Blessings of a year gone by!

As this year is coming to a close, I kinda want to look back at this past year.  It was been filled with a lot of changes.  Change - You know that word is actually hard for a lot of people to get a hold of and I have to admit it was not easy for me.  I still have days where it is a bit hard but I know that God is seeing me through and I have the love of my husband and boys that keep me going.  We have been through a very tough patch this year and I would like to think I could share it with you all but I do not think I am that ready yet but know that God was and is still in control of it.  We are so thankful for the family and friends we have in our life and who have prayed for us, you will not know how much we love you!  I would like to share just a little about each of us through this year and kinda sum up what we have been doing.

Joshua has had a great year.  God has blessed his gun business beyond anything we could ask for.  God has blessed Josh with such a leader and a business savvy attitude that many things he touches he just excels.  His boss has been a huge blessing in our life and we are so thankful for all the ways he has helped Josh out.  He first gave Josh a job, then he offered Josh his store front to start Josh’s business if Josh would manage his sawmill for him.  I just love this man for his commitment.  His commitment to his work and more importantly to his family.  He does everything he can to provide for us, he loves me with a kind of love that most long for and he loves his boys with all of his heart.  I love when he comes home and the boys get so excited to see him and though he is really tired he takes some time to make them feel loved!  I am so proud to call this man my husband, through all that he has gone through this past year and half, he remains focused.  Thank you babe!  Oh I forgot to mention that God has blessed Joshua with the opportunity to play guitar for the youth here and Joshua is so happy to be doing something he loves again.

Caleb was just born to be a big brother.  Caleb has his daddy’s patience(he did not get that from me J), there are days that he gets a little frustrated but most days he just takes time for Taylor.  He has so much compassion for people, I am just praying that Josh and I can help him use that gift for God’s kingdom.  I catch myself most days just staring at him, thinking how big he has gotten.  Next year he starts school and that is going to be a very hard time for me, mainly because I have had to work his last year at home but I do know that he will do great.  Caleb is also our monkey of the family, he will climb trees without any fear.  The boys got a playground for Christmas and he will climb to the tippy top of the thing, but he is so careful about it.  I know that sounds crazy but he really is.  Caleb has been through two surgeries this year, one for a lump under his throat and one to stitch up his cheek that he cut wide open walking past a piece of metal tin roof.  When I look back on those two thing right there I see how much God was with him and me!  He is such a brave boy!  This year Caleb has also been asking a lot of questions about God and Jesus(who he says is his heroJ), and he says the sweetest prayers that just come from his heart!  Ok one last story about Caleb, I have this book that I write a lot of what the boys say or do, kinda like a journal well as I was reading this past year I saw a funny story.  Caleb was sitting on the table, which he is not supposed to do…well here is the dialect

Me: Caleb please get off the table

Caleb: But Auntie sits on it

Me: Well if Auntie jumped off a bridge would you(yes I know but I did go down that route)

Caleb:  Would she catch me?

That silly boy

Ok well onto Taylor, boy when I finish bragging(I am a mom I am aloud right?) I will have to have another post for a few pictures J Taylor is the ham of the family, that is the side of Joshua he got.  He is the funniest little thing, I just wish I could just record half the stuff he says or the faces he makes.  Right now he likes to tease me and I will ask him for a kiss and he will tell me “No kisses allowed”, but he will have this huge smile.  This has been the big year for Taylor.  He has given up his bibbies, which we thought we would never get rid of, he has been doing an awesome job on his potty training for the past 7 days now he has woke up with a dry diaper!  He now wants to wear underwear like his brother and the day before Christmas he told me that he did not want to wear diapers at night anymore, as he said those are for babies.    And around this time last year was when he transitioned from his crib to a big boy bed, so Taylor has had a lot of major changes this year.  Taylor loves to sing and dance, a couple of months ago he would use just about anything as a microphone and now he will act like he know all the words to any song that we are listening too, so funny!  Taylor has learned so much in this past year and some of it has come from his big brother whom he just adores.  He used to call him bubba, he would run around the house yelling “buubba, buubbba”.  Then he started trying to say Caleb and it came out “Cub” but now that big boy and say Caleb.  I can’t wait to see what BIG things this year will hold for my sweet boy!

Well I guess now it is my turn, this year has held lots of change, growing and some growing.  I am trying to learn to just let things go because in the end it really is not that big of a deal.  Joshua and I have had to make a lot of decisions this year and where some it could tear apart, I think it has brought us closer.  I think that is because we know that God has been in control of every situation this year and still is.  I see Him with us with everything with Caleb, to us with our move, our house and just us growing as a family.  I think it is funny because God has done some really BIG things in my life and has shown me that if I genuinely and humbly pray for something that He will answer it.  I think He knew that I needed it.  I know this maybe sounding really weird but I have had a tough year emotionally and I feel He was just reassuring me.  Does that make sense?  Well anywho other big things is that I am going to be an Aunt, well my best friend who I call my sister found out about a month or so ago that she is pregnant!  So I am now saying that I am an Aunt, Leah said that is was ok J.  I know there are some more things but you have read most of my year through my blog so I will conclude with that I am thankful for each and every situation in my life and for the family and friends who love my family and I and pray for us!  May you all have a blessed 2011 and many more to come!  A few pictures from the year to come J

On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul ~~Psalm 138:3 (NASB)

A GregorWii Christmas

Are you recovering from this past Christmas?  I didn’t quite know what to have thought of this Christmas at first, for some reason I was just not really feeling it which is not like me.  I LOVE Christmas and it has nothing to do with buying presents(which I love to do) or Santa but it does have to do with a baby.  But I also love this time of year because this time of year just seems to bring out the best of peoples hearts, seeing others so giving just does my heart good.  Sadly though up until the week before Christmas I was just not really there.  Caleb actually showed me and grew my heart a size or two bigger(like the Grinch).  You see  the Sunday before Christmas our pastor was actually sharing his message and it was on the Grinch and how Christmas is more about giving and making our hearts just a bit bigger.  When Caleb was eating his M&M’s he had gotten from his Sunday School teacher, one of the college kids behind him was teasing him that he wanted some of his M&M’s.  Most kids will tell them no but not Caleb, that boy has one of the biggest hearts I know of.  He got out of his pew and went and offered him some of his M&M’s.  That day my heart was filling with the Christmas spirit!  I would love to share some of our Christmas with you.

On Christmas Eve we started to make Christmas cookies for Santa.  I love making cookies with the boys, there is just so much fun that is being had J There was some mixing, tasting, rolling, more nibbling, maybe a little flour fight J, some more nibbling, cookie cutting, SPRINKLES and then the boys eating the sprinkles.  We had so much fun, I just enjoy spending my time with them.  Here are a few pictures below.

 

Christmas morning was so nice and actually relaxed.  Taylor who has been asking everyday since the presents got put out if he could open them, could finally open his presents except he kinda went nuts and just started opening any present he could get his little fingers on.  He was so funny!  We decided to get a family gift this year and got us and the kids a Wii.  Which we have named the GregorWii, catchy huh?  Jeremy actually came up with that cool name and we like it.  Anywho Caleb loves the Wii, he likes to sword fight and play the Star Wars game we got him and let me tell you that boy is good!  Taylor is still getting used to it but I think he will come around soon.  He loves the animals he got and all the movies.  That boy could watch movies all day if you let him. Oh I forgot but the boys did get a “deer stand”(playground) for Christmas from Josh’s parents and Caleb just is a monkey on that thing and Taylor is now learning to climb and swing too!  We are so thankful for all of our friends who love our kids and send them some special things too!  Josh and I did our annual ornament exchange.  Each year we both get each other an ornament we have done it for the past 8 years now.  It started out at first as a simple lets get each other a sweet little ornament but now it is kinda a competition, a fun competition J I would have pictures from it but whoa, I was looking a tad bit rough so I think I will spare you all. Hehe.  Oh and before I unload some of the pictures from Christmas I have to tell you that the boys and I had our first white Christmas!  It was so beautiful, the boys went and played out in the snow a bit.  Jessica, Josh and I cooked the Christmas meal and it was really yummy!  I just love when Joshua makes his Christmas ham, it is the best!

Well that about does it for Christmas at the Chez Gregory household, I think the only thing that would have made this Christmas a bit nicer would have been if my family was with us too cause they love Christmas just as much as I do.  Well pray you and your family had a wonderful Christmas and may you have a wonderful New Year! 



us in the aftermath =)



Taylorsaurus is turning three!!

Taylor toot,

People used to tell me how quickly time goes by as you get older, I do not realize how quick it did until I had two precious boys!  And time goes by so fast.  You are such an amazing blessing in all of our lives.  This has been a year of many changes for you.  You have learned so much and you have gained quite the funny little personality. 

I am going to miss so many wonderful things that I can not get back.  Like around this time last year I was still rocking you to sleep,  those are some of my favorite times with you because since I had to go back to work, I missed a lot of new things you were doing and that time at night was just me and you!  I am going to miss when you “don’t” need me much anymore, you are taking notes from your awesome big brother about becoming an independent but still sweet little boy.  No longer a baby but as you say “I big boy”.  And everything is now “I do it by myself”.  You have such a way of making everyone around you smile, even when we are trying to be mad J

Taylor God has big plans for your life, I can see so many wonderful things coming out right now like how you absolutely love to sing and dance.  If there is music you are moving and if you know most of the song you are singing right along making up a few of your own little words along the way.  Daddy, Caleb and I are so proud of you and love you very much Taylor! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

I fall more and more

This day 8 wonderful years ago I said two words that changed who I was.  I was no longer Amber Lynn Solomon, a daughter and a friend.  I would become Amber Lynn Gregory the wife to an amazing man.  Josh I became all twitterpated by you, you are one of the funniest people I know and you usually J know exactly when I need it.  You are my best friend and feel so blessed to have married mine (best friend).  I really don’t have all the most eloquent words to fill an enormous blog, I’m sorry.  I guess I could fill it with a bunch of amberisms, and you would probably be the only one to even understand what they mean.  See that is a few of the things I love so much about you, but like you told me the other day, I just can’t seem to write how much I truly love you.   But I love you with all I have and fall more in love with you more everyday.  Happy 8^th Anniversary babe!

Some of the things I am thankful for

I am thankful for…

My wonderful creator

A husband who works hard for his family

Being the wife of my hubby

My hubby being my best friend

My faith

Being the mother of two amazing little boys

All the family I have

Some amazing encouraging friends

My job

His eternal promise

The beautiful day today

My testimonies (He has saved me from alotJ)

Being able to smell cookies baking or the smell of flowers

Seeing a beautiful sunrise every morning

Caleb’s compassion

Taylor’s sweet and funny spirit

My Savior lives

Joshua’s love

Second chances (I have had to have a couple of thoseJ)

Being given the chance to see my boys grow up

My hubby being the spiritual leader in our family

These are just a few things I am thankful for today!  There are so many and new ones that come from Him everyday. I know that we should try to not only think of the things we are thankful for in the month of November but I do love that this month brings this to alot of peoples plus my mind. What are a few things you are thankful for…

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that can not be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, ~Hebrews 12:28

Nerds,dinos and spies...OH MY!

Ahh it is fall time, and though I do love the color changes during the fall time and cool weather is nice, I do dread winter.  Well not winter all together cause it does have Jesus’s birthday and Taylor’s birthday wait..wait I can’t forget my Aunts and Jeremy’s, anywho but it does have COLD days and I am a Florida girl tried and true J.  Well now that I got completely off subject.  Ahh it is fall time and this past week and weekend we had so much fun.  Sorry this post is a little late :)

The fun began when we carved pumpkins and even though I strongly and I do mean strongly dislike the smells of raw pumpkins, it was a lot of fun picking out faces for our pumpkins.  The boys love getting all the mushy, gushies out.

Joshua does any awesome job carving them and making them look nice. 

                                                             Is he not just so handsome!

I did take a stab at it but could not take the smell to long.  If I was not such a prideful girl, I might post the picture with tissue stuffed up my nose to try to cover up the awful smell…but I am not! J

Here are the boys with their pumpkins (Caleb has been into this whole squinty eye thing)

On Wednesday we had our Harvest Festival and it was a great turn out.  I just think Caleb is the most handsomest spy there is and Taylor well he is so stinkin cute in his dinosaur costume, which he kept taking off saying that he was hot…suck it up kid.  No just kidding but I make him put it back on a couple of times during the festival because I am a mean mom J  I also told him we would be dressing up as a dinosaur at the house A LOT!  Here are a few pictures

 

On Friday at work we decided to dress up and well I will just let the picture speak for itself J  We did have a lot of fun!

                                                                                          

Well I was very excited for the weekend because our great friends from Florida were coming for the game that weekend.  We got to have dinner with them Friday night and spent the day in the grove with them.  It was a pretty good game.  The undefeated also known as Caleb lost his winning streak, he had NEVER been to a losing football game and I think he has been to 9 or so.  But it is ok because he still had fun, loved eating the cotton candy and is still my Caleb.  I must say here though that I do believe that the Auburn band swayed him, they kept playing Darth Vader’s theme and every time they played Caleb would get so excited and start saying “Mommy, mommy they are playing Darth Vader’s song!!”  This boy LOVES everything Star Wars, see his shirt below.  He actually wanted to be Darth Vader Halloween but we kinda steered him towards a spy, because they are cooler.  He kinda thinks else wise.  We had a great week and weekend and hope you all had the same!

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. ~~Matthew 5:16

Fall on my knees

Ok this is going to be a very short blog but I just want to share with you of the power of prayer and the power of an amazing God.  The past couple of days at work have been really rough.  I don’t want to dig to deep into it but let’s just say that I have had altercations with an employee.  Well I would come home fuming mad of just the lack of respect and was just not sure what to do.  On Monday I encouraged my friends on FB to encourage a friend or just someone in their life that comes to their heart.  When I went to bed that night I was praying and I said to God that I kinda knew who in mind He had for me, and to please give me the right words.  Well as I closed my eyes I just knew that something was going to come up the next day.  And wouldn’t you know it did, but sadly I do not think I was a true encourager that day.  The next day/yesterday brought forth more challenges for this employee and me.  This morning I was reading my devotional and it was just talking about how God has made us fearfully and wonderfully!  But there was a part in there how we fall to our knees in humble prayer.  The more I thought, the more I decided that maybe that is what I needed to do in this particular situation.  I needed to fall on my knees and pray for this girl and for my actions.  So that is what I did and let me just tell you GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS!  When I got to work we started on our morning stuff and she came up to me and said that she was truly sorry and she would try to be more respectful.  I told her how much I truly appreciated what she just did and we both could work together to make things better.  I just stood there in amazement over how wonderful my God truly is!  I just wanted to share that with you all today, I am sorry if it does make a lot of sense but I pray that you can just see God’s glory shine!  May God bless you all today!

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ~Philippians 4:6

Extraordinary Women 10'

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  ~Romans 15:13~

Whoa, what a wonderful refreshing weekend this has been. I spent Friday night and all day Saturday at the Extraordinary Woman’s conference in Tupelo.  It was a very enlightening weekend for me.  I discovered some things about me that I really did not like but I also saw that I am not alone and satan SHALL NOT PASS!! (I will get to that later)

Friday:  We opened up with Chonda Pierce and as always she never fails to deliver a funny and yet very deep message to us sisters in Christ about the struggles of depression.  We ended our night with a wonderful concert from MercyMe, man they are AWESOME!  I just love to look around and see women or really anyone for that matter just worship God, such a beautiful sight.

Well we started on Saturday bright and early… and speaking of early I would kinda like to talk to Mrs. Julie Clinton and kindly ask her to please push back the time from getting there at 7:30(to get good seats) to maybe just maybe…9:30, I would just love to start by feeling a bit rested J But anywho Sheri Rose Shepherd started the day out and she is a former Mrs. America.  She was funny well actually all the ladies were actually really funny. The key point in her message to us was that nothing can cancel God’s calling in your life aside from the lies you believe about yourself.  We are to fight the good fight, we are God’s princess’s (I have always wanted to be a princessJ) and if you are a mom with boys tell them they are God’s might warriors. She also gave a great acronym

F- ind your first love!

I- dentify yourself

G- et over yourself

H- ear His voice

T-reasure obedience

Angela Thomas taught us about laying down our bitterness and picking up the peace and joy of God.  She also gave us 7 points of embracing powerful peace

God is peace- 1 Thessalonians 5:23

God sent His son, Jesus to be the Prince of Peace- Isaiah 9:6

When we become a follower, we have His peace- John 14:27

Staying connected to God gives us peace- John 15

The spirit of God produces peace in our lives- Galatians 5:22

The deep abiding peace from God is almost unexplainable- Philippians 4:7

One day, we will live in peace Isaiah 57:2

We broke for lunch and Stormie Ormartian was up and man I feel so bad because she gets the bad timeslot to me I mean the combination of waking up early and then had just eaten well I am a bit on the tired side and oh I feel so embarrassed to say this but I did not catch much from her.  Boy I am terrible but my friend was giving our Monday night WMU meeting some of her notes from the weekend and she said that Stormie said “don’t let where you are become a prophecy of where you will stay, and I actually love that statement.  Too many times I think we get comfortable where we (I) are and not let God move in us and change us to grow.

Well we ended our day with one speaker that I was actually most excited to hear Lysa TerKeurst.  Does that name maybe sound a little familiar, well she is the president of Proverbs31 ministries and writes a daily devotional at Proverbs31.org.  I read those just about everyday and she writes in such a way that I feel like I know her personally, crazy I know.  I actually got the chance to talk with her face to face and for some weird reason I actually got star struck and all I could say to her was thank you, over and over again J Well she was just so sweet to take just a moment before she went on stage to speak and sign my friends book and talk with us.  She has one awesome testimony and you can actually read about it here.  What two things I just took to my heart was she said that our reaction will determine our reach for Christ.  Meaning that how we react to things can determine how others will perceive us.  The second thing was the statement “not that I have too, but that I am able too!” Which I am so guilty of, now I am learning to be ok with the things that might be on my list for the day because I am able to do them.  So that is some of the notes I got from this weekend, I pray that you all had a great weekend as well and that you might be able to get a piece of what this conference was. 

Happy 5th birthday Agent Scarface

Caleb, today is a day that has been much harder than I thought it would.  For some reason turning a whole hand…turning 5 has been a lot for me to take in.  You are no longer my little toddler you are such a sweet young boy!  You are one of the most loving, compassionate, giving boys.  You always give the sweetest complements and you try very hard to make sure no one gets left out.  On Sunday mornings you always pass out toys and candy so that everyone has something.  For your birthday this past weekend you were very concerned because you did not know whether your friend Daniel, who can not have gluten, would be able to have cake at your party.  I don’t know many kids who would think of something like that and on their birthday!  You are starting to become quite the comedian from when I asked you to get off the table and you said that Auntie sits on it and I said if Auntie jumped off a bridge would you?(yes I used that J) and your response was “Well would she catch me?” Oh you make me giggle.  Caleb you say some of the sweetest most endearing prayers, you thank Him for getting to go to church, to being thankful that your Daddy and Mommy made it home safely today.  I see glimpses of the man I think you will become and it just makes me smile.  You look up to your daddy so much and just adore him and I am so thankful that you have the kind of daddy who takes time to guide you into becoming a man after God’s heart.  Caleb I pray for you every night, God has BIG plans for your life and I am so eager to see you become the man He has made you to be!