New Year's Eve!

Our life this year can once again be summed up with Matt Rodman’s song Never Once. The lyrics have been on repeat in my head this week.

🎶Standing on this mountaintop

Looking just how far we've come

Knowing that for every step

You were with us

Kneeling on this battle ground

Seeing just how much You've done

Knowing every victory

Was Your power in us

Scars and struggles on the way

But with joy our hearts can say

Yes, our hearts can say

Never once did we ever walk alone

Never once did You leave us on our own

You are faithful, God, You are faithful🎶

Never once did we walk alone through all of the CHANGE!! He WAS and IS faithful, and we can carry that with us into 2019. I’m so thankful for that assurance and for all of you who have prayed for us this year! ❤️

Cheers to 2019!

We rang in the New Year with friends, games, and fireworks!

We love the Loucks!

What boy doesn't love fire?!

Love my big boy1

Ready, aim, ...

FIRE!

Happy New Year!

#hartzeveryday2018 Week 52

Day 360: Christmas Eve Service 

Day 361: Christmas Day

 Day 362: I sure do love this boy!

Day 363: Not sure there is anything is better than this!!

Day 364: ;We sure love Christmas break!

Day 365: New Years Eve!

Monopoly until midnight!

Christmas Day

We had a magical Christmas! 

The boys were up around 6:30 scoping things out, but were happy to play on their iPads and let us sleep a little longer. :)

First thing: Check out stockings!

The boys got one gift from Santa and one gift of shoes for just them, and the rest of their gifts were to share between the two of them.

Boots!

Before they know they are getting a Nintendo Switch!

"I can't even believe it!" Jackson said.

"Did you get this for free? How did you get all this money? Did you put your money together?" Lincoln asked. 

SO surprised and excited! 

They have been trying to save their own money to buy a Switch for over a year!

We must get one picture together in front of the tree.

Matching boots for fishing and hunting!

They had such grateful hearts!

They wasted no time testing out the Switch :)

We cut down on gifts a lot this year. We want the boys to be generous and give to others, but above all know the reason we celebrate Christmas is that God gave His greatest gift of all to us. His Son, eternal life!

Christmas Eve

 Ready for Christmas Eve service 

Merry Christmas Eve!

When you show up for church dressed like your friends :)

Christmas family pajamas, love this tradition! 

Jackson and Lincoln exchanged gifts

Jackson got Lincoln a Pokebook and police set.

Lincoln got Jackson an extreme survival kit.

Then we had our "fancy feast" according to Lincoln of Rootbeer, steak, chicken, Costco mac and cheese, and broccoli. 

 We watched Home Alone and put out our cookies for Santa!

The anticipation high for what the morning would bring. I pray we have the same anticipation for Christ this year!

#hartzchristmas2018 Part 2

I was hoping to skip the Elf thing this year, but Lincoln asked sincerely "I wonder when Buddy is coming back?" So alas he came!

Sweet ornament for the tree!

School Christmas parties!

Gingerbread Houses with friends!

 HA!

Brian one upped everyone with his Chattel! 

We came in our pjs and had breakfast for dinner!

New and old traditions! 

 Fun with Lincoln!

Merry Christmas!

Unto us a Child is born
The King of kings and Lord of lords
And He shall reign
Forevermore, forevermore

#hartzeveryday2018 Week 51

Day 353: Still smiling from a great weekend of swimming! What I love even more than fast times, was watching him tell his friends and opponents good luck before the races and great job after!

Day 354: My little elf!

Day 355: Oh HAPPY day!! Twinning with my boys again, last day of wearing the heart monitor, and class 3️⃣ complete!! Officially half way done with grad school!🎉

Day 356: Love this picture from school!

 Day 357: Starting Christmas break off with a date night to finish our Christmas shopping!

Day 358: Gingerbread Houses!!

Day 359: Reindeer food and annual Christmas Lights Scavenger Hunt! The only thing we didn't find was a sleigh on a roof. We love this tradition of hunting for lights together and enjoying our hot chocolate!

#hartzchristmas18 Part 1

We started the Christmas season by visiting Santa!

Nothing beats the free Bass Pro picture :)

Enjoying Cy-Falls Orchestra and Choir Christmas concert

Decorating outside

Baking cookies

Family fun

We frost just to eat them!

Making December bright at school!

We took the boys ice-skating down at Discovery Green! They had a blast!

 It was Lincoln's first time, and by the end he was skating by himself!

Jackson did SO much better than last time (when he was 4, ha!)

Best family date night!

They can't wait to go again!

All great nights end with a treat, and The Chocolate Bar didn't disappoint!