Merry Christmas 2015

Merry Christmas 2015!

It is has been an amazing year full and overflowing with blessings and it is an honor to share our lives with you!

We are most thankful for God's love and the gift of Jesus our savior.  He is the reason for the season.  He provides purpose for our lives. Joy and peace through the mountain tops and valleys of life.  We are not perfect!  But we strive everyday to bring God glory and to bless others with His love. 

We are thankful for you!  We pray that God will bless you and draw us all close to Him in the coming year.  Please join us in praying for His guidance, protection and provision. We are so thankful for your love and prayers.

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100:5

Lily is 5years old (actually she will be 6 in January)! She started Kindergarten this year and is participating in our district's Dual Language program learning Spanish and English.  She has wonderful teachers and her dear friend from birth, Evan, is in school with her.  Lily is recognizing and sounding out words and loves to draw and sing.  She is also loving gymnastics and memorizing a lot of scripture in Sparks.    

Eliana turned 3years old in September.  She loves to take care of baby dolls, to run as fast as she can, to jump, to dance, and to play pretend.  Ellie is our tiny bundle of energy! She spends her days with Mrs. Rose Ann helping take care of her little brother and learning to share with her friends.  She loves dance class and Cubbies. 

Both girls adore their 

new little brother, Cruse.  He joined us on April 1st and is a sweet, easy-going guy.  He laughs at his sisters.  Claps his hands, crawls with speed, and is "walking" the furniture.  No teeth yet, but that hasn't stopped him from loving food! He is growing right before our eyes. He says "Ellie" "DaDa" something that sounds like "Illy" (Lily) and he smiles and laughs when we say "MaMa."  This busy guy is getting into the cabinets right now! His name is Calvin Cruse and I will try to post his birth and name story soon.

We moved into a new and larger home last November and are enjoying the space and trails in our new neighborhood.  (email me if you need our new address)  These wonderful pictures were taken by our sweet and talented friend Begüm right here around our new home.  

It was an honor for my parents and grandfather to attend.

We recently celebrated my graduation from DBU with my Master's degree in Bilingual Education.  Although I truly enjoyed the study and did very well in my courses, I think we all breathed a huge sigh of relief.  We are done!  I am thrilled to be able to spend those Tuesday nights with my family again, and to only loose sleep caring for them - not typing up research papers.  Joseph has been such an amazing support through this journey.  He wakes and leaves for work terribly early each day so that he can pick up the kiddos and spend time with us in the evening.  Joe continues to work as a Real Estate Appraiser and Reviewer.  We are both appreciative of the benefits his company provides and the days he was able to take off when Cruse was born.  I support or school district as a Specialist in ESL, providing training for teachers and developing programs and curriculum for ESL students.   We are both thankful for our work and co-workers and pray that God will continue to use us to bless others.  

Our life is  full of L-O-N-G days but the weeks fly by! I'm hoping to update our blog more regularly, but I am much better posting to Facebook.  So, please friend and follow us there: https://www.facebook.com/guedrys   While we share the many sweet and funny moments that we want to remember - there are many many more of these moments:

There are tears. There is anger, frustration and fear. 

But we are blessed to walk through it all with our Lord.

We would love to keep in touch!
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Merry Christmas 2013

Merry Christmas! & Happy New Year!

2013 has been a year of great joy and great sadness, but blessings abounding.  Our God is so faithful and it amazes me daily how much He cares about our little lives.  Where would we be without His love and provision?

A little update on our family: 

Let's start with Eliana (Ellie) Marie.  She is 15months old, tiny in stature (18lbs, 30in) but sometimes called "Firecracker."  Ellie's biggest news is that she finally has a tooth!  We were wondering about baby dentures but thankfully one has finally broken through and we think 2 or 3 more are coming soon.  Ellie is a little Mama! She loves taking care of her baby dolls and carrying her purse.  When she forgets her elephant/pacifier she has a few words too: "Mama," "Dada," "TankU,"(She picked that one up at Halloween), "Hello," "Nana," "Baba," "PaPaw," "LaLa," and "LiLi."  But, don't let her limited vocabulary fool you she can shake her head, nod, point and applaud with the big girls.  Her favorite toy is our new kitty.  Ellie will cluck to call her, and "meow" just like a kitten.  She loves to snuggle, sing and climb and we are so blessed to watch her grow.

Lily is almost 4 and is in Preschool.  She loves her school, teachers, and friends.  She is a little bit shy but learning so much everyday.  She can count almost to 100 - with a little help and write her name.  She loves books!  She especially loves to listen to a princess story and will then tell you her own.  She is always coming out of her room in different clothes and making her own jewelry by adding bows to a necklace or pipe-cleaner... she loves to create!  She is a thinker and much more responsive to instruction if she has a choice or if we take the time to explain why.  Lily is enjoying a ballet/tap/tumbling combo class and we are anxiously looking forward to her Christmas performance.  Last year she refused to dance on stage - we will see how she likes it this year. She is usually one of the taller girls in her various groups & is wearing a 5T.  I think because she speaks and looks older, sometimes we all treat her as if she is older than she is and expect a lot from her.  She loves to help, but I am often reminding myself - she is only "3."  She loves having a little sister!  They play together so well.  Lily is often my extra set of eyes "Mom, Ellie has a crayon" "Mom Ellie's headed to the toilet" ...  2 little girls are busy and fun! 

I have a new job.  God opened a door for me to move in to the administrative office for our school district as the Secondary ESL Specialist. I support ESL (English Second Language) students and teachers at all of our 23 Middle and High Schools.  I am missing my campus family and working directly with students, but I am very much enjoying my new co-workers, the flexibility allowed in my schedule and  not grading papers ;)  I am very honored and thankful!

Small Staggs Family Update: Both my brothers are married!  I am thrilled to have 2 new sister-n-laws and a very cool little nephew, Blake.  Micah & Brittany married in June of 2012 & Nathan married Melissa in September.  

I also just got the news that Micah is home from deployment!  YAY! I can't wait to see everyone soon!

Joe has had a great year in his work at Fannie Mae.  He is able to go in early, avoiding most of the traffic and get home, most days, in time to pick up the girls.  He has been promoted with

in his team and it is also very clear that God is blessing him in his work. 

Last year Joe's dad was diagnosed with ALS and in May he went to his eternal home with Jesus.  We miss him terribly.  John, Joe's brother, spoke at the funeral and shared the message that God gave him for this time in his blog: http://johnsonguedry.com/2013/05/29/perspective-on-the-death-of-my-father/

Trust me, it is worth the read!

We are thankful for the many happy memories that we shared with George this past year.  He was able to come meet Eliana just days after she was born.  He was able to attend Laurin's wedding (Joe's oldest niece).  He was able to watch Alicen's (2nd oldest niece) graduation via live streaming video.   We celebrated George and Bobbie's wedding anniversary at the beach - one of his favorite places to go.  ...

Though we would have loved to have many more years here on earth together, God was gracious and merciful through this loss. George did not have to suffer long. We were all together for his passing.  He was able to convey to each of us that he loved us and that he was ready to go.  

We are so blessed.  We are praying for you and thank you for your prayers for us as well.  God bless you and your family this season and throughout the new year!

9/19/13 blessed

I woke up this morning intent on starting the day off right. I read my Bible and got dressed before the girls woke up. I put on some good morning music and sang to them as I woke them up.

 Lily was not impressed. She cried. I helped her put on clothes. She cried. I did her hair and she thrashed and screamed. I put her shoes on her feet and she kicked them off and screamed. I don't really need to go on. She screamed and cried as I carried her to the car and buckled her in. Yes- I checked for fever and asked her if anything hurt...  I turned on the Awana cd in the car and she finally settled to listen. A cop pulled onto our street as we pulled out and I really wondered if he was coming for me- with all the screaming going on the neighbors might have guessed I was beating her or something. Thankfully, through it all I didn't yell or loose my temper. & Ellie had a great morning, except for getting into her car seat- but I wouldn't want to get strapped into it either. 

So, we were too late to go through the dropoff at Lily's school (& she didn't have shoes on & I didn't know if she would even get out of the car) so I took Ellie to our amazing home- daycare. The husband and wife - who are like our extended family- both took turns going out to talk to Lily and try to get her to smile and put on her shoes. She did get 1 shoe on the wrong foot and started crying again. 

But when I pulled up to her school and helped her put them on she left them. She didn't want to go inside so I told her she should introduce me to the nurse. ( this must have been divine inspiration ) she loved the idea. So we went in and saw the sweet nurse. I told her Lily was having a rough morning and she took my temperature and Lily's- we were both fine. & off she went to class happily. 

& on the way back to my car- I stepped in gum, but i had an extra pair of more comfortable shoes in the car. I also somehow managed to make it to my training for the day just in time. I met up with friends at he training and had a greet visit at lunch with them. The material was relevant and presented well. One lady that was there very adamantly told me I was wrong about information I was giving  the group, so I told her I would check the accuracy immediately. Well I was correct, but I was able to handle it gracefully and because she spoke up we were able to fix a compliance issue on her campus- that we might not have caught until next week. 

I had to go back to the office to get paperwork and it was late & I was upset that I forgot it and had to go out of my way, but when I got there 1 sweet coworker was there and needed some encouragement. 

I got home to find happy children and Joe went by the store, and then cooked a delicious dinner. 

Ellie somehow got her leg stuck in the crib and Joe was able to help her out. - it was a very scary moment with more screaming, but she seems fine. :)

Unfortunately in the mess of the morning I had left Lily's -keep refrigerated- medicine out. I called the pharmacy and sure enough it was out too long, but the after hours pedi that we used was open and was able to call out a new prescription. It started raining as I left the house- but it's raining! And Lily's dose was only about 1/2 hour late. 

It was a long hard day, but God provided in the middle of every frustrating circumstance. We have a roof over our heads and clothes and food. I have two babies to love and hold who are growing more independent and learning everyday. I have an amazing husband. A job I love. The list goes on and on. 

I don't want to bore you with the play by play. But I have to conclude- I am blessed. Life is hard but God is good. He is faithful and I am thankful. 

Goodnight. 

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Birth story #2 timeline

3:00pm Tuesday 9/4 having "real" contractions, but can continue to work. They seem to come randomly. Leave things somewhat ready at school just in case.
This continues all evening through a great dinner with friends and then all night. I don't sleep much.

6:30am I call Betty, the midwife on call, and ask if i can come see her before I go into work.

8:30am Betty checks my progress, only 2cm but 80% effaced. She's worried that I will be exhausted when labor really starts and sends me home to rest.

1:30pm I've tried to rest all day, but can't stand the fact that I've taken a sick day and been home without my baby. I decide to go walk around Costco (big clean isles, free snacks, air conditioning and a basket to lean on). Contractions are stronger and somewhat closer sometimes.
4:00pm home with Joe and Lily contractions are coming every 10min. And growing stronger.
6:30pm call parents to tell them to start on their way. Make arrangements for Lily to spend the night with friends.
Singing "Jesus lover of my soul" through contractions.
8:30pm 7min apart we drop off Lily at our friends house. Focusing on God as my strength through each contraction. We talk to Joe's mom in our way back home an she prays for fast and safe delivery. I txt Betty to let her know things are progressing.
8:30-1:00am we try to watch a movie and I walk laps around the house. Praying and singing really helps. Joe gets ready and gets everything in the truck.
1:00am we head to Denton to meet Betty at the birth center. She checks and I was only dilated to 3cm. She is very concerned that I will be exhausted for labor, but is hesitant to send us back to Lewisville. She gives me a shot to help me sleep and we head home and sleep.
2:15am I hear Mom and Dad arrive and go to bed. I start waking up every 10min with intense pain.
3:30am I wake Joe, I'm disoriented from the medicine, exhaustion, and pain. He calls Betty - I can't speak, I just grip the headboard and try to breathe. I wake mom, we get to the driveway and my water breaks. I feel the need to push and almost refuse to get in the truck. I kneel gripping the back of the seat and try not to push. Mom sits in the back seat and coaches me to breath. I pray, help me Jesus, through the pain and pressure and in my mind I'm praying the baby doesn't come out- but I don't want Joe and Mom to know that she is crowning. I ask Mom to call Betty and make sure the tub is ready, it sounds so good.
4:18am 9/6 But a few minutes later we are passing Denton regional and I can't resist the pressure to push. She is born and I'm in shock, "she's here" is all I can say. Then "pull over- now!" I am terrified that she's not moving or crying and I can't get to her. Joe pulls over and comes around. He helps pull her out of my pants and unwraps the cord once. She gives a good scream and then he places her on my chest. She looked pink and perfect and was breathing well. Mom called Betty and Joe drove on to the Birth Center.
4:28am we arrive and Betty meets us at the truck. She helps me inside where we cut the cord and birth the placenta. Baby Ellie (who we didn't name until the next day) and Mommy are doing great.
7:00am after a shower and snack we load up and head home to finally rest.

2

On Lily's 2nd birthday we were happily shocked to learn that 9months will bring another little blessing into our family. Yes. We are expecting!

We thank you for your prayers for a healthy pregnancy and baby. Due date is mid September.