Hello 2013

I can't believe it is 2013.  Every year I say the year flew by but I think 2012 may have had race car status.  To think back on the blessings this year brought is humbling.  To think back on the "shoulda", "coulda", and "wouldas"....well,  might very well make a person crazy.  I am realizing more than ever that unfortunately, I am better at that than I care to admit.
When I sat down to write this post, I was reminded of a previous post I did back in September.  The verse I was brought to over and over during that time in my life was Colossians 3:2.  As we begin this new year, I'm not making resolutions that will inevitably be broken.  I'm not even sure I am going to have a "word" for the  year as I have in years past.  I do plan to be better at setting my mind on things above.  I think more often than most will confess, we get caught up with what's going on around you.  Putting too much value on the things of this world and what others think.  It's freeing to let go of that.  I know I can personally say I spent far too much of my life in this category.  It's a hard one when you are a people pleaser by nature!  To put it simply...."Ain't nobody got time for that!"
So, as we enter in to this New Year, it is my prayer that I can be more aware of the needs around me.  That God will open my eyes to the ones that may go unnoticed.  That I can be willing to go where He wants me to go and do the things He wants me to do to better His Kingdom.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Matthew 6:19-21

Birthdays!

My birthday was the day after Christmas and Daddy-O's was the 29th.  Unfortunately he had to work on my birthday so Poppi took a half day from work and came and watched the kiddos so Nana and I could do a little shopping!  The weather was a little less than perfect , raining cats and dogs, but we didn't let that stop us!  We had a great time!  The afternoon was spent relaxing at home in my jammies with my sweet kids!  On the 28th, Daddy-O WAS off so he let me sleep in and spoiled me like it was my birthday all over again!  He's such a good man! (insert old school song here...."What a man, what a man, what a man, what a mighty good man!... don't hate if it's now stuck in your head for the next 24 hours).

On Daddy-O's birthday, we waited on him and let him do what ever he wanted!  He enjoyed a little shopping himself, lunch at "the Horn", and ended the evening with popcorn and a movie with the fam.  

All of us squeezed into a little booth at Longhorn!

Had to post a pic of my surprise birthday gift Daddy-O so cleverly left on the Keurig so I would find it first thing!  It was a new bottle of perfume!

Christmas fun

We had a wonderful time this Christmas.  It was the first time ever we stayed home on Christmas day!  We visited my side of the family at Grandma and Papa's house the Saturday before Christmas and visited Chris' side of the family on Christmas Eve.  It was so nice to get up and relax Christmas morning and not have to rush to be anywhere!  As Christmas Day drew closer, I began to wonder if we had made the right decision with this.  Then I picked Jaxon up from Sunday School the Sunday before Christmas and his teacher told me how excited he was to be able to stay home and enjoy his family.  That was confirmation that we had indeed made the right choice!  It doesn't matter what day you see your family, just that you see them and enjoy them, which we did!  Here are a few pictures from the festivities!

Family Photos

It's always funny to think back to when Jaxon was a baby and I had his pictures taken every month.  Yes, I am serious.  Every. Month. With Camron and Caden it was obviously less but poor Joss has hardly ever had her pictures take professionally!  Now, don't get me wrong, they all have a camera of some sort in their face a lot of the time!
Anyway, we had our family pictures taken for the 2nd time since the princess arrived!  I could not have been happier with the photos.  Joss is a hard one to crack if she doesn't know you (and sometimes even when she does) so she is very serious but these pictures are fantastic!  They were taken by Landis Brown of Landis Brown Photography.  She is great!  I highly recommend her!  Please let me know if you would like her information!  I'm sure she would love to capture your family or sweet kiddos for beautiful memories!
And FYI, I'm going to have a hard time choosing which pictures to post!

Beautimous!

This makes my mama heart so happy!

Group hug!

My sweet kiddos loving on each other!  I think this shot may have been their idea!

This one cracks me up!  Joss looks so "merry" doesn't she?! 

LOVE this!  And it's a regular occurrence in our house to be honest.  Daddy-O and Mommy smooching and the kids pretending to be grossed out ;).  

How cute is that little mischievous tongue sticking out!

I told you I'd have a hard time choosing!  

From the Darling Dukes to all of you, Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and BLESSED 2013!

Parties, and buddies, and nativities, OH MY!

  We've had some fun things going on this month! It's been busy but not too busy which is always nice! Our homeschool group has a wonderful Christmas party each year. The kids and parents always enjoy it! This year the boys were the 3 wise men in the play.

As you can see, baby girl wanted to be involved with her brothers. She followed them right up on stage.  It was super cute!

We also had a play date with Joss' good ole bestie, Mercy! These girls (and their mamas) had gone WAY too long between visits! 

They are hilarious and adorable together! 

Each year our church has a Live Nativity.  It is such a blessing to be a part of! We were a part of the Potter's family.

We also had pictures taken by the super talented Landis Brown Photography.  She's the next big thing people! I'll have to do a separate post devoted just to those pics! 

We are having a wonderful December and we pray all of you are as well!

RACK round 2

We haven't been as good at documenting our RACK's lately! Here are a few pictures we have managed to catch! The kids and I have SO enjoyed this! More so this year than last! We have already come up with a fun way to continue this thoughout the year. Because as one wise Duke boy said "people need to see Jesus' love all the time, Mom".  So, true, sweet boy, so true!
 

  

RACK round 1

We have really been enjoying "RACK-ing" people again this year.  Jaxon and I made a "pocket chart" of sorts that we can reuse each year from now on to hold our RACK cards. For those of you who don't know, RACK stands for Random Acts of Christmas Kindness.  While we try to perform a few Random Acts of Kindness throughout the year, just to show Gods love, we are very deliberate to do one each day as we count down the days in December until Christmas. Often times people get so caught up in what this season is NOT about.  We, as a family, pray daily that we can show Gods love in some way to the people we are RACK-ing!

Below are a few pictures of the first few days. We look forward to this each day!