Julia Zolene

Today we announced on Facebook the arrival of our second daughter in Feb 2013!! Her name will be Julia Zolene and we are so excited to have her come be part of our family. God is blessing us with a better pregnancy than the first time, we still kept our travel plans to Africa and Olivia is accepting the news very well. We are thanking God for his Hand in our life!!

Our facebook announcement picture

Olivia's sign that she used to tell family a few months ago- mainly over Skype. :)

Christmas

This Christmas was a wonderful time full of our new family traditions, fun with friends and enjoying simplicity.

From our family to yours, Happy Holidays!

Do I still Blog?

I am asking myself this question and I don't know what the answer is! Things continue to happen in our life, but as they are happening, it sucks time to actually document them. These days are very busy!

I am treading water with many joys along the way. Still finding that sweet spot of balance and infrequently achieving it.

Some main points for us. Emmanuel now has a full time job at American Greetings. Olivia is so close to 2 years old that the temper tantrums decided to just go ahead and say hello. I am still working at GOJO and learning every day that my job does not define me or my attitude.

We just had our first ever family photo shoot so I will share some of the pictures once I get the CD. We had alot of fun and are excited to make this a regular event now!

Stay tuned, I promise not to leave blogging completely behind.

Brain Cells

World War 111 is waging for my brain I am sure of it. No, I am not wearing a tin foil hat to protect my thoughts from aliens, not eating bottles of Ginko to rejuvinate my mind. Just takinga step back and realizing that mentally, emotionally and physically it makes sense that I am no longer the sharpest tack in the box.

Not to bemoan my current state, just to acknowledge. Diagnosis of Celiac, the stress at work, stress at home blah blah blah.

I used to come to work ready to tackle the day right into the ground and not leave until I had it in a choke hold. Now, I meander to my desk and sit there waiting for the clock to say 4:50. Yeah, I don't even stay until 5.

Part of this is due to the fact that I have spent the last 4 months thinking I was losing my job. Also being told every week "I am really not sure what to do with you,what did we hire you for?" That doesn't mentally stimulate anyone to do the tackling of the day!

I also am a mom now and I have to admit that a good portion of my brain cells are permanently now devoted to her. Thinking, planning and loving her even from a distance. I can't turn it off nor would I want to.

So this week needs an evaluation. I am no longer and fearful about losing my job, they seem to have remembered why they hired me and are letting me do the things I was destined to do. So now it is up to me to get my butt in gear and produce something worthwhile. Time to rev up all the bits of my knowledge and muster up what I used to have, initiation, ambition and drive.

Hello brain cells, I am coming for you.

Plans...what plans?

This is what God looked down on my week and said. "You think you have plans...but I have THE plan." His is always perfect....His is always on time.

Nothing I thought would happen this week happened. But the positive side is that at the end, my family was healthy and happy and we got some quality moments in. Moments that are captured below.




Even my flower felt a little sad that our plans were ruined.




Nothing like some good toddler kisses to cheer you up!




Love this man....he puts a smile on my face.





Great visit with Dad and Imma.




Celebrating 5 years together with a waterfall and some breakfast. Can't wait to see what the next 5 will bring.