Friday Fill-Ins and More

1. Friends are the family you choose. (A friend gave me a plaque for Christmas years ago that had that quote on it. I love it!)

2. Protect your health; it's the least you can do for your family.

3. I'm ready for a reprieve from the little stresses of daily life over Christmas break. (We are taking a little family vacation to Gatlinburg over Christmas break, and we are so excited to just relax and spend time together.)

4. Sensuous by Estee Lauder is one of my favorite perfumes. The "old" Claiborne for Men is my very favorite cologne!

5. The oldest ornament I have is a white glitter-covered dove that a friend gave me in college as a symbol of friendship.

6. Take some smiles, messes, giggles, messes, sweet words, hugs, books, cereal, messes, balls, and lots of love; mix it all together and you have Derek, our little two-year-old bundle of FUN!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to shopping in Traverse City with my hubby and children, tomorrow my plans include my second Christmas party of the season, and Sunday, I want to serve the Lord with all my heart (and make a nice roast with homemade bread for lunch)!

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Psalm 61:2 "From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I."

Maybe I'm all alone on this one, but sometimes I get overwhelmed with the daily tasks that confront me. Sometimes climbing out of bed in the morning is a daunting task. Sometimes, I have more of those "overwhelming" days than I would like to admit. Sometimes.

ALWAYS, God is all that I need. He is right beside me assuring me that no task is too great for me today, reminding me, "If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small" (Proverbs 24:10). My strength is small because I have not tapped into God's almighty strength. He is omnipotent, or all-powerful. He can move mountains. He can calm storms. He can probably handle a dishwasher full of dishsoap suds! ;o)

Christ is all I need,

Christ is all I need,

All, all I need,

Christ is all I need,Christ is all I need,

All, all I need.

He was crucified,

For me He died, on Calvary.

That He loved me so,

This is why I know,

Christ is all I need.

Brian's Birthday

Well, to show what a bad mother I am, Brian's 8th birthday was actually September 27th, but we didn't celebrate it at that time. We had bought the boys new bikes in August as a birthday present and gave them to them early so they could enjoy them before the snow flew! I don't even know why we didn't have a party for Brian, but we ended up having a sledding party for him. It really was nice because our friends the Griffin's are here from the Philippines, so their three younger were able to come, and they even stayed to help, which was so nice--and fun!

Chad made up some game for them to play with balloons

(Don't tell their mothers they were running with suckers in their mouths ;)

Derek helped Brian blow out his candles--because they kept re-lighting

All of the wet snow clothes by the front door!

Luke was really enjoying his cake!

This is Hilarious!

I know there are many of you that don't want to take the time to let a video load, but this one is worth it. I should send it in to America's Funniest Home Videos or something. We already decided that if we sent it in and won the $10,000 the Griffin's and we would split the money 50/50! The s are each on a different pedal of the exercise bike holding on to one of the movable handles just going to town. It's truly hilarious!

I've Been Tagged!

Amy tagged me to post my fourth photo from four months ago. Of course, I haven't been blogging for four months, so....I chose my fourth photo from four months ago. Four months ago my sister-in-law Tracy and her family came to visit for an afternoon. We all went to a little lake nearby to swim. The picture is of my Derek and Lauren, and Tracy's Courtney. They were all sharing a snack, I believe. ;)

I am going to tag the Kitson Family and the Reed Family and Jael. So, if the two of you wouldn't mind, we'd like to see your fourth post from four months ago! You're IT!

Random Acts of Kindness

Back in October a member of our Sunday school class gave Chad several of the Trick or Treat coupon books from Big Boy for free kids' meals. We have gone to eat there a couple of times with those coupons. Today was the last day to use the coupons, so Chad wanted to go one last time. We all ordered and were waiting for our food. A couple (probably in their late 40's) was seated across the aisle from us. When they left, they commented about how nice our family was. A few minutes later, our waitress came and told us that someone had paid for our complete meal (with no free kids' meal coupons ;). What a blessing! I felt that God had just reached out and given me a big hug.

On Midnite Scrapper I was reading about RAKs, as she puts it, and PIFs, or Pay-It-Forwards. I really think that the whole concept is a Biblical truth: God gives to us to give to others. So, this week I am going to certainly be looking for someone else to show a kindness to. Pass it along.

Seven and a Half Months Already

Where does the time go? It seems like just a few hours ago I was wondering when the squirmy little one who didn't fit inside me anymore was going to decide to make his entrance into the world. Now, seven and a half months later, he is finally sitting up on his own for 30 minutes or more at a time, smiling and flirting with all of us, grabbing my face and laughing when he's happy to see me...I love him so and just cannot imagine life without a baby.

We washed him up and took some pictures

(I don't even bother to try to lay his hair down anymore!)

We always sing "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" while we bathe him.

"Now where did that little puppy go?"

I just adore my daddy. He's playing ball with me.

Lots and Lots and Lots of.....

Yep, you guessed it, SNOW! Cold, fluffy, wet snow. We had two snow days this past week, Monday and Friday, due to all of the snow; and it snowed every day this week. In fact, I don't think there has been a day in the last two weeks that it hasn't snowed. I love the snow. If it's going to be cold, there might as well be snow. Lots of it. Enough to ski, sled, build snowmen, have snowball fights, all that good stuff! :)

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The other day as I was reading my Bible, I prayed that God would show me a special verse for motherhood. I love being a mother, but motherhood does have its own set of special challenges, adventures, if you will. As you dwell on motherhood this week, think on these things,

Isaiah 60:22

"A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a great nation:

I the LORD will hasten it in his time."