Christmas Break Fun~

This has been such a full month of fun things that I don't want to miss posting it..since this is my current method of scrapbooking right now :) The month started with our 21 year anniversary and although he was working in Cali, I did get some beautiful flowers and he got a basket of fruit..ha! He has no interest in flowers, candy or anything like that and he seriously loves fruit, so it was the best I could do :) When he came home for Christmas break, we were able to sneak away to the beach for a few days. PRICELESS~ We hurried home from that trip to celebrate our 20 YEAR OLD son's birthday..say what? How can that be!? We just got married..ha! It was perfect because my brother and sis n law had just gotten into town so we had a big family dinner together. Somewhere in between all of that I ran a half-marathon and Molly went to her last Christmas formal. It was a fun night of "CandyLand" theme party! Once my bro and sis arrived the week was filled with baking, eating, shopping, movies, playing games, celebrating my mom's bday by painting pottery together ending with Christmas Eve service in a barn, communion and a sleepover at mom and dad's! SUPER FUN! Dad read the Christmas story, we prayed together and dug into the presents! I am so beyond blessed by my family and sad to see the season end! I love it..all of it! 

Christmas 2011

 What greater thing is there for human souls than to feel that they are joined for life - to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories. ~George Eliot

Christmas Eve

feelingfrosty

It's here!

Presents are wrapped, grocery shopping done,

heading to bake some more with my fam

then off to Christmas Eve service in a barn :)

With the ones I LOVE THE MOST!

That's what's it's all about!

Thank-you Father for sending Your Son~

MERRY CHRISTMAS~

Love the last line..AND IT TURNED OUT EXACTLY AS IT HAD BEEN TOLD~

Praise Your Name!

As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.  Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they'd been told!  Luke 2:16-20 Msg

I came across this picture taken

on Christmas Eve, 8 years ago!

SISTERS~

 

Christmas 2003

Christmas 2011

wehearit

it's been quiet here in this little corner,

much has happened in the last few weeks,

anniversaries, birthdays,

Christmas parties are behind us,

Candyland banquet done!

husband is home,

christmas is 3 days away and presents

are still being purchased,

it just took me some time this year

to get going this week

bro and sis are here

and these are the days we

talk about all year long,

the long lazy days of being together during

the holidays. late nights, late starts

to the mornings, movies, games

food and being together

it's taken me a little more effort

this year to stay focused on the meaning

 of it all~

The power of God will be displayed

this season,

we are forgiven of a debt we could not pay

we will glorify His name

thankful that we are saved

because of a baby, Holy child,

 sent to us

His law is love and

His gospel is peace~

All oppression shall cease

Hymns of JOY

with all our hearts we

PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME

the weary world rejoices

the weary world rejoices

we fall on our knees

O HOLY NIGHT!

tumbler



Oh, to be Normal~

This is my family

take 2,123

We just can't take normal pictures,

it would kill them to just smile

be normal

and snap a pic!

So MERRY CHRISTMAS

from our family to yours!

Family Days~

 

my kiddos~

This picture turned out a little "wonky" from my phone,  but I just love these smiles! This was taken a few weeks ago when we took a road trip to Portland. We had planned on going for an all day bike trip on some awesome bike paths in the PDX area but it began to pour rain! So we walked the city in the rain, looking for thrift stores, used book stores and cute coffee shops!

Awesome day with the fam! ; )

Some Highlights~

Some highlights from the week..

*Tim is home from college for 3 months

*Molly was voted Senior Class President

*Haley had her last spring volleyball game

and Molly got to coach :)

* I am 2 weeks away from having the biggest part

of my job done..GRADUATION! whew!

*AND the best news of all..we found a home to rent for awhile!

A story that has God written all over it!

He is so faithful!

Just last week I wrote about this verse He led me to...

I am trusting that the Lord is "searching out places for us to camp and He will show us the way"

This little home is owned my a christian family

that is been waiting for someone to come along and

rent their home they have to leave for a job out of state!

They said the Lord told them awhile ago that

He has a specific family for this home..

It has alot of cute features and I'm so thankful

that we have a place to LIVE!!~

My favorite..(besides all of the fruit trees)

A HOT TUB~ Already ordered my bathing suit for the summer!

here

**still waiting for that job for Darren to come along**

Perfect Timing~Wordful Wednesday

We just got back from spending a few days

in Redding at Bethel Church.

It was a sweet weekend away, God's perfect timing!

Our first weekend not in "official" ministry for over 20 years

and we were able to get away and SOAK up some

good time with GOD and an awesome group of college kids!

This is a picture of the prayer chapel. We spent quite a bit

of time there on Saturday. Good time with Jesus,

as well as some good family prayer time too!

(missed our boy, of course)

ANNNNNDDDD

Nothing better than Jesus Culture on Sunday morning!

This is the same band that sings

COME AWAY that I posted a few weeks ago :)

This was my 400th post and I was planning on doing something

really cool for this BIG post, but this is the BEST...an

awesome weekend away, in God's perfect time!

He's so good like that! I love HIM!

The Second Half of 2010~

Ok, where was I?
Finishing off my "scrapbook" of 2010
soooo....

August brought:

A road trip to Cali,

Amusement parks,

While in Cali we

celebrated my brother's bday,

visiting friends

and saying goodbye to my boy! TEARS!

September:

Molly turned 16

SURPRISE!

October:

Haley turned 12!

November:

My PARTAY month! Celebrated 41~

My awesome friends took me out for the night~

AND

My brother and sis flew me to LA for my bday!

 FUN FUN!

Tim came home after 3 long months (for Thanksgiving)

AND of course DECEMBER~

and my Mom's bday~

I have no idea why this is so small....but look at my cute parents!

This only touches on the highlights of the year. It was

definitely a year of growing, stretching, trusting and

a year of surrender and a reminder that our God is

faithful, our God is huge and our God overwhelms

this family with HIS love ON A DAILY BASIS!

So bring it on 2011~ looking ahead expectantly for new things from HIM~

Wordless Wednesday

~I LOVE MY FAMILY~

I promised not to put this on facebook

but did not promise to keep it off my blog!

These people are CRAZY and this makes me SMILE!

(My hairy son rocks my world~ haha!)

The Best of 2010, The First Half~

I haven't scrapbooked all year and this is my weak effort
to sum up what our year has been like!
It is taking me a bit so I have divided it in half~
January-July :)


January brought a little of this...

SKIING!
Tim and Molly behind me on the ski lift~

February is a party month in the middle of a dreary winter:

 We celebrated him

The big 41!

And my dad's birthday
And one of bff's  ROBIN'S bday
And Valentine's Day
And Ground Hogs Day (not really)

March was a long month with a fun road trip at the end.

We got to watch my bro accomplish this,

 LA MARATHON...pretty inspiring!!

and my boy made one last college visit and made his final decision,

oh and in the middle of that, I got to see me kindred

spirit, cousin, aka little sister, bff Nicole and her boy.

April: Easter

May: Said goodbye to teaching elementary and moved to a new counseling position!!

June: Watching my firstborn graduate

July: My first tat, Tim's accident, camping and

sweet family, (other favorite cousin) from Ohio came for a visit! Busy month!

six of us went and did something c-r-a-z-y!

(including my mom :)

Family!

A complete miracle Tim was unharmed!

A week after this, he got his first tattoo, "God is my only security"

TO BE CONTINUED!!

Wow, that's alot to cram into six months.

But I think I like this better than scrapbooking..no mess to clean up! ha!

More tomorrow!