The Fries'

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Out with the Old

I found these great free printables on Ann Voskamp's blog.

So I walked through 2013 with the children.

As I contemplate 2013 (what?!? How are we already done with 2013), and get ready for a new year I think of the word that most describes 2013 and it would have to be change. Nothing major changed, we didn't move, we didn't have another child, we didn't change careers, and yet I feel like so much has changed. Within me.

Why? Why do I feel so different? I have read a lot this year, I have listened a lot this year, and I have tried, by God's grace to grow a lot this year. Many convictions that I did not previously hold grabbed a hold of my heart. God brought new and amazing friends into our life that we weren't expecting. God has led us into community, several actually, and they all pull me and sometimes push me into who God has created me to be. I see sin more evidently and I EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. fail miserably. And yet, His grace, His mercy, it sustains me. It completes me. It directs me. And I am thankful.

So this year, as I look ahead, Diligence is the word I pray. Diligence is the word I seek. Diligence is the word that will continue to lead me to Freedom. And by God's grace, I will follow through, I will be diligent, I will watch as the Lord molds me into who He has created me to be.

Christmas Day...in Pictures

Following in the footsteps of Ann Voskamp and Erin Fries, I decided to just show you the pictures.

Merry Christmas.

Christmas Card

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

This is most likely what my Christmas card would have looked liked, had I sent one out.

Christmas Morn...

Christmas morning greeted us with sunshine and warm weather.

The kids opened up their stocking and a sweet gift from the Hettich's (Thank you!).

We had a breakfast of pumpkin roll and prepared to head over the Fries ranch for Christmas there.

Christmas Eve

Every Christmas Eve we celebrate by attending our church services followed by dinner and presents. Well this year we switched it up a teensy bit. Tim got off of work a little early, and so we decided to let the kids open their presents before church. Avarie read the Nativity this year, what a blessing it is to have my sweet babies reading God's Word.

This year I wanted to do something a little different and inspired by our friends the Hettich's I started looking into tablets for the kids. Frankly a child can only have so many dolls and Lego before it is all consuming. We decided on Kindle Fire's as we wanted something that the basis was reading.

They have been able to download some apps and it is great to see all of the classical literature that can be found for free or next to it. I am certain this device will enhance chore production in our home. I am also certain that it could easily become an idol of the heart to these precious children, and so we will be beginning the new year learning new rules and expectations.

Tim and I usually don't get gifts for one another, but with Tim's love of duck hunting, I found a great deal on some goose decoys and couldn't help myself. Yep. We are definitely "that family". If you can't tell, he loved them, and as TJ told me on Saturday, they "float real good mom!"

We ended the evening with pizza (which is quickly becoming a tradition) and playing cards with Nanny and Papa. It was a great celebration of the Christ child. I am thankful that the Lord has blessed me with these precious souls for yet another year.