When the game is over...it all goes back in the box

In my spare time...the 10 minutes at 5:00 in the morning that I spend pumping, I have been reading "When the game is over, it all goes back in the box" by John Ortberg. The book is about having a fantastic career, a new house, a plush 401K and a secure retirement. Good, all good - but is that what it's all about? No matter how skillfully you play it or how many tokens you acquire, a time arrives when the game of life comes to an end. Now what?

NOW IT ALL GOES BACK IN THE BOX.

No more game cards. No more tokens. No more promotions. Game over...

WHAT DID YOU WIN THAT YOU GET TO KEEP?

Beginning with the right object - being rich towards God - the book shows what it really takes to really win at the game of life. The book helps you to live with an eternal perspective, keeping your eye on the true prize - the one that unlocks the gate to the kingdom of God.

The book has really helped me to really step back and take a look at my life. Reading this book has helped me to focus on eternal things rather than earthly things. God truly blessed me in 2008, so it is my goal to focus on how grateful I am for how much he has blessed me.

I just finished the chapter about gratitude. Basically, the whole chapter is about living your life with gratitude: The ability to experience life as a gift.

Without going into too much detail, the author basically recommends that we keep a pen and paper by your bed. At night, before you go to sleep, take a few minutes to reflect on five events during the day that prompted gratitude. It could be as simple as waking up in the morning, seeing the face of someone you care for, eating a great taco, hearing words of affection from a friend, or completing a challenging assignment at work.

As you write down these events, remember that each of them came to you from the hand of God. Use them to reflect how good God must be to give such gifts and remember to thank him for giving you such a wonderful gift.

With this being said, I know first hand how easy it is to get caught up in our daily, busy lives. From reading most of the blogs, it would appear that we all have many things to be grateful for. I would definitely recommend everyone go out and get this book!

5 Things that I am thankful for today...

FAMILY

SAVANNAH

SISTERS

FRIENDS

BATHTIME!

Weekend with the fam!

So, this weekend, my cousin Ben, who just happens to be one of my favorite people on earth, finally came to meet my little Savannah! We had the best time! We spent most of the weekend paying Tyler big bucks (quarters and dimes) to pose with Savannah. After going broke, we came out with some of the BEST pictures! We really need to stop acting like Amarillo is so far away and take more trips to see them! Vianna (what Tyler calls Savannah) needs to grow up with her cousin playing the mud, starting bonfires, and playing hide and go seek just like me and Ben did.

Tyler and Vianna

"Tyler..give Vianna a kiss on the cheek"

Ben & Crystal - 2 & 1/2 years apart.

Tyler & Savannah - 2 & 1/2 years apart.

3 Months Old

3 Month old pic in our pink chair with our favorite leopard blanket. 3 months old...wow...I really feel like it was just yesterday that I was heading up to the hospital. It makes me sad that time is flying by so fast. Savannah, at this point, you are able to roll over (from your tummy to your back), smile, giggle, reach out and touch things, hold your head up (a little wobbly), and brighten my day far beyond imaginable.

Friends Forever!

Savannah and Maycie spent a little time together over Christmas exchanging gifts and taking Christmas pictures together. Savannah's sleeping schedule was really messed up, so she wasn't cooperating as much as I wanted and Maycie was really obsessed with Emma, so her attenting was diverted to Emma! So, Jody and I did the best we could! haha!

Savannah gave Maycie (and her other BFF, Bryn) matching name bracelets. Maycie gave Savannah a little monkey with a matching sweater from the Children's Place! Bryn sent matching owl backpacks with their names painted on them for their first slumber party! Two of my very best friends have girls about the same age as my little girl...how cool is that!!!

Savannah and Maycie checking each other out!

First Christmas!

Savannah's first Christmas was sooo much fun! There were double the packages for me to open because she isn't old enough to open up her own gifts! haha. I can only imagine what it is going to be like next year when we have a little 15 month old digging through our packages for us! Savannah's aunts have already made it clear that they "DONT need any help" opening up their gifts next year. Savannah..unless you want your fingers cut off, I would stay away from Aunt Jen Jen and Aunt Jacksie's gifts! :) From Christmas Eve service, to her mamma and pa's Christmas, to gifts and stockings from Santa Claus, to Christmas at Granna and Poppy's, to Christmas in Paducah with her great grandparents, she had an AMAZING first Christmas. Jeremy and I definitely had a lot to be thankful for this Christmas!

Miss Claus

Savannah opening up presents at Great Mamma's house. The bows on her head symbolize the greatest gift I have ever received!

Her presents and her princess stocking from Santa Claus.

Christmas with her great grandparents

Tummy Time!

"Tummy Time" is one of our (ok...maybe just me) most favorite times of the whole day! On November 17th, we were doing our normal tummy time routine and I looked down and Savannah rolled over from her tummy to her back. I thought that it was just a complete accident, so I put her back on her tummy and she rolled over again! I couldn't believe it! I absolute LOVE seeing all of the different things that she learns to do!

Just rolled over again!