"She's a tiny dancer, she's a miracle girl, she's got a smile just like sunshine, that lights up the world."
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Merry Christmas!
I cannot believe another Christmas has come and gone! Avery was a lot of fun this year, and we've really enjoyed watching her opening gifts and having fun with her new things. More than anything, however, we've just been so thankful and appreciative of how healthy and vibrant she is this year. We were lucky enough to get to see my brother, nephew, and Jake's sister and nieces from out of town this year, and as always, spend time with the rest of our family on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I feel especially blessed this year, and I am so thankful for not only my family and friends, but more importantly Jesus, who gave it all for me. He never ceases to amaze me, and I can't imagine a life without Him! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, and makes the most of the New Year to come!
Christmas Eve
Avery and all of her cousins: Izzy, Emily, Lilly, and Kali
In her PJ's, ready for Santa!
Christmas Day!
Santa Came!
Avery loves her new kitchen!
Hat and Apron compliments of Mrs. Linda Turner
Mommy and Daddy's Present...sweet love!
Christmas Day at GG and Papaw's in Vicksburg
Avery and her cousin, Cooper, on his 1st Christmas
Enjoying her new chair with her new friend, Scout!
Christmas Eve
Avery and all of her cousins: Izzy, Emily, Lilly, and Kali
In her PJ's, ready for Santa!
Christmas Day!
Santa Came!
Avery loves her new kitchen!
Hat and Apron compliments of Mrs. Linda Turner
Mommy and Daddy's Present...sweet love!
Christmas Day at GG and Papaw's in Vicksburg
Avery and her cousin, Cooper, on his 1st Christmas
Enjoying her new chair with her new friend, Scout!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Happy Anniversary!
Today is Jake's and my 4 year anniversary- I cannot believe it's been 4 years. We spent Monday and Tuesday on the coast at the IP and it was very nice. I had a few melt-downs prior to leaving Avery, but once we were there, I only got weepy-eyed a few times. She had a great time at Grammy's, and even learned a new word, "cow." Our room was really nice and roomy, and had a pretty view of the bay. Mrs. Connie sent a nice bottle of champagne along with some delicious chocolate covered strawberries (my favorite) to us on the first night, which was so throughtful. We ate fantastic food, were able to go see a movie for the first time in about 2 years, and indulged in a couples massage at the spa! Needless to say, we had a good time! I am very thankful to have such a loving, caring, good-hearted husband. He helps me with everything, and is always there when I need him. Not to mention, he is one awesome dad! He's everything I hope for my daughter to have in a husband one day, so that's saying a lot! Here's to a wonderful 4 years with many more to come! Happy Anniversary Jake!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Christmas Break!!
Oh my, so many things going on this week, and so much to be thankful for! My wonderful husband, who I am so very proud of, graduated with his Master's degree from Mississippi College last night. It has been a long time coming, and honestly, I don't know how he didn't give up after all we went through with my pregnancy and Avery's circumstances while working full-time. Thankfully, we have lots of love and support from family and friends, so that helped A LOT! Today, my older brother, Mike, is coming in from Texas with my sweet nephew, Jener. I hate I won't get to spend much time with them because we'd already planned a trip out of town, but will make the most of what we have! I haven't seen them in months, so am glad I get to visit with them before Christmas! On Monday, Jake and I will be leaving Avery for 2 nights to head to the coast. I know she will be fine, I just hope that I do ok! She is now 18 months old, so it is time, I guess, to spend a few nights apart. With Jake graduating and our 4th anniversary coming up next week, we needed to do something fun. A mother of one of Jake's players is graciously getting us reduced rates and comps to stay at a casino/hotel she runs, so that made it very difficult to say no! I am so glad to have the next two weeks off, and am thrilled that we are in a much better place than we were last year at this time with Avery. I plan to spend lots of QT with her and Jake, and fully enjoy this Christmas! I know it will be a lot of fun watching Avery open gifts this year, and discover what Santa leaves out for her! She is such a mess, and really funny these days! I am afraid she loves attention, and she cuts up, just like another Bell I know...Jake! So it seems there is much to look forward to in the next week or so! I hope everyone truly has a wonderful Christmas and New Year! Please remember to pray for those I have posted on the Cross Healed Hearts site and FB page when you can. Just one prayer does more than you can ever imagine for another's circumstances! God bless, Megan
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
I am more!
I often feel like God speaks to me through music, and since my pregnancy, I really feel like he uses Tenth Avenue North a lot, lol! "Don't you know who you are, what's been done for you?" I tend to beat myself up at times, and it's just something I need to hear. I am more than the choices that I've made, the sum of my past mistakes, and the problems that I create because I've been remade. God loves me in my imperfection, and in spite of all the wrong I have done. Thankfully, I am on a much brighter path at this point in my life, and I try a lot harder to be who God created me to be, but there are so many moments that I fail him (sooo many), and there are so many moments that I am ashamed of the past and dissatisfied with who I am in the present. Hearing those words reassures me that he may be disappointed, hurt, or just flat out angry with me, but he will never leave or forsake me. So the next time you begin to feel worthless or down and out, remember, "don't you know who you are, and what has been done for you?" John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." That is what has been done for us all, and if that won't lift your spirits, I don't know what will!
You are More- Lyrics by Tenth Avenue North
There's a girl in the corner
With tear stains on her eyes
From the places she's wandered
And the shame she can't hide
She says, "How did I get here?
I'm not who I once was.
And I'm crippled by the fear
That I've fallen too far to love"
But don't you know who you are,
What's been done for you?
Yeah don't you know who you are?
You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.
Well she tries to believe it
That she's been given new life
But she can't shake the feeling
That it's not true tonight
She knows all the answers
And she's rehearsed all the lines
And so she'll try to do better
But then she's too weak to try
But don't you know who you are?
You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.
You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.
'Cause this is not about what you've done,
But what's been done for you.
This is not about where you've been,
But where your brokenness brings you to
This is not about what you feel,
But what He felt to forgive you,
And what He felt to make you loved.
You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.
You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.
You've been remade
You've been remade.
You've been remade.
You've been remade.
You are More- Lyrics by Tenth Avenue North
There's a girl in the corner
With tear stains on her eyes
From the places she's wandered
And the shame she can't hide
She says, "How did I get here?
I'm not who I once was.
And I'm crippled by the fear
That I've fallen too far to love"
But don't you know who you are,
What's been done for you?
Yeah don't you know who you are?
You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.
Well she tries to believe it
That she's been given new life
But she can't shake the feeling
That it's not true tonight
She knows all the answers
And she's rehearsed all the lines
And so she'll try to do better
But then she's too weak to try
But don't you know who you are?
You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.
You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.
'Cause this is not about what you've done,
But what's been done for you.
This is not about where you've been,
But where your brokenness brings you to
This is not about what you feel,
But what He felt to forgive you,
And what He felt to make you loved.
You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.
You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.
You've been remade
You've been remade.
You've been remade.
You've been remade.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Oh, how time flies...
Christmas 2009:
Avery has grown and changed sooo much in the last year! I love looking back at her pictures, but it makes me sad at the same time! Thankfully, she is in much better shape, health-wise, for the holidays this year. She is so full of life, and we are so very thankful! Last year, I asked my dad to build an Advent tree (found a pic in Pottery Barn), so I could count down the days until Christmas as a tradition with her. There are, of course, 25 days numbered on small doors that open where you can stick small items each day. I decided since Avery is small this year, to just put a little chocolate candy in the compartment each day- did I mention she loves chocolate??? Any way, she's been opening and closing the doors since I put it out, playing with it. On Dec. 1, I snuck a Reese's cup behind door #1 and lead her to open the door. She thoroughly enjoyed the treat as you can imagine. The funny thing is that ever since Dec. 1, she has been going to the Advent tree at almost exactly the same time every day looking for her treat! She opens the door, then begins to point and stamp her foot impatiently saying "uh-uh!" Once we open the door for that day, and she gets her chocolate, she is one happy little woman!
We decided, for 2 reasons, to just do a small, 4ft tree, on the table this year. Reason 1 is that we actually have our house on the market, and didn't want to move the furniture around, etc., and reason 2 is that we have an 18 month old and were scared to death she'd pull the tree over multiple times by the time Christmas rolled around this year! Did I mention Avery is into everything, lol? Any way, her baby-sitter told me that she heard the rustling of paper the other day in her living room, and when she looked up, Avery was completely under her tree on all fours, pushing a gift across the floor trying to get behind the tree. When the sitter said "Avery," the little munchkin looked at her, smiled, sat on her bottom and patted the present like, "I just thought it looked better in this spot, Nell-Nell." I do have to admit that I really miss having the big tree up, but I keep telling myself that I can wait until next year.
A few more Avery-tales...
"Didn't Mommy tell you that it's rude to point?"
Jake was working on his laptop in his recliner for school a week or so ago, when Avery tried (and succeeded a time or two) to tap on the key board. Since he was in the middle of typing, and didn't want her to delete something, he pointed at her and said, "No Ma'am!" Avery retaliated by biting him on the very finger he was pointing in her tiny face! I have to give it to her, Daddy and "no" isn't very believable due to the fact that she doesn't hear the word from him very often. ;)
"My name is Avery, and I like to dance!"
Avery's newest dance moves resemble a pretty cool spin move similar to one dubbed "the helicopter," a swaying motion, spinning in circles, and holding both hands over her head then dropping them down to her feet. At times, she is busting a move so hard, that she literally bust it on the floor, lol!
"They say red-heads have tempers."
Avery has always had a flair for the dramatic, but lately, she has become quite the actress. When she is rather unhappy, she begins her scene by flapping her hands. If you are holding her, she begins to arch her back making it very difficult to hold her. When you put her down, she throws her head back, screaming at the top of her lungs with her eyes closed. She really gets into her part when she lays out on the floor face down. After a little time has passed, she begins to roll all over the floor, and may even crawl across it. She always makes sure to non-chalantly look over at mommy and daddy to be sure we are watching her.
Avery has grown and changed sooo much in the last year! I love looking back at her pictures, but it makes me sad at the same time! Thankfully, she is in much better shape, health-wise, for the holidays this year. She is so full of life, and we are so very thankful! Last year, I asked my dad to build an Advent tree (found a pic in Pottery Barn), so I could count down the days until Christmas as a tradition with her. There are, of course, 25 days numbered on small doors that open where you can stick small items each day. I decided since Avery is small this year, to just put a little chocolate candy in the compartment each day- did I mention she loves chocolate??? Any way, she's been opening and closing the doors since I put it out, playing with it. On Dec. 1, I snuck a Reese's cup behind door #1 and lead her to open the door. She thoroughly enjoyed the treat as you can imagine. The funny thing is that ever since Dec. 1, she has been going to the Advent tree at almost exactly the same time every day looking for her treat! She opens the door, then begins to point and stamp her foot impatiently saying "uh-uh!" Once we open the door for that day, and she gets her chocolate, she is one happy little woman!
We decided, for 2 reasons, to just do a small, 4ft tree, on the table this year. Reason 1 is that we actually have our house on the market, and didn't want to move the furniture around, etc., and reason 2 is that we have an 18 month old and were scared to death she'd pull the tree over multiple times by the time Christmas rolled around this year! Did I mention Avery is into everything, lol? Any way, her baby-sitter told me that she heard the rustling of paper the other day in her living room, and when she looked up, Avery was completely under her tree on all fours, pushing a gift across the floor trying to get behind the tree. When the sitter said "Avery," the little munchkin looked at her, smiled, sat on her bottom and patted the present like, "I just thought it looked better in this spot, Nell-Nell." I do have to admit that I really miss having the big tree up, but I keep telling myself that I can wait until next year.
A few more Avery-tales...
"Didn't Mommy tell you that it's rude to point?"
Jake was working on his laptop in his recliner for school a week or so ago, when Avery tried (and succeeded a time or two) to tap on the key board. Since he was in the middle of typing, and didn't want her to delete something, he pointed at her and said, "No Ma'am!" Avery retaliated by biting him on the very finger he was pointing in her tiny face! I have to give it to her, Daddy and "no" isn't very believable due to the fact that she doesn't hear the word from him very often. ;)
"My name is Avery, and I like to dance!"
Avery's newest dance moves resemble a pretty cool spin move similar to one dubbed "the helicopter," a swaying motion, spinning in circles, and holding both hands over her head then dropping them down to her feet. At times, she is busting a move so hard, that she literally bust it on the floor, lol!
"They say red-heads have tempers."
Avery has always had a flair for the dramatic, but lately, she has become quite the actress. When she is rather unhappy, she begins her scene by flapping her hands. If you are holding her, she begins to arch her back making it very difficult to hold her. When you put her down, she throws her head back, screaming at the top of her lungs with her eyes closed. She really gets into her part when she lays out on the floor face down. After a little time has passed, she begins to roll all over the floor, and may even crawl across it. She always makes sure to non-chalantly look over at mommy and daddy to be sure we are watching her.
Happy Holidays!
This is my favorite time of the year! It's so amazing that Jesus left his throne in Heaven to come to this earth just to save us. There is no greater love!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)