Goodbye 2010!

On one hand, I've never been so glad to see a year end! On the other, God has really been evident in our lives and that is an awesome thing to be a part of. 2010 has really been a roller coaster, but we are on the upswing and life is very good! Our trials and joys were big this year, but God is even bigger and for that, I'm so very thankful.

• We've had to endure some trials that I never thought we'd have to go through, and that was unbelievably scary.
  
• We've had people turn their backs on us (so called friends), and that was unbelievably lonely and hurtful.
  
• The ministry that we had loved for 12 years came to a screeching halt, and we mourned that for a good while.
  
• We were without our own home for almost 4 months.

But it is so much better to focus on the things that GOD has done during those trials! We are on the other side and while I still look back and cry. I'm glad to say that it is not daily anymore. And the tears are not always tears of sorrow and sadness. I have tears well up when I think of all that HE has done. It is hard not to! God took care of us. He always does, but through these trials, God held us and just took us from one point to another (even when we couldn't think straight). He provided!

2010 has been full of blessings:

• We bought a new home. After 16 years of marriage, we finally were able to buy a home!
  
• We found a new church home and we are teaching again. The atmosphere is different than any I've ever been a part of and it is just what we needed when we needed it. I've learned so much the past few months.
  
• Jamie got a new job that he loves. It was provided so that Jamie never really missed a week of work! How amazing is that!
  
• My kids are thriving in homeschool! It is a lot of work, but it is worth it. It is a growing passion of mine and something that I take very seriously in my life. I'm back to teaching in a way that I never thought I would be. I think I've learned just as much as the kids.
  

We are in many different places than we were at the beginning of the year. I never suspected most of these changes, but what sweet surprises God had in store for us. I ponder the things that happened to us in 2010 and I know that God took us there to bring us here. I think sometimes we have to endure the storm to appreciate the rainbow at the end.

With all that said, I welcome 2011 in our lives! Whatever it brings, I know that God will be by our side.

Christmas 2010!

Well, another Christmas has come and gone. It is unbelievable to me how quickly time passes! I think my kids got many things they wanted and many other things that were surprises to them. One of their favorite things they received was their first pet! They got a Hamster cage, a gift card to Pet Smart, and a note from Santa explaining the whole thing.

We spent Christmas Eve at home focusing on Jesus, watching The Nativity Story (LOVE this movie!), and eating fondue. Fondue became our new tradition when we moved to Owensboro. When you are not "local" to family, you are forced to begin your own traditions. You know what? I really enjoy our low-key Christmas Eve that is focused on Christ and each other. It is my favorite day of the year!

Of course, Christmas morning with 4 kids is always fun. I love watching their faces brighten as they shake the boxes and realize that what is inside is possibly exactly what they asked for. It is so magical and amazing when you are a child! I love the bedhead and jammies on Christmas morning pictures!


Here is Jamie playing "Just Dance" on the Wii. He was so proud that he beat them. Typical Daddy from my experience! I'm so glad you feel great about yourself beating a 4 year old:-)
And, I got new slippers and the kids got Bendaroos. Need I say more?
So, today we went to the mall with money burning in our pockets. We explained to them that they really got plenty of toys and that they may buy other things with their money if they wish. I thought it was really funny that my kids were walking around the mall perfectly happy to buy clothes and such. Micah even said, "I really like this new outfit! Is that weird?" I told him that it certainly wasn't. I explained to him that in a few years, all he'll be wanting for Christmas is shoes, clothes, music, and electronics. My kids are growing up!

We went to the Pet Smart and loaded up on Hamster supplies and picked out our newest little family member. It was hard to get a good picture, because he was exploring his new home. He is very cute, I must say. He is "Robo Hamster" and suppose to be about 3 inches long. He is TEENY. He looks like a little ball when he is wadded up asleep. We got a male, so we are certain that we won't wake up and have more hamsters. His name is "Nibble"
Jamie is off this week and now that Christmas is over, we can relax and just enjoy one another. I love his new job! It has many perks!

Christmas Came Early in the Hughes House!

Ok, so this has nothing to do with Christmas, but it sure did make my day! We've been staring at this monstrosity of a chandelier since August. It is huge and tacky and horribly dated. I'm sure it was rocking in 1972, but that sure was a long time ago and it was time for an update. And, really, I just don't see how this very formal "fancy" chandelier ever went in an eat-in kitchen, but I digress. Here it is:

It kind of reminds me of some kind of sea creature or something. It also had pineapples in the middle of it. It is just wrong in so many ways!

Here is the nice fresh update! My wonderful husband put it up yesterday. So much better and updated!



I think I stared at it all day yesterday! It is so much better in so many ways including the light it puts off! I love seeing our home transform!

Today, my kids are watching Santa across the globe on the Norad Radar. So much fun and educational too. We are resting a bit right now and tonight we are having our annual fondue dipping fun! I'm so thankful to be spending our first Christmas in our new home! Jamie is off until January 3rd and my kids are full of excitement. Life doesn't get much better!

School Happenings

I finally got a bulletin board for our school room. I painted the frame with leftover door paint and we made a little craft yesterday. It is amazing how cute toilet paper rolls and baby socks can turn out! They had fun making these little carolers and snowmen. I've had fun watching them have fun:-)

We are on a 2 week break to enjoy Christmas. We are officially halfway through the year. I had a bit of a chuckle the other day when there was a snow day around here. No more getting an automated phone call at 5:30 in the morning to tell us that school is closed. No more snow days for us, but on the flip side, the weather sure will be pretty in May!

Jamie works 2 days next week and has class Monday night and then will be off until 2011. I'm looking forward to a blessed 2 weeks with my family!

Back in the Saddle

Jamie and I are going to be teaching the 1st-3rd grade Sunday School starting this week I think. We have spent the last 7 months just going to adult classes, taking a backseat, and being fed for a while. It had been a long time and it has been really nice. We didn't want (or even need) to jump right into a teaching or leadership position as soon as we moved. It has been a time to recoup, refresh, heal, forgive, rest, and move forward.

I'm finally getting into a "good" place with everything that happened last spring. I think we've dealt (or are dealing) with it as best as we can, and God has just been so incredibly good to us through this entire process. We sort of jumped out of an airplane without a chute in April, but he flew right along with us showering us with blessings abound. That part is impossible to deny. We were let down by this world, but God never let us down! What Satan meant to claim for his side, God reclaimed for us and has given us so much.

Maybe it took all those other churches, ministry experiences, and people (those that loved us and those that didn't) to bring us exactly where we are now. I don't know. Our church is probably the way I've craved church for years, but never quite found it. I also understand that it probably wouldn't fit some people and I'm OK with that too. It takes all Christians working together to reach others for Christ (which is the goal anyways)...not just a church that fits a particular mold.

We left Owensboro with us both teaching 2 classes that never got completed by us, so it has been a while since we've been in the teacher's chair in church. It'll be different and it has been several years since I've taught little ones in SS. Jamie has never taught little ones in SS. He has taught little ones, but not in that setting. It is a very energetic group and a growing group of kids. God made each one of those kids very unique for his purpose and I know that being their teacher will bless us more than it will them.

Random Things About Me

I love:

• Listening to my kids play when they don't know I'm listening
• My children quoting scripture
• Teaching
• Painted Toenails
• Cuddling on the couch after a long day
• Hearing Jamie's car pull in the driveway
• A clean house
• My fenced in yard
  
• Pondering things that Bro. Rusty (our pastor) has said all week
• Jamie waking me up in the morning (it was the other way around for YEARS!)
• Watching my kids sleep
• Looking at old pictures
• A good cry when I need one
• Christmas Eve
  
• Warm spring days
• Going to get my haircut
• Sweet tea
• Cuddling up with a good book on a rainy day (it has been a while!)
• Kissing a new baby's head
• Red front doors
• Kissing my kids goodnight
• Learning something new
• Inside jokes (as long as I'm on the inside)
• Getting a personal email
• Listening to the rain
• Cookies
• Flip-Flops
• Organizing
  

I don't love:

• Cold weather
• Kids fighting
• Jamie working late
• Peeling wallpaper
• Never getting a break
• Unsolicited advice
• Wearing glasses/contacts every second of the day
  
• Arrogance
• People cracking jokes about my name, family size, or homeschool
  
• When someone touches my nose or eyebrows
• Shopping of any kind
• Barking dogs at 2am
• Getting up early
• Gossip
• Legalism in church
• Going to the doctor, dentist, etc
• Wal-Mart
• Being late
• Being the center of attention
• Laundry
• Cleaning the kitchen (the never ending job)
• Shaking hands
  
• Moving!!!!!
• Politics
• Door-to-door salesmen
• Sleep deprivation
• Whiny kids
• Tickling