{a merry little Christmas}

at The Avenue, we've been going through Colosians 1 and appling it to help us simplify our Christmas season. Especially, focusing on removing the stressful portions and finding the deeper meaning of Christ and unity with our families.



Col 1:17 "He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together."



The holidays tend to be the most stressful time of all, but I tend to have a lot of stress and axiety most of the year. I am learning to hold onto the time you have with your loved ones. That the conversations and love displayed to them should be as if you may never see them again, because tomorrow is not promised to any of us. This year, we focused on not buying a bunch of stuff for our kids or ourselves, but on making traditions that will last throughout their lives. The funny thing is that in years past when we've been caught up in gifts, we've never had the money or ability to give many gifts. This year, when our focus was on more important things, we were able to give something to all our loved ones and God seemed to hand us many things for the kids we were able to use as presents for little to no money at all.



Luke was able to take some beauitful pictures of our Christmas by borrowing a camera from our friend, Drew and they turned out to be beautiful memories we will always treasure! I hope your chirstmas was full of beauty and meaning as well!

december, already?

I wish I had more time to update my blog, here's a Novemeber update and perhaps atleast one post a month can be my New Year Resolution!

Luke scored us FREE Coco Keys passes so we took Landen and Cecilia and had a mini vacation right here in KC! By far the best part was taking turns watching the kids while the other adult went in the outdoor hot tub!
We FINALLY completed the projects on our new house (only a year later!)
Here is the kids room complete with 2 cribs until we can transition Cecilia into her toddler bed. 3 kids in one bedroom is NOT ideal, but God is blessing us by allowing the kids to sleep through eachothers cries and get along very well!

Our bedroom is now burnt orange on the back wall and the other walls are chocolate brown! bye bye coke wallpaper! (that took FOREVER!)

Landen's pirate loft- he's got all he needs in the back corner of the bedroom and he loves his special space!

Luke was baptised this past month. It was a very special day as his accountability partner, Danny got to baptise him in front of our Avenue Family and Luke's parents and two of his sisters. Here is a video of the baptism from The Avenue.

Cecilia and Landen helped us rake a billion leaves out of the yard.

And Cecilia's hair was FINALLY long enough for pigtails!

Natalia is ONE month old!!!

kids @ Coco Key

ANNNNND I lost 25lbs from delivery day to my 6 week appointment!!!

Hope you all had a wonderful November, too!