Mr. Snowman

The snow  was perfect packing snow! We had fun making Mr. Snowman. Then the kids laid down and made angels. We went in with cold feet and running noses, but it sure was fun! 

 Armon making an angel.

 Elmise making her angel.

Mr Snowman being kissed by two happy girls! Armon was a big helper in making the snowman. We used a real carrot for his nose and red licorice for his mouth.                                


Haleigh making her angel. 
Hot chocolate sure tasted good and warmed us up when we went in.
Lord, thank You for fun times. Thank You for snow and grand kids.

Nativity Collection

Eskimo's

Jesus came for every nation and people. 
I have more sets for another day. Be sure to click on the pictures to see the details up close.

 This set gets the place of honor. Don't ask why...I just love it! The candle lights going around with the gold tinsel light up.

This set was given to me by our former neighbors. They are pure white and the detail in each one is incredible.

 These three sets represent three time periods: left: before the birth of Jesus, on the way to Bethlehem; center: after the birth, Jesus is lying in the manger; right: Jesus sitting on Mary's lap as a toddler when the wise men came to visit.

We bought this set in Bethlehem. It's made of Olive Wood. It's very precious to me.

 This set is of authentic dress. It was made by the Ceramic Club of Warm Beach, where my parents used to live.

Three sets of wise men or magi. The tall ones are pure white; the little Mexicans are so sweet; the gold ones are very rich magi. 


Heavenly Father, I praise You for the birth of Jesus. Help me to worship Him not my nativity sets. 

Happy Birthday December 10

Happy Birthday, Christy! My, how the years just keep moving by. I remember the day you were born, a lot of years ago! And just look at you now! I love this picture of you! Life is very busy for you, with five children and three of them being teenagers! The years are flying by. I do hope your family gives you a super day today! I love you and wish you a very happy birthday!
Lord, thank You for Christy! She's a very busy loving wife, mom, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, friend. Please be with her in these days of raising her family. Keep her safe as she drives the kids here and there. Please keep her marriage to Sean close, faithful and loving. Thank You for them all and especially for Christy. I love her so much and You love her even more.

I hung our stockings going up the spiral staircase! I love decorating even though it's a huge job.

Lord, help me to keep you first in my decorating. Jesus is the reason for the season.

Happy Birthday December 8

     Happy Birthday, Rob! It's hard for me to imagine my youngest child as old as you are! 38...no, you can't be...! Okay, I just did the math. I'm very proud of you, Rob. You and Jessica have taken on a huge task, adding two to your family of four. Adopting two siblings from Haiti is an undertaking many folks just couldn't do...but you are! The earthquake in Haiti has hurried up the process, and now as soon as the judge signs the papers, they'll be legally Archer's. I can't wait... I'm amazed at the patience you have. I love you, Rob. Happy, happy birthday.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Rob. Please, keep him near you. Protect him in his job. Give him patience and love as a dad. Bless his and Jessica's marriage...protect it. I love him so much and You love him even more.

Found!

     This is one of my favorite pictures! It took me a while to find it, because it's old.
     My friend, Leon, is playing his trumpet in our worship service, something he did often. Aaron, the cute little boy with the angelic smile is Leon's oldest son. He's escorting his dad! Mom, Wendy, is in the congregation with baby Amy. (Click on the picture to see his angelic smile!)
     Now, Aaron was a good little boy but wiggled a little, so to help his mom out, he went with dad up on the platform! He got a whole different view of the congregation from up there. I didn't see any wiggles from him!
     Today, Aaron is a newly married man!
Heavenly Father, bless Aaron on this day and in his new marriage. Keep him close to you. Thank You for Aaron's life and for my privilege of knowing him.
     

2nd Week of Advent

Promise
The second Sunday of Advent is for the Promise the coming Messiah; the Promise of Eternal Life. God's Word is True. God's Promises are true.
I praise You, Heavenly Father, because Your Word is Truth, Your Promises are true.

Happy Birthday December 1

Happy Birthday, Maddie! This picture of you, was taken last summer when you came to my house to visit. We were all eating outside in the yard. Most of your cousins and aunts and uncles were here. It was a lot of fun. I can't believe you're four years old today! I remember when you were born, it was a really happy day for everyone! You're a very pretty little granddaughter and I love you! You're my youngest grandchild and since I have 15, that's an important fact! I love you, Maddie! Have a very Happy Birthday!
     Lord, thank You for Maddie! She's such a pretty, sweet, little girl. Please watch over her. Keep her safe and well as she grows up. Help her as she learns of  You, that she will always love You and obey You. I love her so much and You love her even more!

Advent

(I  started this yesterday, which was Sunday. I was interrupted and am now getting back to it on Monday.)
Today is the first Sunday of Advent! HOPE
What is our hope?

Our hope is in the historical Christ, God the Father’s only Son, Jesus. 

Our hope is in the living Christ.

Our hope is in the returning Christ.


Heavenly Father, I praise You because You are our Hope.

Nativity Collection

     I have  a bazillion Nativity sets in my collection. Here is the latest one I bought. It was after Christmas last year and I found it on sale for 75% off! It's a Terracotta Holy Family, by Russ Berrie, for those of you who know about such things. I really like it and think I found a bargain!




     This next one Tim and Shauna gave me for Christmas last year. It's a favorite of mine because it's from Thailand. I was there on three different occasions and couldn't find one. So when they went last year they found this one. I love it, also, because it's the only set I have where Mary is holding Baby Jesus! He's in a manger in every other set! 
     This is Mengrai high fired stoneware. Celadon is the commonly accepted name and is believed to have been developed in China over 2000 years ago! I'd better take good care of this set! It's really beautiful but this picture doesn't do it justice at all. You'll have to come and visit me!
     I have many many more sets and may show some of them later.
Heavenly Father I praise You for Jesus. Thank You for my Nativity Set collection, but help me to keep my focus on You, not on man made sets representing the birth of Your Son. Let them simply be a reminder that Jesus is the reason for the season.

Decorating

Tree taken with flash...
the beautiful lights don't show.
But it's not blurry...

     I'm decorating for Christmas. It's a little early for me but we had company for Thanksgiving so we had help getting the Christmas things out. Ted helped Jerry get the Christmas tree out of the pole barn. That's a big job. We've had real trees until about three years ago. We love real trees but it was getting too much for us, in our old age! Serious! So when we saw an artificial tree at a yard sale, we bought it. We've never been sorry! It's about seven feet tall and has fiber optic, twinkling lights of all colors! It's beautiful! I've tried and tried to get a picture of it, using different settings, but with these lights it turns out blurry every time. At least I'm blaming it on the lights! I set the camera on a solid surface so it's not me wiggling! 
     I have mainly angels on our tree, three snowflakes, and one little sheep, made my our former pastor's wife, Martha. I also have red balls and silver garlands.
     My grandchildren helped me get all the decorations out of our storage room. They love to do that! It's a huge job. I appreciate their help so much. 
     
Heavenly Father, I praise You for Jesus. Help us to worship Him and to keep Jesus in Christmas. Jesus is the Reason for the Season.
     

Journal

     It's time to stop and just write...
     Thanksgiving is over. Company is gone. The house is quiet. I'm still thankful! I have so many to be thankful for! I have so much to be thankful for! 
     My relationship with Jesus is #1.
     My loving husband, Jerry, is #2.
     My five children: Pam, Ted, Tim, Christy,  Rob.
     My children-in-law: Gene, Shauna, Sean, Jessica.
     My 15 grandchildren and one granddaughter-in-law: Andrew, Katie, Matthew, Kaleb, Tyler, Annie, Max, Haleigh, Miller, Megan, Sydney, Elmise, Isabella, Mason, Armon, & Madelyn.
     My mom, 96 1/2 years old, whose mind is so sharp!
     My siblings: Richard & Cookie, Lorraine, Bill & Vel.
     My very special nieces and nephews.
     All the rest of my wonderful relatives too numerous to mention.
     My wonderful friends, near and far, again too numerous to mention.
     My home: our dream home and all the comforts of home.
     My church: Pastor's Dave, Eric, & Scott with their families; my church family; the church building we worship God in; my small group; the doctrine and teachings of my denomination; and so much more.
     My health.
     My doctor.
     My computer.
     So many more blessings I can't count them. 
Heavenly Father, I praise You. You are the Master Designer, the Creator. You are Mercy and Grace, both of which I would be nothing without. You are Love.
     "How can I say thanks, for all the things, You have given me?" 
     
     

Sleepover

We had a sleepover last night for the five grandchildren who were here for Thanksgiving.

Armon, Elmise, Bella all sleeping in the sun room.

Haleigh and Sydney slept in the reading room. We all watched movies before going to bed.
Thank You for my wonderful grandchildren! They keep me on my toes!

Haleigh

Haleigh, dressed as a Greek teenager, in her Latin class presentation to the grandparents. She was beautiful!

Lord, thank You for Haleigh. She's a beautiful girl and she did a beautiful job today in their Latin class presentation. Latin is a tough language, please help her to do well in her class.

Grandparent's Day

Grandparent's Day at Midland Christian School. We have three grandchildren attending there. We were so proud of all three of them. 
Here is Armon singing with his class.

 Elmise with her class. 

 They are doing motions with a song here. It was cute.

Haleigh's Latin class doing sort of a play. They were so dressed up even with eye shadow on. They did a really good job.

Haleigh speaking in Latin! After this they each interpreted in English! It was very impressive!


Lord, Thank You for this day! We felt honored as grandparents. Elmise, Armon, and Haleigh all did such a good job. We're very proud of them and proud to be their grandparents. Please help us, as grandparents, to be examples of You. Help them to see Christ in us.

Happy Birthday November 23

Happy Birthday, Annie! I can't believe you're 17 years old! I actually remember when I was 17! You're a fun loving, sweet, beautiful granddaughter and I love you! You have so much of life ahead of you and so much to look forward to.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Annie! She's such a sweet person. Help her to always trust in You. You have a wonderful plan just for her. Help her to let You work out that plan. Please keep Your Hand upon her, keep her safe, help her to make wise decisions regarding friendships. I love her so much and You love her even more!

Cut Glass Pitcher and Down Sizing

     This cut glass water pitcher was given to Jerry and me as a wedding gift 51 1/2 years ago. About 40 - 45 years ago sitting in the china cabinet, no one in the room, it suddenly cracked very loudly! We had used it several times when we had special company over for dinner. The crack went around the bottom of the handle. I could no longer use it but I kept it in the china cabinet because it was so nice looking. I have lots of other pieces of cut glass that are of the same pattern, all given to us as wedding gifts. 
     While Pam was here visiting I decided this is the time to get rid of it. It's no longer functional, hasn't been for 40 years, and we're trying to down size. I've got to start somewhere. Friends have suggested taking pictures of things I really need to dispose of. So here is my picture. 
     Pam did the job for me, because I couldn't...she took it out to the recycle bin. 
     Heavenly Father, I praise You. Thank You for all the blessings we have, both materially and spiritually. Thank You for this gift given to us so many years ago. Help me to be able to dispose of things. Help me to cherish family, friends, nourishment, home, relationships, and especially my relationship with You.

Help!!!

Gene and Jerry cut a tree that had broken off and was a threat to the safety of anyone walking on the path between our house and Rob's. My camera delays taking the pictures I want! I actually had the tree falling when I snapped the picture but it didn't take until the tree was down! Arrrrrrgh!!!
Gene did other work for us too, like stacking wood on the porch and cleaning our fan that is way up in the peak of our ceiling! 

Pam and me after church. She is my beautiful oldest daughter! She helped me with choosing good, healthy, low cal foods. Hopefully you'll see a good change soon!
Lord, how I thank You for our children. Thank You for the visit to us this weekend.

Santa Parade

Haleigh is on the right behind the sign.

 Pam and Gene came to visit for the weekend! Saturday morning, because Haleigh was in the Santa Parade with the cheerleaders from Midland Christian School, we decided to go and watch the parade and hopefully get to see Haleigh. It was a cold day.






 Here are Jessica and Pam! The sun was shining brightly so sunglasses were good, jackets were necessary!

Our friend, Chris, is sitting on his own snow mobile on this float. He waving at us! He can hardly wait for real snow!

Elmise, Jessica, Armon, Rob! Thanks to our cell phones we discovered they were only about two blocks away! The joined us so we all watched together. This was the first time the kids and Aunt Pam and Uncle Gene had met. 

 I just liked this horse and sleigh. If you look carefully, you can see cardboard antlers tied to the horses head! 

A lot of work went into making this float.

 This truck is pulling the basket and burners from a hot air balloon! It was sooo cold out and the heat from this fire felt so good! Of course they had to keep moving...

Here comes Santa Claus! The star of the parade! Also...the end!
Lord, I thank You for good times, family and friends. 

15 Authors I Love

Brenda of Coffeeteabooksandme challenged us to write our 15 favorite authors off the top of our heads.


So here are mine:


Glen Williamson
Francine Rivers
Corrie ten Boom
Elizabeth Elliot
Joni Eareckson Tada
Max Lucado
Terry Blackstock
Jeanette Oke
Eugenia Price
Charles Swindoll
Catherine Marshall
John Grisham
Calvin Miller
Philip Yancey
John Maxwell


I hope someone else will take up the challenge!


Lord, thank You for the written word. Thank You, especially, for Your Word.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday, Ted! Oh boy, one more year til a BIG one. I can't believe my kids are catching up to me! Well, not really. I'm very proud of the man you have become. Life turned out differently than we all thought. You're a good father...no...you're a great father, to Sydney and Bella. I hope you have a good day today. I wish we could spend it with you, but with work, it's not possible. (Your work...not ours) I wish for you a happy, happy birthday!


Dear Lord, thank You for Ted. He's got a huge responsibility as a dad. Please bless him with Your Presence. Keep him safe and well. I love him so much and You love him even more.

Friends

Dustin & Megan

Saturday I went with a couple of friends to Spring Arbor, Michigan to a wedding reception of a young man and his new bride. Dustin lived here when he was a boy, his dad was our pastor. Now Dustin has grown up, is a missionary and now is married. 

While at the reception I met a friend who had read A Bride's Prayer for me at our wedding 51 years ago! 

Lorraine & me 

Lord, how I thank You for friends. Please bless Dustin and Megan as they begin their married life together. Help them as they prepare to return to the mission field.

Thank You for my friend, Lorraine, and for the good time we had visiting on Saturday after all these years. Please keep her in good health. 

Happy Halloween

     Today is Halloween. It's also my 72nd birthday! I can't believe it. How did I get to be 70, and now 72? 70 is the official 'old age' so I'm well across the line.
     I've had a good day today. I've gotten about ten cards and over 80 happy birthday greetings on facebook! If you're not on facebook you won't know what I'm talking about but it's so fun to connect with friends from the present and the past. 
     Jerry took me to China Palace for dinner after church. It's one of my most favorite restaurants. I had egg drop soup, shrimp with cashews, fried rice, and an egg roll. Jerry had beef and broccoli, and all the rest the same as me. It was so good.
    The verse of the day today is so fitting for me at 72 years with gray hair.     Psalm 71:17,18. NIV Please read it! I had to laugh because whoever picks the verse of the day must have known it was my birthday!
Dear Lord, Thank You for life, for birthdays. Thank You for computers, for cameras, for technology, most of all for family and friends. I love you, my Heavenly Father.
     

Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary, Pam and Gene! 28 years already?! I love this picture of you! As you know, it's from the reception after the wedding of Andrew and Katie. It was a fun time and you look so happy. I don't know what you have planned for this weekend, but I'm sure it'll be fun. So...have a good day and a good time. I love you both.
Heavenly Father, You ordained marriage. You are the Creator. Please bless Pam and Gene with Your Presence. Guard their marriage. I love them so much and You love them even more.

Journal

It's time for a new entry here. We've had lots happen since I last posted.


Our weather has gone from nice fall days to a terribly windy day, yesterday, to cold and breezy today. The weatherman, this morning, said it's not windy today, only breezy!


We had a good day Saturday which ended with Jerry falling and wrecking his leg. We were at our friends log cabin for a turkey supper. There were 25 of us there and we were having such a nice time. We had gone with Larry and Rose, who had never been there before so it was fun showing them around. It was time to go home and we were walking out to the car. It was so dark out and they don't have any outside lights. Actually there was a full moon but it hadn't risen yet! Well, they have a metal ring in the side yard, for a camp fire. We couldn't see it and Jerry walked right into it. Down he went... He really wrecked his leg. Both his leg and foot swelled up. Larry and Rose brought us home so we immediately put an ice pack on it. He's been sitting in his lounge chair with his legs up and out and the ice pack on his leg ever since. His foot is much better. His leg is still very black and purple and it's still swollen but not as bad. He can walk a little now but after about an hour of being on it, it hurts and he has to put it up.  


This morning I was taking the grandkids, from next door, to school and Jerry surprised me by going out with me! He drove and after letting the kids out we went to Lannie's Cafe for breakfast! He's now sitting with his leg up and the ice pack back on his leg. Ohhh.


We've joined the folks who are only using cell phones! So if you'd like our number you should let me know in a comment or e-mail and I'll give you the number. We lost our old number that we've had forever and that was hard. I didn't know how I'd like only having my cell phone...but I have to say, I love it! I have my phone with me all the time so I don't have to check the answering machine when we get home from somewhere. It's just very handy. And best of all, we've eliminated a bill!


One problem about not having our land phone was that we couldn't call Tim and family because they live in Canada. It's very expensive to call Canada on our cell phone. But Tim solved that for us. We can now talk over our computers! It's so fun. Jerry can hear just fine and can talk, sitting across the room! This new technology is fine. Well, some of it is. I don't understand most of it and I'm not in to most of it. But what I use I love!


Last evening I went to our Wednesday evening coaching at church. Our pastor is doing a series on church history. Sound boring? Not at all! He makes it so interesting. He started clear back with the Wesley's, actually beginning with Samuel Wesley, John's father. I'm going to read my dad's book again, Son's of Susanna. 


Well, this is long enough. Thanks for reading.


Heavenly Father, I can't praise You enough for Your blessings to me. Please continue to touch Jerry's leg. Help it to heal completely. Thank You for this new technology and for our use of it. Thank You for Jesus and for sustaining the church all these hundreds of years. Thank You for our pastor and his unique teaching ability.

Beautiful Elmise

Elmise had her hair done yesterday. She came running over to show Grandma and Grandpa! Isn't she beautiful? School pictures are to be taken today and she wanted her hair braided. I wonder how long she had to sit still for this? I forgot to ask her...
Thank You, Lord, for our beautiful grandchildren...all 15. Thank You for Elmise. Watch over her, please.

Concert

Musicians!

Elmise and Armon are like a breath of fresh air! When they come in our door it's like a whirl wind entered! They have so much energy! Here they are putting on a concert for Jerry and me! I took a video of them but I don't know how to put it on here so you can't listen to them. Sorry. I wish you could, you'd love it!

Lord, how I praise You! Thank You for our grandchildren, all 15 of our grandchildren. Thank You for Elmise and Armon.  Thank You for their energy! Thank You for their musical talent! They are precious in Your Sight...and mine too.

Journal

Jerry and I just returned from a meeting about Haiti. What a heartbreaking report and pictures we watched. The government will no longer allow shipments of food and supplies to enter the country. The people are starving, sick, and dying. Dear God, please intervene for these people. Please. 

This was newsletter week. I worked hard to get it out and  have already started the next one. A change is being made though...not with the newsletter, but with the distribution of the newsletter. I've been handing them out to all seniors, and also e-mailing them to anyone having the internet and wanting to get them. That comes to about 100 folks receiving the newsletter on a regular basis. I'll no longer be handing them out personally. We'll be making up a mailing list and sending them out. The church is going to pay the postage. This will be quite a change and I just hope it works out.

My mom went to the circus on Friday! She loved it and had a great time! Those were her words. Only a few got to go and she was one of them! She rode her scooter up into a bus and stayed on her scooter all day. I think the circus was in Denver somewhere. I'm so glad for her, to think she got to do something so out of the ordinary and she had strength and stamina to endure the day! She'll be 96 1/2 on October 16! She told me that! Her mind is so good!

I've been doing a lot of writing lately. Mainly about my family. You can read some of it on my new blog: 
www.mylife-experieces.blogspot.com  I made an error and left the n out. I tried to correct it but it won't let me! So now you've got to make the same error, if you want to read it!) I've got some other stories mixed in too. They are all true stories.

We had a Butterfly Bush given to us so we've got it planted in our back yard. I hope, I hope it lives. I'll let you know next summer!

Lord, please intervene for Haiti. You know their needs. 

Thank You for giving my mom such strength in her elder years. Thank You for letting her go to the circus. 

Thank You for helping me with the newsletter and giving me a brother who is patient and helpful. 

Thank You for helping me to write my story and my family story. 
Thank You for the Butterfly Bush! Please help it to live.

I love You, Lord. You are my Saviour, my Help, my Strength.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday, Betty! Another year has gone by already! Life has a way of moving on. We're planning to stop by to visit you today. We miss getting together occasionally. You've always been a good sister-in-law to me. I hope you have a very special day today.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Betty. Watch over her, keep her well, and safe. Help us to be in touch more than we are. I love her and You love her even more.