2010 In Review

2010 has been a whirlwind year for us. I have lived in 4 different houses and 2 states!

Jan.: We lived in Olive Branch,MS and I stayed home with Emma Kate and worked 10-15 hours a week.

Feb.: We found out that we had to move out of the house we were renting so we starting to look for a house to buy in the Olive Branch/Hernando area. Jeff started a new job.

March: We found a house we LOVED and started the buying process. Towards the end of the month we had a major hiccup in our marriage and Emma Kate and I left MS.

April: Emma and I spent Easter in Alabaster and was loved on by my sweet friends there. We then made our way to Atlanta to start over.

May: Emma and I spent the month living with my brother. I also spent a lot of time finding childcare for Emma in Atlanta, setting up a new work routine, and rebuilding my relationship with Jeff.

June: We spent the first week of the month on family vacation at the beach in a beautiful house. Jeff moved to Atlanta and we moved into an apartment. I turned 30!

July: I received a promotion at work and was asked to run our direct placement business in Atlanta.

Aug.: Jeff and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary. It was truly a milestone to celebrate and an event that would not have happened without the grace of God over both of our lives.

Sept: Emma started Pre-K at a new school and is loving it. We also spent a fun family day at Stone Mountain Park.

Oct.: Emma turned 4! Ms. Sandy, Caitlin, and Miss Jordan came down to celebrate. Later in the month we spent the day at a farm and had a lot of fun learning how to milk a cow and see cattle being herded.

Nov. : Jeff went to play with a band from MS so he dropped me off in Alabaster for quick visit on his way to the gig. We also had some of our old students (who are now all in college) come for a weekend visit with us in Atlanta. We spent Thanksgiving at his parents house in Hernando. We left Emma in Hernando so we got to spend the whole week after Thanksgiving with just each other.

Dec. : I went to Deeper Still in Birmingham the first weekend in December. Other then that first weekend we spent every weekend after that celebrating Christmas. The 2nd weekend we did Christmas in Atlanta with my entire family. The 3rd weekend Jeff's parents came to celebrate Christmas and Jeff's 32nd birthday. We spent Christmas weekend with my brother and his family as well as my mom and sister. Emma was so much fun and it was topped off with snow! We also found out this month that Emma is going to be a big sister!

2010 was full of a lot of changes but the one thing that never changed was the faithfulness of our God. We end the year being able to see His hand across all things and thankful for His continued provision over us.

Emma Kate is going to be a big sister!

We are celebrating some exciting news at the McKenzie house....we are having another baby! Emma Kate is beyond excited and is going to be such a great big sister. Here are some of her statements over the last 24 hours.

"Mommy you sure do have a lot of people in your body. You have Jesus in your heart, a baby in your belly, and all the food and water you have had today in your belly. How do you have room for all that?"

I was drinking water with my dinner and she said "mommy the baby does not like water the baby only likes milk. I know because I only drank milk when I was a baby and I did not like water at all."

"Why is the baby naked in your belly? I think you should buy some clothes for her?"
(We do not know what we are having yet she just wants a girl! :)

"Is it time to go to the hospital yet?"
(Nope we still have 9 months to go!)

"Can the baby's bed be in my room? When she cries I will either call for you to help me or just put the baby in bed with me. The baby will love sleeping with me."

Emma has rubbed and kissed on my belly non stop! I do not know who the nine months is going to be longer for....me or Emma.

White Christmas Day 2010

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Merry Christmas!

I just wanted to jump on and wish everyone a Merry Christmas! I have a few posts brewing in my mind and heart but tonight is not the night to write them.

Today was a great day at the McKenzie house. Emma woke up around 8:00 and she opened her presents. She is at such a fun age and really loved everything she opened. She was even quick to tell me she saw one of the dolls in our closet that was wrapped under the tree! It is good thing that "Santa" only brings her stocking and mommy and daddy bring everything else because we would have had some explaining to do :) Jeff and I were not going to exchange presents so I was not expecting to have anything under the tree. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find 2 presents under the tree for me! I am very excited about both and thankful for a sweet husband who knows my love language.

Today I have a lot of things to be thankful for. However, I am most thankful for "The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." John. 1:14