snowy days are here again...

our house




HI FRIENDS

well over here in NJ we got ourselves some pretty crazy weather... it's snow season!

just this past week we got around 20 inches of snow and we are (as we speak) anticipating 12 - 18 more inches in the next day or two. whew!

good thing is- zach doesn't have school, so we take this time to enjoy the weather and play and play and play...

snow is just beautiful. considering texas my "home" state, it has been so much fun to live, breathe, eat and live the 4 different seasons. there is such HOPE in each one!!!

enjoy the pics. we enjoyed being in them!

until next time...




daddy and the logan-ator! love that sheepish grin...



daddy and z...



me and my man


if you know anything about autism, immersing yourself in snow (sensory issues) could definitely be a huge deal... and my little snow angel was all smiles! hooray God!



sledding with daddy



guess what he was trying to do...



zach being all smiley and cute...



trying to get a picture of all of us...


:)



aww! there we go! the four of us! :)



hugging on our sidewalk...

playdate

what a fun night!

so after talking with a couple of my dearest girlfriends, we decided to get all our children together and have an evening playdate...that included pizza, fruit salad and chocolate cake. can you beat that?! we had a great time.

8 children - (minus our little friend owen, logan's twin, who was with his grandpa for the evening) - plus us 4 girls.... it was a party! the kids all played well together. us moms laughed and talked and ate... it was great!

i love my friends. i am thankful for them. they make me happy.

here are a few pictures from the evenings gathering. until next time... :)



me, joy, jess and michele... love these friends of mine!


having a pizza party!


jumpin' on the trampoline outside. they loved it!


Gracyn and Zach being cute together...


our kids all cozy on the couch

it was good...

while greenie lasted!

:( . we made it two days! :)

let's make a deal. if you see my boy Logan... and he asks where greenie is... run the other way! LOL! just kidding!

see you in heaven greenie!

Greenie

so, without us knowing it, a cute little tree frog snuck his way into my parents' house. my mom purchased a huge floor plant and the little guy was burrowed into the soil. we couldn't just let him outside in the freezing air... he would surely die...
... and Logan loves this little guy. we named him greenie. my dad gave him a make shift home but we weren't sure how to take care of him.

well, well, well... i just wouldn't let this poor creature die without a fight. my boy logan and i went to the local pet store and asked all about tree frogs. we left that same store with a new home for greenie, a few unnecessary decorative items (hey, greenie shouldn't have a bland environment, right?), and some live crickets to munch on. yum.

having boys is a whole different thing for me. i was never a "miss Pris" growing up but there is something about feeding a cute little frog "live" crickets that make my stomach a little sour. i'll get over it, i guess.

so now, mr greenie is living in the lap of luxury. of course he'll probably die tonight, just our luck, but at least we gave greenie a HOPEful shot at surviving and you KNOW there will be other creatures living with us in the future....

wish us luck! :)

welcome to your home, greenie!


the new home


little greenie


an excited little boy looking at his new friend!

HOPEful Journey #1

Tell me about yourself?

"My name is Tiffany Justice. I live in California right now. My husband is in Afghanistan. We've been married for 3 months. He left for Afghanistan after only 2 1/2 weeks of married life. I am currently a communications officer in the Marine Corp."



What is YOUR definition of Hope?

"Not giving up. Always looking ahead. Pressing on toward the goal..."



What does Hope mean to you?

"Hope in Christ is what gets me through every day. No matter what i do, i'm living for the Lord. God is still there for me - to call upon Him in any and all circumstances."



Do you have a favorite bible verse? (to support your thoughts on Hope?)

"A favorite is: Phil 4:13 ("I can do everything through him who gives me strength.") This verse especially got me through officer candidate school."



What are some words of Inspiration to give people Hope?

"If you have a relationship with the Lord, you'll always have Hope. His Grace is ALWAYS sufficient."



What are some recent circumstances that have called you to have HOPE?

"... the deployment of Jared (Tiffany's husband). This has been the hardest separation. I finally found my soul mate and then he was taken away from me after only 2 weeks together as newlyweds. Not knowing about his safety or to know or see or experience what he is experiencing ... is tough. I'm not sure how this time in Afghanistan will affect him, change him emotionally or physically...
... but i have HOPE that we will be together again and have our whole lives ahead of us as a married couple. Its awesome and I'm just ready to start it! "




Thanks Tiff for your sincere input on what is happening in your life at this moment. I pray as you read this entry you will take the time to pray for Tiffany and her husband, Jared. Let us pray for a safe and quick return to the states and to each other.
Let us continue to see and realize that HOPE is with us always... no matter what!

Stay tuned...

as this new year continues on, i have decided to feature a quarterly interview with different people who have had their own journeys with HOPE.

HOPEfully, just one person will inspire you as you face your own journey.

stay tuned...

Life isn't always...

what you expect. sickness is still plaguing my family but i won't let it bring me down!!!!


it's a new year and a new start for so many.

i have so much HOPE for this year.

i HOPE for many fun adventures for my family and myself.

i HOPE for a stronger relationship with my Christ.

i HOPE for a healthy and happy family.

i HOPE to continue to cherish and enjoy my friendships that are so dear to me.

i HOPE for a cure for Autism.

i HOPE for my Zach that he will continue to astound and amaze us with continued growth in all areas that he strunggles.

i HOPE for my boy Logan a continued joy and love and friendship with his best bud Zach.

i HOPE for a fantastic celebration with my man Jerry as we celebrate 10 years of wedded bliss.

i really HOPE for health and joy.

I HOPE many celebrities and those in influential positions will turn to Christ and make this world a better place.

i HOPE for many things this year 2010.... and it will not change.

happy new year.