Christmas with the Dekolds!

Well, I'm way behind in the blog world! Because Christmas came and went almost a month ago and I'm now just getting to post about it! This past year we decided as a family to adopt some ideas that our pastors do at our church. Such as - only giving our kids three Christmas gifts. Why? Because Jesus only got three!! This is two fold in purpose! One- teaches them we design our lives after His, and two- waaaay cheaper for us! hee hee

Anyhow, we did it and our kids had a blast with their gifts! Thankfully, they are still young that they will not know any different from here on out! After we had our own family Christmas, we ventured out to the great white north known as Canada! We had a lot of fun taking our kids to do some traditional Gagne(my family) and Dekold(Nicks's family) outings. Overall, we had a very blessed Christmas! Here are some of the highlights of our trip! Enjoy!

Decorating cookies!

And of course, eating cookies!

This was taken at a place called Colasanti's...Nick and I went there all the time as kids! It has a petting zoo, a play area, lots of shops, an arcade, small kid rollarcoasters and THE best donuts!!

This was a new tradition we started with Gavin this year...making Jesus a birthday cake!

Of course, opening gifts!

Emory loved how they just kept coming out!

And PJs with cousins!

This is a park that has a ton of christmas lights/displays up! It was extremely cold out so we didn't end  up staying long! But Nick and I have gone every year since we were dating!

 AND that is a little glimpse of what our week of Christmas was like! I hope yours was just as great!

Life as we knew it in 2010!

So here we are! It's already 2011! Last night, Nick and I were talking about this new year and some things we need to accomplish as well as some things we feel God is telling us to do/work on... Which caused me to think about the past year! This past year was a great one for us! We started off the year getting our green cards in the mail! That is a huge weight of off us and our church! There were so many other things, some of which I blogged about, that we went through...Some good and some not so good! But in the end of the year and now looking back we realize that ALL things DO work out for GOOD to those who love God! Can I hear a AMEN! 


But as for this new year....God has given me one word - Relationships. Hmm, I thought now what does that mean because there are all kinds of relationships! My church is doing a 21 day fast right now, which I am participating in, and that's   one of the things I'm asking God to clarify!


Some goals we've set this year is to stay on budget! We say it every year, but this year I am DETERMINED to make it happen! We are putting our house up for sale and are needing a bigger one. And that is going to require us to stay on top of our money and not live so loosely! Another one is that we are taking a little honeymoon! lol Nick and I are gonna get away for a few days by ourselves this year! Which I am looking forward to! 


Last night as we were listening to some podcasts online, we can across Matt Chandlers story. And I think I'm gonna adopt his way of thinking! ha But seriously, the guy had a huge cancerous brain tumor and has been going through chemo for the last year and yet he says..."I am privileged that He is allowing me to go through this..." Wow! I want to take this approach this year! No matter what I am faced with I am privilege that He being God has allowed me to go through it. For so many reasons this excites me! I feel as though it would give a waaaaay less stressful life! Life is so wonderful and we get to live ours! Count each day as a blessing! Anyhow, those are my thoughts on this new year! BTW my birthday is this friday! Yay! Be blessed!

My Mommy Would B So Proud!

So this year has been a year of crafting/sewing projects for me! My dad (Thanks again Dad!) bought me a sewing machine for Mother's Day and it's been crazy sewing since then! Well, not really but if I had more time I would def be doing a whole lot more! BUT I have done a few projects here and there and recently have been getting more daring! I found this skirt in my closet...a short skirt you wear over leggings...thing is it's from B.K.D! (Before Kids Days!) lol So I've finally come to terms that I'll never be that skinny again and that IS OK! Well, I keep telling myself that anyway! So I refashioned it into a skirt for Emory! Take a look!

The Before Picture

Ta da!!! The finished result!

I even made a hair clip out of the extra material!

Just had to show you the back pockets I made for it! Soooo cute!

Isn't she just adorable in it?

Be looking for this outfit in our upcoming Christmas pictures!

 Hee hee that's how proud I am of this endeavor!

Today We Celebrate Your Birth!

Well, today is the day that I gave birth to our beautiful daughter Emory Grace! What a joy she has been to us this last year! Emory you are such a blessing to everyone you meet! You weigh about 18 lbs - and are petite! But that's ok because you're a girl! You are so sweet - you love to say hi & bye to EVERYONE you see! (Including strangers!) You absolutely love your brother! You reach for him every morning! You also love music - anytime it's on you are dancing away! It's so funny to watch you bouncing and waving your hands in the air! Here are some memories we have made with you the first year of your life!

The first time I held you I cried tears of joy!

You smiled at us for the first time Christmas eve!

Here you were introduced to the world of toys!

This picture definitely captures your silly personality!

You are so beautiful Emory!

You are always ready to smile for the camera!

So stinkin cute you are!

Emory, we pray God's blessing over you in this new year of life! May you continue to grow into an awesome young woman of God. With your beautiful blue eyes and blond hair we know you are destined for greatness! We love and we are so thrilled that God put you in our family!
Happy 1st birthday baby girl!

Happenings of the Dekold Family!

Too funny!

 Soooo, life here at the Dekold home has been super busy the last few months! So we haven't had much time to post any pictures or blogs about our life recently! So today is the day I spent editting pictures and thinking!

The first adventure we went on was a  trip to the pumpkin patch! Gavin, Emory and their very best friends had a great time...well most of them did! So here are some snapshots of our little adventure, and I say adventure because that's exactly what it was! 

Yep, best picture I got!

Isn't she just a doll!

They R so precious!

   

     I love this because Emory was putting her arm around Honour! Awww

Yeah, Our girls are so stylin! Too cute!

Last but not least! Our family - Daddy is the scarecrow! lol

Wow, what fun we had that day! Thanks for coming Honour and Slade!

Today We Celebrate Your Birth!

Today is the day - well, three years ago that is, that I gave birth to my son Gavin. Even though the actual thought of that day doesn't bring too much joy, hence all the pain of childbirth I had to go through! It does bring me such joy just thinking about the outcome! 

My little boy!

We were so thrilled you were in our lives!

And then you starting growing bigger!

And then you turned 1!

And then you turned 2!

And then you got a sister!

And now you're this little boy! 

A fun, silly, crazy, very lovable three year old!

Gavin you are such a joy to everyone that comes into contact with you. You love music - singing, playing guitar, and the drums! (of course!)

You love to eat! Well, snacks that is!

You adore your little sister! Ya'll are destined to be best friends!

You love your friends - Slade, Parker, Isaiah, Lyla, Mercy and Selah!

And best of all- you are the sweetest little boy around!

You love to give hugs, kisses and to be held! 

You are so polite and use your manners almost every time it's expected!

You now go on the potty, o what a trial that was! hee hee

Son, the last three years have been such a joy to have you in our lives! 

We pray that God allows us to have you for many, many, many more years!

We love you son!

Happy H'urtday'! (as you call it! lol)

Think Outside of the BOX!

So I haven't blogged in quite some time...we have just been swamped with so much lately! So today on this labor I have decided to take a break and write some thoughts down. 


A while back i was doing a study on why do we go to church...or why should we go to church? I didn't really write my findings for fear of offending people. But I will write down some of my thoughts about what I found. Take it or leave it, I will not argue with you so you can read and then disagree quietly or you can read and agree! lol Either way, Please know I am not doing this to offend anyone but just out reading and praying about why I personally go to church....so without further ado...


Sometimes we go to church because we have to. (Bc I'm on staff at a church!) 
Sometimes we go because we are hungry. We expect to be fed.
Sometimes we go to church just to see friends. Like I did when I was a teenager!
Sometimes we go to church because we are brought there. Like when I was a child.


For whatever reason we go to church. Especially here in the south. Everyone goes to church and everyone thinks they are saved! But going to church does not get me into Heaven. This past week P. Brad explained it so well...."Faith gets us into Heaven, but what we did while here on earth determines what happens in Heaven." 
Regardless of that belief, I found that about four years ago I was just going to church because I had to. It was my job. I went and did my job and worshiped but didn't feel like I was being fed spiritually. It was during the next year that I went through a really dry time spiritually. And then it was like one day God slapped me upside the head (as some of us need at times! lol) and opened my eyes to this scripture.."You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food." Hebrews  5:12 This goes along with the teachings we hear about so often - you need to move on to the meat of the Word vs. the milk.... Think about an infant. They rely on people to get them milk, and later on food and literally feed them. Once they are older they serve themselves and feed themselves. We are called Children of God, thus I believe when we get saved we need others to 'teach/feed' us the things of God. But once we have been saved and taught then we need to dive into the Word for ourselves. IN saying all this, I came to the conclusion I was going to church to be fed and wasn't receiving anymore bc I refused to feed myself and mature into a seasoned believer and start 'feeding' others. Going to church now has a different meaning to me. I don't go now to work, even though I do work while there! I don't go to get fed, but I go to worship God and help others go deeper and to minister to others and to be encouraged and to encourage. But now I listen to teachings online and read books that are taking me to a deeper level. And once I started doing that God has amazed me! I hear a scripture that I've heard a million times and somehow He shows me something new about it! So because I've chosen to go through the maturing process I am being totally blessed by the depth of the most simple things! If that makes any sense at all! There is so much to the Bible that I don't think I will ever complain about things not being deep enough for me. I think that by saying that it was full of pride and selfishness. Jesus came to serve and not be served! Bam in a nutshell that is why I go to church! :)