Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

I can't believe you're 3 today. You're no longer a baby. It seems like just yesterday that your daddy and I were at the hospital, pacing the halls, waiting for your arrival. The moment I saw your face I was instantly more in love with a human being than I ever thought possible. My heart became 100 times bigger. You were just perfect with your dark hair and chubby cheeks. It was absolutely one of the best days of my life.

I never could have imagined the joy and fun you would bring into our lives.

You have such a little sense of humor and say some of the funniest things I have ever heard. You're bossy. You love others deeply even at your young age. You're smart. You love to sing and be sung to. Your favorite song to sing is Mr. Golden Sun. You are an extremely picky eater. Your favorite foods are peanut butter and jelly, chicken mcnuggets, pancakes and macaroni and cheese. You obey so well and are easily disciplined. Your giggle is contagious and my favorite sound in the entire world. You speak way beyond your years. You love to be independent. One of my favorite things you say is 'yesternight', which basically refers to any time before right now. You love to snuggle...on your terms. It's mandatory that anytime Rocky goes outside he must first go through your legs and then out the door. You're sweet and kind. You're dramatic. You sometimes wrap your arms around me and daddy and say, "my favorite people".

You make me want to be a better mommy and woman. Your life has brought your daddy and me closer together and more in love. You set a good example of what real love looks like. I could not imagine a life without you. You bring bright beautiful colors into my world.

My beautiful, kind, funny, smart, loving, independent, sweet, darling Chloe....I love you more than measly words can say. I love you to the ends of the earth. I love you to the depths of the sea.

My sweet girl...I love you 'to the moon and back'.

Happy Birthday baby girl. Your daddy and I are so proud of you already!

Haiti

Last night as I was falling asleep, all I could think about was Haiti and the horrific things they are enduring.

My thoughts went immediately to the mothers. Some mothers wondering whether their children are alive or dead. Some wondering how they will feed their children or where they might get clean water. Some writhing in pain from the news that their child was taken away from them too soon. Sweet children without their mommies. I can't even imagine. The thoughts make me literally sick to my stomach.

As I laid in my warm bed, in my warm house, that is literally 50x (if not more) the size of any Haitian's shack, God broke my heart in half for His people. Tears streamed down my face. I tried to hold back the sobs as to not wake up Justin. I begged God to give the people of Haiti peace and comfort, to remind them that He's there, to move in the hearts of His people that are more fortunate to give what they can (or even beyond) and to pray.

We will be making a donation to Compassion International's disaster relief program today. It's the very least we can do. I feel very helpless, but just $35 can give one family food and water for the week. Praise Jesus!!

If I'm being honest, I think we, as Christians, have no other choice but to help.

Top 10 for 2010!

I have been thinking about my list of goals for 2010 for several weeks. Things I really want to work on, change, and implement this year. Here is what I have come up with:

1. Get involved in a ministry that makes my heart sing. This is really important to me this year. I have a few ideas of where I would like to get involved, so I'm gonna start checking into volunteer opportunities.

2. Get my house and life more organized. This is *always* a yearly goal for me and for some reason it's just so hard for me. I am really great at planning but really bad at executing. I'm a work in progress, I suppose. Baby steps.

3. Read through the bible. I got a "daily" bible in The Message translation (I have to say, it's really weird reading this translation when I'm so used to NIV. It's going to take some getting used to!) and I'm really excited about getting all the way through the bible this year. My mom is doing the same thing (although a different reading plan), so I'm hoping we can keep each other accountable!

4. Memorize 24 Bible verses. Beth Moore did this during 2009 on her blog. I'm just a year late :) I will pick a new verse on the 1st and 15th of each month. Here is my first one: "Let the morning bring word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul" (Psalm 143:8). I have a little note card book that I'm putting my verses in so that I can keep them with me and meditate on them whenever (in the car, waiting in line at the store, etc.). If anyone wants to do this with me, let me know :)

5. Complete doula certification. I am going to training at the end of April (it was suppose to be in February, but it had to be pushed back because of lack of participants, which I was sooo bummed about!). This is my dream job and I'm so excited!! :)

6. Lose 15 pounds by the end of April. 'Nuff said.

7. Paint out bedrooms and bathrooms. It's killing me that our bedrooms are still beige. I have a few ideas of colors. Chloe's room is up first -- poor girl...what princess wants to live in a BEIGE castle?

8. Stop "actively" trying for another baby. This is a huge one for me this year. We've decided to let God completely decide what is going on with our family. No more stressing. I'm so over it!! If we get pregnant this year, I will of course be thrilled, but its definitely not in our plans.

9. Be wise with our money. We don't have a ton of debt, but we really want to completely knock it out in the next couple of years. In order to do that, we need to be even more diligent than we've already been about spending our money wisely.

10. Be more intentional about loving others. 'Cuz that's really what it's all about, right? ;)

So, what are your goals for this year?

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