Happy New Year!

Thanking God for His faithfulness, love and watchcare during 2008 and praying for His continued mercy for 2009.

Side note:
I'd hoped to make it to a milestone post before the end of 2008, however I didn't. So when I come back in 2009, I'm going to make it a fun give~away blog post. Come back and see what you could randomly win. :)


Happy New Year!

2009 in a Word

Last year you may remember I had come up with a word (okay, two) that I put before me as my "vision" for 2008. Those words were: Obey and Joy.

I am currently pondering my word for the upcoming year. I've got a few ideas, nothing nailed down though. Visit this site for the original post and a post on honoring your little word for the year. And be watching for me to post my new word soon. I'm also going to post how my 2008 words helped me focus and press on during the year.

Christmas Pictures

Merry Christmas!

We had a wonderful time as a family yesterday despite being totally sick with the stomach flu. My hunny and I were up most of Christmas Eve night taking care of our little guy who sadly declared he kept "burping". I'll spare you the details, suffice it to say, he wasn't burping.

Our kids had a great time opening their gifts. So fun to see them enjoy each and every gift. They had extra gifts under the tree this year due to the fact that we are not traveling to see family. Our thoughtful families sent boxes to add to our Christmas morning fun.

The rest of the day we weren't able to do much since my Hunny, Marissa and I were suffering from the flu. We slept a lot and the little guys played with their new things. Marissa is feeling a bit better today, so I'm hoping that we are all better by tomorrow.

Praying that you had a good Christmas Day also (minus the flu!)

Merry Christmas!

For the most part we are enjoying the Christmas season. We are definitely enjoying celebrating Advent and reading Jotham's Journey. I'm still trying to get the Christmas cards finished. I've got some baking to do. And I've got some gifts to wrap. Hmm, it looks like I've got my work cut out for me.

I am praying that we are NOT getting the stomach flu. Little Bethany was up most of the night sick, therefore, Mom was up most of the night washing laundry and bringing water to my sick girly. So far the rest of us are still feeling okay....little nauseous, could it be the power of suggestion??

Anyway, I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and I pray that you take time to celebrate the greatest gift of all...our Savior.

Highlights of the Game

We had a great time at the game yesterday! The weather was great and the 2 mile hike to the stadium wasn't too bad. We had good seats although there were some seriously rowdy guys in our section. Marissa and I agreed that our favorite part was the first step into the stadium--the enormity of it all! It was great.

My team...well, didn't win. Guess you knew that though. My hunny had the audacity to cheer for the Other team. I suppose I can't blame him; Cincinnati is his hometown, me--I'm just the wife. Just kidding, we really did have a great time together.

[When I get the pictures downloaded I'll update this post. Pictures added December 23rd.]

In other news: we will be putting our Christmas tree up tonight. Yes, I know it's December 15th and I really like to have it up by the first weekend in December. It just didn't happen this year, and that's okay. It will be going up tonight and we are all looking forward to the fun that goes along with that.

Bethany started her nativity lapbook today and it is coming along nicely. We are using bits and pieces from here and there. Below are some of the links we've used:
Coloring pages for kids
Nativity Lapbook by Angela Frampton
Christian Preschool Printables--a great resource for mini books, coloring sheets and more!

Well, I'd better start making dinner. Anyone else in a dinner slump? Ideas?

Going to the Game!

My hunny is a social worker at a local hospital. One of the doctors there gave my hunny 3 tickets for the Bengals/Redskins game tomorrow in Cincinnati. :) We are super excited...mainly because I am originally from Maryland and am a life long Skins fan! And to go to a professional football game has been on my hunny's list of "Things I'd like to do while on this earth." Thanks, Dr. for your generosity.

So picture it...Hunny, Marissa and I are at the game with our earmuffs, hand warmers and blankets, on the Bengals side (who are not doing well at all), cheering for the Redskins. Hmmm, I'm not sure that's such a pretty picture. So, if you see me on tv on the Bengals side, don't be fooled, I may be sitting with 'em, but my heart is with the Skins!

Update to come...unless I'm hauled out of there for letting out a whoop! for the wrong side.

Christmas Tradition

This evening, our family enjoyed the sights and sounds of Christmas in a quaint nearby village. We invited along some friends, bundled up in several layers and strolled up and down the sidewalks eating cookies and laughing. It's a tradition we enjoy each year and this year was no different.

Coming home, my Hunny put in a CD, got the little ones bathed and in jammies. The house is quiet and I'm listening to the CD Conversations by Sara Groves. Really a thought-provoking CD with so many good songs. We've had two opportunities to meet Sara Groves--she is so personable and kind hearted.

The song that has spoken to me tonight is Going Home.

I’ve been feeling kind of restless
I’ve been feeling out of place
I can hear a distant singing
A song that I can’t write
And it echoes of what I’m always trying to say

There’s a feeling I can’t capture
It’s always just a prayer away
I want to know the ending
Things hoped for but not seen
But I guess that’s the point of hoping anyway

Of going home, I’ll meet you at the table
Going home, I’ll meet you in the air
And you are never too young to think about it
Oh, I cannot wait to be home

I’m confined by my senses
To really know what you are like
You are more than I can fathom
And more than I can guess
And more than I can see with you in sight

But I have felt you with my spirit
I have felt you fill this room
And this is just an invitation
Just a sample of the whole
And I cannot wait to be going home

Going home, I’ll meet you at the table
Going home, I’ll meet you in the air
And you are never too young to think about it
Oh, I cannot wait to be going, to be going home

Face to face, how can it be
Face to face, how can it be
Face to face, how can it be

Cuz this is just an invitation
Just a sample of the whole
And I cannot wait to be going home

AWANA Patches

My kids enjoy AWANA and I do too. They learn to hide Scripture in their hearts, along with other things. My only big problem is affixing the patches onto their vests. Seriously the patches vexed me until a friend told me about Aleene's OK to Wash-it. I'm so glad that I no longer dread my kids coming home with patches. :)

For more Works for Me Wednesday ideas, head on over to Shannon's Rocks in My Dryer.

Jeans Giveaway!

I know I've already posted today, but I found a blogger, Karla at Looking Towards Heaven, who is giving away 10 pair of jeans! And I get to enter twice if I comment on her blog and post about it on my blog. So that's what I'm doing, but don't go running over there and enter...because I want those jeans and I'm selfish like that. (Not really, but it's past my bedtime.)

Celebrating Christmas

Christmas is such an exciting time for adults and kids alike. We are celebrating Advent and I wanted to share some of the resources that we are using this year.


Jotham's Journey by Arnold Ytreeide. This is a devotional story book. We just started it last night at church. Our church had a dinner (over 400 in attendance!) and we all had advent wreaths on our tables. The first candle was lit and a lady read the first chapter in this story. Each night there is another reading along with Scripture verses at the end. The story is very good and I'm trying not to peek!
Little Acorns Treehouse--she has an explanation of their Advent celebration here.
A Blessed Christmas--unit study approach to Christmas Symbols by Kathryn Martinez

What are some of your Christmas traditions?