Saying Goodbye to 2009

Our last story time of 2009.

New Years Eve was very low key at the Goff house! TJ had to work but the producer did send him home a little early... yeah! But the kids and I had fun and after they went to bed our friends, Jennifer and Jon, came over. When TJ arrived we watched some football, played Wii, then watched the New Years celebration on TV. Goodbye 2009- Hello 2010!

My 2009 Recap-
2009 was one of the hardest years but was also full of blessings and amazing memories. We knew this year would be a challenge... just having moved to a new city, meeting new friends, starting a new church & getting it launched, trying to find jobs, pay bills, praying a LOT, and throwing two toddlers into the mix! I do think 2009 was the hardest year as a parent for me. As I learn how to discipline my kids in love and teach them the ways of the Lord... it's hard! They are 2 and 3! But at the same time I LOVE the age they are right now because they are learning and exploring so much! They amaze me daily! I am thankful for all God did in, through, and for our family this year, He taught us life lessons that we will always remember. Psalm 23 really sums it all up for me...

1 The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
2 He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
3 He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
4 Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
5 You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
forever.

Goodbye 2009!

Christmas Day!!

We had a WONDERFUL Christmas Day. Karoline is at such a fun age. She is understanding more and more about the birth of Christ and what that means for her personally and was SO excited about Santa coming. She asked for a bike... GiGi and PopPop made that possible for Karoline AND Anderson. The grandparents know how to spoil these kids! We all got wonderful gifts and were so thankful for the generosity of TJ's parents and my parents! TJ's mom got me a dish clothe that says "How needs Santa when you have GiGi?" So true :) Hope everyone had a great Christmas!

Not so sure about this...

I think that bike was meant for Anderson...

Kerry got a "big" camera! We are so excited for him and we know he will be a great photographer!!

Princess & her first Barbie

We used my fine china, for the FIRST time EVER! I was so excited!

So lucky to have BOTH sets of grandparents for Christmas!

Our friends, and Auburn fans, that I met on Twitter (story HERE) joined us for dinner.

One last bike ride before bed...

I wrote a new post HERE about TJ's new job...

Click HERE if you want to read it.

Christmas Eve

After an AMAZING service at Wellspring, more on that later, we went back to my parents house for Christmas Eve dinner. I don't know when it started but we always made Ruben sandwiches for Christmas Eve dinner. They are SO GOOD! It was late for Karoline & Anderson so they were going a little crazy but we quickly opened gifts from Gammy & Gandaddy. Karoline was really excited to get a doll house to keep at Gammy's house and Anderson got some toys to keep over there as well. Most of my gifts from mom were found the day after Christmas as we searched her hiding places. My favorite is a new purse! We had a blessed Christmas Eve!







We could not leave without a quick "performance" from Karoline & Gammy!

Merry Christmas

I hope you all had a WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS! We sure did... Christmas posts coming soon!

A Very Sweet Christmas...

Karoline was invited to a cookie decorating party the other day at a friend of our friend Amy's house. Her house has a gym (yes, a beautiful G-Y-M) and it was great for the kids to run around and play and had plenty of room for the kids to decorate cookies.

Karoline, Abby, & Chloe

Sydney giving Karoline a big hug...

Today Karoline & GiGi put decorated our ginger bread house. It turned out so cute. This was Karoline's first... she did a great job!

TJ's New Job- God Provided!

After over a year of TJ looking for a job, God provided!

Here's the story... I twitter and I follow WMBF News. One day I was driving by the station and I saw a navy blue SUV with two orange Auburn flags flying and an Auburn tag on the front of the car. I twittered "I don't know who in your station is an Auburn fan but WAR EAGLE". A producer from WBMF, Jennifer Dale, responded to me and we began following each other on twitter. we tweeted back and forth and her husband knew of TJ and he was also from Mobile. She also helped get the camera's to Wellspring's grand opening!

A month later or so I ran into this guy in Kroger with Auburn gear on and I yelled "War Eagle" of course. It turned out to be her husband, who also works at WMBF News. Seeing he was "normal" (haha... you never know with people on the internet) I invited them over to watch the Auburn vs. Alabama game. It was the first time I met Jennifer in person and we got along with them great. So fun to meet Auburn fans!

While watching the game TJ and Jennifer were talking about jobs and such and she said they had a graphic designer position open they were needed to fill quickly. She emailed the lady in charge of hiring and she wanted to interview TJ first thing the next week. She did and he got the job! AND we have some new great friends too!

WMBF News started in Myrtle Beach a few months before we moved to Myrtle Beach last year. It's the best news station by far in the Myrtle Beach area! Most people are very young. TJ is actually pretty old there! So he is now working from 2pm-10pm at WMBF Monday- Friday. We miss him at night but we are also VERY THANKFUL for the job & that it works with his Wellspring work too.

This is a HUGE blessing for me personally. I have enjoyed Real Estate but have missed my kids like crazy! I worked way too much. This job for TJ along with our supporters at Wellspring will allow me to concentrate on working for my dad, Premier Designs, and my new upcoming adventure with Domestic Ease. Real Estate is on a small hold for now.

Though it would have been nice for TJ to find a job like this about this time last year, I would not trade this past year for anything. We were able to see God work miracles to help us pay our bills & He still does!! We really had to trust Him monthly to provide and He was very creative with how to get it done! And it really allowed TJ to work the LONG LONG hours for Wellspring that were needed to prepare for Launch! It has been a VERY stressful year, as I know it has been for many of you too, but God has provided! We are thankful!

This is just another way God confirms our mission here in the Grand Strand...

To see those that are far from God become PASSIONATE followers of CHRIST!

These pictures from the WMBF NEWS Facebook page.