Excitement is building...

As we clean up from an amazing Christmas and prepare for our New Year's Eve celebration, my excitement is building for our trip. I know, trip, trip, trip is all I talk about but as Mike and I have barely traveled Domestically and never Internationally for him (just Mexico for me)- can't help but be excited. The icing on the cake for me was opening up my new luggage set from Santa and Mike got a set, as well. Just an example of our travel experience- we never owned our own luggage. To add to my cake, the "cherry on top" is we will be ending the trip in New York! NEW YORK!!!! One of my dreams since I was a little girl!! We made our hotel reservations for the night in New York and will hopefully see a Broadway show- not that this Musical Theatre girl is excited about that at all. :)
I am very blessed to have an amazing family and husband who I love and adore. I am excited (obviously) for this opportunity and looking forward to a new year!!

Here is a pic of Hannah and Mason on Christmas day...

 
God bless! Until next time... to be continued...

White Christmas...

 As the snow has fallen and frozen in the low temperatures here in beautiful Colorado, I get more and more excited for a white Christmas spent with family and friends!! On the other hand I look forward to the potential opportunity of not having to drive to work or take my kids to school in it for a while if Indonesia works out!! Here are some pics taken this week from a guy's visit there...

Always, to be continued!!!

Itinerary and sadness...

Yesterday Mike received our tentative itinerary to Indonesia. I am so very excited but my happiness is clouded by sadness as 28 people (mostly young children) lost their lives yesterday in a school shooting in CT. It creates such fear and angst to live here, to travel and to move to another Country- nowhere seems safe. I question if this is really hell on Earth? Why and how could these terrible things happen? And why would it be God's will?
I have been generously reminded to be a beacon of light- lift others up who are faltering. As tough as that is, it's really my only option for my children and others around me. It's my duty and contribution.
I also, saw a saying from Fred Rogers (Mister Rogers, an amazing man, may he rest in peace) “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.' - I need to encourage that with my children and be a "helper" myself.
Today I would like to ask God help these families who have been affected by this terrible tragedy and please, please protect us from such evil!!

Passports have arrived onto the next step...

I am very happy to say that I was wrong in my prediction of trouble with my Passport. I have recieved it and Mike and I are onto the next steps of more paperwork!

We got our family pictures done on Saturday- I wanted to capture us pre-Indonesia (if we end up going)...

Worried...

Our long awaited (just anxiously awaited, really) Passports or should I say Mike's Passport has arrived in the mail. I hate to say it but I am freaking out that mine won't arrive and therefore will forever have this stigma placed on my traveling status for it. Negative, I know but just my luck when I am so close to doing something so amazing!! So I will "chill out" per Mike's request! :)
On another note, we are getting some family photos done tomorrow and looking forward to it!

Wish me luck on my Passport coming tomorrow...

Holiday party and planning for our visit...

Mike and I attended my work Christmas party on Saturday- we had an amazing time celebrating with my two sisters and co-workers! It was a great party and one that will make me smile when I look back at it.
On to Indonesia- Mike heard today (not officially) that the mine has granted his release to PTFI (Freeport Inodnesia) pending a job offer- woo hoo!! Now we can really prepare for our "look-see" in January!
I double checked on the status of our passports and they are in the mail! It's a neat feeling to own a passport! It would be even more amazing to put some stamps in it!!! 

I did have a humbling moment of reality last week after my little sis and I hung-out- we are totally connected at the hip, basically raised as twins and it will be very difficult to not see her all the time. Made me sad and brought a dose of homesick and I know I will need to face that at an even greater dose...