Mama needs to clear her head

How is it already mid-January??? Today I was burning a candle that smelled like Christmas and it hit me that Christmas has come and gone and my 4 months to get A LOT done is now 3 1/2 months!!! I must move on from this thought!

Speaking of 3 1/2 months, A has his first class of his last semester (for his MDiv-I say that because well I know my husband really well...) tomorrow! Really, as hard as parts of this has been it has been a wonderful 5 years of spiritual growth, amazing growth in our marriage, a time that God used to refine me as a wife and mother (still a lot of refining He has to do!), developing friendships that will last a lifetime, and the list goes on. So, I am ready for him to not be in school (at least for a while) and I am ready to move on with our ministry BUT I really wouldn't take back this time for anything!

My head is spinning with decisions about paint and tile and countertops and lighting and paint and more paint... I LOVE doing this kind of stuff! Why does it feel so overwhelming right now?! Then I think of packing and stuff I need to give away and stuff I need to throw away and stuff I need to throw away........................... I really just want to relax and enjoy! I am thrilled to be able to choose everything for our new home. I know this is not an opportunity I would normally get and I love how the Lord has allowed me to do something I love and allowed me to have a home that will feel more like mine. HE is so good! Wow, I am glad I thought through all that. I already feel less overwhelmed. I think I will read this daily!!!

Eating healthy really is no fun.

I must stop reading Pioneer Woman cooking in our efforts to eat more healthy! Seriously!

Eating healthy would be much easier if we did not love to cook (or to eat for that matter).

Sallie has something crazy going on with her eyes. Took her to the Dr-either eye infection or an allergic reaction. Giving her meds to cover both. One of her eyes looks terrible! Yes, I know you are surprised there is something strange going on (especially with Sallie) and the Dr. can't completely diagnose it!

I stop and look at Ell possibly a hundred times a day and wonder where my little girl went. It is really insane! The past few years she has changed a lot but the past few months have been unbelievable. I handle it better than her Daddy! Seriously, take in every bit of them while they are younger because they will be a new person in no time.

Speaking of independence, my sweet Sallie now refuses to allow me to open or close the car door for her (this is just one of the many examples of her recent independence). Mama is not handling this well at all. She really thinks there is nothing she can't do. Don't get me wrong, I am incredibly thankful for everything she can do but well, she's my Sallie!

Lizzie and Millie are planning their birthdays (which are not until July and Aug!). Everyday, at least 10 times a day they ask how old they will be on their next b-day. Like I want to think about that all day every day!!!

They are also really into Kindergarten (possibly because they were just around Zeke (my nephew) who is in K). They ask over and over how old they will be when they get to go to K. Once again, don't want to think about that!

Since seeing the chipmunks movie, they are constantly singing "Single Ladies" Millie is too cute saying "if you like it then you should have put a ring on it" Maybe I can get them to let me video them.

My sweet Millie is uhhhh.... not so sweet right now. She has been taken over by a not so mild mannered Mill. WOW! I dare say she is the most defiant of the 4 Hall girls when she wants to be. Don't let her size and the fact that she is "the baby" fool you. Mill is fiesty!!! Praying this is a stage and time and a few hundred spankings will result in the old Millie coming back to us. I do love her and still think she is my adorable baby girl (who is making bad choices!)

I need to document this. Christmas morning Millie looked around at all her stuff and says "where is my laptop?" Sallie had gotten a play laptop for her b-day (Nov 8th) and Millie said she wanted one to which I said "maybe you can ask Santa." That is the last conversation we had about the laptop. She never mentioned it again until Christmas morning and she wanted to know where her laptop was. I told her that we don't get everything we ask Santa for (she didn't like that answer). I also told her maybe Santa didn't have room for everything (probably not the best answer but it did seem to work a little). Later on Christmas Day I heard Lizzie talking to Millie and she said, "I guess Santa didn't have room for my bag" I said "what bag Lizzie?" and she said "the one like Sallie got for her b-day" (Vera Bradley duffel) which she told me she wanted but I told her maybe she could get for her b-day (because she told me like the day before Christmas). THESE GIRLS!!!

A few days ago I heard Lizzie say to Millie, "I can't get on facebook, can you?" Hilarious!

Tonight they both told us they wanted Ipods (NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!). Lizzie looked at Elleigh and said "how do you download to this thing" What does a 3 year old know about downloading???

On a more age appropriate level, the girls got GloDoodles for Christmas and we all love them! We have so much fun with them. We laughed while we were at my mom and dad's because us adults Doodled as much or more than the kids. We spend an hour or so each day playing with them. They are great to play with the girls. They draw stuff and we guess what it is and they want us to draw stuff for them. There is something about the glo that makes it more fun. I highly recommend them. Here is the link to them at WM. They are on sale right now. http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=11061051

Hope you all have a great weekend and thanks for allowing me clear my head (like I gave you a choice)!