Perry Christmas 2009

These are just a few Pictures from our Christmas this year! :) We all had such a great Christmas! God's Blessings seem to not just raining on us but pour! He is so good and sometimes I have no words to say how great he is. Now that the kids are getting a little older and more into the "Christmas Spirit" we are trying to make as many teachable moments as possible. We are trying to teach them what Christmas REALLY is about and what it means. The presents are nice but we really concentrated on God's gift to the world. We hope and pray all of you had a wonderful and blessed Christmas!

Mike and Corrie...

Us after a long day of raising kids! We look tired!

Our little hair stylist...

I knew that some day I would have to experience this. I just didn't know it was going to be right in front of me! Haylie was coloring her baby Jesus picture that she got from MOPS the day before. Well, in her crayon box are her scissors and they have been in there with all of her crayons for a while. We were sitting at the table just talking and I looked down to do something and all of a sudden I here, "Mama, I just cut my hair!" I had to immediately cover my face to keep her from seeing me try not to laugh hysterically! It was pretty darn funny! The look an her face was so proud, like she had done something good and she was just waiting for the "Good job, Haylie!" from me. As I tried to gather my composer the best I could, I just blurted out, "Haylie! That is very bad! We don't do that!" The look on her face immediately changed to sorrow as she realized we aren't supposed to cut our hair.

Thankfully it's not as bad as it could have been. I don't need to give her bangs or anything like that but I will need to blend a few spots together because you can see a definite chunk missing. Ahhh, life with kids NEVER is boring....to say the least! Hopefully we won't have to experience this again. I said hopefully!

New pictures of the kids!

Just us...

Ima means mother in Hebrew. I am in every sense a mother. My whole life revolves around being a mom. I LOVE my job! I know I have not updated in quite some time. As most of you know Isla was born in March just about 9 months ago and now Michael and I are expecting our fourth child. I am just about 15 weeks along which puts my due date in mid June. We couldn't be more excited and a little anxious. It is always a little scary welcoming a new baby into the family no matter how many times you do it because it changes things. For good. For worse. When you have kids there is never knowing! Anyway, Life is good! The last 9 months with Isla have been a complete joy. Haylie and Ethan have really adjusted well and it is almost like she has been here all along. We are going to be getting our ultrasound in just a little less than a month so we will be quick to let everyone know if we will have an even pair or if the scales will tip in the female direction! :) Until next time....God Bless from the Perry Family!

Merry Christmas and Happy 2010 to everyone!

God's blessings rain down...

As I sit here and just think about how much God has blessed our family, I smile and wonder, "why me?" Often times it is so easy to get wrapped up in life. Concerning yourself with the little things that really don't matter. Changing diapers, wiping noses, making, serving, and cleaning up meals can stress even the most patient person out after doing it all day everyday without a break! I then sit down and quietly talk to God...He gently reminds me how wonderful my life is. A loving, faithful and hardworking husband who provides for our family, two wonderful children who are healthy, a beautiful baby coming into this world, created by our Almighty God, two new (to us at least) cars, an awesome house in an incredible neighborhood....WOW! All of those things are so great and make the life He gave us to live wonderful, but the best blessing of all is the ability to serve, love and most importantly have an intimate relationship with the Jesus who saved us from all of the ugly things of this world! I think this song by Third Day perfectly describes how I feel and how I want to worship the Creator of the Universe that holds me so closely and catches all my tears...

"May Your Wonders Never Cease"

Third Day

Father in Heaven Lord, may Your name be glorified Above all others Above all this world Above everything else in our lives For nothing else in all of this world matters But to live our lives for You and You alone. May Your wonders never cease. May Your Spirit never leave. May we ever long to see Your face. When we’ve turned from You, again, Oh how quickly we forget. May we be reminded of Your grace. May wonders never cease. Beautiful Savior, Truly You proved Your love for us. While we were sinners in all our weakness, Still You gave Your life upon the cross. You saved us, Lord, from all of our transgressions. And delivered us into Your loving arms. Father in Heaven, Lord, may Your name be glorified. Above all others. Above all this world. Above everything else that’s in our lives. For nothing else in all of this world matters, but to live our life for You and You alone.

Haylie and Ethan

Some newer pictures of the kids! They are growing so fast and getting so big!

Awaiting Isla...

We now are awaiting the arrival of our beautiful baby girl Isla (EYE-lah). We seem to be completely prepared for her. I am 37 weeks this Thursday and I am feeling very confidant that if I go into labor at any time I will be completely ready. I have even taken some time to prepare emotionally. Haylie and Ethan are so much older now than Haylie was when I had Ethan. I think Haylie is getting a little anxious about Isla's arrival. We have had a few sleeping and potty set backs with her. It is actually getting a little frustrating because she has been potty trained for a little over a year now and these set backs just seem ridiculous to me. But I know to her it is not ridiculous and she is just feeling scared. We never experienced this when Ethan was born because she was so little and unaware of Ethan or a while. So we are taking everything in stride and praying, and then hopefully they will get better once she is her and Haylie realizes we love her no less.
I am so happy to be having another girl! I know I would have loved a boy, but there is something to be said for having a sister. I wanted Haylie to experience having a little sister. I do want Ethan to have a brother, that would be great, but a sister relationship is special. I am just praying that I can nurture that bond between them. That God will bond our family together and that Haylie and Isla can have something special for life. We talk a lot about Isla and her coming into our family. Haylie is very sweet! She will kiss my belly and tell her that she loves her. I think now at almost 3 she gets the concept (at least a little bit) of a new baby.
I have been pretty conscience of spending extra time with Haylie and making her feel important and special to me. We even had a "girls day" together, which was so great to have with her. Having her alone without Ethan and just seeing her personality come out in the conversations we had was amazing. I am going to be taking Ethan out this next week as well to spend some alone time with him too. He knows there is a baby coming but I don't think he quite gets the concept yet. At least not like Haylie does. Michael and I have been talking a lot about being parents to three little ones. I know it will be a change. A little chaotic. I am used to chaos though. Having two toddlers is quite a feat! I feel I can add a newborn to that and still be ok. I am preparing for the adjustment and I know there will be tough days, but we have such great friends and family that are here for us. We also have such an amazing small group too!
All-in-all I think God is knitting our family together so well and so carefully. Michael is so excited to be having another little baby girl and I know I am so very thankful to have such an amazing husband who, I know will be here, helpful, and a great daddy! I thank God for such a wonderful man!

Our home!

It feels so nice to call a place home that is ours. It has been quite a journey to get here over the past few years. Sometimes a rough road, sometimes a funny one, none the less we have finally taken the leap and jumped into the world of house payments, yard work, and many more things that come along with owning your own home. We have been here a little over 2 months now and have already had to fix a few things, but it is fun. Our neighborhood is great. There are lots of kids around even a few that are Haylie and Ethan's age. I know as the weather gets warmer we will be making a lot of friends around here. Even on the few "warmer" days we have had, people are out on walks, taking their dogs out, and enjoying the weather. I don't have any pictures or the outside of the house yet. I will be taking some as soon as the weather breaks this spring. I will post them then!