Christmas 2009

What a gift from God to be home this Christmas with our children!!  We had a grand time!!

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father

As this year draws to a close, I was just reminded how much I need a wise Counselor, a strong arm fighting for me and a Father's love forever.  I praise Him that His love isn't based on anything I do or don't do.  And I stand amazed that He loves me, one whose heart is indeed desperately wicked.  Take a few minutes and listen to this incredibly encouraging message - http://www.sevenrivers.org/mp3files/091224message.mp3

Graced Again

“The crucial significance of the cradle at Bethlehem lies in its place in the sequence of steps down that led the Son of God to the cross of Calvary, and we do not understand it till we see it in this context. The key text in the New Testament for interpreting the incarnation is not therefore, the bare statement…‘the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us’, but rather the more comprehensive statement…‘ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich’.  Here is stated, not the fact of the incarnation only, but also its meaning; the taking of manhood by the Son is set before us in a way which shows us how we should set it before ourselves and ever view it—not simply as a marvel of nature, but rather as a wonder of grace.”  J I Packer, Knowing God

More Thanksgiving Pictures

For more incredible Thanksgiving pictures visit the "professionals" blog site.  Lindsey captured the day beautifully!  http://linzphotography7.blogspot.com/

Thanksgiving Gingerbread Houses

We had a glorious time with the family on Thanksgiving.  Last year we made 1 gingerbread house and we used a kit.  The kids had such a good time that this time Steven and I made the gingerbread so more people could make houses.  And all the kids enjoyed it this year!! The above picture is Chad and Kelly's retirement cottage.  Kelly helped build the structure and Chad decorated it.  Notice those nifty bushes in the front.  Their house won best decorated and it would definitely be a great cottage to live in - one day

This is Wyatt's home and he did it all by himself! Well, he had a bit of help with the icing but otherwise he decorated it just like he wanted, he didn't want any help thank you.  It's really cute and his decorations so go with his personality.  Wyatt did a GREAT job!

This is Raney's house and it is too cute also.  Raney had a bit of help with hers because she was struggling to decorate her house because she was too busy eating all the candy!!  That girl loves her some sugar!

And the last house won Most Original.  Steven decorated it and well check it out:

This side is a duck blind with green (of course) decoys and 4 tree stumps.

And the other side is a deer blind.  So he can hunt duck or deer.  Man he would LOVE to have a cabin like that and especially some land to put it on!

Oh and one last thing, check out Chad's satellite antenna on the front of his roof.  He needed that cause we all know that some hunting show is going to film Dad in his new blind!