Joy! Joy! Joy!

I hope you all had a very blessed Christmas, and that your new year is just the same! I thought I would share with you some of the things I am thankful for this season.

 

I'm thankful for...

Icicle lights and the "little" brother who hung them up. I did have to hold his ladder when he hung them on the peak. It was sooo cold out!

A little sister who bugled on our decorative trumpet while we were decorating the house for Christmas.

The people at the Christmas tree farm who give us candy canes every year and are just so nice. We especially like their dog Coal, who loves candy canes, his own mini-forest, and little girls. He must be the happiest dog in the world! : )

The way a Christmas tree sparkles when all the lights, ornaments, and pearls are on it.

Funny mix-ups with my little sister's and my coats. They are both black but there is about a three-size difference. I wore hers to the mail, and only realized it was too small when I tried to zip it. : ) She wore mine to our Christmas service.

A Christmas story contest. Join the fun at www.noblenovels.weebly.com. (As far as Christmas stories go, I think God already won.)

Friends and neighbors who thought of us this Christmas and blessed us with cards, goodies, and even a smoked turkey. We love you!

"The Nativity Story", a movie that brings it all alive and makes one realize just how special Christmas is.

The hymn "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus". Thank you Charles Wesley!

Fun chats with my mom and my older sister as we stayed up late finishing up our Christmas presents for the little girls.

Design advice from my dad and my mom. : ) I'd be lost without you!

Little sisters with their secrets, and the pictures they gave me on Christmas day. This year Emma blessed me with the coolest stationery!

A stuffed stocking... You gotta' love chocolate brown fashion socks, a knitting kit, etc., etc., etc. : )

A comic book from Anna to enjoy in the near future. : )

Clapping when one of my siblings unwrapped the new family ice cream maker!!!!!!

Mom's Pioneer Woman holiday cookbook to look through and drool (and laugh) over.

Getting to see the sweet nephew and his drivers. (Love the drivers too.) He laughs when Perry shuffles cards! It is so funny!

The mug I recieved from Perry with a (very) original quote  she free-handed on it. "Some are born weird, some achieve it, others have weirdness thrust upon them..." All of the above! Love ya'!

Christmas dinner with said turkey. Mmmm...

Keith and Kristyn Getty's "Joy: An Irish Christmas", and Andrew Peterson's "Behold the Lamb" music cds. They remind me just what we are celebrating and just how special it is.

A God who loves the ones He created so much that He would give His precious Son to die in our places even though we have chosen to completely rebel against Him. That is what Christmas is celebrating... a God who says, "No, I love you. I will do all I can to get you back."

 

May you realize and accept His blessing to you! I hope you had a merry Christmas!

Water!

Wow. After almost a week of no running water, our pump is finally on
again! Thanks to two good friends from church who were willing to spend
their Sunday afternoon working on it. You have just made washing dishes
possible. I think the laundromat might miss us, though.

First Snow!

We had a great time playing in it! (I took pictures). Can you believe it
is 23 out? You gotta' love watching the youngest drag her sled up a hill.
: )

1. Teamwork!
2. The stuff dreams are made of...
3. "You know, of course, this means war!"
4. My snow angel

Fun Late Summer Memory

This was such the fun and educational experience! And the kittens were
absolutely adorable. : )

Working Washer = Joy

We have a working washer! Special thanks to the friends who picked up and
delivered it and to the new friends who gave it to us.

My Heart Is Filled With Thankfulness

My Heart Is Filled With Thankfulness

My heart is filled with thankfulness

To Him who bore my pain,

Who plumbed the depths of my disgrace

And gave me life again,

Who crushed my curse of sinfulness

And clothed me with His light,

And wrote His law of righteousness

With power upon my heart.

 

My heart is filled with thankfulness

To Him who walks beside,

Who floods my weaknesses with strength

And causes fears to fly,

Whose every promise is enough

For every step I take,

Sustaining me with arms of love,

And crowning me with grace.

 

My heart is filled with thankfulness

To Him who reigns above,

Whose wisdom is my perfect peace,

Whose every thought is love.

For every day I have on earth

Is given by the King,

So I will give my life my all

To love and follow Him.

 

 

Thank you Keith Getty and Stuart Townend for putting these thoughts into beautiful words! Thank you God for being all of these things!

(BTW-- the tune is even better.)

Thanksgiving

Today I'm thankful for a dad and a brother who are willing to do the
research to re-wire our ceiling fan so the light comes on. (Actually Paul
was holding it up while Dad figured out the wires.) It is going to be so
great especially since the sun is going down so early!
I'm also thankful for a sister to help me make pumpkin bread. That was
really fun, especially the part where we had to grind whole cloves with
two bowls and a meat pounder. : ) The house smells so good right now!