Break

We finished up our last school day before Christmas break, and it's been nice to have some time off.  I just wish that we were healthy!  Maybe our next week will be better! 

Brie's last spelling test of the year!

Our Christmas present, I can honestly say we all are really enjoying it!

We went outside and played Frisbee with some glow sticks after all of the festivities!  I liked this shot looking back into the house!

I know this isn't the best picture,but it was too hilarious not to put on here!

Our birthday cake for Jesus!

These are some of Brie's creations.  She is such a creative girl.

 

Like I said we've been sick so I opened up her window to let some nice fresh air in! 

Cars...  We have cars all over most of the day!   How about you!

 Reuben and Titus driving the cars on the Life game!

Zeke playing football on the iPad.

Reuben waiting for his turn!  I just love his little face, it says it all doesn't it!

Satisfaction!

More cars! (or vehicles!) 

Titus keeping a close watch on his stuff!

Christmas with Marks side!  Aren't they cute!  (I just wish I could've taken a better shot)(having more camera issues!)

Christmas

I'm a little behind, but here are some pictures of our Christmas celebrations.

This was our first celebration, a picture of all of us (hubby's side!) I was a bad "photographer" and totally forgot the camera! (and yes I know I look like I'm 7+ months pregnant,I'm working on it!)



Next was our Christmas on Christmas day.


Zeke is hugging his gift here: Star Wars Legos! I guess he likes it!

Titus opening up his John Deere truck/tractor/wagon. We got it from EBAY, and it's almost as old as I am, but he loves it!

Reuben eating the paper! His first Christmas! (sorry for the bad pic, I was messing w/ the settings on the camera!)

Brie opening some of the books she got!

I loved this picture of all of them reading their books. (I'm so thankful that they like books!)

Here the older 2 are opening one of the last presents. Wii games! You can see the excitement in their eyes. Brie's saying did we get a Wii? This is where it gets fun!!!

Me: Sorry we couldn't afford the Wii this year, maybe next year. We got you some games that you can take and play @ your cousins houses. Them: OK! Maybe next year!

In the above picture where they are all reading......Mark is in the living room setting up the Wii! We brought them into the living room, Mark turned on the TV, they heard the music and said: What, we did get the Wii! They were so excited!

I know some of you think that was mean, but we thought it was great!!! I think they enjoyed it! Who doesn't love a great surprise????

Our last Christmas, with my side. For some reason I didn't get a picture of Zeke opening his presents. Here are the other 3 opening up some of their presents!

From Our House to Yours....

Merry Christmas!

Christmas

4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Can you imagine it? Can you close your eyes and see Mary holding our Lord and Savior? Can you hear the angels singing? Can you see the shepherds kneeling in awe at the babe? The wise men bringing gift to the new King?

This year was filled with ups and downs as all years are. These verses have been strong in my mind for several weeks, Job 1:21 and Isaiah 55:8. It's great to remember that God is always in control, I may not understand why he does what he does, but he's still in control.

Please pray for my sister and her husband and his family. My bil's mother passed away this morning.

Merry Christmas!

I pray that you all have a wonderful day celebrating the birth of our saviour. We will wake up and start breakfast (Pillsbury orange flavor sweet rolls) read our last page of Bartholomew's Passage. Eat breakfast then read the Christmas story (Luke 2) sing a few songs, pray and then we open our presents. Other than Bartholomew's passage this is our normal traditional Christmas. We have greatly enjoyed Bartholomew's Passage and can't wait to do Jotham's Journey next year. We will be adding these books to our collection as they are reprinted. Have a wonderful day today preparing for tomorrow.

Santa:To believe or not to believe. That is the question.

Wow for such a long title I sure hope this post is worth it!
Santa is a hard thing for so many people, they really aren't sure what to do. I think that Santa is something you have to decide about for yourself in your own house. I'm not going to tell you what to do, I'm only stating my opinion. Like always you can take it or leave it!!!
I grew up knowing Santa wasn't real. My parents always made Christmas about Christ. I thank them dearly for it. We are doing the same thing in our house w/ our kids. They know that Santa isn't real. They do know that St. Nick was a real man, although we haven't talked much about it or read about it. The decision to make our Christmas Christ only was a very easy one for Mark and I. We both feel that telling our kids about Santa and telling them that he brought their presents is a lie. I know a lot of people do Santa and Christ well to me that's a contradiction. I've heard those who say " oh but the excitement of it all"those poor kids are missing out on it. Well I would rather have my kids be excited about the birth of our Lord and Saviour. That is what it's all about to us. I know those who make it about Christ, but still do things w/ Santa too. Yeah maybe it's fun, but why is Jesus not enough? I'm not judging those who do, but I do wonder why they do it? I guess I want my kids to grow up being taught that Jesus is enough in all situations. Like I said you have to decide for yourself, if you haven't decided seek the will of the Lord through prayer. See what he would have you to do. For us we will enjoy the gift God gave us so many years ago and celebrate it.

Christmas is Coming

Are you prepared? Is your heart ready to celebrate the birth of your saviour, or are you caught up in presents and baking?

18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement[h] quietly.
20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus,[i] for he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:
23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel,[j] which means ‘God is with us.’”
24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

Advent

I never really knew what advent was until after I was married. When I was a kid I remember one year we had an advent calender, but I had no clue what it really was. Last year we started celebrating advent w/ our kids. Each day we had a book,movie,craft,or song that we did. It can be very simple, all your doing is preparing for the messiahs birth. This year I received a phone call from my sil. They had read a book last year and she wondered if we would want to borrow it. I of course being so organized had to change my plans of what I had intended to do! And for those of you who really know me, you know I had NOTHING planned this year. I hadn't even thought about it! I told her I'd love to borrow the book. It's in a series of 3 books. The one we are reading is called Bartholomew's Passage. Maybe you've heard of them or are reading them yourselves, if not check them out. They are out of print, but the author is reprinting them at some point. (Kathy correct me if I'm wrong!) When they are reprinted I will be getting my own copies. We've only read a few pages,but it really keeps your attention and you can't wait to read the next story! I'm really enjoying them and I think the kids are too!

http://www.jothamsjourney.com/node/40