Anne (pronounced Annie)

Hi! So, I feel like I want to tell you about Anne!  She is a mixture of a great friend, sister, aunt (to my kids), daughter-like, awesome girl that hangs out with our family. She has quickly become part of the family.  The boys tell their friends that they have a sister...she is 19 and her name is Anne!!

So here is a very brief synopsis of how we connected. Anne's amazing mom (Mary Jo), who is partying in Heaven with Jesus, and I were good friends...and through a series of some of the hardest events of a lifetime, God brought Anne into my life to stay!  There...

Anne is 19.  She was born the year I graduated...now that makes me feel old! Now, as you can see I don't have any girls in my family or teenagers for that matter...so even though I have no idea how to maneuver this relationship, one thing I know is that God brought us together! :)  I am thankful for Anne and know that God has amazing things planned for her life.  I look forward to seeing His plan unfold for her! I know that God has woven our lives together for His glory!  I know that He is using Anne in my life to teach me how to love deeper, worry about my orderly house less, to not get so hung up on making sure my kids are perfect, and to laugh when my dinners aren't so good...even if Anne is over for dinner! :)  I am so darn self-conscious and I want to be more God-conscious!!!

Well, I better go now, but I will tell you more about Team Tabert later! :)
Oh and the crazy colors are just for Anne because she doesn't really like to match all the time, hence the unmatching colors! :)
In Christ,

Kristen

A little SLICE of Heaven

A little SLICE of Heaven is starting today! Just in case you are wondering (and even if you are not), my inspiration for the name comes from our 5 sweet boys.  Seth (3), Levi (9 months), Isaac (8), Caleb (9) and Eli (6)...the first letters of their names make the words SLICE!  They are truly gifts from God and we are blessed that God has entrusted them to our care! 

Okay, so I am starting this blog today because I want to spend more time recording what God is doing in our lives.  I am very simple writer.  I probably will not wow you with my interesting adjectives or my poetic writing style, but I will simply share the ups and downs of our lives! 

So, hmmm....here goes nothing! I have been really thinking about this whole New Year's Resolution thing.  I always think of about 10 different resolutions that I could make each year and never really stick to anything much!  This year I decided that I would pray about it and ask God to give me a scripture that would help define the year of 2011 for me.  I really feel like, apart from God, apart from the Holy Spirit's work in me, I really can do nothing.  Many people may think that that is a weak statement, but I know that it is true, really, really true!  So, as I was looking through the scriptures, this is what I decided would be my life verse for 2011.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in Him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 14:5

Then it goes on to say...

"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." John 15:11

I guess the struggle for me is to remain connected to him.  I just get so distracted sometimes.  I just want to be more connected to the Vine this year, that I think better thoughts, make better decisions, am slow to speak, slow to anger, and am quick to listen! :)

I am looking forward to a New Year with Team Tabert!  I know that if my eyes stay FIXED on Jesus my joy will be complete!

In Christ,

Kristen