It's almost here!

Christmas is almost here!  The kids are getting excited and are expecting Santa to bring them everything they have asked for.  I am glad they didn't ask for much lol.  We have our tree up and our stockings hanging.  I had to improvise though because we don't have a mantle so I had to hang them on the window sill.

 

 The kids putting the first ornaments on the tree!

Our Christmas tree and make shift mantle for the stockings!









After we got everything put up, I took pictures of the kids in front of the tree.



Hayli





Austin



Houston

 My babies did such a great job taking pictures!  They love it!
They were also very patient with me and worked with me and did what I asked them to do.  I love these pictures!

The kids have told us everything they want for Christmas.  Hayli has made it known that she wants hot pieces (red hot candy), a steak and a microphone!  Austin wants a monster truck and he wants Thomas the Train, James and Percy.  It amazes me with the things kids come up with.  I have absolutely no idea where Hayli got the idea that she wanted steak for Christmas.  The red hots were from Thanksgiving, but I'm not even sure that she really liked them because they were kinda spicy.  She cracks me up with her thoughts and ideas.  Austin's wish list is not so suprising.  He loves anything with wheels so wanting trains and monster trucks is very normal for him.  Hayli, I guess, is in the stage where she doesn't really have a favorite thing to play with.  She kinda follows along with her brother and what ever he is playing with.  She has also told my mom that she wants a dad barbie, aka the Ken doll.  We will see if she gets everything she has asked for this year.

I love these years especially with my kids being the ages they are.  I love waking up on Christmas morning and seeing the joy on their faces when they see the presents under the tree.   Then their faces light up even more when they unwrap the presents to see what they got.  The feeling of joy overcomes me when I see that I have made my babies happy.  I am truly a proud mother and I thank God everyday for the gifts He has given me in each of my children!  I cherrish and love them all so very very much.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

1 Year!

On December 5th, my hubby and I celebrated our 1 year wedding anniversary!  God has truly blessed us this past year.  There have been a lot of changes in our home, from a new job for Lance to a new baby!  God has helped us through all of these changes, and with each one, our love and our marriage has gotten stronger!  My love for my husband has grown more and more everyday and I can't imagine my life without him. 

When we first got married, it was a very big adjustment.  We would constantly have little arguements over small things.  There were things we did around the house that were different from each other and we would argue over that.  When financial issues would come up, we would have arguements over that.  As the year went on, we started to adjust to the way each other worked.  I adjusted to the way he liked certain things to be.  He adjusted to the way I did certain things and we have now come to a pretty close compromise and we don't have half as many arguements as we used to!

I can also be very thankful that even though we have been married for a year now, we still love to cuddle up on the couch with each other and watch a good movie!  We can have tickle fights and horse play with each other and have each other laughing so hard we are rolling in the floor!  I absolutely love those moments and I thank God everyday that He has given me a wonderful, caring, and loving husband.

I am very grateful that the Lord has guided us through our first and toughest year of marriage!

Give Thanks

I am so thankful for my family!  We had an awesome Thanksgiving.  We started on Thanksgiving day with our amazing Thanksgiving dinner, and then we just hung out and the kids later made their oreo turkeys.





Austin and his Turkey                                                       Hayli and her Turkey

They absolutely loved making the turkeys as well as eating them lol.  The next day all the women went shopping and the men and kids stayed at grandma's house.  The men went out to lunch together and then did a little shopping of their own.  Later on that evening when all the shopping was done, we all met up for dinner.  After dinner, everyone went their separate ways again for the night.  Then on Saturday, we all went back to my grandparents' house for most of the day.  We enjoyed dinner with each other and, we deep fried everything we could find (including shrimp, green beans and onions).  It was all so yummy.  We spent our time before dinner putting up my grandparents' Christmas tree and decorations.  It was actually a very nice time with my family.  Over all, we had an awesome holiday with our family and I wouldn't have had it any other way (except we were missing Amanda and her hubby Eric).

At Thanksgiving dinner, my grandfather requested that anyone who wanted to say something they were thankful for, he would like to hear it.  My grandfather said he was thankful for his loving wife (our grandmother) who he was still to this day in love with.  My Aunt spoke on the things she was thankful for and my cousin Clint also spoke on what he was thankful for.  I myself am not the first to speak up in a croud and would honestly rather not speak at all.  When my grandfather wanted to hear what we were thankful for, I actually got a little nervous.  Then I decided to just stand there and listen to others and not speak.  On top of that, my mind went completely blank.  That is usually what happens when I am asked to speak in front of a croud and all attention is on me.  I did have to step away from the group to answer my phone, as Lance was calling to say he was on his way from work and he was telling me his plan before coming to my grandparents' house.  During that time, what I was most thankful for came to my mind.  I had decided that when I went back to the group, I would speak and say what I was thankful for.  After I got off the phone and walked back to the table, my grandfather started to say the blessing for the food.  I missed my chance to speak, however, I was still a little upset that I didn't get to speak.  Since I didn't get to speak on Thanksgiving, I am going to say it now.

The thing that I am most thankful for this Thanksgiving is a family that cherrishes the time we get to spend with each other.  I love that when we celebrate a holiday, we don't just come together for dinner and then go our separate ways as soon as we are done.  We make a whole day of it, or weekend on the bigger holidays.  We spend as much time together as we can, and we all enjoy doing it.  There are not many families now a days that enjoy spending time together or even celebrating the holidays.  It upsets me when I hear or see a family that just comes together for lunch and then goes their separate ways.  I grew up in a family where all the cousins were like brothers and sisters and all the Aunts and Uncles were like moms and dads.  We have always been very close and being with my family on the holidays is very important to me.  That is why I am thankful for my amazing and wonderful family.

P.S. Thank You Lord for giving me a wonderful, caring, God centered, and loving family.

         Amen

A Thank You and A Prayer

Lord, first I want to thank you for showing us which job is meant for Lance to have.  Lance called the company he was waiting on and they said they did not get the contract, so they did not have the position for him.  Thank you for answering my prayer Lord.

I pray, Lord, that You will now help us to find a good place to live in Williamsburg that is also affordable for us.  I pray that You will help Lance advance in his workplace to higher positions with higher pay.  I pray that You will help us find good schools for Hayli and Austin to attend, and I pray that You will help me find a good job that will work around my kids' school hours.  I also pray that You will help us find a good sitter for Houston.  One that is trustworthy, caring, and loves children.  I pray that I might even find a job in a daycare where I can have Houston there with me and then Hayli and Austin can even come there after school. 

Lastly, Lord, I pray that you will keep us safe in our new journey.  I pray that you will lead and guide us in any direction we are meant to go.  I pray that you will help us meet good Christian friends that we can hang out with.  I pray that our life there will be glorifying to You in all that we do.  I pray that You will help us find a great church to go to as well.  Never let us forget that You are our Redeemer, Saviour, Father and Friend.  We Love You Lord!

Thank You for hearing my prayer Lord!

Amen

A Good Old Fashion Hazlegrove Family Christmas!

Christmas in my family starts at Thanksgiving!  Everyone gets together for the Thanksgiving holiday.  There is definitely no lack of food in the Hazlegrove house either!  We have a wonderful dinner at my grandmother's house with all of the family, including those that have come from out of town.  Everyone contributes to the food by bringing one of their favorite dishes.  There is always so much to choose from, and it is all very yummy!  The day after Thanksgiving (black friday), is just as funfilled as Thanksgiving day.  All of the Women set out on a Christmas shopping spree while the men and kids hangout back at grandma's house.  The men will all go out for lunch or sometimes meet up with the women for lunch during the shopping day.  That evening when all of the shopping is done, the whole family will either have dinner at grandma's house again, or we will all go out to dinner.  When my family celebrates a holiday, it is more than just that day!

Here comes Christmas time and it is even more time spent with my family.  On Christmas eve, we all go to our Christmas eve church service.  After church, we all make our way back to my parents' house for dinner and gift exchange between the kids.  It is such a wonderful time spent with my family and we all get along so well and enjoy each other's company.  After most of the family is gone, my husband, myself and the kids will hang back with my parents and my sister and her family.  We will then exchange our gifts with each other and spend some quality time with our immediate family.  I wouldn't miss that for the world.

Christmas morning is a joy for me especially since I had my kids.  I love getting up in the morning and watching them get excited over their gifts under the tree.  Then unwrapping the gifts is even more enjoyable.  After we enjoy our gifts at home, we make our way to my Aunt Doris' house.  There my whole family enjoys an amazing breakfast and more quality time with each other.  After we finish our breakfast, we head back home for a little bit of free time and let the kids enjoy their toys.  That evening, we head over to my grandmother's house for our Christmas dinner.  Just like our Thanksgiving dinner, we have a lot of food that tastes wonderful.  After dinner, my grandmother hands out all of her gifts for the family.  Her tradition is to give every family member (including those that married into the family) an ornament for their Christmas tree.  She may sometimes even include a little something extra for a gift.  We then just spend the rest of the evening hanging out and chatting with each other.  Christmas is so much fun in the Hazlegrove family.

For the next week, my family will get together periodically to eat or just hang out.  Then for New Years, my family gets together again.  Only, this time we don't have dinner at my grandparents' house.  We all go out to dinner together.  After dinner, we all go back to someone's house to hang out and eat dessert and bring in the new year.

I can't thank God enough for the family that He gave me.  A family that cherrishes all the time that we can spend together.  A family that finds "family" very important.  A family that is very loving and very close to each other in every way. 

Thank You God!

My Favorite Time of Year!

11/14/2010
Yesterday (Sat. Nov. 13th 2010) we, as a family, went and bought a new Christmas tree.  Since we usually put it up right after Thanksgiving anyway and it is only 2 weeks away, we decided to go ahead and put it up.  The tree stands 7 1/2 feet tall and it is covered in beautiful colored lights.  We put it up the same day that we bought it.  

The kids were so exited when we told them they could help us put the tree up!  It was kind of hard for them to help, but they sat and watched in amazement while Lance and I put up the tree.  The baby was even watching us while he was in his bouncy seat.  We worked non-stop until the tree was up.  Once we plugged in the lights, we noticed there was a section of lights that were not working.  About this time, we decided that it was time for the kids to go to bed.  After we got the kids in the bed, tried to figure out the problem with the lights on the tree.  I was worried when we checked the fuse and nothing happened and we had almost checked all of the bulbs and still nothing.  Finally, the last one that Lance touched, he realized it was loose.  He pushed it back in and all the lights came on.  I was so relieved to see all of the lights working.  

This morning, I woke up and had to go to the doctor because I was coughing terribly and I could feel it in my chest.  I was diagnosed with bronchitis.  I was just glad to get some medicine to help it.  I came home and we all ate lunch.  After lunch, I turned on the Christmas tree.  The look on the kids' face was priceless.  It is so wonderful to see something so simple be so satisfying and enjoyable for them.  I let them enjoy the tree for a few minutes then I put all of the kids down for a nap.  Then Lance left for work and I took my medicine (which had codeine in it so it put me to sleep).  I laid down on the couch and slept for 4 hours.  Hayli and Austin, when they woke up from their naps, came and sat down in the living room and watched tv.  Houston slept as long as I did.  I am so thankful for a baby that is a good sleeper. 

I fixed the kids some Chef Boyardee for dinner.  Hayli had spagghetti, Austin had Spagghettios, and I had lasagna.  After the kids finished their dinner, I gave them some ice cream.  I then decided to go up in the attic and pull down all of the ornaments and Christmas decorations that we have.  In amongst the ornaments were a package of plastic icicles and a package of plastic snowflakes all sprinkled with silver glitter.  I told the kids that they could each put the icicles and snowflakes on the tree.  They got so excited and enjoyed doing the job.  Those were the first ornaments ever put on the tree.  They asked if they could do more, and I explained to them that we would wait until daddy was home to do the rest.  They were so proud of themselves for putting their ornaments on the tree.  Hayli did all of the snowflakes without help, and Austin would hand me the icicles, and I would put them on the tree.  Of course, I had to go back after Hayli was done and spread the snowflakes out more but I still told her that she did a beautiful job.

Christmas is an amazing time of year.  People seem to be happier and nicer and everything smells "yummy" lol.  Riding around is beautiful in itself because Christmas is when all the houses are lit up.
I love Christmas because everywhere I look I am reminded of what Jesus has done for us.  On Christmas, you can find a nativity scene anywhere.  Even at the homes of those who don't attend church!  That in itself tells me that God is in the hearts of many people who don't even realize it.  It sometimes almost brings me to tears just thinking about it.  Many people speak of Christmas as just a time for giving gifts and say they don't believe the "religious" part of it, yet the songs you hear them singing are those of Christ at Christmas time!  No matter what you say, or where you go, or what you do, there is no running away from the truth about Christmas.  That is what I absolutely love about Christmas!

That is why Christmas is my favorite time of year!

Dear Heavenly Father,

      Please help me to remember that you are the soul decision maker.  That you are there for me through the good and the bad, and you know what is best for me.  Please help me to keep my focus on You and honor and love You as the Bible says to do. 
      Please be with my family as we continue to grow in faith.  Please help us to stay calm and leave things in Your hands.  This has been difficult lately trying to figure out if the Crane company is going to call Lance back to come to work or if he is going to stay with his current company, in result, moving us to Williamsburg.  It has become kind of frustrating to the both of us.  I am fighting back and forth about whether or not I should get a job yet because we don't even know if we are staying, but I really need a job to make some money!  Lord, please calm our hearts and minds in knowing that we will be ok no matter the outcome and that You are the one who knows what is best.  I also want to ask, Lord, that You would please give us our answer soon so we know what we are doing and which path we are taking. 
      Lord, please be with me as I try to find a job!  I pray that the job I find, is easy to attain and I am willing to take it on!  I also pray that I can find a job quickly as it is slightly difficult to handle a household of 5 with only one income.  I pray that the job is also a job that can work with my hours of availability and days of availability.  Please Lord, help me find the job that is perfect for me and that can become a career instead of just a "job for now".
      Thank You Lord for hearing and listening to my prayer.
      

    Amen

P.S. Thank you for being my Heavenly Father!

From the Love of my Life!

This is the card my husband gave me for my birthday!

What is a Wife?

A wife is the woman you love

for being there

 with warmth and understanding

whenever you need it

for sharing your disapointments

as well as your success

for having confidence

in your dreams and plans

for the future.....

A wife is the woman you love

for doing thoughtful things

to show she cares

for making every day

a special one

and for filling your life

with joy and happiness.

With you,

I've known such happiness

and found a love so real,

I only wish I knew the words

to tell you all I feel.

With you,

I've watched my dreams come true,

hoping that you knew

What joy it brings to everything

whenever I'm with you.

Happy Birthday

   with Love

           Love you

                   Babe

This card made me cry.  I love him so much!           

My Inspiration, My Hope, My Peace, My God

These are the two songs that I hold dear to my heart.  The first one is my reminder that Jesus is Lord and my Messiah!  The second one kinda tells the story of my past!

Jesus Messiah - Chris Tomlin

He became sin, who knew no sin

That we might become, His righteousness

He humbled Himself, and carried the Cross

Love so amazing

Love so amazing

Jesus Messiah

Name above all names

Blessed Redeemer

Emmanuel

The rescue for sinners

The ransom from Heaven

Jesus Messiah

Lord of All

His body the bread, His blood the wine

Broken and poured out, all for Love

The whole earth trembled, and the veil was torn

Love so amazing

Love so amazing, yeah

Chorus

All our hope is in You

All our hope is in You

All the glory to You God

The light of the world

Chorus

Does Anybody Hear Her - Casting Crowns

She is running, a hundred miles an hour

In the wrong direction

She is trying, but the canyon's ever widening

In the depths of her cold heart

So she sets out on another misadventure

Just to find

She's another two years older and

She's three more steps behind

Does anybody hear her?

Can anybody see?

Or does anybody even know

She's going down today

Under the shadow of our steeple

With all the lost and lonely people

Searching for the hope that's tucked away

In you and me

Does anybody hear her?

Can anybody see?

She is yearning, for shelter and affection

That she's never found at home

She is searching, for a hero to ride in

To ride in and save the day

And in walks her prince charming and

He knows just what to say

Momentary lapse of reason and

She gives herself away

Chorus

If judgement looms under every steeple

If lofty glances from lofty people

Can't see past her scarlet letter

And we've never even met her

If judgement looms under every steeple

If lofty glances from lofty people

Can't see past her scarlet letter

And we've never even met her

Chorus

My family is God-sent!

My family has always been a tight knit family!  We have done everything together since I can remember!  We celebrate everyone's birthday together.  Some birthdays we will go out to dinner together and others we have a cookout at my grandmother's house.  We also celebrate all of the holidays together (even the small ones).  I wouldn't know what to do if we didn't have a get together on one of the holidays! 

My immediate family (my parents and sister) is also very tight knit!  My sister and I have always shared secrets and confided in each other.  We have also had our fair share of fights!  However, that is what brought us so close together!  We can talk to each other about anything, private or not so private!  I could not have asked God for a better sister than the one He gave me!

My mom and dad have been there for me through thick and thin!  I have hit some pretty rough patches in my life, but my parents were still there and still loved me through all of it.  Yeah, we had some pretty bad fights that ended up in non-communication for a short period of time, but we always sorted things out no matter how big the issue!  God has truly blessed me with an amazing immediate family!

I also have the same strength in love from my extended family as well.  Some of those rough patches I went through affected them as well.  They stood by me and did the best they could to help me through them.  They have always been there for me and helped me whenever I needed it!  My Aunts and Uncles have given me any kind of advice and help possible and my cousins have loved me no matter what!

I am now married to the love of my life and have 3 beautiful children.  My two older children were the result of my one big rough patch, although, I wouldn't trade them for the world!  I had them out of wed-lock and I was living with their father at the time.  I was in what I would call my rebellious stage of life when I thought that no one could tell me what to do and I thought I knew what was best for me.  The man that I married has taken on the responsibilities of my two older children and now we have a little one of our own!  He is now 4 months old and he adds to the joy that my family brings me!  I can't thank God enough for the family that He has given me!

Last but finally not least, I am very thankful for my church family!  They have also been there for me through thick and thin and stuck by me all the way.  They have given me all the help and support that I ever needed and I can't thank them enough for that either.

It all comes down to the fact that my family are my best friends and I wouldn't have it any other way!  I love you all!  I thank God for ya'll every day!

My Babies are growing up!

Today was the first day of school for Austin.  When I took him to school, he was fine until we got to his classroom.  He started to cry because he wanted mommy to stay there with him all day.  He was having a hard time coping with being there.  He cried for about 30 minutes. 

I went back down to the office and listened in on the intercom to see how he was doing.  Once snack time came, he was just fine! lol  He loves to eat.  Later on I called my mom to see how he was doing. (mom works in the office at his school)  She said that he was doing fine, however, he did have a rough moment out on the playground because he was having a hard time sharing.  After that, Austin had a great rest of the day. 

Despite his rough patches, I was proud of my doodlebug going to his first day of school!!!

A Halloween weekend full of fun!

On friday October 29th, I dressed the kids up and took them to the fall festival that Austin's school was doing. (the school is housed in our home church)  Hayli was Alice in Wonderland, Austin was Thomas the Train, and Houston was a baby skeleton.  They were all so adorable and they loved their costumes. 



Austin as Thomas the Train and Hayli as Alice in Wonderland



Houston as my little skeleton

They really enjoyed themselves at the fall festival.  My group had to sing as part of the music entertainment.  The kids ran around and played some games and Hayli even got her face painted.



she got a butterfly



Then on Sunday October 31st (halloween day) we had a very busy day.  We were on the go all day long.  We had church in the morning, and lunch at church, then I took them to their grandmother's house for an hour with their costumes on.  Then after that, we met Lance back at the house so we could take the kids to another fall festival.  We went to the fall festival at my in-laws church.  The kids had a blast and mommy and daddy even had fun.  When we left there, we were going to go to another fall festival but changed our minds and just went on home. 

It was a very nice ending to a very busy weekend.