Happy New Year!

I can't believe 2010 has come to an end! We celebrated New Years in a wonderful way and I hope it becomes a new tradition for years to come. In the past we have really enjoyed spending New Years Eve with the Wharton's and eating what we like to call "freezer trash." But this year the Wharton's are living a little bit too far away for a New Year's Eve visit. So we ventured down the street to Rachel and Eric's house. It was perfect because Aaron could easily sleep in a pack and play while we enjoyed an adult evening. We played games and laughed and talked. As midnight approached we prayed and thanked the Lord for the year and sat listening for the still small voice. We then took communion and said Happy New Year to one another. Finally the Constantine's (Rachel's parents) prayed over each of un individually. It was so special! I love God centered tradition! I hope this one lives on for many years.

As I look back on 2010 I am amazed. I was pregnant, I had a baby, I took my baby to work, one of my best friends moved away, I stopped working outside the home, my brother started coming to school in Gainesville, my mom got married, my dad found a wonderful person to spend time with (hopefully more to come on that!), we got a NEW CAR from Papa Steve, I struggled with anxiety, watched a friend suffer through a miscarriage who is now pregnant again with a healthy baby (praise Jesus!), found out a friend's mother's brain cancer is back and that she does not have long left, sat stunned as I listened to the news that our worship leader died at 31 only 2 months after the birth of his first child, made new and wonderful friends to have play dates with, took over co-leading a small group, and I'm sure there is more. The ups and downs in my relationship with the Lord has been incredible this year and I have loved the experience of getting to do life as a servant of the king! I also happen to have the most wonderful spiritual leader there is. My husband Joey is the most amazing man and father, and no New Years recap blog would be complete without mention on how much I love and adore Him (thank you God for Joey!). Our marriage is better every year and we just had our 4 year anniversary! (I say had and no celebrated because we have not yet had a chance to really celebrate yet, waiting for a sitter for the first time!) So all in all it has been a wonderful, fast, sad, amazing, beautiful year!

Lets Recap...

Thank you Jesus for a wonderful year.
Bless you and your 2011!

Our Big Talker's First Christmas

Merry Christmas everybody! We had a great time spending Aaron's first Christmas in Miami this year. He got to swim in Meemee's pool and play in Papa Steve's playroom at the condo and meet his cousin Kiya who is only two weeks older than he is!

Lately he has been talking up a storm! He says; ball, mama, mommy, buh-bye, and look. No dada or daddy yet (sorry Joey). The car ride home went a little something like this:

He got so many wonderful Christmas presents. As always, everyone was so generous! We thank God for our family and friends who show us such love and kindness.

One reason it is good to be back though- SLEEP! Aaron had a rough time in Miami and was teething like crazy. But thank goodness now all four top teeth are through and he is back to being a champion sleeper! He has also started eating again. Leave it to my Puerto Rican Mama to get the boy downing some pretty big meals! Thanks Meemee! That's a big relief.

Aaron seemed to take to opening presents like a fish takes to water! He loved finding fun toys inside of pretty paper! He even tried to help Uncle Kyle open his presents.

He also enjoyed being Meemee's little helper in the kitchen.

But by far one of the best parts of any trip for Aaron is getting to spend time playing with a pup! He just LOVES doggies! Little Rocky is the perfect size for Aaron, and he has energy to spare! We could never quite capture a picture with both sitting still!

So now we're back, home sweet home, and after a Monday off to recuperate, Joey is back at work. With Friday off, a three day work week is already begun! As I watch this little miracle play with his new found Christmas goodies, I thank God for the blessings that our in my life and look forward to a new year of blessings, peace, and wonderful surprises ahead.

I'm Falling Even More In Love with You

The words I can remember of this song are these,

I'm falling even more in love with you, letting go of all I've held on to. I'm standing here until you make me move, hanging by a moment here with you. I'm living for the only thing I know. I'm running and not quite sure where to go. And I don't know what I'm diving into. Just hanging from a moment here with you. There's nothing else to loose, there's nothing else to find. There's nothing in the world that could change my mind. There is nothing else. There is nothing else.

That's how I feel about the Lord right now and I am so excited to be on the mountain top again! I'm falling more in love with Jesus. There's nothing else to find. There's nothing better. I can't get over the generosity of my savior. How he gives so abundantly. How He loves so deeply. I can't get over how He hears and answers and BLESSES us sinners like we were saints. Oh, how I love Jesus!

I can't post without mentioning our biggest blessing: our healthy, smart, strong, compassionate, loving son Aaron. He is amazing. He can take 8 steps (but who's counting right?), say "Baby" and "og" which means dog to him. He waves at people while we are out and about now (finally deciding he enjoys being social) and when we talk to someone (even a perfect stranger) after a minute or so he will reach out for them to hold him. He is such a sweet boy.

I am being led by the Lord to be more of a Godly wife and I am really excited to rise to the challenge! I can't wait to learn to be more submissive and respectful! I am so embarrassed when I speak to my husband with disrespect: that is not who I desire to be! I realize that one of my goals in life is to make my husband happy. It sounds very 1920's or so, but I mean how did I miss that? When did I decide that it was necessary to earn respect from your wife? I didn't earn my salvation. I don't earn Joey's love... why should he have to earn respect. No. He deserves my respect because I am a women after God's own heart and, therefore, I will respect the man that he prepared for me.

Thank you God for family: for the Jesse Tree book and how it is bringing us closer together as a family unit. Thank you Jesus for revelations and growth! Thank you for humility and accountability. Thank you for our son, and most of all thank you for YOUR son.

9 Months and counting...

It's been a long time since I have blogged! Lets see, what's new in the Myer household? Aaron is a mover and a shaker (I'll elaborate more later), Joey is becoming more and more amazing, and I am getting more passionate about the Lord than ever (praise God!). It seemed like forever that my hormones were all over the place and I couldn't get it together. It was so frustrating to realize that I wasn't myself and not be able to do anything about it. In past blog entries I have talked about the depression and other issues, and how they were improving. And they were, but they continue to get better and better.
We recently traveled to the beach for two nights with the Leightman family and Aaron had great fun braving the waves. He isn't afraid of anything! He also enjoyed trying to eat as much sand as he could grab before Daddy pulled it all away. He is so stinking cute it's nuts!

Papa Steve and Roxanne come to visit a little while ago. Papa Steve got a Gator Tattoo! So Aaron tried to match him.

For Aaron's first Halloween (which we do not celebrate for in it's entirety, but as a time of family, and dress-up fun!) we went to the Family Harvest Jam at our church, First Assembly of God. It was a lot of fun! We had our picture taken in the western style photo scene (hasn't been sent out yet though) and ate lots of yummy (free) food! We were dressed as a family of farmers for the occasion. Nana Faith and Papa John came by for a visit last weekend and got to see how much Aaron has grown! They will be back to celebrate Thanksgiving with us as well, and Titi Stasi will be staying here too (can't wait!). We are all missing Tio Carlos like crazy and are excited for him to come back HOME!!! MeeMee Shirley is coming to visit in early December and we are all eager to then head to Poppy Warren's for Aaron's first Christmas!

My little man is over 9 months old now! He enjoys cruising around (holding on to things and walking along them), crawling at super speed to get into whatever he can manage before you pull him back, snuggling, solid foods (finally!), and of course nursing! He is still mama's little guy and is definitely a comfort nurser (was still 7 times a day, although we are moving down to 4-only morning and at sleep times- now that he will eat 2 whole containers of solids at all 3 meals). He will hold on to an object and take a step to reach a different object- nose diving toward it and holding then on in a brave attempt to walk. I think it will be any day now that he takes that first real step on his own! It's bitter sweet though, he is growing so fast! I am amazed at the little person that God gave to Joey and I. He is such a blessing. Such a sweet and compassionate little boy. He is going to do great things for the Kingdom of God.

We have also begun the task of "training up [our] child in the way that he should go" (proverbs 22:6). Aaron is learning what the word "no" means, and how to obey on the very first time. We are attending a parenting conference next Friday-Saturday in Palm Coast Florida. I am so excited to learn more and to become confident and united in our parenting techniques and ideals. It's exciting to think that we are really parents. We are really responsible for helping Aaron to meet Jesus and to grow to become the man he was created to be. It warms my heart to imagine who he will become in Christ.
Our small group is going well. I feel so connected to the people in it and it feels like a family. We are all SO different! You would never think our eclectic group would mesh so well. But because we all strive toward the same goal, we are like a family nonetheless.
With the exception of some minor colds, we are all healthy and well. Life is good. God is great and I'm glad I finally had a chance to post! Blessings to you all!