Gracie gets the giggles...

Christmas Tree Time..

Jeremy was old enough this year to help us decorate

the tree...and so after putting Gracie to bed..

(Her idea of decorating was to eat the silver bells..)

We put on some music, 

and took turns putting decorations on the tree...

Afterwards we watched The Grinch cartoon...

Jeremy said it was a FUN Christmas party....

This is what Gracie think Christmas tree ornaments are for...

 

Jeremy

(Church Christmas Banquet)

 

Look at the mischief in these eyes...

 

Look...I am putting it ON the tree..

(Right...) 

 

My little angels...

The Exhibition....

Braver souls may not have tried this...

(I never admitted to being very smart...)

But we took the kids to the VERY CROWDED

exhibition...

Not with ONE toddler...

Not with TWO toddlers...

NO.

We have to do everything on a GRAND scale.

FIVE....count it folks..

FIVE preschoolers.

Add that to a very crowded exhibition,

Lots of noise

and a bunch of stinky cows.....

(at least you couldn't smell the diapers...)

At least I wasn't by myself...

This is grandma with Gracie

Cousin Josh

 

Aunty Anna and cousin Paige

 

My grandson Talon

 

The kids all watch the llamas...

 

Talon pets a donkey

 

 

We had fun

Pretty sure the kids had fun..

Gracie especially enjoyed the horse show..

I might try to go again next year...

(Might avoid the cows though...

I will be cleaning of the wheels of my stroller for a while..)

Rain (Rob Bell)....Nooma

...In my weakness...He is strong....

Recently I decided that I had to take some pro-active steps to get closer to God....

As much as I love my babies, anyone knows it is difficult to spend any time with anything but them...

They get up at 6am, and Gracie usually doesn't go to sleep until 10 at night...by that time...I am pretty tired.

Therefore I haven't been happy with the amount of time I have spent in prayer and devotions 

or with the level of my walk with God for some time now, and so I decided that after TEN years of not fasting at all, that God was leading me to do a three day water fast...

...I dove in with both feet...what else are you supposed to do...

First day...pretty good...except that I ended up taking tylenol for a terrible migraine that I have been fighting off all week...and everyday so far I have ended up having a cup of coffee to stave off the headaches from Caffeine withdrawal...probably not the best thing for my tummy, but I didn't want to have to take more tylenol, and dealing with toddlers with a headache...not fun. I also didn't get more then half an hour to spend in prayer....I had appointments all day...so in reflection, it probably would have been best to wait a day to start...

Yesterday, I felt really good...till I had to cook supper for the kids...then the rest of the night, I felt pretty crumby...Detoxification sucks. However, I did get a good portion of the afternoon to study, when the kids were napping....and wonder of wonders? Gracie fell asleep at 8 pm...barely EVER happens....

This morning, I felt pretty weak...which is normal for a water fast...and I considered going back onto fruit...but I am going to try and tough it out...it is only one more day...

Of course the challenge isn't really the fast....it is keeping up an attitude of prayer, worship and spirtitual growth after wards... not always so easy...

I really want to see change happen in all of my family this year... and especially in my own life.

I really struggled with sharing this....God likes us to keep our fasts in private... (Mathew 6:16-18)

I also know not everyone is comfortable with the concept of fasting...

However.... I would really like to offer everyone a challenge as the New Year approaches...

for each of us who are Christians to examine our lives, and see how we can get "more serious" with God.... This  could be the year of Revival ....and what a wonderful thing that would be!

I am not saying anyone has to go to the extreme of water fasting by the way....unless you want to, or you feel called...One fast is not better then another....There are all kinds of ways we can fast and focus in on God...

Juice fast....Fasting TV, ..(a big one for a lot of people) chocolate.... Whatever you feel you may idolize, or interferes in the time you spend with God.....

The idea is to separate yourself and get time away from the world, and time with God. You will be amazed at the things he reveals to you!

(By the way if you do water or juice fasting...make sure you do it properly...breaking a fast the wrong way can actually be dangerous...and certain people should probably avoid it...ie..diabetics, and pregnant or nursing mothers.) 

Wishing Everyone a Spirit filled Christmas Holiday and continued growth in the New Year....

(As a side benefit...I have lost 11 lbs so far...  :) I could do to lose the weight...however it usually isn't permanent...   :)

Birthday/Thanksgiving....

Aunty Anna and Jeremy

Paige

 

Daddy and Gracie

 

Jeremy

  

Josh

 

Bree and Brandy

 

Grandma and Gracie

 

Uncle Gerald

 

The birthday table

 

Grandpa and Gracie

 

Brandy and Al

 

Alma

 

Bree

 

Amber

 

Josh

 

Alma and Bree opening gifts

 

Alma and Gracie

 

 

One of the birthday girls

 

Al and Alma

 

Uncle Gerald and Gracie

Wordless Wednesday!

These pictures are actually from October.

We had a birthday party for my daughter Bree (16)

and my special friend Alma (73)..
Some of the pictures are from that, 
and then there are pics from Thanksgiving as well...
(a week later...same house..same people....  :)

My Alma!
She is amazing!
You would never know she is 73..
Both her and her hubby Al are such vibrant people...
I just love them....

Bree
I love her too...(I guess)
(kidding Bree!)

My son Jeremy

Paige and Iris

daughters Gracie and Brandy

Aunty Anna and Gracie

Brandy and Gracie

Brandy and friend Amber

Paige

Jeremy

Daughters Gracie and Bree

Al and Alma

Bree and Gracie

For more Wordless Wednesday...
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