December Updates....

We had Morgan's dance team over for dinner one night before class.....it was really fun but REALLY loud! Teenage girls are loud. It was a good loud though and these are good kids so one day I know I will miss the loud.

The girls decided to get Dan's old Engineer and Captain helmets out and try them on the other night.....

The goggles are as big as their entire heads! So cute.

I couldn't resist buying all these cute boxes on sale at Joannes a few weeks back. Gonna make my peppermint bark and deliver it to the neighbors in these.....

I made these cute little meringues for the first time.....

Not nearly as hard as I imagined it would be.....

Took a few minutes to catch my breath and enjoy the Fall sunsets we get every year.....

We had our Married Life Christmas dinner the first weekend of December. Almost 200 couples so it was all hands on deck to set up all day that Friday. The girls and some friends helped put the 23 center pieces together......it took hours and hours!!

So worth it though...so beautiful...Thanks for the idea Pinterest. Ha!

I had the idea for a cookie bar this year and it turned out lovely...thanks to my mom who came over and helped me. It was more stressful this year hosting it at our church because we had to hire a caterer etc.....but it all came together with many people pulling together and getting it all done.

The decorations were so beautiful, the food amazing and the speaker and worship blessed every couple that took the time out to nurture their marriage.

Now we take a breath and get ready to plan next years Married Life events. :)

We went to the Christmas tree farm to pick out our tree and Ryanne met some friends....

The girls fell in love with this particular tree so there was no changing their mind....it was love at first sight.....

Angry goat at the Christmas tree farm....

My kids hate these things so like any good mom I make them do it....

Our dog is literally so big she just backs up and sits on the couch with the girls....crazy dog.

Placing the final touch on the tree....

Morgan had her big Christmas dance recital last weekend...she danced 9 times. Here are Morgan and two of her ballet friends getting ready to run through their first performance of Benjamin Briton Young Person's guide to the Orchestra....It was so good!! She then had classes all last week....exhausted is putting it lightly. Ha! Now we are in Christmas break recovery mode. Two weeks to rest. :)

Every year for the past 9 years we have taken the girls to the Mission Inn for dinner and a carriage ride to see the festival of the lights....we went last night and it did not disappoint.

The food rocks, I can't beat the company and....

who doesn't love a horse drawn carriage ride to see lights right? It was freezing cold which always makes it more fun.

Have a most Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!!!

Cheerful Heart......

 

Something that has been on my heart for a while and probably just magnified due to the holidays, is the desire to be Gods hands and feet more. Like physically looking for ways to express Gods love to others through acts of kindness. I'm as guilty as the next person for thinking great thoughts and not following through. But I want to have more than good intentions. I realize that sometimes that might cost me some money, some time or some comfort and that's OK. I really feel like this is the best way to show my kids how to live out their faith. We were fortunate enough to kick off the holidays by serving at a soup kitchen on Thanksgiving. I'll admit, I was nervous. I had no idea what to expect or if people were going to receive us there. Then it occurred to me that it's not about me. The girls did great. Above and beyond what I expected of them. Over and over God keeps stirring the desire in me to give more than I receive. Being that I am a daughter of the king I know I can't ever do that in regards to what he has given me. But in church we are working through the book of 2 Corinthians and last week we were in chapter 9. Verse 6 says,"The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." I want to do that;  let go of things that are temporary and invest in those things that are eternal....like souls. For everyone giving looks different but it's for ALL believers. Verse 7 goes on to say,"Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." I love looking for ways to give. In turn I see my girls also looking for ways to give, to bless others and honor the Lord. Sometimes giving is going to cost us a Sunday afternoon on the couch as we help a neighbor move. Other times it might be that giving takes us out of our comfort zone as we invite someone to our home for a holiday meal because they have no family. Whatever the cost to us, it will never amount to the cost God paid as he gave his son. Giving also stirs up prayer in us right? I mean I pray about serving at the soup kitchen, I pray for God to use my family. I pray for the friend or family member God has laid on my heart to give to. I pray for the person God has pressed upon my heart to serve. Being willing to give without expecting anything in return; that is my hearts desire. To give because HE first gave it all. Blessings my friends!