Isaac update

Just wanted to update everybody and let them know that Isaac is battery free and doing well. It took him until Friday night, but he finally got rid of that battery. Thanks for all of the calls, emails, and prayers! I truely have some AWSOME friends. I love ya'll!

One things for certain....

With the New Year at hand, my mind has been filled with memories from the past year and curiosity of what 2009 will bring.

2008 was a tough one for me.....

1. I renewed old friendships and made peace with those I had to let go.
2. I learned that little boys don't stay little for long.
3. I saw my husband truly proud of himself for probably the first time ever (he never thinks he is good enough).
4. I came to realize that "normal" is just a word and something I hope my children never grow up to be. After all, the Bible says we are a peculiar people:)
5. I got to be there with my best friend before her mother began her battle against breast cancer. She and the Lord beat that cancer to a pulp!
6. I discovered Avri really is to big to be carried on my hip, though I still do it.
7. I add a few more laugh lines to my collection.
8. I celebrated 10 years of marriage.
9. I told my childhood home goodbye and welcomed my parent's to the neighborhood.
10. And I know that each year brings me closer to my final goal.

Looking forward to 2009 can bring its anxieties... my little girl heading off to Kindergarten is a big one for me and each year Isaac's questions become harder and harder to answer. Each year I am wondering if I am doing it right....don't we all. As uncertain as the future is, one thing is for certain...God is there. My Dad preached on these verses Sunday and it gave me such a peace. A peace of knowing that no matter where this year takes me that God is ever present.

Psalm 139: 1-24. Read it all, but here are some of the verses that really spoke to me.

1.O Lord, You have searched me and known me. 2.You know my sitting down and my rising up: You understand my thought afar off. 3. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. 4. For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. 5. You have hedged me behind and before, And laid your hand upon me.

17: How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! 18. If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with you.

What an assurance to know that God is with me every step of the way. My Father, my Comforter, my Savior, my Friend. I just pray that if you don't have that assurance that you would ask Jesus into your heart. Better than that, I hope he will make your bed a bed of rocks until you do! I say that out of Love because we all need a savior! That is one thing that I thank my parents most for. They built me up like nobody's business. They told me I was the prettiest, the funniest, the most talented kid on this earth, but they also told me that if I did not have Jesus as my Savior that I was just a pretty, funny, talented lost sinner. Now I am a pretty, funny, talented sinner saved by his Grace!

I wonder what he says to himself when he thinks of me.... I imagine something like "Didn't I just get her out of a fix" or "You just promised you would not ask for anything else" or "She just can't keep that trap of hers shut". I think that is probably one of those things I will ask....."What were you thinking when you threw all this together and made me?" HA!

Anyway, enough with my ramblings... Have a wonderful New Year and remember me and mine when you pray:)

Earning thier keep

The older they get, the more these kids mess up! So, to help offset thier messiness, I taught them to vaccuum. They did a great job and it will now be expected of them. One life skill down, thousands to go.....

COokie Swap

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is a good ol fashion cookie swap. My friends and I decided to put on our pjs, whip up some goodies, and stuff ourselves sick! It was an awsome night, of laughing, eating, dirty santa, and telling stories of Christmas' past. That picture of the dip will stick in my mind, it is some type loaded potatoe dip that Angelle made and that Sherry ate until way past its expiration. What a fun night!!!

My little energizer bunny (the battery story)

So, as some of you know, Isaac decided to swallow a battery Monday night. I am not sure what possed him to do this, but he says he was just playing with it and put it in his mouth and accidentally swallowed it. Who knows, I thought by 8 we were done putting things in our mouths. Anyway, after hearing what sounded like choking I jumped from the tub to see what was going on. Isaac was coughing and proceeding to tell me he swallowed a battery. I immediately went into panic mode. I called 911 who told me to take him to the ER immediately. On the way Phillip called poison control and met us there. At the ER they x-rayed him and found the battery was already in his stomach, drew blood, and sent us home with laxitive to help the battery along. Day 2, we were instructed back to the doctor for another x-ray to find that it had moved into his colon. We are now at Day 3 for search and recover and still no battery. If this battery is not out by Friday, we will be headed back to see what are next move is. Once the battery is out we will be doing lead level tests to make sure he has not gotten lead poisening in this processes. This is truely a Christmas I will never forget. I don't think Isaac will be tasting batteries anymore, that silly kid!

Cupcakes and friends!

Being so filled with the Christmas spirit, Avri and I decided to bring cupcakes to make with our buddies! Avri, Lily, and Mark were the perfect little chefs as they cracked eggs (sherry's department), stired, and frosted. It was really nice to have Sherry there with me as she is the get messy lady and I am the don't mess up your clothes lady. We compliment eachother and made for a well rounded experience! The cupcakes were yummy, but the best part was spending time with friends!

Merry manicure!!!

For a special Christmas treat, Avri and I went out to get manicures! Avri picked out the red and white because she said it looked like a candy cane and they put sweet little gift filled stockings on her thumbs. It was a very fun and festive way to spend the afternoon. Avri is definately her mother's daughter!

Company Christmas Party

Here is Phillip and I on our way to his company Christmas party. Aren't we a stunning couple:) Picture 2 is just Phillip acting silly, I love using those against him. More blogs to come....I am so behind!!!

Back in the game:)

He's back!!! It is basketball season once again at Riverside Upward and we are ready to go!!! Our first game was last Thursday night and the kids were running full court for the first time. Those little boogers were exhaused when they were done and I was glad because it was 8:30 and bed time! Isaac did an amazing job, though I had to discourage him from trash talkin the kid gaurding him, I think it went a little like "whatcha gonna do?" "Bring it on buddy" and my favorite "You want sum of this?" That is all his Daddy's doing. Phillip is coaching again this year and I can always see a sparkle in his eye when he is out there with those kids. I am sure it takes him right back to his High School days and he couldn't be happier to see that his little buddy loves the same sport he does. Good Luck this year Isaac and go BULLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have yourself a "Lacy" little Christmas...

This past weekend, me, Michelle and Angelle all headed down to meet up with your friend Lacy for a little Christmas celebration. We had such a great time eating, laughing, and exchanging some gifts. Lacy drew my name and got me this awsome "Vera" purse (I was a tiny bit excited). She is responsible for getting me hooked, so it is only fitting that she would help to finance my habit. It was so much fun, but of course it ended to quickly. Alright Lacy, when are we seeing you again!!! Ps, I have got to stop sitting next to Michelle, she makes me look like my skin is transparent!

Homework

If there is one thing I despised as a child, it was homework. While playing with my camera, I caught Isaac doing his. It is blog worthy since we spend at least an hour or more a night doing it together. Isaac is great though, he just takes it one question at a time and though he may get a little frustrated he always works until he finds the answer. Keep it up Isaac, only 9 more years of high school, 4 years of college, and then maybe medical school, law school, Masters...... well you will be done with homework one day:)

Christmas time!

It is Christmas time at the Gillispie House and we had such a wonderful time getting our all of the lights, trees, wreaths, etc..... Here are some pics of the house. Please excuse my awful picture I did at Art Buzz. It was a cute picture, I just am no artist!

You better work!

I got my NIKON today!!!! Phillip agreed to use his modeling skills and pose for me so that I could practice. He really missed his calling on the cat walk, don't you think?