My Little Bell Ringer

Since I had a laptop in my possession for 24 hours, I figured I'd take advantage of it and post once more. I figured out how to transfer this picture from my cell phone to the blog so I thought I would share! They had a great time ringing the bell for an hour. Steve said when people were going to pass by without donating, she rang it even louder! Nothing like a five-year-old to "guilt" you into giving! Merry Christmas!

From the land of no technology...

My computer is sick with a virus. Steve took it away last Thursday and I have no clue when it will be back. So, I am without email, without blogs, without Facebook, without a way to charge my ipod (which is really interfering with my exercising), without online bill pay... You get the picture. My sister let me borrow her laptop today since I was having withdrawals, and I am playing a little catch-up. For the first few days, it was a bit of a blessing because I was able to get a good bit accomplished. But I have had enough of that and WANT MY COMPUTER BACK! :) By the way, AC told Santa that her mommy wanted a Macbook for Christmas. Do you think he'll deliver? I'm thinking not. So, here's to all of the fun Christmas posts that I'm missing...I hope to be back soon! And just in case it's not fixed before next week...MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU!!!

P.S. Steve and AC are ringing the Salvation Army bell at the mall this afternoon and guess who forgot to send the camera with them??? He just sent me a picture on my cell phone and it is adorable!


Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11

Daddy's girl

Owen LOVES her daddy! When he comes home from work and she hears the door chime as it opens, she runs to the door yelling "Gaggy" (She cannot say daddy, so it is gaggy). She loves being outside and knows he will take her out as soon as he gets home (before the temperature dropped outside). Here is a little clip of her as she hears the door open. (She was saying "ga ga" when I filmed this but now we are to "gaggy"). It's actually a little more toned down than usual. But still cute and sweet! We think it is so funny that she looks like me but acts like Steve, and Anna Clare looks like Steve but acts like me!

Thanksgiving

Anna Clare at her Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast at the park

Playing the piano at Granddaddy's

Granddaddy got her a bow so she can be just like Daddy

My grandparents - June June and MeMa. They have been married for 66 years! She is 88 and he will be 88 on January 1st. They have 3 children, 10 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren!

MeMa and Anna Clare

We have our Thanksgiving meal at my grandparents' church because we have outgrown their house! This year, we all circled around them and the great-grandchildren as my dad read a letter that my June June had written for the occasion. It was very sweet and special. After we eat, the children play and play and play. It is one of Anna Clare's most treasured times because she gets to play with all of her cousins that she doesn't see very often. We were able to visit with LOTS of family in just a few short days and had 2 very good (and quiet) backseat passengers! A Wonderful Thanksgiving! Now on to the next thing...getting ready for Christmas!

Traveling Turkeys

We will load these 2 turkeys up tomorrow following Anna Clare's Thanksgiving feast at school to head out on our four day traveling Thanksgiving trek. We will spend each night in a different house in a different town in a different state. It is a hectic holiday for us but is so worth getting to see family members that we rarely see. We will be visiting with parents, siblings,aunts,uncles, cousins, and grandparents. I am especially excited about seeing my grandparents on Thanksgiving day. My grandmother turned 88 last week! I hope to get some good pictures and video of her with the girls. I am very blessed to have 3 of my grandparents still here with us! Hope your Thanksgiving is full of family, love, blessings, and most of all, thanks to our Father!



On a side note, this little one had her 18 month check-up this morning. She weighs 21 pounds, 9 ounces (which I think our doctor said was 10 to 12th percentile) and is 31 and 3/4 inches long (50th percentile). We are praying for a safe trip and a quiet trip...the latter being a tall order for an 18 month old!

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever."
1 Chronicles 16:34

This I had to share!

I found this video on The Queen B's blog
and thought I'd share a little Thanksgiving fun! If you've never read her blog, check it out...she is hilarious! Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Steve's "Sermon"

Steve and I have a friend who is a pastor of a local church. He called Steve several months ago and asked him if he would be willing to speak at the 9:30 and 11:00 services on this particular Sunday since he would be out of town. Knowing that our friend considers everything with much prayer, he knew this was something God was leading him to do.

During all of the pre-election "hype", Steve found some scripture in Romans that really spoke to him and, long story short, this led him to Acts 10. God sent Peter, a Jew, to share the Gospel with Gentiles, an almost unheard of association.

Over the next few weeks, God revealed this scripture to both of us on more than one occasion. Because of this, Steve felt affirmed that God had chosen this for his message.

On Sunday, he spoke about prejudice...not racially, but more "prejudging" others when their views, opinions, personalities, or even appearances are different from ours. Obviously, this is not our job but is to be left to God. He said God had really convicted him (and me too through his message) about seeing people the way God sees them, which is so difficult to do sometimes. After all, aren't we called to be a witness to EVERYONE...not just to those with whom we relate? Finally, he talked about walls that we build when we judge people and the only way these walls can be broken down is through Christ. We have to ask Him for help.

I am thankful that God chose to use Steve in this small way and for the way he used this opportunity to humble both of us. I pray that I will be able to view people as who they are...children of God created in His image. Because I am human, I know I will fall. But by His grace, I can get back up and start again.