Tradition...

I propose a new tradition this year. A tradition of giving. A tradition of prayer. A tradition of prayerful giving.

Giving isn't a new tradition, you may think.

The sort of giving I have in mind is not your typical gift.

Pray about how you treat people this Christmas. A man in New York was killed today because of greed. He opened a door and was trampled by a crowd of people eager to save a few dollars. When the crowd was asked to leave the store, some complained that they had been there very early and they continued to shop! Lord, help me to remember that we are all only human and that you love each of us, even when we are unlovable.

Pray about how you speak to people this Christmas. I have seen people yell at others and get into fights over the latest toy. Not everyone behaves like this, but I have seen it too many times to dismiss as a rare occurrence. I have seen cashiers berated for an item scanning at a different price than what the customer said it was on the shelf. A simple smile and some sympathy for the cashier's plight during this busy retail season is generally appreciated. But I ask that you pray about how you speak not only for strangers. Our families often are on the receiving end of our frustrations and callous remarks. So often, I see that I speak with more courtesy to a stranger than I do to my husband and children. Lord, remind me to treat my family with respect, because they are my family.

Pray about opportunities to give this Christmas. (and then give) My girls often ask to put money in the buckets for the Salvation Army. Every opportunity that my girls have to give is priceless. This last weekend, we packed up into the truck with a friend and headed to a local church. We volunteered with the Angel Food Ministries distribution day. It was wonderful to see my girls, and their friend, so excited about helping others. Giving does not have to be for the world to see. Giving can be done with money or time. I enjoy giving my time because I gain from the experience. Lord, help me to find ways to focus on You and others this Christmas.

Our main tradition at Christmas time is to focus on family, but mostly to focus on Jesus. We remind our girls that Jesus did not stay a baby in a manger, but that He grew, just like them, and that eventually He paid the penalty for our sin because He loves us so much. But we also tell them that the story does not end with Jesus' death. We have hope for our future, regardless of our past, because of His glorious resurrection.

Let your actions and words be gifts to each other. Peace be with you.


Rom 12:1
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice-the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?
Rom 12:2
Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.
Rom 12:3
As God's messenger, I give each of you this warning: Be honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you.
Rom 12:4
Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function,
Rom 12:5
so it is with Christ's body. We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.
Rom 12:6
God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you.
Rom 12:7
If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching.
Rom 12:8
If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
Rom 12:9
Don't just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good.
Rom 12:10
Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.
Rom 12:11
Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically.
Rom 12:12
Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful.
Rom 12:13
When God's children are in need, be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night.
Rom 12:14
If people persecute you because you are a Christian, don't curse them; pray that God will bless them.
Rom 12:15
When others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad, share their sorrow.
Rom 12:16
Live in harmony with each other. Don't try to act important, but enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all!
Rom 12:17
Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.
Rom 12:18
Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible.
Rom 12:19
Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, "I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it," says the Lord.
Rom 12:20
Instead, do what the Scriptures say: "If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink, and they will be ashamed of what they have done to you."
Rom 12:21
Don't let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good.


Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

The list

*******UPDATED******** And I still need ideas for the "no clue" group!

• Michael- not yet
• N- not yet
• A- yep
• Mom- yep
• Daddy- not yet
• Mama- yep
• Laura- yep
• Scott- yep
• Miss Arty Pants- not yet
• Sweetness- not yet
• Stealth Man- yep
• The Ark- yep
• Rachel- yep
• Andres- yep
• David- yep
• Alex- yep
• Miguel- yep
• Sarah- yep
• Andrew- yep
• Shery- yep
• Jessica- yep
• Rayna- yep
• Ethan- yep

"yep" = I have the gift in my house

"not yet"= I have an idea, but I don't have the gift in the house

"partly" = I have a portion of the gift and I'd like to add more to it

"no clue" = I need an idea for a Christmas gift...PLEASE HELP!!

Most of you know this is amazing for me to have the majority of my Christmas shopping done BEFORE Thanksgiving. Now, we'll see if I can mail the gifts that need to be mailed before Easter...

Have you ever?

I copied this off of a friend's blog. (thank you Faith!) If you'd like to do this to, feel free.


Have you ever?

Bold the things you’ve done.



1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band Does the high school band count??

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland/world- I used to work at Disney World, so I have been there a couple of times!

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang/played a solo - I've sung many solos at church & for choir in high school. I also played the flute and did Solo & Ensemble competitions.

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea - does being on the beach & watching the lightning storm count? If so, then I've done this, otherwise, I have not...

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables - I have what is known as a "black thumb" I look at plants & they die...

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight - I didn't really share a room with my sister, but we had many fights. Some included pillows

22. Hitch hiked - Twice in one day. It was interesting to be sitting in the back of a truck with a soccer team and a tiny crab. In Ecuador, I learned that hitch hiking is not a quiet thing like here in the States. Here, you stick out your thumb and hope someone stops. There, you yell the name of the place you want to get to and when someone slows down, you run & hope you can make it into the back of the vehicle before they speed up.

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill - Michael wanted me to spend the day with him & after my physical therapy appointment that day, I called into work & said I wasn't feeling well.

24. Built a snow fort - We played in the snow when we were in Wyoming. By June, I was ready for spring!

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset- Living near the beach, I have seen many beautiful sunrises and sunsets.

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing- Only on the rock wall thing on a play set at church. We had a child who was too scared to get down so, I climbed up to get him.

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant - I don't think we bought the entire meal, but we at least contributed $10 toward it. Michael was home on leave & we were eating lunch with some friends. A little girl & 2 men (dad & grandpa) came into the restaurant. The little girl looked so tired. The men treated her as if she was very fragile. She appeared to have lost the majority of her hair. The men kept urging her to eat a little bit and she would. My heart broke at the sight. We didn't have much money at the time, but I knew that what we did have, we needed to give to this family. I asked our server to take $10 off of their bill because I wanted to pay that much. She did. I don't know if the server said anything to the family, but I felt good knowing that I had been obedient to what God had prompted me to do.

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight - After our theater performances, we'd go to this restaurant called Herbie K's. Then we'd walk through the pool area of a nearby hotel to get to the beach.

46. Been transported in an ambulance - N was coming a little sooner & quicker than expected. I had the truck at work, Michael was almost an hour away at his work. My contractions were 4 minutes apart & steadily getting closer. My boss couldn't leave because the only other gal working was 16. So, when the ambulance crew got there, I was told that I was the calmest woman in labor they had ever transported.

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie - In the live audience for a filming of The Mickey Mouse Club.

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching

63. Gotten flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy - My lion, Larry; my bear, Apple Jack; my doll, Lolly Dolly; my parrot, T-Bird; my dog, Snoopy; and several others that my mom saved & sent to me

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial - We lived just south of DC for a while, so we visited a few times.

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London - I also saw the guard change at Windsor. There was a large gate & a smaller gate next to each other. We expected the men to go through the larger gate so I stepped over to the opposite side to take pictures. The men walked through the smaller gate and I was backed up against the wall trying to keep out of their way. I did manage to get several pictures. It was a somewhat scary experience for a 12 year old...

77. Broken a bone - I hit a wall and later I hit my sister. My hand started hurting after I hit my sister. She has a hard head! :D (Love ya Rachel!)

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle - Michael likes to ride fast...what can I say?

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous - I met several Christian artists at Disney's Night of Joy. Which, by the way, is probably the WORST nights to work. I did crowd control and it was NOT pleasant.

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one - More than I can count

94. Made a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

Romans 1:16-32

I was preparing the lesson for the Celebrate Recovery ministry at my church tonight. I was looking for a particular verse in Romans and I read through the following verses. My heart breaks for our nation , but more my heart breaks because of verse 21.

How often have I failed to give God thanks for who He is? How often has my mind become dark & confused because of trying to imagine what God is like instead of going to the source, God's own word?? How many times have I failed to worship because I simply "didn't feel like it"?

Lord help me to not be ashamed. Help me to walk in your ways and to remember to seek you daily.

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes-Jews first and also Gentiles.

Rom 1:17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life."

Rom 1:18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who push the truth away from themselves.

Rom 1:19 For the truth about God is known to them instinctively. God has put this knowledge in their hearts.

Rom 1:20 From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God.

Rom 1:21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. The result was that their minds became dark and confused.

Rom 1:22 Claiming to be wise, they became utter fools instead.

Rom 1:23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people, or birds and animals and snakes.

Rom 1:24 So God let them go ahead and do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other's bodies.

Rom 1:25 Instead of believing what they knew was the truth about God, they deliberately chose to believe lies. So they worshiped the things God made but not the Creator himself, who is to be praised forever. Amen.

Rom 1:26 That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other.

Rom 1:27 And the men, instead of having normal sexual relationships with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men and, as a result, suffered within themselves the penalty they so richly deserved.

Rom 1:28 When they refused to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their evil minds and let them do things that should never be done.

Rom 1:29 Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, fighting, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip.

Rom 1:30 They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They are forever inventing new ways of sinning and are disobedient to their parents.

Rom 1:31 They refuse to understand, break their promises, and are heartless and unforgiving.

Rom 1:32 They are fully aware of God's death penalty for those who do these things, yet they go right ahead and do them anyway. And, worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.

Pray 7x7

Angie Smith posted on her blog (Bring the Rain) about her desire to pray for her children on a daily basis and encouraged other moms to do the same. If you click on the button that has the little girl praying, it will take you to her blog post.

I believe that prayer is one of the most important gifts we can give our children and our families. Through prayer, we can teach our children about a relationship with God. I read recently that sometimes people think the Lord's Prayer says, "Our Father who art in Heaven... gimmie... gimmie... gimmie..." Not so.

I want to teach my children that it is okay to ask God for things, but mostly that we need to seek His desires for us. What will be the Godly choice in a given situation? How would God want me to respond? But more than asking for things, I want my children to hear God's voice. I want them to enjoy His presence.

N was reading her Bible to A in the truck tonight. She asked what other verses were good to read because she had already read John 3:16 and Psalm 23. The only specific verse I could think of at the time was Romans 3:23. "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"

But what a wonderful blessing to know that even though we have sinned and come short of God's standard, He loved us enough to send His Son to die for us and take the punishment that should rightfully be ours.

John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world (you & me & yes, even the person we think of as the most horrible person in the world) that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him, will not perish but have eternal life."

Gifts from a very special Grammy!

A received her gift from Grammy on Monday after her birthday. She was very excited about opening it.
I loved the look on her face when she first peeked inside. Unfortunately, her expression changed just as I took the photo. Here she is exclaiming, "SHOES!!!!!"

Still talking about her shoes...

Looking at Flat Stanley. (I would underline the title of the book as that was what I was taught to do. However, for some reason I only have choices to use bold or italics...)

Wearing her pretty slippers. She had to go show her Sunday School teacher yesterday. Today we went out for "coffee" with some friends. One of A's friends was there and she had to show off her slippers again.

And just so no one passes out from shock...I did NOT drink coffee. I went out with some friends and THEY drank coffee. I had sweet tea.

Close up

Finger licking good. Just not sure anyone else wants some now... :D

Birthday pics

At the playground. Sassy and sweet princess.

Happy Birthday. Notice the grubby finger in the icing...

Loving that strawberry cake!

Sleeping Beauty dress up clothes. Crown included. There goes my Christmas gift idea...(but that is okay, she likes other princesses too)

THE pink poodle...I think she has been asking for this since May??

Face first into the bag...

What a beautiful gift from a special aunt & uncle!

She is so excited about her dress!!

Thank you to everyone who was able to come. For those who could not be here, we love you. Thank you for all of the wonderful gifts.

Pretty princess

We had A's birthday party today. However, we did NOT take a vote as to whether or not we would keep her. She was running unopposed, so we didn't have to take it to a vote.

Her party went very well. We did have a last minute change of location though. Instead of having the kids dodge the numerous fire ants in our back yard, we decided the park's playground would accomodate 9 children much better. It worked out very well. We did invite siblings, otherwise 4 children in our yard would have been managable.

A got several wonderful gifts. I told her who each gift was from and A made sure that they heard her say "thank you." She now has some new clothes, princess dress ups, princess stickers, and a Memory game. She has played with all of them tonight and she (gasp) willingly modeled the clothes. Perhaps though, it was done willingly because she got to show Daddy....

Once I am able to weed through the photos (and get permission from a couple of parents) I will post them for you to see.

Until then...I'm going to bed!