Julie Pyatt

This Christmas 2010 I sit and think of this past year and the year to come.  My thoughts are continually drawn to the kicks and bumps I feel in my “belly” and I can’t help but think of Mary and the miracle of Jesus’ birth.  Next year, in seven weeks, I will have a brand new baby girl to welcome into the world, Natalie Claire Pyatt.  I have to admit it’s been hard to focus on the gifts, traditions, music and movies of Christmas this holiday season.  It’s not because I’m a “Scrooge” or because I don’t enjoy those things.  I am simply overwhelmed with the anticipation of a special birth in our family.  Nothing else really seems that important.

The name “Natalie” literally means “Christ’s birthday”.  So you see, Natalie, is my Christmas miracle.  I hope she will always be a reminder in my life of the miracle of Jesus’ birth.  And what better way to celebrate the birthday of Christ than to ponder the miracle of His birth?  It’s so much more than even the physical miracle of a virgin birth.  A helpless, small child came into a cold, harsh and unwelcoming world so that we could someday have the promise of a priceless gift, salvation.  And others too.  Forgiveness.  Grace.  Mercy.  This Christmas I would like to say “Thank you, God!”  Thank you for your precious gift of the baby Jesus.  Thank you for the gifts we so freely share because of His coming into this world and His eventual sacrifice.  Thank you for my Natalie.  And thank you for Christmas.  And the joy of pondering Jesus’ birth.  Merry Christmas!

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”  Luke 2:14

It’s official… I hired my first employee for Those Darn Books.  It feels weird being an employer but I’m totally psyched about it.  God has been so good to me and I hope I am able to help others and be a God funnel.  Life is grand!

Kenny and I made a $500.00 extra principal payment this month on our house.  Wow!  It feels really good!  I hope we’re able to keep this up and pay off our house early.  If we continue as is without any extra payments, we should pay off our house by the summer of 2018.  I will be 37 years old.  Yeah, hopefully we can pay it off earlier than that.  God willing!

One of the many cool things we did while in Texas was go to Fort Worth, TX.  They do a longhorn cattle drive each day through downtown Fort Worth.  The original cobblestone streets are still there and the cattle drivers wear the original cowboy garb from the 1800’s.  It was pretty cool.  Even cooler was getting to see the first indoor stadium ever built in the US.  Turns out Mark rode there at one of his first rodeos in the 1970’s so that was pretty neat too.  We also went to a sweet little museum located in the old Stockyard building.  The curator let Kate get on a saddle and we took a picture.  SO cute! 

Grandpa, Grandma and Kate in Ft. Worth

Livestock drive through downtown Ft. Worth

My beautiful baby girl

Grandma and Grandpa

Kate the “Cowgirl”

Our first day in Texas we just took it easy.  The airplane flight was hard on Kate and I so we relaxed on Grandma and Grandpa’s front porch.  I also took Kate around to the barn to see what a horse looks like in person.  She was very timid at first.  I don’t blame her.  They’re pretty big and can definitely be a little scary.

Grandma and Grandpa

Kate rocking on the front porch

Kate ‘n me

Me, Grandma and Kate

Kate and I just finished a nice, long and relaxing trip to visit my Mom in Texas.  They have a large horse ranch and it was great getting to visit and enjoy being in Texas.  I will post pics and more details later.  There were a lot of fun things that happened.  I definitely miss my Mom.  It’s hard being so far away from her.  Love you Mom!

Honestly, life is hard.  But God is SO good.  I have been blessed with such a beautiful and loving family.  Thank you, God!  I know I don’t deserve it but I am so grateful.

Little Miss Kate and I went to the park yesterday.  We are LOVING this weather!  Absolutely beautiful!

Just wanted to let everyone know things are good in our world.  We’re busy… VERY busy.  But it’s a good busy, not a pointless busy-just-to-be-busy kind of busy.  New things going on are:

- Kate is walking.  Just a few steps (the most have been five) but she is definitely walking.  SO cute!

- Kate just turned one.  Look at my wonderful sister-in-law’s website for adorable pics.

- My business is growing.

- Kenny’s product is launched.  Yippee!  Now we’re ready for the sales to start rolling in.

- I have lost 40 pounds!  I’m only trying to lose 8 more and then I’m gonna start working on toning up.

- God is SO good!  He is a God that restores, heals, blesses, multiplies and is so faithful.  I can’t imagine a life spent any other way than serving Him!

So, I’m making cold calls for my business today, which is always a hard task.  But this made it oh so funny… I love the Internet!!! :-)  Or should I say Internet Providings… ha ha ha!