We are alive!

Hey everyone. I feel like I have fallen off of the face of the earth in the past month. I am usually good at keeping up with everyone on here and posting periodically, but I just haven't been into it here lately. I think I just have so much to share, that I don't know where to start.

Quick Michaela update:
---Potty Trained in December, We are loving it!!!
---Paci free for almost two weeks!!!! I seriously dreaded this and imagined it would be a nightmare to get rid of her paci. I hate to admit it, but she got it taken away from her for pulling someone's hair. I figured it would make a lasting impression to take it away for a nap. Well, she did so well with sleeping for the nap, that I said, HMMMM I think we will try putting a positive spin on the fact that she did so well without it and try paci free again tonight. Well, I really talked up the fact that she was so big that she doesn't need it anymore. She agreed and told me she wanted to give them to babies. Well, we haven't done that yet, but we are going to wrap them up and give them to baby Thomas and Colin. She hasn't asked for them in over a week and I am just so thankful. I have to admit, it has been harder on me then it was on her. I just loved seeing her sucking on that thing when she was sound asleep. It was so stinking cute!
---Favorites: bunny, baby Helen and Becky, loves putting diapers on all of her dolls and feeding them a bottle, she is always soothing the babies when they "get hurt or are crying," shoes shoes shoes (esp... flip flops, thank goodness it is getting warmer outside,) asparagus, gummies, yogurt, pizza, hotdogs, nutrigrain bars, loves the outdoors (thank goodness, once again, it is getting warmer outside,) step stool for the potty (carries it everywhere,) movies Open Season, Alladin, Imagination Movers, reading books, singing, playing with playdough, stickers, and much much more. I am enjoying her so much. It is amazing how much my love grows for her each day.

Update on Chris:
---building a spec house, still for sale if anyone wants to buy a beautiful house
---finishing up a custom house and possibly starting two more (God is really providing for us in an amazing way even though the economy is not reflecting a good housing market)
---loves his job and I am so proud of the job that he does
---teaching our Sunday school class at church, if you are looking for a church family, come give us a visit

Update on me:
---went to Dr. to get tests run... everything looks great, it is just not God's timing for me to have another child, I prefer His timing over mine
---loving my new house still, the small space is still perfectly wonderful for me
---I am itching to get into some sewing, I want to make some things for the house and some cutie clothes for Michaela
---missing my family!!!!
---taking a cake decorating class. I have really enjoyed it thus far. Chris enjoys the product.

Anyways, there is a small profile of what is up here with the Clardy family. Time flies by so fast because we stay so busy. I am working on getting more out of my day. I really don't know where the time goes. I have tried to upload some pics several times and it is not working! I will put some up soon.

Merry Late Christmas.

I said I would not wait this long to blog, and well... I lied. Life has been a beautiful whirlwind these past few months. Chris, Michaela, and I are now in our new house. I am loving it. It is very very cozy, (nice way of saying "small") and I absolutely love it. I am still in the process of using the limited space we do have to organize the too many things we own. This has really forced me to clean out and get rid of things that just don't seem as important as they once may have. That is one thing that is great about moving so often, you can't accumulate a bunch of clutter. An update with many pics from Christmas etc... is coming soon. We have limited web access now, so I have to wait until I can actually spend some time on here. I have to shout out that she is officially potty trained now! I am loving it!

Our Hope Endures!

2 Choronicles 7:14 "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

Psalm 71:14 "But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more."

Romans 5:5 "and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

OK, so I must admit. I have spent the last month or so being totally consumed with the election. I have always been somewhat of a talk show junkie and it just became a "close to" addiction of mine to listen to what was going on with the election and such. I believe that it is very important to be informed of what is going on, but I think that I was just a little too informed. I mean, I haven't watched ANYTHING except for Fox News for the past few weeks. I also love to listen to talk radio on my XM Radio. I am saying all of this to point out that sometimes it is easy to get so consumed with what is going on around us that we can easily forget what is important. I don't think it is a bad thing to be interested in the news etc... It is just so vital to keep priorities in tact. So I must confess, I spent much more time soaking up all of the things of no eternal value than soaking up the Word of God and finding what HE wanted me to hear amist all of the uncertainty concerning the election and the outcome.

In the last few days, I have heard the word of FEAR mentioned a lot. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." Nothing happens that doesn't come through the hand of God first. The wonderful thing about God is that He has given us free will. How rewarding would it be to Him if we served Him like robots. When God's people cho0se to be obedient to Him and glorify Him through our lives, it is so much more rewarding. Although it breaks my heart to see that we as a nation are more concerned about the economy than the precious life of an unborn child, the Spirit prods me and says, "You have the answer, you have the hope, share it with all people!" I have dropped the ball. If we all get real with ourselves, we may be astonished to realize that serving our Lord is indeed not our number one priority. We have cheapened the awesomeness of God. It is like trying to offer someone something of little value. A child is not going to be all crazy about getting a gift that has missing peices or is outdated. We act so many times as if the Lord is "Just OK!" Why in the world would anyone want anything that we represent so poorly?

Jesus is The Way, The Truth, The Life. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is my sustainer, my rock, my salvation, my strength, my song, shelter from the storm, everlasting father, prince of peace.... The list goes on and on. I encourage you to make it a priority to clearly represent the One you Serve to everyone around you. He is the only One in which we can place our trust. Share the hope that is within you.

My Japanese Doll!

We had a sunday school social a few weeks ago in which we dressed up the kids (some adults dressed up also.) It was such a wonderful time. Audie bought Michaela this outfit when she was on mission over in Tailand before Michaela was even born. I was so excited to realize that it fit her because I am not one to really dig going out and buying a costume. We went trick or treating in the neighborhood and she had a blast. Thanks Chris and Victoria for opening your home up!!!! We had a great time.

Country Pumpkins

Well, I have to say that the weather has been absolutely gorgeous here lately. I actually feel like we are experiencing fall. It normally seems to me like it goes straight from summer to winter. We had such a great time at the pumpkin patch a few weeks ago. Michaela definitely enjoyed the freedom of running around and getting her hands on everything in sight. I just love getting out with the family and enjoying each other. I know that I take the fact that I have such a wonderful husband who takes time out of his schedule to spend time with us for granted. He works so hard, yet manages to let me know that we are his number one priority. God has blessed me so much.

Birthday Party with Aunt Kelly

Michaela and Aunt Kelly share the same birthday. This is a short clip of them blowing out the candles. This is going to be great fun celebrating their birthdays together each year. Happy Birthday Aunt Kelly!!!!

Party with Aunt Katie

Michaela's first birthday celebration was with Aunt Katie. Katie was able to come in town Labor Day weekend, so she wanted to give Michaela her gifts early. Both of my sisters absolutely shower Michaela with love. I am so thankful for the relationship I have with both of my sisters. I miss you and love you Audie. Michaela still calls you on the phone quite often.