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.