Snow For Christmas

We have traveled north to spend holidays with family.  We had  to drive up into the mountains an hour away to find snow~but what fun we are having.  It was blizzard conditions in these pictures.

Thanks Barbara and family for allowing us to borrow your recreational equipment!  We are loving it!!

Its a Fact

Jesus came to earth as a baby for ME (AND YOU)

It is not an opinion, theory or 'belief system'

It is a fact

photo credit:http://www.jesus-explained.org/

Jesus lived on this earth for ME (AND YOU)

It is not an opinion,theory or 'belief system'

It is a fact

photo credit:http://www.jesus-explained.org/

Jesus died for ME (AND YOU)

It is not an opinion, theory or 'belief system'

It is a fact

Jesus rose from the grave! for ME (AND YOU)

It is not an opinion, theory or 'belief system'

It is a fact

Jesus is preparing a home in heaven for ME (AND YOU)

It is not an opinion, theory or 'belief system'

It is a fact

But I must believe that fact!

May Jesus be in your thoughts throughout this holiday season. 

HAVE A 

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

took my camera for a walk

Delightful Cooking

I so love it when my daughter decides to make a meal. 

 She is a natural in the kitchen. 

That is the time she tells me what to do ;) 

Today it was a day for soup, but her brother wanted something more than soup. 

 She came up with this:

It was potatoes and vegetables and veja links, marinated mushrooms and more.  Her own version of hearty scalloped potatoes. It was just right for a cold day~and delicious!

Sorry, no recipe...

Simple Birthday Celebrations

It was my husbands birthday, and we just were not in the mood to celebrate it in a big way.  My only daughter~at~home made a mango and key lime/lemon pie, and we added ice cream

 then Sparkling Apple juice for a toast to another year of health and happiness.

He is growing his usual Santa beard~each year it seems to come in a little whiter...

The Truth 365: Be the Voice for Children

My son is one of those cancer kids who needs your voice.  

This video is a little long, but oh so worth the watch.  Please help me get the message out to raise awareness of the neglected childhood cancer research.  These innocent kids need our help!

If you don't have the time to watch the whole video~the end of the video gives this plea;

Please go to 

http://www.thetruth365.org/petition/

to sign the petition for the reason stated below...

Petition

Please sign this petition to urge President Obama and National Cancer Institute Director, Harold Varmus, to appoint a pediatric cancer specialist to the National Cancer Advisory Board in order to give a voice to all children fighting cancer!

The National Cancer Advisory Board is the advisory council for the National Cancer Institute. The board helps set the strategic direction for the NCI and has direct input on grant and funding decisions.

National Cancer Advisory Board Members are appointed directly by the President. Currently, there are no pediatric oncologists on the panel.

If we can obtain 25,000 signatures by December 14, 2012 a response to our petition is required by the Administration.

Sign and Share Our Petition to Appoint A Pediatric Oncologist to the National Cancer Advisory Board

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to you all out in blogland~may your day be filled with joy.

~The beginning of a thankful day~

Moms Brag Post

Approx. one year ago she became an R.N. This was taken either on her way to work or just arriving home from her first day on the job.

Arriving home after her first day of work as an R.N.  this week

Looking at his newly acquired drivers license~~mom chaueffering days are over :/

My Girl

Modeling her new work attire...

The new R.N.

Captured the Moment

Her smiles melt my heart

when my daughter discovered some very good news she had been anxiously waiting for.

Highlight of my day

Purposeful Purchase

The Crooked Apple

The search was on at the grocery store ~for fresh fruit that was affordable.  That was when  this apple caught my eye.  I decided I had to have this apple.  It made me think of how others view  physical deformity. Some may not buy it because of its looks.  Others my pick it up and look at it~possibly with a chuckle or comment about its odd shape. But they put it back, thinking that they should choose more uniformly formed apples for their own use.  Then there are people like me, who have to have it because it is different!  I cut it open this morning, thinking that it would be juicy, crunchy and sweet~and I was not disappointed.   

What really matters is what is on the inside.   That is what counts.

Isn't that the way it is with people too?

2 Corinthians 4:16, 18b

"Therefore we do not lose heart.  Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day...

the things which are not seen are eternal"

Those Late Night Thoughts

When I go to bed at night, or when I wake up in the morning I think about what I want to write about here~but then life happens, and when I sit down at the computer~I can't think of what I wanted to write.  Therefore the blog gets neglected. 

And then  our family is adjusting to our oldest daughter going off to college.

And church issues are muddling my brain.

Gotta take a break

I will be back~eventually~

A Miracle

 I have been researching different brands and sizes of dehydrators on the internet~and of course pricing them. I  even asked a friend that I knew what type she had, and if she was happy with it.   I had quit wishing for one tho, as I knew our finances were not in our favor to purchase at the moment.  

One day recently someone overheard me talking about the desire to have a dehydrator in my kitchen~and the very next day she brought me one as a gift!  Never  opened, but ready to use!  I was surprised at how God provided one.  His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me. This may not be the one I would have chosen, but I will praise God for providing it and think of how He has granted the desires of my heart.

Maid to Be a Mother

As I enter the stage of life where my kids are young adults~I ponder this poem.  Did I do enough?

Maid to be a Mother

Welcome to the home that lives within the house,
Where loving kids is all that really counts.

The dishes in the sink, the crumbs upon the floor,
And all the dirty laundry are secondary chores.

Now don’t assume me lazy by looking at the mess,
I’ve put forth forty hours and still don’t take a rest!

I polish little minds as bright as they can be
And sweep out tiny hearts and keep them pure and clean.

Each and every soul is scrubbed until it gleams,
I also pick up spirits, should they ever lose a dream.

So push the clothes on over, and have yourself a seat—
Excuse the toys and cookie crumbs sticking to your feet.

Judge me as a mother, not the maid I ought to be
I’d prefer sparkling lives to a house dirt-free.

—Anonymous

Lesson From Nature

The middle part of August our family made a 5,600+ mile journey~a big loop around the country.  We crossed 18 states in 14 days.  We saw friends  along the way, and awesome, spectacular  scenery.  I was reminded of how big my God is as I peered down into the massive Grand Canyon.  

God called to my heart as I observed plants that had taken root in the rocky soil along the trail rim.These plants were not just green, but blooming. They were blooming in spite of the rocky surroundings.They bloom because they have a solid foundation somewhere below the surface that no one can see.  This foundation allows them to bloom wherever they are located, no matter the circumstances on the surface. This goes beyond the "bloom where you are planted" phrase. It was a call to my heart directly from God to study and memorize His Word. That is where true strength and solid foundation comes from. I know that intellectually.

 ~I must put this into practice~

daily, hourly and minute by minute. 

Am I ready for the challenge?  It has eternal value...

I want to be firmly rooted.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God. 

2 Timothy 2:15

This Month...

This month has disappeared way too fast.  I have had thoughts of writing, but no time to even keep updated on the events. School has begun again, and maybe, just maybe I can get caught up...Is that a dream??  Maybe..

These pictures are representative of this month~not in any particular order...

Making dairy free homemade ice cream

Celebrating a birthday 1,500+ miles from home

Having fun with a baby bird that is considered a nuisance

What we do at Gma&Gpa's house

Activities~Recreational Tasks

Placing the baby in a 'safe' place so the mamma would care for it...

Visiting friends

One special family

Checking out the bed in my daughters new room

Siblings saying good bye as we leave one at college 

More friends

Add caption

First visit to Grand Canyon as a family

Capturing a few moments with cousins

Great bunch of kids

 Pathfinder Leader work load

gentle whispers

image from: 

http://www.ehow.com/list_6866523_examples-journal-writing-types.html

Some 23+ years ago, I read and wrote for a hobby.  Then I got married and priorities changed, and life got busy. Then I had kids! I quit reading for pleasure. For some time  I did continue writing~but it became a venting place. I eventually quit.

Then I started this blog thinking my creative juices would kick in, and writing and sharing would just flow out without much  'thinking time'.  But it didn't happen that way. I began to wonder if I wanted to 'let the whole world' know everything about me and my family anyway.

Now that my children are all young adults, thoughts of writing have been gently knocking at my mind. But I am not sure where to begin.  Many have expressed a desire to hear my life story, but am not sure I can ....Some events that have impacted my life are too personal to share~yet.  Then my computer crashed, and I thought~There!  I can still that voice, for I no longer had my own 'space' to write in my own  time.  But then~my guys fixed my computer, and now I can't use that excuse.  Alas, there are other excuses popping up.  I'll have to think about this for awhile...  :)

I really do!

Its Alive!

Looking over previous posts I realize that I never reported that my 2 favorite guys fixed my computer, saving at least a $40.00 diagnostic fee!

After trying a 'home remedy' for fixing the motherboard, they ordered one off e-bay, and ever since they installed it, my computer is back in service. 

Rain!

Sisters in the rain

We don't often get rain at this time of year, so they jumped at the chance to play in it.  

The heat makes it steamy~

not quite a sauna...