Happy New Year!

This has been a blessed year for the Ward family. God has been so good and our hearts are overcome with JOY! We hope you will reflect on all the Lord has done for you this past year and look forward to all He will do this year!!

Happy New Year from the Ward's!!

A baby. A Savior. My King.

This has been one of the best Christmas's since Matt and I have been married. It wasn't because of the lavish gifts, or the delicious food. It was because it was spent with Matt and the girls. At home. All day. No where to go! Before we had kids Matt and I ran from Christmas to Christmas. It was fun but oh so tiring. We decided when we had kids we were going to have or won traditions and be home on Christmas day. For the first time since I can remember, we have always done Christmas with my mom's family at 5:00 on Christmas night. This year due the weather, that was cancelled so we have been home all day. Matt and I have never had a relaxing Christmas like we have had this year. We played out in the snow, and stayed in our jammies all day long. ALL DAY! It was sooo great. We ended the night at IHOP. just the 4 of us. It was perfect! We have fulfilled some much needed time at home with our girls. Just our sweet little girls.

We spent Christmas eve night with my dad. It was a great time. We have a tradition on Christmas Eve to eat the worlds best gumbo made by my dad and then we have boiled shrimp and lots of yummy desserts! It was just a relaxing night with no plans and lots of laughs. It was a perfect evening! We left just as the blizzard started and drove home in the beautiful snow!

We got the girls home, and read the Christmas story out of the Bible. Alyssa had lots of questions that we got to answer for her! It was a special time sitting by the fire and talking about Christ's birth, death, and resurrection. They opened their Christmas jammies and they were in the bed!

I just got through tucking in Alyssa when Bella started crying. I asked Matt what was wrong with her and he said she probably just needs her mommy. As I was rocking Bella, I couldn't help but think about this special day. How it must of felt for Mary to rock sweet baby Jesus. How she must have been overwhelmed at His birth and that she was chosen to carry Him.

I also couldn't help but think as I was rocking Bella, and she fell fast asleep, how Jesus desires nothing more than for us to crawl up in his lap when we are crying and let him rock and comfort us.

I love how it feels to know that Bella "needs" me and wants me to hold her and love her. Oh how Jesus must feel when we show him love and that we are in need of being held, comforted, and just rocked to sleep.

I love how the Lord shows up when we least expect it. Tonight, he used my sweet baby girl to relate to his sweet baby Jesus!

Merry Christmas!

For those with hurting hearts...

Christmas in Heaven

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below, with tiny lights like Heaven's stars reflecting on the snow.

The sight is so spectacular please wipe away that tear,

for I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear,

but the sound of music can't compare with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you of the joy their voices bring

for it is beyond description to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart

But I am not so far away, we really aren't apart.

I can't tell you of the splendor or the peace here in this place

Can you just imagine Christmas with our Savior face to face?

I'll ask Him to lift your spirit as I tell Him of your love

so then pray for one another as you lift your eyes above.

Please let your hearts be joyful and let your spirit sing

for I am spending Christmas in Heaven, and I’m walking with the King

ONE!!! Really?

I feel overwhelmed that my baby girl. Our last baby. Our sweet Bella Grace is already ONE! Can someone please tell me how and when that happened cause I am pretty sure i just brought her home from the hospital in that oversized car seat just yesterday! Well, apparently not. Time has gone so fast this past year. it has been a great year. A blessed year. A year we will never forget!

I went to the Dr. today for her year checkup and he said she is the best toddler I have seen in a long time. I was like...um excuse me? Toddler? He said yep!! Once they hit a year old they are considered a toddler. I I pretty much cringed when he said those words! She is my baby and will always be my baby. Toddler or not! She is my baby girl.

Bella Grace you are such a blessing! A joy to be around! You have a smile that lights up a room. You bring such happiness to others and you have taught your daddy and I another aspect of love! You are a great sister to Alyssa. You are a great sleeper. (thank you) You are content. Happy. Lovable. You love to Snuggle. You are quite the little eater! YOu love just about everything. You love your whole milk and your sippy cup! You are an over achiever and the busiest little "toddler" I know! You were walking at 10 1/2 months. You have not stopped since. We love you and a praise God that he allowed us to be your parents. We give God the Glory for you and thank him daily for your precious little life! We pray you grow into a young lady that fears the Lord and loves him with all your might! God has great plans for you Bella Grace and we can't wait to see his plans fulfilled in you!

Oh Alyssa...

Our sweet Alyssa is one funny girl! She had her daddy and I, and several others laughing on Sunday night at the 3 year old Christmas program. She decided she was going to hug the girl nex to her during all 3 songs. She would clap when the song was over and then put her arm back around her when the next song started! It was so cute and so funny. I was laughing so hard I was crying!

I can't even believe Alyssa is old enough to be singing in the preschool choir but she is so I am just trying to take in every sweet moment with her.

We love you Alyssa Lauren and are so very proud of you! You bring us much joy and we thank God he chose us to be your mommy and daddy!

My little love bugs...

I just love these sweet girls.

We thought it would be fun to let Alyssa decorate her first gingerbread house! It was fun, messy, funny, and we created lots of memories with our sweet Alyssa. We waited till Bella was in the bed and then let big sis take over! Oh she had a blast. I must say, mommy and daddy had just as much fun...maybe more!!:)

Bella is a stinker and into EVERYTHING!! This is how I found her at one point this week. But seeing that smile makes it real hard to get mad!!