New Year's Prayer

Dear God,

It has been a long year.  Patience has been a must, yet you have been there every step of the way.  You amaze me.  You have taken this broken and battered man and have molded me into something way better.  I haven't always made the best decisions, but somehow and someway you manage to take me back.  I don't deserve you.  However, I am incredibily thankful that you do take me back.  Last year at this time I blogged about Change.  I know you are still not done changing me.  You have shown me so many things about myself.  Mostly, I have learned that I don't fit in.  Mainly because I am not supposed to fit in.  You made me to follow you.  I am at my best when I follow you.  I am at my best when I surrender everything to you.  I am at my best when I do what you want me to do.  So as this next year moves forward I pray that I continue to honor you and live for you.  Bless and protect those two little girls that mean as much to you as they do to me.  Help them to see you in everything.  Help them to recognize your plan for their lives.  Help them to see and know who you are, and who you created them to be.  As I write this I find peace knowing you are in control and that is all I need. 

Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow

Nothing says Christmas like snow.  On Friday it began snowing here and did not stop until Saturday.  We were left with about 5 or 6 inches of snow.  Of course the girls wanted to get out and play in it.  I think it takes more time to dress them up, then they actually play in the snow, but it is worth it.  Last time I looked they were calling for more snow on Tuesday or Wednesday...Here's hoping for a white Christmas.

Here is the yard next to us....the girls enjoy playing there

Drea's snow angel...that is a must when it snows

Char making a snowball

Walking in a winter wonderland

DAD!

Drea walking away from me...

...now walking to me...

...getting closer

...closer

...closer

...snowball fight!

Gotcha!

Merry Christmas

Last week it dawned on me that I didn't do Christmas cards.  I probably thought that because I started getting Christmas cards in the mail.  At this point it is too late to make a card and send it out.  However, it's the 21st century so instead of sending out Christmas cards, I'll send our holiday greeting on the blog.  We hope everyone has a great Christmas and New Year....Love to you all....

We wish you a Merry Christmas

So right after this picture the girls ran down the hall and ran into each other.  Drea wound up with a bloody nose, Oh the drama....

We ended with this picture and it is by far my favorite...Happy Holidays!

A Cute Charlotte Story

The girls and I like to tell each other secrets.  It's something I have always done with them.  I usually just say to one of them, "Let me tell you a secret."  Sometimes the secret is you smell like poop, or something more serious like I love you.  So it came as no surprise the other day when Charlotte said, "Daddy, can I tell you a secret."  Charlotte's secret was that she loved me.  So I responded to her by telling her, that I loved her, too.  Charlotte then wanted to know why I loved her. 

I started by saying, "Well, Daddy loves you because you are funny"...and she stopped me right in the middle of my sentence.  "No, Daddy I don't want you to love me because I am funny, I want you to love me because you are proud of me and I am smart."  So cute...and to set the record straight, I am proud of her and her sister.

Cousins

Over our Thanksgiving break, Drea, Charlotte, and I traveled to my sister's home in Maryland.  It was great to be with family over Thanksgiving break and I had a wonderful time.  The best part of our whole trip was the girls getting to spend time with their cousins.  Everyday started and ended the same.  They would wake up around 8am and play all day until 11pm.  Sleep was at a premium.  This was evident by the end of our trip, as the girls were becoming a little more whiny then usual.  Either way it was time well spend with the girls having fun and playing together was priceless.  We did manage to do a few things like going to the park, looking at Christmas lights, pizza at the beach, playing outside, catching minnows, and Thanksgiving dinner.

 

This is the best picture I could get off all four of them together

Swinging on the giant swing at the park

Drea and Lydia being monkeys

Zipline!

More monkeying around

Drea, Brynn, Charlotte, and Lydia....and they look like trouble

Surprisingly, no one fell in

I love this picture of Drea and me....wish I would have included Charlotte

Bynn and Drea in the car going to see the lights

Lydia in the car...

And here is Charlotte....she did manage to sleep

The girls checking out the lights....with the glasses they could see elves and angels

Enjoying cookies and drinks after the lights

 

Thanksgiving

I love Thanksgiving.  I am pretty sure I always have.  I remember as a kid going to my grandparents and eating every Thanksgiving dinner with them.  The day would start with the boys (my grandfather, my dad, and me) going to watch Paulsboro and West Deptford play their annual Thanksgiving Day football game.  I don't think I can recall any game that Paulsboro didn't win.  That of course, was what we were hoping to happen.  While the boys were doing that, the girls were home preparing the dinner.  We would come home and watch the Macy's Day Parade.  Always.  Then of course, dinner, followed by more football.

I can't recall all of the things and people that showed up for dinner or even visited my grandparents home on that day.  I do recall that it was fun.  I remember the tradition of just being together and enjoying each other.  Isn't that what Thanksgiving is really about?

I like Thanksgiving for a variety of reasons.  However, for me it comes down to two things.  Food and Family.  The only thing better then the Thanksgiving dinner is the leftovers the next day.  You would think with as much as I love Thanksgiving food, I would eat it more times during the year.  Maybe that is why I like it so much.

Really, and in all seriousness, my favorite part is spending time with family.  It doesn't always go as planned.  Sometimes we fight, sometimes we don't see eye to eye, but that doesn't matter.  What matters is we are together.  As I look back on my childhood and my life, I have fond memories of Thanksgiving.  So today when you are spending time with your family, love one another and enjoy each others company.  Focus on what is important and put your differences aside.  My life hasn't gone the way I imagined, but as I write this, I thank God for everyone in my life and am grateful to be apart of my family. 

Because I don't Tweet

Since I am no longer on facebook and I do not use twitter, my only outlet to the cyberworld is my blog.  Anyway, my football teams have not been good this year and that pains me.  Recently, Kristi introduced me to this website so I will know when the Philadelphia Eagles are good again.  For those of you that are concerned about the Eagles here is the link to the site.

http://aretheeaglesgoodagainyet.com/ 

Try the website, it is just like the Magic Eight Ball, only better and more truthful.



Sometimes

Sometimes I say too much.

Sometimes I am too open.

Sometimes it doesn't seem worth it.

Sometimes it's just to hard.

 

Sometimes the truth gets muddled in fiction.

Sometimes reality sets in.

Sometimes there has to be an easier way.

Sometimes I don't want to try.

 

Sometimes I think it should be better.

Sometimes I think why.

Sometimes I hope for better.

Sometimes I just want to say goodbye.

 

Sometimes I don't understand.

Sometimes I want to give up.

Sometimes I wish someone else could do it.

Sometimes I wish it was over.

 

Sometimes I am spent.

Sometimes it just sucks.

Sometimes it is the only choice.

Sometimes it is all I can do to stay afloat.

Sometimes the glass is half empty.

 

 

Sometimes God answers prayers...and sometimes that is enough.

Halloween

This Halloween was a little different then in the past because of Superstorm Sandy.  We typically go with the girl's cousins, but because of the storm we were unable to go with them.  Halloween was moved in some areas to a different day, so our Halloween was broken up in two days.  Even though it was different the girls had a good time.  They also got to do something they never have done before...pass out candy to their cousin Barrett.

The girls put on their costumes and were happy to pose with Barrett

For the second part of the girl's Halloween, Stacey and I got the girls dressed in their costumes and headed out for trick or treating. 

Looking at all their candy

Charlotte was a mermaid and Drea was a movie star

I don't think I can ever get them to stand together or look at the camera at the same time

Yay!

 

Overall the girls enjoyed their Halloween.  We were glad to provide for them a great evening with family and lots and lots of candy.  Trick or treating was also the end of a month filled with lots of fall activities and fun.  We are now ready to bring on the turkey and Thanksgiving!

First Snow Day of the Year

I was glad to know that my family and friends from the East Coast all survived Superstorm Sandy.   Here in North Central WV we were graced with some snow.  The weather gave us a day off of school and the opportunity for some outside fun.  The snow was perfect for building a snowman and the girls took advantage.  For the most part our girls love playing outside.  However, I have noticed that when the weather is colder Charlotte is quicker to go inside.  When the weather is warmer Drea tends to go inside first.  Either way we had fun and it was a great way to spend the day.

Just playing in the snow

They were having so much fun, I couldn't get them to look at the camera

Every time it snows Drea wants to make a snowman....She finally got that chance

Adding the arms...

....eyes and nose

Charlotte taking a break

Adding the mouth

Buttons and a hat

Finally finished.....we named her, well, Sandy

Drea and Sandy

Charlotte taking a break and eating the snow

We had such a nice time playing in the snow.  We even got the sleds out and attempted to sled down the hill next to the house.  It was slow moving, but that was probably for the best since the girls probably would have been scared.  After that we went in the house and made hot chocolate and sugar cookies.