Christmas Bells

Today as I was cleaning the house I realized that I haven't posted a picture of my bells on my Grandmothers piano. They are placed in order of the year that I received them starting in 1998. This year I received my 11th bell. I placed them on my Grandmother-in-Law Gladyce's doilies that Grandpa Mac gave to me when he came for our wedding. A couple of years ago my Mother-in-Law gave me a Christmas bell from her past. It is the Raggedy Ann bell from 1978. Every once in awhile I find myself going up to the bells and just ringing them. The sound is truly beautiful.

My Sweet Loving Girl

This morning as I went into my daughters room to drop off some laundry I saw a new sign on her door. It brought tears to my eyes.

Oahu

Happy Belated Thanksgiving!!

Hello everyone. I hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving. We had a great time in Hawaii. I just spent the last 3 hours on Publisher trying to put together our photo album from the trip. I am only up to Tuesday (we stayed until Sunday). I will try to update my blog later on this week with some pictures but here are a few. Love you!! (Yes..I cut my hair off a week before we went. I love it, except when it got curly because of the humidity.)

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Tea for Two...or 14

On Sunday we celebrated my MIL's Birthday. My mom wanted to give her friend a Tea party so E & I decided to join in and help out. My mom made all the sandwiches and E & I made the desserts. My Aunt Sheryl helped me wrap my MIL's favorite candy, Truffles, into little party gifts for all the ladies to take home. I think all the ladies enjoyed the time of great food and fun fellowship.

E loves to bake. Look out Rachel Ray!!

E invited her best friend and this was their Tea Table

Apple Hill

About a month ago we piled into Old Blue and went up to Apple Hill with the in-laws. E really wanted to pick an apple but we were to late in the season for it so she was really bummed. We did feed some Llamas and had apple pie. We had lunch at a rib joint called Poor Red's. Hubby & I had been there before and so had my in-laws. It was the sight of their second date some 40 years ago. All in all I think a great day was had by all.

Grandpa Don

"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me

has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.

I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will

hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live."

John 5: 24-25

Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep,

or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.

We believe that Jesus died and rose agian and so

we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have

fallen asleep in him.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

He heals the brokenhearted

and binds up their wounds.

Psalm 147:3

Until we meet again!

Book Report!!

R just finished his first book report of his fourth grade year. Instead of a normal written book report they had a different assignment. They had to write up at least 13 questions. Then they were going to give an interview in front of the class with the teacher asking the questions. They also were asked to dress up as the main character of the book. Well R's book was called "Choosing Up Sides". It is about a young man in the early 1900's who found out that he was good at baseball because he was left-handed. I won't go into any more detail but if you know anyone in this age group who likes to read then this is a good book for them. Today was the day that he had to dress up and be interviewed. I asked him if I could sit in on it and he said "I don't care". Typical 9 year old response. Well I will just tell you that I stayed to watch three of the students give their interview and I was amazed at how much the kids enjoyed it. I don't ever remember doing a book report that I was exited about and yet it was all these kids could talk about for the last week. Amazing. Here are some pictures of my boy from this morning.

Armor of God

Last night as I was tucking my daughter into bed she asked me "mom are demons real?". So I responded by asking her what kind of demons or where did she hear about demons. I thought if I knew where she was coming from then I would be better able to explain to my seven year old about demons. Well it seems that in the morning my son was reading to her from the book of Matthew. He was reading about when Jesus cast the demons out of the man into the pigs and drove them into the water. He tells me that he had read that at school the day before during his religion time. (Have I told you how happy I am that we have been able to send our kids to a Christian School!) Anyway now knowing where she is coming from I try my best to explain to her about demons. Well after I fumbled with it for a good 10 minuets the Lord brought a scripture to my mind. Now I have never been good at memorizing scripture from the Bible. I might remember what it says but very rarely do I remember where it is found. Well last night I did. Ephesians 6 just popped into my head. I thought I may not be able to explain to her adequately about demons but I can show her what she should do daily to keep them at bay. So I opened up her little Bible and I read to her Ephesians 6:10-18. The best part was that even though I had never gone over this with them they had learned about it at school. I love the word picture that Paul gives us to dress ourselves in everyday. May we not forget in our busy mornings to put on what is most important...The Armor of God.
Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have dome everything, to stand. Stand firm then with the BELT of TRUTH buckled around your waist, with the BREASTPLATE of RIGHTEOUSNESS in place, and with your FEET fitted with the READINESS that comes from the GOSPEL OF PEACE. In addition to all this, take up your SHIELD of FAITH, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the HELMET of SALVATION and the SWORD of the SPIRIT, which is the WORD of GOD. And PRAY in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Before we head out the door or even before our feet hit the floor in the morning I pray that we will all be dressed in the ARMOR of God.

Happy B-Day to my man!!

On Saturday we celebrated my hubby's birthday. I can't belive this is the 10th birthday that we have celebrated together. (not counting when we were kids).

Long Overdue...

P.S. Happy 17th Anniversary to my Sis and her Hubby!!!

So Long, Farewell!!

Last night we had our final dinner with my sister and her family before they headed out this morning to their new home in Montana. Mom made a wonderful meal and it was a great time. Many people keep asking me if I am sad that my sister is moving. I have honestly thought about it and as I dove away last night I did have some tears that ran down my face but they quickly disappear when I think about the opportunity that has been given to this wonderful and deserving family. God is Good! He is taking care of them in ways that we never would have imagined. How can I cry for long when I know deep in my heart that this is God's will. Am I sad that my sister, brother-in-law and my children's cousins no longer live 15 minuets away? Of course but it is kind of hard to be sad when something so wonderful is happening. So to my beloved family that hasn't lived more than 30 miles away (and sometimes no further than a step outside my door) for over 13 years I wish you a safe journey and until we see each other again....Adieu!!!

Finally!!

Well here it is. The post I said would be here a week ago has finally made it's way to my computer. I decided to squeeze the last couple of weeks into one slide show. You will see us at our church camp out at Eagle Lake. You will see the kids first day of school (sniff, sniff). You will see pictures of the going away party for my sister and her family (my heart is breaking more and more as the day draws nearer) and finally you will see the arrival of my Grandmother's piano.
I have to tell you a little about that. Back in the 80's my Grandfather bought my Grandmother a piano. In the mid 80's I was taking piano lessons here in NV. Then we moved to CA and my family couldn't take the piano so I stopped taking lessons. From as long as I can remember I always thought if they ever have to give away that piano I would love it and cherish it. Well fast forward 20 years (boy am I showing my age) and my Grandfather is up in Heaven and my Grandmother is moving in with my Aunt and her family and the piano can't go with her. I am shopping one day and my phone rings. It's my dad and he says that if I want the piano it is mine, my heart jumps, but I have to pick it up by the 29th (this call is taking place around the 10th). My heart sinks. I tell him that I will pray about it and talk to my hubby. Well on my way home from the store I go by my In-Laws to pick up my kids and I just happen to mention the phone call I had received. Without hesitation they both said that they would make the 9 hour trip to go get Grandma's piano. Wow. Well let me back up about 10 years and clue you in a little. 10 years ago it was my 1st Christmas with my hubby. I just happened to mention to my soon to be mother-in-law about the bell collection my Grandmother always had on her piano at Christmas time. I don't know why but I always loved those bells. To my surprise I received a bell that Christmas and one every year since. I have always displayed my bells on a shelf that I have but every time I put them out I feel like they should be on a piano. Well this year I get to do that thanks to my In-laws. I will now cherish the piano because of the memories it holds and because of the memories that are yet to come. I know my Grandma was sad to see it go but I can't wait to have a place to showcase my Christmas Bells just like her and I hope that knowledge will bring her a little peace about having to let go of a piece of her past. Thank you Grandma for the piano and all the memories. I will forever cherish them!!
Now on with the show!!

I know, I know...

I know I promised to blog this last week but it just didn't work out that way. The kids started school at their new school on Monday and then that night R got sick...8 times. Gross.
The next day E went to school and I took R to the doctor.. he had strep throat. Tuesday night E stayed at grandma's and grandpa's and they took her to school on Wednesday. On Thursday R finally got to go back to school. I had my first week of school all planned out and well we all know what happens to plans. So I had to pack 5 days of chores into two days. I got it done. You might ask why the rush? My sister's going away party is at my house on Sunday and I knew D wouldn't want me being the crazy lady I am when I am in cleaning mode on his day off today. Well to make a long story short I was going to catch you all up with photos today as well but in my cleaning pallooza I misplaced my camera. ARRGGG! So all I can say is photo's coming soon. I hope!!

Yes..We are still alive!!

My oh my has it been forever since I posted anything. The last couple of weeks have been CRAZY. We just got back from our last camping trip and the kids start the new school year at their new school tomorrow. So my camper is sitting in the back yard completely dirty and filled with all our camping stuff and I am going to be leaving it that way. At least for now. After we get through our first day I will post about what's been going on in our lives and get everyone up to date. Then just maybe I will try to tackle that big box o' mess in the back.

Has it really been 9 years?!?

So my sunshine turned nine today and I can't believe it.

I can't believe that I am old enough to have a child

who is nine. I can't believe that I have been

a Mom for nine years. I can't believe that I still

wish that they came with a handbook. (Besides the Bible)

Today we had a party to celebrate this fabulous day and

the boy who graced our lives 9 years ago.

The kids played on this water slide thingy that we have. Then

we had Hot Dogs, Chili (with fixins), Salad, Fruit and Chips.

For dessert he wanted an Ice Cream Cake made with

Chocolate Cake and Cookie Dough Ice Cream.

All the kids at the party.

It was extra special because Grammie (R & E's Great Grandmother)

is visiting from So Cal and was able to join in the festivities.

(I couldn't get her to partake in the water slide though!)

AAARRRRGGGG Mate.

Happy 9th Birthday!!!!!