New Year

Came across this and thought it was worth posting.

A DEFINITION OF THE NEW YEAR

The new year is a door
By which we reach new fields
Of service for God and fellow man:
A door by which we can explore
Wide spheres of usefulness
Our world to bless,
And reap the sheaves God's word of witness yields.

The new year is a task
Set by the Master of our souls,
A little part of our life's work below:
And so we ask holy wisdom which alone controls Our labor,
teaching what and where to sow:
That the year, at its end,
May show God's glory and man's profit blend.

The new year is a book
With many pages, and as yet all white
On which to write
The history of thought, and deed, and word
In this new group of days.
We pray thee, Lord,
As thou shalt look upon the book,
When written over, may all be to Thy praise.

~~Author Unknown~~

Happy Birthday Jesus!

We hope you had a wonderful Christmas at your home.

We had a great day thankful for the gifts from our Lord and Savior.

Children's Christmas Video

Yesterday we spent the day shooting pictures for this video. It turned out so well..Thank you Pastor John!

Christmas Vacation!

Well the day finally came...We are officially on Christmas vacation! Once I catch my breath from the busy week I will sit down and post some pictures from our week. It has been busy but I count it all blessings! Still a lot of baking to be done and a few crafts to complete but we are well on our way to having a very Merry Christmas. Better get to bed the kids have rehearsal in the morning for the Christmas program at church Sunday.

Lil' David

Just wanted to share this sweet baby smile. He is such a sweet baby and oh my goodness I love being his Grandma! His Gramcracker (a wonderful woman at church) as the kids call her made him this beautiful quilt for Christmas. She also made Grace and Jeffrey the most wonderful pillow cases. The kids just love them! Oh and yes we opened them early because Gramcracker said they could :)

Snow~

Today was our first snow of the season..which is a bit late. It sure is pretty! So it worked out nice that today in 5th grade we decorating gourds as snowmen. They turned out so cute and the kids loved them. The theme kept going as we then made snowmen out of paint sticks. Great idea thanks to Christie! And they were a big hit as well. Here are few pictures.

Christmas Candy

This past Saturday would have been mine and Jeff's 24th wedding anniversary. It's been nearly five years since he passed and while it does getting easier there is still a knot in my throat in moments like this. So, this year I thought I would have some friends over to make Christmas candy. It was a good diversion for me and we had a great time!

We made Lollipops, butterscotch candy, peppermint bark, chocolate covered pretzels and attempted a Pampered Chef candy that well didn't turn out :( But we had a good time and the kids loved all the goodies...so did we!

Make a Smilebox greeting

Spelling Bee

Big news at our house! Grace and her bestest friend Ashton were finalist in the school Spelling Bee!! Which means that they placed over the 4th-6th graders and that they will be going to the county Spelling Bee at COS in January!

Now while that is so incredible..The thing that stands out the most was this. These two were so nervous as they only had their words for two days. I had told Grace to study and pray about it. Well, just before the bee was to start these two sweethearts bowed their heads and prayed right there in the gym! Cassie happened to see them and I was able to catch it..a priceless moment between friends and the Lord they love. Now If you can imagine it got even better! Once they were announced winners they were thanking the Lord and not saying yes we did it! Nope they gave God the glory. I told Grace how proud I was of her giving God the glory for her success and she proceeded to tell me how could she not because without God she is nothing.

Being a widowed Mother it is a daily struggle hoping that I am doing as the Lord would have me to do with my children. And, trusting him that he is overall. We are doing a bible study on Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp and the whole point is really to have children have a heart for the Lord. It is in moments like these that I see it happening. Not to say there are not struggles or rough roads ahead but I hope the foundation that I am laying is strong in the Lord...because without him I am nothing!

Philippians 4:10-13
I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving with my folk's this year it was nice to get away and spend some time with them. We had a wonderful dinner..Mom does the best! And we also went to see Old Dogs while down there. Hilarious movie! We all laughed through it. Here are a few pictures...oh and David learned how to use his hands and went for Cassie's dinner plate! Great moment :)

Up way too late!

I find myself trying to get done what computer work I have after the kids go to bed and thus..find myself up way too late!

Life has been very busy around here lately. I will make time tomorrow to sit and catch everyone up on our comings and goings. Hope you are enjoying the Christmas season so far. Merry Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We hope that you have enjoyed your Thanksgiving this year as much as we have! We are with family and I just love the process of cooking and conversation that takes place.

I am ever so grateful for my family and friends, for my son in law and the other soldiers stationed around this great world of ours. I am thankful for a sweet boy who is spending his first Thanksgiving ever with his forever family. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!


Psalm 107:1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;his love endures forever.

Thankful Thursday

Today I am so thankful that Shauna & Isaiah are going to be home! Words cannot begin to describe my joy. In a matter of hours this family will be reunited and Isaiah will meet his brothers and sisters for the first time. Praise GOD!!

I am also thankful today for modern medicine! After nearly 20 years without real asthma trouble I have been hit hard..come to find out it is that way for so many this year. After starting a new medicine regimen and feeling run down because of it..I went to the Dr. again and now have bronchitis. Thankfully I have been started on antibiotics and should feel better in a day or so.

Just had a visitor..Judee from our church stopped by with something for Cassie. I am thankful for this wonderful woman and her example of Christ in her daily life. Oh we are blessed by so many everyday.

I am so thankful for my sweet blessings in Grace & Jeffrey. I love how these two even though they do argue at times still love to be together and ask each other how their day was. It's just so cute! Thank you Lord for all the blessings in my life, thank you for letting me be a mother to three amazing children and a Grandma to the sweetest little guy!

What are you thankful for today?

I am thankful that.....

In a week my dear friend will be home from Africa with her newest addition! Love you Sha! Looking forward to getting to know Isaiah and being able to love on him. Please continue to pray as they still need to get the visa.

We serve a mighty God who brought this wonderful family all the way to Africa to a little guy named Isaiah, who now will be with his forever family for his first Thanksgiving! How awesome is that!?

Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!
Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!

—Psalm 105:1-2

Thankful Thursday

Be Thankful
By Author Unknown

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don't know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.


Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.


Be thankful for your mistakes. They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you're tired and weary,
because it means you've made a difference.


It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who
are also thankful for the setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.

Getting cuter by the day!

Halloween Faces

Light Night

For our family..we spend Halloween at church where we have Light Night. It is a great time of fun, games, face painting, yummy food and great conversation. Here are a few pictures from our night. Hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween.

John 8:12
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Blessing's abound!

I can't believe it was a year ago when our dear friends were lead by God to start the adoption process. They were being called to adopt from Africa and while others might have ignored that call they did not. I am so happy to say that the adoption has gone through!! While they are still in need of prayer for passport, visa and birth certificate to come through this dear family has gone from six to seven and I can't wait to get my arms around their new little man Isaiah. We love you all!

James 1:27
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Pumpkin Patch

Today was the class trip to Hunter's orchard and pumpkin patch. The kids had a blast and I had fun taking pictures and visiting with all the other Mom's. Here are a few pictures..

Jeffrey & Grant searching for their favorite

David's first trip to the patch

Mrs. Meek's 2009 Kindergarten class

Thankful Thursday

I am getting this in just under the wire. But, I didn't want the day to get away without today's post.

Today was a great day. Both Grace and Jeffrey received awards at school..Grace for Art and Jeffrey for Citizenship. They are both such great students and I am ever so thankful for that! Being a single parent and all the concerns that come along with that makes me even more grateful for my mild mannered children. Thank you Jesus! I am under no delusions..I pray we continue on this path though!

Today we had the Vaughan kiddos come home after school. I cannot tell you how much these kids mean to me..to all of us! There are no amount of words. So..having everyone here and all the giggles that go along with it really make this momma happy. I thought it would be fun to go to the park and the plus side for me is I get to photograph it all! Well, they had a blast and that brings me to my next thankful/grateful moment of the day..Justin. THANK YOU! I am so thankful that the Lord provided these wonderful friends to us. My kids had a blast playing with Justin ..Jeffrey kept asking him to chase him and Grace loved every moment also. It's so cute..if you ask Jeffrey what he wants to be when he grows up..he doesn't say policeman, fireman, soldier..nope he wants to be a Daddy when he grows up! The only example of that has been Justin. I am ever so grateful to the Lord for blessing us with these wonderful friends.

Please be praying for them as they will be headed to Africa soon to bring home a new addition to their family. I can't wait to love on this little one! We love you guys!

Lil' David

My loves

The weather has really changed almost overnight here..not complaining at all. In fact we are loving the change of season. Cassie has been baking up a storm and the kids have enjoyed the cooler temps outside...they love the trampoline!