Chinese New Year Jan.26th

T working hard on those lanterns

group story time

Snack time!

Chinese New Year

Chinese Lanterns

Jarett

Pin the tail on the Ox

Carly the craft helper! (what would I do without her :))

Sweet hands busy creating masterpeices!

Chinese New Year- Jan. 26th

Doing crafts!!!

I couldn't have set this up so perfectly!

sweet Zion...

Craft table-lots of busy hands.

Yummy cupcakes!

Family Circus

January 25th

We surprised the girls with a trip to the circus. It was such a blast! We usually have family movie night on Sunday evenings and so we told them we were going to grab a bite to eat and we wouldn't tell them where. We headed to Nashville and ate at the spaghetti factory. We still had not told them we were going to the circus but that we had something else to do. Then Carly heard someone in the bathroom telling her little girl to hurry up they needed to get to the circus. So she had guessed it! Both girls were so excited. It was Isabella's first time and I think Carly was more excited about seeing Isabella's reaction than anything else. We had such a fun night. It was such a treat to get out and do something different.

They were giving away these cute little clown noses and we were all wearing them but Isabella's wouldn't stay on her her cute little Chinese nose- she kept saying its because I'm Asian and my nose is smaller. It was so cute!

I think the elephants are always my favorite !!! We are trying to get Isabella in shape for the circus!

I think she would make a great contortionist.

God must have a sense of humor

You know how you sit and make a "plan", a well thought out schedule of events and then something changes your entire week around and you just have to sit back and let go of the steering wheel and see where you land- this has been my week:) I have to laugh because no matter how many times I learn-over and over again- that I am not in control, I never seem to really "get it" I still plan my days & week and then when something happens that changes that "plan" I get such a great reminder of how little I am in control and how God truly loves me enough to keep taking the steering wheel and guiding me down a different path, whether I like it or not....Let me explain..

This week I was "supposed" to go everyday to the doctor for some tests and shots to check and make sure my thyroid cancer had not come back. I had the entire week planned out accordingly. I was really looking forward to Friday night (a Valentine Date with my hubby) and Saturday an entire day devoted to celebrating Valentine's with my girls. You see last year I was having radiation therapy during Valentine's Day and both my girls were in KY. We have always loved Valentine's and made it a big production. I usually make a wonderful meal and the girls and Dad make a yummy chocolate dessert and then we sit in the dining room and have a lovely meal together. Well that all changed when I went to the doctor on Tuesday (the 2nd day of shots) and I wanted to clarify some information with Nuclear medicine. I went down to the Nuclear medicine department to find out what time I had to be there on Friday and they proceeded to tell me the things I needed to prepare to do for my body scan on Friday- the nuclear medicine I was supposed to take on Wed. was only 4 mcui and last year I had 100 mcui and had to be in the hospital for 2 days then isolation for 1 1/2 weeks. So I had been told this time I would not have all of these precautions since the radiation was minimal. Well-----the guys at Nuclear Medicine proceeded to tell me that I needed to be in isolation again (not in the hospital and not for as long) and that is was dangerous to be around my kids---so within an hour, my whole week changed. I immediately called my parents (thank you Mom & Dad for always being available!) and take Isabella to them and then change the rest of plans for the week so that I could stay in my office away from people. WHEW! it was a whirlwind. But- it has all worked out fine. and now I have time to update my blog. Although- my keyboard, mouse, telephone & TV remote are covered with plastic wrap :) and any papers I touch- I have to wear gloves....Valentine's Day will be celebrated- just late again this year :) Mom & Dad, I hope you enjoy my precious baby and give her lots of hugs & kisses from her Mommy.

Funny Face Girls

My Funny girls. Isn't is amazing what fun a trip to the dollar store can conjure up.

GOD

WOW! Is all I can say this season, this week, this day, this moment. I have been overwhelemd lately in seeing Gods hand working on our lives and the lives of others. It truly makes you feel so small in this huge world that God holds in His hands but yet still so important, so loved, so very cared for even in the small things. This "journey" of our lives never ceases to amaze me. Once I think I have it all figured out God changes the story line, brings someone new in our lives, brings a new circumstance, someone new to pray for- its always changing.

I am still learning!!!

By the way- I finally learned how to add multiple photos to one post (thank you very much Carly) and I even tried a couple of videos... Hopefully I will continue how to manuver around this blog- if Carly will keep helping me.... I love that girl!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Thursday evening about 5:00 is began to snow a bit. We were headed to basketball practice and couldn't even get down Columbia Pike because of the cars not being able to get up the hills. Sooooo whats a family to do but stop at Chilis, have some chips & salsa and wait until the road clears of traffic :) Then when we got home-----there was a great snow filled yard for the girls to play in. Of course, they ran right out (not really dressed for snow) but had a great time building a little snow man. The next morning, the snow was even more perfect for making "BIG" snowmen. It was great... What a blessing to get us in the Christmas spirit.

It's Snowing

Our First Snow

Isabella's Masterpeice

Isabella's Masterpeice
Originally uploaded by carlyg321

Carly's Masterpeice

Carly's Masterpeice
Originally uploaded by carlyg321

The girls & I spent Friday morning making gingerbread houses with our homeschool group. I should say the girls made the houses, Mommy just cleaned up.... I am so thankful that the homeschool group set this up because I probably would not have taken on this endeavor at home... The masterpeices created that day were priceless. A HUGE thanks to Valerie & Vanessa for setting this up!

Friends

Friends
Originally uploaded by carlyg321

Isabella & I attended the CHI Christmas party and met up with some "China girlfriends".... What happy faces when they get together....

Singing Christmas Carols

IMG_5006
Originally uploaded by carlyg321

Violin Lessons?

IMG_4995
Originally uploaded by carlyg321

Fun & Games

IMG_4998
Originally uploaded by carlyg321

Christmas Celebrations

We are so blessed to have an awesome Sunday School class and such wonderful loving people to "share life" with. This past Friday night we hosted a small gathering with food, fellowship & a competitive game of bible scattergories. What a blast. I am so thankful for these folks in our lives. We also are fortunate enough to have some musically talented people in the group who shared their violin with my girls and blessed us with their singing of some Christmas carols, along with Carly playing the piano, Lisa on the violin & Bill on the guitar. We loved having our home with with such beautiful music.

It's December !!

Well it is already December- the year is almost over. I cannot believe it has gone by so quickly. We are in full swing for this month of worship & praise and thinking of our heavenly Father and the great anticipation of Jesus's birth. Each year we say we are going to try and do all of the Advent ideas, bake cookies & candies and relax---well I THINK this may actually happen this year. Today was Carly's last day of school (except for 1 hour next week for her mid term test in Computer Science) so we are on our way!!

I actually got Christmas pictures done this year for our card and here are a couple of pics of the girls.

I spent the day cooking with a friend and we put 11 meals in the freezer- each..It was a blast and we were finished by 2pm (we even made a salad for tonight and all the dishes were cleaned and put away---I don't even get all of that done by myself :)0 Anyway, with meals in the freezer and Carly out of school early we are going to start baking next week.... I can't wait.

We have also started our nightly Advent devotion and Carly & I are reading Bartholomew's Passage (we did Jotham's journey last year) http://www.amazon.com/Jothams-Journey-Storybook-Arnold-Ytreeide/dp/0825441749/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222924353&sr=8-1

It is really nice to have something to do nightly to make us stop and think about what the season is really about.