For the first time at our house, we have a fire place that works! Since we have lived here (6 years) we have not had our fire place finished. But this year, we have a hearth and a firebox door! As you can see we still need to put the stone on the face of the fireplace, but we can burn in it now. A never before seen phenomenon....


Casualties of Christmas...The Nativity. Mary lost her fingers, the shepherd lost the back of his robe...

At one point Joseph broke his staff, but now is repaired and the wise man also lost some fingers...

The shepherd also lost some hair and some toes and shoe....

And the poor palm tree at one point did not have any of its top frawns...

Lilly and Judah could not keep their hands off the set, although I did buy it for them last year. So now the mantle has become the home for the set this Christmas. Thank the Lord that the precious gift of Jesus was not broken as an accident or repaired by superglue. He fulfilled the purpose of His coming, to be broken in death and to be restored in resurrection....

Things we've been doing...

On Christmas Eve this year, Shad and Uncle Mike took the kids ice-skating while Corrie, Mom and I started the preparation for the rest of the day. Grandpa looked on from the viewing point. They had a blast and of course did not want to leave. No surprise!

The new year has started, my tree is still up, and I'm in need of rest. So I can't do anything about the new year starting, I can get my tree down and the house "de-Christmased" and I can choose to rest. So today will be a rest day (although I still have children, so that will all hinge on them). :) HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

It's Christmas Eve...Almost

Are you ready? Do you have it together? Is everything set in order? You might automatically apply these questions to your Christmas shopping, gift giving and party preparation, but lets take the twist to what its really all about. Are you ready to experience His Spirit within? Do you have it together in your heart and mind to think on Him at Christmas? Is your heart and mind set in His order of priority....to think on Him? Our God stepped into time to be our Savior! We are not only celebrating His birth, but the fact that GOD HIMSELF CAME. We are His....is He yours? Choose....
Merry Christmas!

Disneyland...

Here are a few pics from our recent jaunt to Disneyland. The kids had a blast and we survived!

A NEW CAR!!!

Well, not exactly new, but new to us. We were given a 1995 or 06 (I can't remember) Ford Aerostar Van! Remeber the eight things on my wish list? One of them was a second car and the other was money to purchase a second car. Well, we were given a second car and the Lord didn't even provide the money, just an aweseom free gift. (Sounds like Him doesn't it?) We have a second car after shuffling along for almost two years with one car. The kids are thrilled and bonus is that there are two built in booster seats for the kids with 5 point harness's. Through these last few years you have a lot of time to think about "what if we were able to get another car, what would it be". Well, the Lord narrowed it down to a mini-van, convincing me that it would be a good thing for space and convenience. And lo and behold, we were given a mini-van! So awesome. Yes its old, but it runs, so we will use it until it doesn't. :) So now we need to come up with a name for this new ride. All older rides need names. Any suggestions?

Just had to post this cute pic of the kids. Daddy took them skateboarding last week and as you can see they are discussing their board skills. :)

Solution to the Bail-Out's....

So I have found the answer! With all the automotive company's begging for billions and trillions of dollars for bail-out's, I figure the real answer truly is "spreading the wealth". You say, "How could you think that?" Well, considering there are 230 million or so people in America, rather than give billions and trillions for bailing out these banks and companies, just give each of those 250 million American's a million dollars with the stipulation that they put a hundred thousand in savings! Much less than billions or trillions. Then there would be no homes in foreclosure, and everyone would go buy a new car or two, and they would have a little money for future retirement or investments! My Mom told me this genius idea yesterday. I guess you could say we have a little bit of Maverick in us. :)