visit every year for Christmas, or have visited and it always makes you think of the holidays?

It's the end of the first week of December. That's a scary thought. I'm SO excited for this weekend, though, because my friend Nikki is coming to visit! You may know her as Mrs. Healthy Ever After. It was a bit impromptu. We've been hoping for weeks for a visit and it finally came down to the wire since, ya know, we're moving in THIRTEEN DAYS. I can't hide how THRILLED I am that she's coming to spend time with me and little man!



Dear Michael, The more you do, the bigger you get, the funnier things I catch you doing, the more trouble you find yourself in, the more I love you. This week Mama has been flying high on stress and you are my reminder to slow down. It's especially sweet when you start singing, "Jesus Loves Me" to cheer me up. I am especially grateful that you've been a good sleeper this week.

Dear Friends, If you want to see me (if you're local), please don't hesitate to send me an email or text or give me a call about getting together. My priority is my friends, even if it should be packing up our place. Boxes can wait for those I love the most! I know... big sacrifice, right ;)?

Dear Women's Bible Study, Words cannot express how I'm feeling. The fact that next week is our Christmas party and my last time with all of you is, well, depressing. I know God has a plan and that I will find another church home, but y'all are just so near and dear to my heart. Thank you so much for taking me in and helping me grow closer our Heavenly Father even more.

Things to look forward to!:


The Polar Express

Hot Chocolate Brownies

'Tis the Season #TBT: Germany

The holidays were really a time of tradition for my family, and still are. Christmas always involved the Advent Wreath, lots of singing, and lots of baking. One of my favorite memories is the picture above from 2006. It was the Christmas my sister and my now brother-in-law were first engaged, my great uncle was visiting, and was actually around the time Clark and I started dating.

This time of year I start to miss them all more and more. Living far from my family isn't easy at all. I'm thankful that in Phoenix we will be closer to my sister and her family, and my parents can come from the opposite direction and we can all sort of meet in the middle if we want to. But since we are moving over Christmas, we will be stopping at my parents' for the holiday and you can bet we will all be singing Christmas carols.

What are your favorite Christmas traditions?

I hope you all are hung over from a wonderful day of family and turkey, or whatever traditional foods you may eat! We had a rather last-minute, make-shift Thanksgiving, but it was truly wonderful.

I'm so excited for later today. A train in the area does The Polar Express experience and we're taking Michael! It's to kickstart our Christmas season officially with some amazing quality time. Michael is going to L-O-V-E it. He's been all about The Polar Express and trains in general. I can't wait to see his face!


Dear Snow, Thank you, thank you for coming to our little mountain town Wednesday! It was so wonderful to get out in the early morning and play in our PJs. Michael had such a blast, and I didn't mind so much staying out there until I couldn't feel my fingers or nose. He clearly didn't, either.

Dear Thanksgiving, You were wonderful. Sometimes I think the true reason of being thankful gets lost on people in the hustle and bustle of cooking, preparing, and all that jazz. But, I must admit, you really are in my top three favorite holidays. I'm so thankful we were able to make you extra special, regardless of surprises.

Dear December, Please crawl. CRAWL. I do not want you to come speeding up and pass us by before we are ready. Just... take your time. I love this time of year, and I'd love it even more if you took your time so I could soak you in just a little bit more.

Things to look forward to:

Gingerbread Cookies

'Tis the Season #TBT

The idea for this post came from Ashley over at The Sweet Season.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
I hope you are spending today with people you love and remembering to give thanks for all the amazing blessings in your life!

Today, and ever day, I am so thankful for my entire family. I have been so blessed in my life to have a family that is close-knit and supports each other through thick and thin, even if we don't always agree. My parents and sisters are my best friends, without whom I can't imagine my world being complete.

Many people don't have a family that's close. The communication can be thin, people let personal vendettas get in the way of things... but no matter what, my family pulls through.






Yep. I'm blessed. Don't forget to let those around you know just how thankful you are for them!

A little change from the typical since I missed Friday this week. Once again we've had a little glitch in what we thought we had planned, and we're having to lean on God and know He's leading us in the right direction. But let me tell you friends, I'm struggling. I keep feeling like we have the carpet pulled from under us. It would be nice for a little more stability. I know this is what God offers if we put our faith and trust in Him, and that's really what I'm working on. I guess when things don't go the way I thought they were, the sand shifts and I'm not always standing on the solid rock I thought I had my feet planted on. At least I know I have a loving God and forgiveness for my humanity through Jesus Christ!

"For I know the plans for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -Jeremiah 29:11


Dear Michael, Thank you for being patient with me as we both recover from being sick this week. I know you were on the mend a lot quicker, but you definitely took care of poor Mama while my sickness dragged a few days past yours. I'm planning a week of fun and playdates to make up for this past one of picnics and too much TV time. I'm thankful you enjoy quiet crafts these days as much as you enjoy romping around in the leaves and cold. Well... almost as much... right?


Dear November, How is it you're more than halfway through and it's nearly Thanksgiving already? 2013 is flying by and I'd appreciate it if you'd slow down just a little bit so the holidays can seem a little less crazy and I can feel like I know what I'm doing as December approaches.

Here's what you have to look forward to :) :

Cara Box Reveal

[Cranberry-Chocolate] Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

Crockpot Beef and Broccoli

Thankful Thursday: My Boys
The idea for this post came from Ashley over at The Sweet Season.

Let's just start this thing, shall we?

Dear Daylight Saving Time, I used to love "falling back" and never understand why anyone could think poorly of you. But now I know. You completely throw off children's schedules and make it extraordinarily hard for parents. I need you to please find a way to work this out so next year Michael doesn't wake up so early. Today we successfully slept until five... which felt like sleeping in after five days of getting up at four.

Dear Thanksgiving, I must admit I'm so ready for you. I love everything about you, and this year we get to spend you with some dear friends who we haven't seen in about six months. Turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, pumpkin pie... even if these traditional (favorite) foods aren't on the menu, I know you're going to be so wonderfully spent because our family will be together and we'll be with people we love. So... I don't mind if the rest of the month goes a little faster so we can enjoy you.

Dear Cold [Weather], I'm so excited for sweaters, fuzzy boots, gloves, hats, and more. Thank you for getting cold gradually and letting us enjoy the outdoors. Be patient with me when it gets really cold and Michael wants to keep playing, and please let all the sunrises be as pretty as they've been lately (although I wouldn't mind missing a few for more sleep).

Things to look forward to...

Crock Pot Teriyaki Chicken

White Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Blondies

Thankful Thursday: Church Home

The idea for this post came from Ashley over at The Sweet Season.