Shopping With The Girls

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Today Ms. Cheryl and I took our Sunday School class to the mall. We had nine girls and it was lots of fun. I got two pairs of shoes, Yankee candles, Bath and Body Works lotion, and hair (but don't tell everyone!)

Home School Christmas Party

Today was the Home School Christmas Party. It was TONS of fun!! Julie of course hosted this wonderful event and it was a blast. I could tell the kids were having a good time by all the smiles and laughing. The afternoon went by really fast too! Here are some pics of the fun.

Megan and Mae

Three teams played this fun game of trying to get as many chocolate chips into the bowl using a spoon.


Building the tallest tower with toothpicks and marshmallows, Josh won.

Marshmallow shooter.... they had to aim for a hole in a picture. Kyle and Josh won.

The girls sit nicely for a photo.

more shooting...

the girls turn...

This was a great game!! I thought I had a picture of the girls, but as you can see I didn't post it... Anyway, they put Vaseline on their nose and pick up the cotton balls and try to shake it off their nose and into the bowl. Jacob won this game.

The White Elephant exchange! This was so funny. Here is everyone trying to get the best prize! It sounded like a box of Legos, so naturally everyone wanted it... I guess the White Elephant wasn't understood by them as Legos are NEVER a white elephant. That box changed hand every time and several times during each call out. Would you like to know what was in this??? It was great. Multiplication tiles! Needless to say the winner of the box was a little surprised.

Luke was so funny. I don't know what he was expecting but I guess Candy Land wasn't it!!

Yesterday we went to my sister's house for our family Christmas party. We enjoyed a very nice time with lots of food, gifts, and sharing stories. My sister Nancy and her husband Mike host this event each year and ALWAYS make it a very special day. I got some great stuff too!

All 11 of them..hard to get them all looking at the camera.

Mom and Jim(my step-father)

Every year my brother in law dresses up as Santa;
there are only 3 left that believe in Santa.

Do you think they are tired?

Merry Christmas

We wish you all a wonderful Christmas.

The Annual Christmas Picture

Picture perfect... but it took lots of photos....do you notice something wrong with these two!

Annual Christmas Play

Tonight was the annual Christmas play at church and it was really great. The kids/teens did a wonderful job with all there lines and all the songs were wonderful. The set was absolutely amazing!! I had a great team working the fellowship afterwards and REALLY appreciate all the work that they continuously do.

How should a King come?

I recently heard this song and I just love it! I tried to find the song to listen to online to link it, but I didn't find it. (perhaps if I put more time into it... well, you know). Anyway I think this song is beautiful in the way it describes what we think a royal entrance is, but God saw fit to sent Jesus in a completely different way. In case you are interested, I have this song on a CD called "The Spirit of Christmas".

How should a King come.
Even a child knows the answer of course,
In a coach of gold with a pure white horse.
In the beautiful city in the prime of the day,
And the trumpets should cry and the crowds make way.
And the flags fly high in the morning sun,
And the people all cheer for the sovereign one.
And everyone knows that's the way that it's done.
That's the way that a King should come.

How should a King come.
Even a commoner understands,
He should come for His treasures, And His houses and lands.
He should dine upon summer strawberries and milk,
And sleep upon bedclothes of satin and silk.
And high on a hill His castle should glow,
With the lights of the city like jewels below.
And everyone knows that's the way that it's done,
That's the way that a King should come.

How should a King come.
On a star filled night into Bethlehem,
Rode a weary woman and a worried man.
And the only sound in the cobblestone street,
Was the shuffle and the ring of their donkey's feet.
And a King lay hid in a virgin's womb,
And there were no crowds to see Him come.
At last in a barn in a manger of hay,
He came and God incarnate lay.

And the angels cried "glory glory to God".
Earth was silent so heaven rang, "Glory glory to God."
Men were dumb so the angels sang, "Glory glory to God,
Peace on earth good will to men, Glory glory to God". Christ is born in Bethlehem
Glory to God, Glory in the highest
Glory to God, Glory in the highestGlory to God

Okay... Now I Am Sure Time Is Going Faster!

I can't believe how fast time it going! I have been very busy trying to get gifts purchased, the tree decorated, homeschooling, and medical visits (I have 3 this week!) Maybe that is why I am getting so little done!

As I talked to my doctor today he laughed and said there isn't anything going on around the holidays, lets have some tests done. So, I have my dietitian appointment tomorrow (My blood sugars have been within good range for the last month) and since I am there I will have some blood drawn and another test. I saw my gynecologist yesterday and the good news is I don't have to go back for a year, but I still have to take the medicine every month. Oh, and I will be going for a sleep study as soon as the place calls and makes an appointment for me.

Nothing else to do these days... ;0 Boy I sure am glad I don't feel as bad as all this testing makes it sound! Well, I only have a few more minutes before I am not allowed anything else to drink, so I am going to down a big glass of water. Have a great night.

Well, He Did It Again!!

What do I do to deserve such a wonderful husband. I really do have a great husband and he showed me again today that we was thinking of me! God is so wonderful to bless our marriage and the past week has been extremely nice... this was as they say, "the icing on the cake"! One of these days I am going to post our testimony so many can see how awesome our God is.

Oh! What Fun It Is To Have A Christmas Coffee

The BEST Pastor's wife in the world....

sorry everyone else...well, actually I am not

that sorry... I am that selfish!

The "famous" coffee lady
Eating? Laughing? Bad combo!
And she knew the pic would make the blog.


FUNNY GIRLS

This was the cutest little singing group.

Wonderful Ms. Donna is so funny.

I love her stories.

Beth won this basket!!!

Isn't it beautiful... and loaded!!

A cute friend with a silly hat.

It was so wonderful my sister in law came!!

Yes, she had fun.

Crazy ladies making trades.

This stocking moved A LOT.

So many people wanted it.

This wonderful young lady ended up with it...

with a little help from her friends ;

So, yet again another week has passed and I didn't write.

Well, on Friday we started our decorating. Jim worked outside on the lights for the front and I started putting things around the house. Usually I would work on the tree, but it is a pre-lit one and it is really heavy, so I just waited for Jim. The tree still isn't done because we were messin' with the lights... the pre-lit one aren't lighting. So, the new plan is we will have to put some lights on it ourselves. I honestly haven't taken the time to go get the lights and put them on, so our tree is still just waiting.

On Saturday the kids and I went soul winning (Jim was working his 24 hour shift) and then went to my Uncle Jack's 70th surprise birthday party. It was a very nice time. Oh, we were at Maggiano's.

Sunday was a typical Sunday with the exception of Birthday and Anniversary. I have a great group of people working on this team!! Thanks everyone!!

Monday through today we have been busy with our school schedule, chores, and just regular stuff. Which leads me to now, Jim just walked in and we will be having our family night. So, have a good one.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

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Psalm 100:4

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his

courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name

Earth Worm Dissection

Today Kyle dissected an earthworm! He cut and pinned it all by himself. We went online to see a picture of the worm dissected, so we knew what we were looking at. Enjoy some pics!!!

One minute we are raking and the next we are playing with snowballs!

The kids and I basically finished raking the backyard (and let me tell you with 4 trees of our own and a few trees from the neighbors that is A LOT of leaves!) We were out there for about 2 hours and we were dropping our last load of leaves when it started to snow. I didn't think much about it, but within a few minutes it had left a dusting... so what would any kid do... they ran to make snowballs!!

How Has Another Week Passed!

Here is the week in review:

All week we continued with school as usual. We have been following our schedule and it has been really peaceful. I get up at 6am and have my devotion; the kids are now setting their alarms and getting up at 7 so we can start an exercise video at 7:15 on the dot. Showers and breakfast are next with our bookwork starting at 9:00. I never was a "schedule" person, until I realized how much better the day goes with doing the same thing repetitively (now I dislike NOT having one!)

The kids really enjoyed chapel and I did some reading. It is so wonderful to her the kids talk about what they did.

Saturday I was able to have the Hospitality Team Luncheon at Aurelio's. I really have a great group of people and Pastor is so generous to allow us this time of fellowship. After that we had a party to go to at my sister's house... so I got to talk with my sister and the kids were able to play with their cousins.

Today flew by as Sunday's do, but it is always great to be in church.

Home School Meeting

The home school meeting was great as usual. Laura gave a wonderful testimony and Pastor's lesson on diligence was awesome. It is SO great to have Pastor and Julie to help us along the way with home school. I am not sure how things changed around here, but we weren't being diligent with our time... today we started back again and IT WAS WONDERFUL!

After the meeting Jim and I went to George's for dessert and a hot drink. It was really nice having a little date.

A Rainbow!

This afternoon as the kids and I left a store we saw a rainbow! I have always loved rainbows, even before I knew God, but I REALLY love them now.

Every time I see a rainbow I remember Genesis 9:15-16 15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.

When I see rainbows I think about God's faithfulness. As I am writing this post it dawned on me that as I am looking at the beautiful rainbow, so is He.

AND today's rainbow, to me, was extra special and that is for one reason. Today was the first time I really remember seeing the entire rainbow! I always remember seeing the "end" or "ends", but today we saw the entire bow connected together...and it was awesome.

A "Love" Story

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On Monday Beth asked me if I loved her more than anyone else, with a disclaimer that obviously God would be first and Daddy second and therefore should not be included in my answer.

I have two kids, what should I have said… So I told her that I couldn’t answer that.

She pretended to cry and said, “You don’t love me” and then giggled.

I told her that I loved her 10 years worth, to which her reply was, “That’s all I get!”

I said that is as long has she has been here, so it sounded reasonable.

And then Jim jokingly said, “That is how much she loves me too.” I thought that was a terrible thing!

Beth said, “That’s all he gets; he should get 18 years worth…then she added, “Well, maybe only 16 because you didn’t like him for a while”.

Now by this point I figure I need to get the focus off of my lack of love!!

So, I asked, “how do you know that I love Daddy now?”

Beth, “I don’t know you just do.”

Me, “Because I kiss him?”

Beth, “Yucky!” (Kissing is still gross at her age and the picture is really grossing her out!)

Me, “Well, then how do you know; what shows you I love him?”

Beth, “You get up at 5am and make his lunch and coffee.”

Me, “Yes, I do that. But why doesn’t it show you that I love Daddy when I kiss him?”

And here is the entire point of this post. I couldn’t believe her answer was so wise for someone so young.

Beth, “Just because people kiss doesn’t mean they love each other; anyone can do that. It’s the stuff you do for him.”

Happy Birthday!

Happy 10th Birthday Beth!!!! We love you!

The SLACKER is Back

Hi everyone (finally!)

Well, I can tell you I have been having a great time since my last post! After telling you how spectacular Spectacular was, I was busy getting ready for our family vacation. It was a blur on Saturday as I was getting everything packed and doing last minute things... like all the laundry because I was gone for the 3 days before!!

We left for Wisconsin right after morning service on the 19th. We stopped in a little church in the evening and then headed over to House On The Rock Inn. We have been to this part of Wisconsin before and just love how peaceful it is and beautiful.

So, here is a run down of what we did!

Sunday: as above but went out for dinner and went swimming after we checked in. This is a picture of the "kiddie pool".

Monday: We went to the House On The Rock. This place is a collection of MANY things that someone want to get. I took us about 6 hours to get through it.

Tuesday: Cave of the Mounds cave tour and "panning for fossils and jewels". We really enjoyed our time... it was a tour with only us!! Shopping and swimming!

Wednesday: Mining Museum and tour...very scary the way people use to work!! Rollo Jamison Museum is one mans collection of incredible stuff from around that area. And last but not least.. Pendarvis House..yet another tour. This one was about one mans influence in the town and what it did to save it. Swimming again!

Pendarvis House

Thursday (AM): Checked out of above hotel and headed for a Dairy Farm. This tour was GREAT and we all got to try to milk the cow!! We learned so much and really enjoyed our time... it was a tour with only us again!!!

Thursday (PM), Friday, and Saturday: Headed over to Camp Joy! We heard good preaching/teaching. The kids has lots of activities and we all enjoyed playing pool and bumper pool. Kyle and Brother Larry were playing LOTS of the games together.

This week has been an attempt to get back on schedule with school and get a mountain on laundry done, which by Tuesday was accomplished! This week has gone SO incredibly fast I just cannot believe it!