Birthday at the Broadmoor

Oh yea - and there is nothing like having a ... birthday smack dab in the middle of a move, a medical emergency, a family wedding, and the holidays. :)

I honestly do not know how David did it all. He worked sun up to sun down and then some to move my parents and to take care of all of us for 2 weeks- most of the time being the only one lifting and carrying and driving anywhere. On top of all of that, he managed to leave some time at the very end of the this crazy holiday for he and I to get away one night before heading back to NYC.

Sigh. I breathe more deeply just thinking about it all over again.

I believe you could say that I wept when he told me that he had planned a night away for us at the Broadmoor for my birthday. An entire 24 hours, just he and I, away from it all. One thing I definitely realize with new meaning every year is that any trip is made even sweeter by the emotional and physical need for it. This was the first time in 15 months that he and I had a night away together without Kate and... it was so sweet. So so sweet.

We walked and breathed the fresh mountain air. We listened to the silence. Ahh -the bliss of silence while holding the hand of another, just content to ... be. We took pictures. Enjoyed nature. Read. Relaxed at the spa. Watched the fire as we drifted in and out of a daze. Laughed and reflected and talked. Ate fine food. Slept. A lot. It's amazing what 24 hours can do for the body and soul.

The view from our suite by day.

The view by night.

The living room in the suite (which happened to be bigger than our apt. that we live in every day - so that was a treat!).

After sleeping in (for those of you, like me, that can't remember, that is what happens when no one wakes you up at a certain time - yea - it had been a while) and enjoying a delicious breakfast, we drove back to greet my Auntie Barbara and cousin, Jeanie (visiting from China) and to spend a fun day with family.

One of the best birthdays I can remember in a while. What a perfect way to bring in the New Year!

Happy Wedding!

There is nothing like a fun family wedding - smack dab in the middle of a move, a medical emergency, and holidays. Ha! I have to say, it really was great to get away from it all and celebrate my cousin Taylor getting married. They recited their vows overlooking those glorious mountains. Not sure it gets any better than that.

It was honestly one of the most Christ-centered and genuine ceremonies I have been apart of and I loved how they made it their own. I loved the picture of them washing each others feet and then they poured different colored sand instead of a unity candle - symbolic of where he proposed (on the beach).

But, I think what will stand out most was the 'dance' down the aisle at the end. Hysterical. It was to the Black Eyed Peas song, "Tonight's Gonna Be A Good Night". Lol. Oh yes.

I don't have to tell those of you who know my brother that he put on a SHOW! I wish I had a video and better pictures, but you can picture him walking down the aisle as if it was a catwalk, pausing, turning around, and then motioning for his "escort bridesmaid" to come with a little point and a gyrating hip movement. We were all crying in laughter. Oh -that Rhett. Never a dull moment.

Steph got into it herself. Way to go, sis!

Overall - what a blast to get to see family. To remember what this covenant of marriage is really all about. To just sit back and get out of your world a little and celebrate someone else.

Here's to Taylor and Stacia! Welcome to this crazy family!

A Christmas to Remember...

... but not one to repeat.

The first week can be summarized with this one picture. Sorting, packing, moving and some deer.

My amazing husband spent countless hours alongside my mom sorting and packing and organizing for the big move. Since my mom and dad had to move and since my dad broke his hip in four places about a month ago...oh, and since I am 16 weeks pregnant, we stayed up and took care of the "lighter" tasks while mom and David did the heavy lifting.

We knew we had a week before Christmas to get as much of the packing done as possible. As if God wanted to just remind us of His presence and to bless us with little gifts, we would look outside and see the most beautiful deer. They would walk right up to the door, the house, you name it. Here is one of the 10 point bucks we saw. Incredible.

David would take a "move break" and go take pictures of deer. This is not in zoom. He was literally that close. It was amazing.

Another special gift was getting to see one of my most favorite people in whole world, Kimber-Leigh. For the life of me, I don't know why we didn't get one picture - but we were more concerned with just seeing each other and I will never be able to tell her how much it meant to me for her to come and remind me that she was there, supporting and praying us through each step. Another gift of provision to have her visiting just an hour away during this craziness!

The very next day...

...a snow storm blew in with a fierceness I have not experienced many times in my life. David drove the whole family 5 hours round trip to the airport to pick up Mama 2 and Stephanie. We made it. I don't know how, but God protected us from the many accidents we saw alongside the roads we traveled. More provision.

And of course, we had to get out and play in it for a small "break". :)

Daddy chopped down a real tree for our Christmas tree. We decorated it with all of the ornaments that were going to be given away or thrown away. It was special and hysterical all at the same time.

Christmas Eve after the church service, we made a birthday cake and sang Happy Birthday to Baby Jesus. I can tell you it was one of the sweetest highlights of the week.

Christmas Day started out perfectly. Kate came down the stairs with expectancy in her eyes. She saw that Santa had brought her the three top things she had requested this year: a popsicle, a lollipop, and a sticker. (OK - maybe there were a few other things as well)

For gifts this year, we did not want to spend money, so we wrapped up things from down in the basement for each other. Things that each of us hadn't seen in years. Things that made us laugh hysterically. Things that made us cry, as we thought back to those who are not with us any longer. One of my favorite Christmas mornings by far. I think we might have started a new tradition.

Then, that afternoon, we called 911 as my grandma, Mama 2, turned from bad to worse. There's nothing like having an ambulance arrive on Christmas day! Of course, David had to document it all.

Dad and Rhett went to the hospital for most of the day while the rest of us tried to have a quiet and thankful Christmas meal together. Thankfully Mama 2 was OK, but needed to stay in the hospital a few more nights.

Seriously, you can't make this stuff up!

Through it all, we played and laughed. Sweet Kate and Uncle Rhett sure did make us laugh a ton and get through the tears and drama.

The sun rose...

...and the sun set.

We all said goodbye to the mountains and hello to city. It is a good place to be; the place of letting go and simply trusting God.

This Christmas will go down as one of the most memorable holidays our family has ever experienced. We survived. We did it. We did it together with God's sweet provision and grace.

And...we are all still family. Still standing, barely. Better for it. Stronger through it. More grateful because of it.

We are more blessed now than any other time I can remember. And, may God receive all of the glory.

It's His story after all.

Here's to a NEW year!