A look back, a look forward

Today I was listening to les mis while cleaning and started getting all thankful inside :) It makes me think of my dad and how he passionately loves this musical and how thankful I am he introduced me to it (we had no choice, and I am now forcing my children to learn it as passionately). 

My mind kept wandering to all 2013 has brought us. This time last year we celebrated the new year in Israel. Woah. 

This year my children have been forced to have some big changes (moving and changing schools) and they have handled it better than I could've imagined.

We put our house on the market and sold it. And moved to a big ole house that is perfect for us. And through that whole process we saw God in the details. 

We took some amazing trips. Alabama with the Scoggins, the beach with the Siaks, Alabama to see Bekah, weekends at granny's...

We gained three new cousins this year. Edith, Levi, and Zachary, we think you are all pretty incredible. 

Granny was spared from cancer. God was all over those details too. That was huge. 

Grandma and Grandad Cagle moved to the mountains!  I love love love having them closer. 

We have some amazing people in our life. Our friendships grew. The people in our lifegroup have become staples in our life. And I joined a women's Bible study in September and these ladies are becoming just like sisters to me. 

My photography business is growing and I have learned so much.  I can't wait to see what's in store for it in 2014.  

Matt won his fantasy football league!!  He said to me the other day "do you realize you are living with a champion?"  It made me giggle. 

I could go on and on. There are more big highlights and adventures that this Siak 5 experienced this year. Through it all we experienced grace through the good times and not so good times. 

2014, we are ready for you. 

Happy new year!

Christmas

This was such a wonderful Christmas week. We got to enjoy traditions we've held close to us, and we made new ones along the way. 

We started the week at my favorite tradition - the Christmas service at grace. 

We watched movies on Christmas Eve and made cookies for Santa. Real cookies - from scratch. The one time all year when I break out the rolling pin and my buddy in pittsburghs recipe. 

Christmas morning we were blessed. Our kids got wonderful things. We spent the morning/ day at brunch and dinner with Matt's family. And my parents came for a few days too. 

This season flew by but it was amazing. I am so thankful for the hope that Christmas brings. The baby that was born who grew to a perfect man. Who died for you and I to pave our way to heaven. To save us from our sin and give us the gift that Easter brings. 

We hope your Christmas was wonderful and that you had time to reflect on our Saviors birth!

I love this season

Last weekend was awesome. First of all, matt shaved his beard. The end of no shave November!  (Don't tell him but I kind of like the beard)

 Of course mid shave he let me take a silly picture of him. 

Then. We got to go to an adult party. You know, the kind with no kids, where you dress up, and hang out with people who aren't in diapers?  Yup. It was amazing. We ate amazing food network quality food (what exactly is prosciutto anyway?) and played a game called yuker. With adults. Can I mention that it was a grown up party one more time? 

  We have some really amazing people in our life. This party was hosted by my Wednesday bible study teacher and I am SO glad I took the leap and joined this class. These ladies are becoming like family to me. Except for Jen. She's always been family. 

We hit up build and grow to make Christmas trains. If you haven't taken advantage of it - google it. It's a great program for kids and it's free!

Granny came down and we piled into the van to see the Christmas lights in Morganton. I wish I had videoed Luke's reaction. He was in awe!  I love that our Morganton trip has become a tradition in our little family. 

We have big plans for Christmas week. I can't believe it's already almost here!!

Humbled

This year when my friend Ryan passed away it rocked our world. Losing someone so young...  It was hard to wrap my head around. Three months have passed and his precious bride has created a foundation to provide scholarships for the sylvan learning center where Ryan was director. Ryan's heart was for children. And I am so glad his legacy and story are still touching others!  

I am so humbled that I get to offer my photography services at a benefit coming up in a week. Completely humbled. So if you, my readers, are in Hendersonville please come by this special event to benefit the Ryan Chastain memorial foundation. There are going to be some really fantastic things to bid on in the silent auction. 

My favorite time of year.

This year we set off on our very first griswald Christmas experience - we were going to get our very first, real Christmas tree. Up until now our faithful artificial pencil tree had done the trick every year. But since we moved into a two story house - we of course - needed two trees. We asked around and the general advice given was to head to sugar plum farms up near Newland. We grabbed the kids light jackets (it was 55 degrees in Marion) and headed up a few mountains. It was FREEZING!!!  But we got to go on a hayride, pick the perfect Christmas tree, drink hot chocolate and head home. 

I love it. The smell brings me back to my childhood. And while matt was struggling to get the tree into the stand I remembered so many years of my dad in that same position, grunting and groaning while we all waited (impatiently) with ornaments in hand to decorate. 

Next year, our "real" tree might come from a random stand here in Marion. But I am thankful we did the whole sugar plum farm experience for our very first time. 

Thankful

Thankful

This past week I became a grown up.  I hosted my first thankgiving.  Did I make my first turkey?  Nope.  I am terrified of animal bones.  But the honey baked ham knocked it out of the park with our meat and our family all brought sides.  It was a success!  It was so great to have my siblings (minus Daniel and Lindsey - wish they could've been here!!), aunts and uncles, cousins, and grandparents in our home.  I am so very thankful that God blessed us this year with a house big enough to fit everyone.  We borrowed tables and chairs from our church and set up the basement fellowship hall style with a buffet table and everything.  And I am most thankful that on Thursday afternoon, so many people that I love were in one place.  Sharing a meal and memories together.