January germs

Right now I can hear Mark pacing the floor with occasional hoots and hollers as he watches the National Championship football game. I started out in there but was told to sit on the opposite couch since we didn't root for the same team.

I've taken a long soak and have started reading more of Laura Story's When God Doesn't Fix It. Here's a long quote that stuck out to me tonight:
      We each have plans and dreams for our lives. We think we know what's best and if God just followed our plan, everything would be great. But God's plans are much bigger than ours. Part of what God revealed to me that day in the waiting room was that just because God's plan differed from mine didn't mean that God's plan wasn't good, or that he wasn't good. And it didn't mean that he had abandoned us. Though we like to think our plans are better than God's, in fact, it's quite the opposite: God's intentions are so much grander than ours, we can't even fathom what he has planned for us. . .When we trust that God is for us and not against us, we can see our future as he sees it. (p 78, 79)

This is my sixth January as a parent. I see a trend: every January Alice is sick for 5-12 days. It's routinely been ear infections until her ENT surgery last January solved those problems. This year? Poor Alice has a very bad case of viral pink eye. Her right eye swelled to a small slit, her cheek was red and inflamed and her fever hovered at 100-101 for 5 days. Today is her first full day of no fever and guess what. The infection has moved to her other eye. We're home again until her eyes stop forming tears throughout the day to protect others from her germs. I'm glad she's at least feeling better now! This isolated sick time has shown my own selfishness to do what I want (time alone, a daily shower, exercise, reading my own book, etc). I'm glad Mark's a great husband and parent to calm my weary heart and body from constant care-giving. As my mom says, "This too shall pass."

Birmingham Christmastime

This is the first Christmas my parents have lived in Birmingham since I was a senior in high school. Their new home is really comfortable and feels like home. Their neighborhood has hiking paths and climbing boulders the kids, Mark and I really enjoy. We can see friends, cousins, my great-grandmother, and more without the additional 2 hour commute from my parents old house. It was such a fun, relaxing week after Christmas to take it all in!

Alice was determined to ice skate on her first try. She fell, but she got up and got it. We had a great time at our first Stegall Skate Spectacular since before Sawyer was born.  

sweet cousins

Sawyer liked it too! (sorry I cannot figure how to flip pictures today!)

Mama's sisters in law with my girl cousins and sisters. We had a fun morning at my mom and dad's new house in Birmingham.

Special dinner with Mimi and Grandaddy

My grandmother Mudder (Emalee) and Alice

Mark's cousin Melissa and daughter came to hike at Moss Rock with us and loved it too.

New Year's Eve hike

The Stegall Skate crowd

Christmas Day

I made Alice a navy cape for Christmas.

Excited Sawyer got lots of things to build and roll or zoom.

We spent the morning at home opening gifts, playing, eating a yummy breakfast before driving to Atlanta for dinner and MORE gifts with the Holmes family.

Photo mugs were a hit with Gigi and Poppy. I was so pleased that all the kids napped well and could enjoy our fun late into Christmas night. 

our tree on Christmas morning

Fun ways celebrating Christmas with friends

The Barnes-Holmes families at the walk through nativity in Charleston. Sawyer and Anouk are especially wild, crazy good friends. We're glad for their true friendship and enjoy sharing life with them.

Mother Daughter cookie decorating. No surprise, Alice taught the girls how to sneak the toppings and binged on candy!

Downtown Atlanta with our Holmes' cousins and grandparents. Fun, mild day at Centennial Park.