"God will bless you where you are." Those words rang like bells in my ears this weekend as I listened to the sermon by Dr. Ken Ulmer. I love it when the Lord tells us what we need to hear, at the exact time we need to hear it. Over the past couple of years we have faced some new experiences...I almost said challenges, however I feel like experiences would better describe it. After coming to a cross roads a year ago on what to do with his career, my sweet husband changed companies...doing the same thing, but just with a different broker. Since it is his business and 100% commission, we have stayed on the financial roller coaster that we jumped on a few years ago. He is doing well and I am so proud of him and the work that he does. In the meantime, I have also gone back to work. Some will say we are crazy, but I also went into a field that is 100% commission. I am a real estate agent. I can tell you that it's not all glitz and glamour, but with hard work you can do well. I haven't been able to put in as many hours as it takes to make the income that we need, but it has been a huge adjustment for me since I stayed at home with the kids...and I'm still the one that takes them to school, picks them up, stays home when they are sick, ect. It is a blessing for me to be able to serve my clients and it is something that I thought about getting into for probably 15 years. Because we were use to a steady income before, it has been a huge adjustment to keep the bills paid timely and try to keep our debt low. I can honestly say, that even as scary as it has gotten, we have always been able to make our payments...and God provides every. single. time! When I heard those words this weekend about God blessing us where we are, I have no doubt that we are in the right place. I often think, gosh, I wish we could go back to the "income" we had. BUT, when I think about all of the other blessings that have come from this season in our lives, the money is not what makes us happy...being able to be at the kids events, going to birthday parties on the weekends that Eric used to miss out on, being able to be an assistant coach for CC's baseball for awhile, all of those things are priceless and are true gifts. So, I will take the words of advice from the pastor and not try to hurry out of this season...because I feel like God is going to bless us where we are and He will reveal the masterpiece in due time. The struggle for me sometimes is seeing all of the things people get to go and do, and kind of wishing we had the money to go and do them...or wanting to buy gifts or give to others. It is teaching me that not all gifts have to cost money...you can give of your time and your heart. We have also gotten pretty handy with fixing our own things, which has been a little entertaining at times. 

2013 Review

2013 went by so fast!  We considered 2013 our year of growth. We were in a season of growing Eric's business and also growing in our faith in God. God is so amazing and has provided for us in so many ways.

Eric (and me too) went through a short season of wondering if we were on the right path with his career.  We really pressed in to the Word and believe that the answer is not to give up. As a matter of fact, one morning Collin went to the front door and came back in with a note he found underneath the doormat. It said, "Do Not Give Up." We have no idea where it came from, but we know it was an answer to prayer and a sign for us.  After that Eric was able to find someone to help him with marketing and his practice is really taking off now. We believe that 2014 is our breakthrough year and he is going to be at the top!!

We decided to sale our DVD rental business early in the year, and had a few interested buyers, but have not sold it yet. We are trusting the Lord to send us a buyer and to lead us on that journey. In the meantime, we will continue to run business as usual. We are hoping that if we sell it soon we can have some capital to continue to grow Eric's financial practice and give us a little bit of breathing room.

We got to have a fun beach vacation in the summer. We took the kids to the beach, along with our friends, the Alaniz's.  That was a fun trip. Prior to that time I started selling some things on a buy/sale/trade fb site, and I am proud to say that I saved every bit of that and was able to pay for our vacation. That was awesome!

Our sweet Collin started kindergarten in the Fall. That has been a fun and exciting new thing in our house. He loves his school, his teacher is a blessing and he has made some cool new friends. He turned 6 in September and had a fun little party at the rec center pool with a few close friends. He played t-ball in the spring and fall. Eric helped coach, so that was a lot of fun. He likes to play and really enjoys getting to stay on the same team as 2 of his best friends. Collin is doing great in school. Every 6 weeks a student in each class is nominated for the Circle of Courage award. This award is given to students that exemplify scholarly behavior and set a good example for other students. The second 6 weeks Collin won this award. Eric and I are so proud of him and it was so sweet to hear the kind words his teacher had to say. The things she said are things that we have seen in him since he was a baby!  He's such a cool kid and I'm proud to be his Mama. He also has a love for basketball...hmmm, maybe because his Daddy and his Uncle Cheeto love the game. He is doing a skills class right now and loves it! We will probably sign him up to play next Fall.

Riley turned 3 in June. She had a fun party with some friends at an indoor playscape at a local church. It is so fun to see her grow into such a beautiful little girl. She laughs so easily and loves to tell people about Jesus. She's a feisty one and loves to do anything her brother is doing. I love watching the 2 of them together...despite their sibling spats occasionally, they are best friends. We have done a few things at the rec center with her, ballet, tap and gymnastics. She told me that she didn't want me to sign up her for tap or ballet again, but to keep her in gymnastics. Her favorite thing is flipping and hanging from the uneven bars. She loves to run...so we might try soccer with her soon. She is going to preschool this year and loves it. I'm also working there this year and it's great to be able to take her to work with me!  Her teachers are great and she loves them.

 
We got to spend a week in Amarillo at Thanksgiving and then we stayed home for Christmas. Eric's parents came down the day after Christmas, so that was great. It was nice to just take it easy and let the kids enjoy their new stuff.

Eric is doing awesome. His business is growing, brick by brick they say. He loves what he does and gets so excited about helping people. He has been involved in the chamber for many years, and he received a call that he was the Chair Elect of 2014, so he is going to serve as Chairman of the Board in 2015. The people in the community love him and know he has incredible leadership ability. I'm so proud of him and it's fun to go to events with him and hear people tell me how much they love my husband. We are still told how much he is missed at the store...3 years later ;) 

As for me, I'm working 2 days a week at a preschool. I have a great teaching partner and the sweetest kids in my class. Most of them just turned 2, so it's an adventure every day!  I love working there, everyone is so great to work with! I plan to stay on next year since Riley will be there in Pre-K. I had thought about getting my degree in Speech Therapy, which I think I would really enjoy. I took a class in the Fall of 2012 and did really well in it. I just felt like there were too many things going on at the time and honestly I heard the Lord tell me to enjoy where I was at the time. I'm so glad I did because with the business, school and the time I was wasting on social media I didn't feel like I was spending the time with the kids that I should be. It was Collin's months before starting school and if you have kids, you know how fast time goes by. So, for now, I'm enjoying my days as a stay at home Mom and I am so blessed to be able to do that.

I have a couple of cool stories.  As we have gone through some ups and downs in 2013, I have really started praying a lot about several different things. One morning I took Collin to school and Eric stayed with Riley. That gave me a few minutes of quiet time in the car. I had just had a conversation with Eric about some goals he needed to meet. For a few months it really felt like every time we turned around he was up against a deadline, and not only a deadline, but a goal that needed to be met in order for him to keep his contract with his broker. So...that morning I just found myself talking to God and just telling God that I don't think I have been thankful enough for what we do have. Even if this opportunity had only been for a season...it has been good, so much good has come out of our circumstances. I was still able to stay at home this whole time and be able to stay with my children, Eric was able to coach Collin's t-ball team (which at the store would have never been possible) and the list goes on. So, I just poured out my heart in thanks to God for all of the good things. I told God that I don't understand why the deadlines keep seeming so hard to meet and why it seems so stressful in the few days leading up to it...but he always makes it in the end. I just didn't know if we could do that every few months...but, I know there are things in life that we will never understand. I gave it all to God that morning, and just told him that I was thankful for all of it, and if he could help Eric to reach this goal today that would be nice ;)  As I walked back in the house I had a peace about everything. I could hear Eric on the phone and as I walked towards him he hung up and looked at me and said, "That was a client, and he called me and wants to do 4 policies."  I started to cry and told him what I had just prayed...and I had asked God for 3! Yes, that's how great He is! I asked for 3 and he gave us 4. 

The other cool thing that happened was while we were at church. Some scripture was on the screen and our pastor was praying for the congregation.  While I was reading the scripture, there were some words that seemed to illuminate off of the screen. I blinked a few times because I wasn't sure if my eyes were just messing with me or what. But it did it a few times, enough that I knew it was for me. The scripture was from the NLT Jeremiah 29:14 "I will be found by you, "says the Lord. "I will end your captivity and RESTORE YOUR FORTUNES. I will gather you out of nations where I sent you and bring you home again to your own land."
The part I highlighted is what illuminated off of the screen to me. I have never had that happen to me before. I was telling Eric about it and he said, yeah there's a term for that, but couldn't remember what that is. I know in my heart that it is a word from the Lord, and that is what we are standing on this year! 2014 is a year of restored fortunes, I believe that all of the savings we had before the career change will be back in and we will be in a much better spot financially.

Collin's Funnies

CC is quite the funny guy too! He loves to make people laugh and I love that about him.  While making my list of the funny/cute things Riley has been saying, I also jotted down some of CC's funny things. 

*For Christmas he got some ants and an Ant Farm.  We ordered the ants, but waited on them for awhile because the temps outdoors had to be a certain degree before they would ship. When they arrived we followed the steps to get them in their habitat. We got all of the ants in and I think either he or I bumped it, but we caught it before it fell off of the table. Collin looked at me and said, "Whew (while wiping his hand across his brow) we really dodged a bullet there!" 

*He loves the water park near us, NRH2O. He calls it RH2O.  So now that's what Riley calls it too.  Eric tries to correct him, but I just let him say it because I think it's cute.

*I'm not sure if I have shared this story before, but it really cracked me up...so if you have heard it, sorry, I'm sharing it again! LOL.  One day a new kid to the neighborhood was outside and he and Collin were introducing themselves to one another.  Collin asked his name and then told him his name.  The boy kept repeating the wrong name, Connor? No Collin, Corbin? NO! Collin. This went back and forth a few times and a little girl even tried to clarify for him. After a few more attempts Collin threw his hands up in the air and looked back and me and says," Well, I guess he can't hear."  I lost it! I thought it was so priceless!

*One day the doorbell rang and CC went to see who it was. Of course Riley came running after him, but it was bath time and she had already taken her shirt off.  It was the boys next door, and when Collin say Riley come out with no shirt he told her to go back inside and then looked at his friends and said, "I'm really sorry that you had to see that."

Oh Collin, he makes me laugh! Just typing these I'm laughing because I'm replaying them in my mind. 

Riley's Funny Sayings...

Over the past few months I have been keeping a list of some of the funny things Riley says. I am still amazed by her vocabulary and she is not afraid to talk to anyone.  There are a few things on the list that she doesn't say anymore, or not as often. 

Here is the list:
* Reepunzel,  Her favorite move is Tangled, so she LOVES Rapunzel.  Her birthday party theme this year is actually going to be Rapunzel/Tangled.  She calls her "Reepunzel"

*Poopy Diaper. She and Collin think it is so funny to say this. They call each other that, they say it in place of other things, they say it in place of darn or shoot...it's pretty funny, but I did have to tell them that we should not use "potty" words unless we are in the bathroom. They have not said it as much lately, but a few months ago it was a commonly used term in our house!

*Big baby and tiny baby. At night, Riley was asking for her big baby and tiny baby to go to bed with her. She has two baby dolls, and one is bigger than the other.

* I wish I could have a...  Whatever she sees, she decides she wants one. If she sees a puppy, or a horse, or a monkey, she will say I wish I could have a puppy, horse, monkey, ect.  It also applies to food or toys.

* Rapunzel, let down your hair (mimicking the movie)

* She also loves to sing...I will hear her singing the songs in the movies she watches, word for word. Her favorite is I have a dream, from yes, Tangled.  The first time I heard her singing it was at the playground at CC's preschool. She was throwing wood chips into the air singing the song. It was too cute and I couldn't even get onto her for throwing wood chips!

* Zoom! Motorcycle.  This was a random thing she just started saying one day.

* Game day bucket go Boom! She started saying that after the commercial that was on during football season.

* Some boots. That's what she calls the movie Puss in Boots.

* Mac and Oni and Cheese.  I will let you guess on that one :)

*Whaaaat? She did this just to make us laugh I'm sure.

* Handzitizer. Hand sanitizer

*Does it spin?  She loves spinning, twirly dresses!  If we are looking in her closet and I pull something out for her to wear, that's the first question I get. 


I know there are more, but these are the ones that I jotted down on my list. I think I started it in the Fall...so some of them we haven't heard in awhile.  I will end this with a cute story.  One night we were deciding what to do for dinner. I had left the room and Eric told Riley, "Go tell your Mama to feed me, I'm hungry." She looked at him and without skipping a beat replied, "Daddy, are you a baby?" hahaha. I thought it was AWESOME! 

What's up with the Cook's?

I am calling this our season of growth.  We are a little over a year into our new journey with Eric's new career and it has been a challenge, a bit of a struggle, but also a very precious time for us as a family in our walk with the Lord.  He has been so kind to us and opened our eyes to so many things.  He is so incredibly good! Eric's business is in a season of growth.  He is growing his practice and loves what he does.  He is adding staff, which is great because that will help him to grow his business even faster and it will help him to focus on the part of what he does that he loves (which, if you are wondering, his favorite part is meeting with people...and just talking and getting to know their heart and helping to make sure that their families are financially set).   He has also gotten to be a part of a men's group through our church. It is so good for him and I can see how his relationship with God is growing.
We also still have our DVD Kiosk business, which is great.  We are selling 2 of our lowest performing kiosks and keeping the other 5.  We recently relocated one and it is doing far better.  We have another location that is interested, but we are praying and waiting to hear God's voice on how to proceed with that one.  Then, the hope is that there will be growth in that business bank account :)
Our kiddos are growing so fast.  Collin is 5 and Riley is 2 and 1/2.  They are both getting so tall and we can not keep up with the sizes in clothes or shoes.  Collin is half-way through his pre-k year and kindergarten is not far away!  I'm sad, but also very excited for him because he is super excited about it.  Riley will be going to preschool where Collin has been and she talks about it all of the time.  I take her to church with me on Tuesdays and she calls that her school.  She loves it and when we are not there, she's asking to go. This year Collin is starting to read and write, he's great at math and can color in the lines better than me!  Riley is pretty smart too! I took a class in the Fall for speech therapy and had to use her for a project, and her vocabulary is at a 4 year old level.  She was potty trained 6 days after her 2nd birthday and has not looked back since!  Eric and I are so proud of our sweet kiddos.  They have been asking for a puppy lately, which in turn has had me online looking at dogs...Eric's not quite on board just yet, we are still working on him.  Stay tuned on our possible growing family...we might be adding a furry baby soon. 
As for me, well, like I said earlier, I took a class in speech therapy.  I was not able to take another class this semester, but I think I am going to take some more soon. I loved the class and I think it would be something I would love to do when the kids are in school.  The only downside is that I have to have a master's to do it, and since my BS degree is in Psychology, I have to do some catch-up classes.  The classes are offered online, but are a little expensive.  I have also thought about radiology again (I almost did that early in my college career), but we shall see!  For this semester I really felt like I needed to focus on spending time with the kids since it is not long before CC is in kindergarten.  I am also in a women's group at church, Titus 2.  It has been awesome! I have heard some wonderful messages and have really felt the Holy Spirit moving in me.  I know that there are great things in store for me and my family! <3 p=""> 

Goose Tape

A few weeks ago we were driving in the car when I noticed this car in front of me that was going back and forth between lanes.  I noticed that their bumper looked as if it had been taped on, and so I jokingly said, "they can't decide which lane to get in, that's probably why their bumper had to be taped on."  As we got closer to the car we noticed that it actually was not a taped on bumper, but most of the bumper was actually missing!  I pointed that out and a few seconds later Collin says, "Mommy, you thought they used goose tape."  It took me a couple of seconds to let it sink in and then I replied, "Baby, you mean duct tape?"  Eric and I started laughing and then Collin and Riley started laughing too...we probably laughed (really hard, with tears) the rest of the ride home.  It was so funny!  Man, I love that kid.  So now, when tape is needed for any reason in our house we call it goose tape ;) 

A little about CC

In 1 month my little man will be 5 years old!!  What? He is such a sweet and smart kid. Eric and I are so blessed to have such a sweet boy. 

Collin has always amazed us with his balance.  He has incredible balance and never seems to get dizzy.  A few days ago, he was outside riding his bike (which he LOVES to do) and Eric asked him if he was ready to take of his training wheels.  He said, "sure, Dad."  So, they took them off and started practicing.  He got a little frustrated at first, so we decided to take a break and try the next day.  The next day, Eric took him out while Riley and I stayed inside. It was only a few minutes before I heard him calling me, "Mommy, come watch me! I can ride my bike with no training wheels!" Riley and I went out and witnessed it.  It is amazing!  He learned to ride his bike with no training wheels in 13 minutes.  As soon as he figured it out, the faster he wanted to go.  We have to tell him to slow down, because he tries to push himself to new limits every time he gets on.  He raced a kid on our street and kept looking back at him, so I told him he has to only look forward.  I was afraid he would look back and crash.  Crazy boy!! His bike is a little small now, but it's great that he was able to learn on it.  I guess a new bike is somewhere in his near future.  Here is the day 2 video of him riding:

While I'm talking about CC, I wanted to share some funny things he says.  One of them is "poinky".  He uses this when something is sharp or pointy.  He made that word up a couple of years ago and still uses it. 

Another thing he says is, "I pretty like it" or "I pretty think so"  Kind of like, pretty much, but just uses pretty where he feels necessary.  I happen to pretty like it myself.

One thing that always makes us laugh is his sense of time.  When we are talking about going somewhere or an event coming up he will say, "is it like today-tomorrow?"  I will say, "No honey, it's tomorrow".  "Oh, so like today-tomorrow." He will say.  LOL

Another thing right now, is that he knows everything.  EVERYTHING!  If we are telling him something, anything, we hear "I already knowed that."  Or "I already saw it" when we are pointing something out.  I am so impressed that at 4 years old, he knows so much!!

We love our little C with all of our hearts!  He's a great big brother and our baby boy :)