2009, what a year.

2009 came and went.

Reflecting on this last day of 2009, my thoughts immediately go to my mom. She is bringing in the second phase of her life in the presence of her Savior. Forever.

Meanwhile, back here in phase 1, I am living the day to day wanting Christ to be my life. Yesterday I was reading Colossians 3. It is very rich. Col 3:1 says to "set your hearts on things above, where Christ is." My prayer for this year is to set my affections on Him.
Verse 4 says "Christ, who is your life..." My question is: Is He?

I want Him to be my life.

Other highlights of 2009 include:

*moving-which has been such blessing. We love our home and the area of town.

*the girls going to another school. They have adjusted well and God has brought them some really neat friends.

*BSF. We are going through the book of John. Next year is the book of Isaiah, cannot wait.

*Crazy Love bible study. We are hosting it in our home and absolutely love the people that God has brought together.

*Lifegroup. It is a blessing to have these friends to "do life" with.

*Running. It has been awesome to run (or jog or walk) and to share this hobby with Melody, a sweet friend whom God has put in my life. Our moms are/were the same age and we are going through some of the same stuff, unexpectedly. We find stuff to laugh about and just vent.

*Cindy. She went on the STARS retreat in October before everything happened with mom. Wow. God is so good. His timing is so perfect. Our relationship has never been better and I cannot imagine life without her. She is going to join Concordia in January and she comes for the Crazy Love bible study. God has provided some really awesome ladies from church for her to be friends with and it is so sweet.

*Mike. When I think of miracles, I look at one everyday. What God has done in our lives and marriage is nothing short of a miracle. All of the glory goes to the One who pulled us from the pit. Grace. Undeserved. I love this man that God has given me more today than ever. That is not to say we do not have any valleys, misunderstandings, arguments...but we do not stay there. I think that is the point. To humbly keep moving forward.


2010.

What will it bring?

"Is Santa really real?"

This year this has been the ongoing question:

Katie: "Mom, tell me the truth, is Santa really real?"

me: "Why do you ask?"

Katie: "Because so-and-so says there is not a Santa."

me: "Hmm, what do you think?"

This usually buys me time, that and "Why don't you ask daddy."

So this year, we let them figure it out. Usually I wrap the presents in different paper, not this year.

Lisa: "Look, Santa uses the same paper as we do!!"

me: "Wow, He has some good wrapping paper taste."

Lisa: "Look, Santa has the same handwriting as mom."

me: "That's pretty good handwriting."

Lisa got the earrings from Santa that she saw at JCPenny when she was shopping with Mike.
Lisa: "Look, Santa got these at JCPenney's."

Mike printed out an explanation of the beginnings of St Nicholas. It was very interesting and at the end we asked the girls what they thought.

The girls came to the realization that there is not a jolly old man who comes down the chimney and eats the cookies and drinks the milk and leaves presents. But they are not going to spoil it for any of the younger children in our lives.

Mike and I came to the realization that next year on Christmas we will be able to sleep in past 5:02 a.m.

Random Thoughts

1. This is the first Christmas without my mom. Her birthday was December 19. She would have been 61. I think about her alot. I pray to God to tell her that I love her. Will probably go through Griefshare with Cindy at church.

2. The other day the girls and I were shopping for boots for them. We went into Payless shoes and looked, to no avail. While I was searching down the aisle, I glanced over at the girls and Katie was crying. I said "What are you'll doing?", Katie looked up and said "Mom, Lisa kicked me in the nuts." OK. A little explanation of anatomy was given. "Katie, you are a girl, you don't have nuts." Katie "Oh." And she was fine. Makes me wonder what is said on the playground.

3. We watched the Nativity Story last night. It was very, very good.

4. Our family present is the New KJV Audio Bible. It is FANTASTIC!!

5. One of my goals for 2010 is to read the bible in a year.

6. Another goal is to run the half marathon one more time, to do better that 2 hours 44 minutes.

7. This morning Lisa came out of her room and said "I laid in bed for a little while to grow more." Did it work? She said it did. I would like 2 more inches of height-maybe I will try it too.

8. Finished a Karen Kingsbury book "Shades of Blue." It was very good. Just started "Waiting for Morning" by her.

A Busy December

This has been a busy December. I can not believe that Christmas is here and almost gone for 2009.


The Christmas Pageant. Lisa was "S" (for shepherds whose vigil kept over their flocks while others slept."


She battled stage fright, but came through!


Katie's class. They did really good and sang really loud.


A relieved little 3rd grader.

The First Annual Cookie Exchange at Robyn's.

Dorothy and Marsha

Robyn explaining the rules

Carrie listening intently

Melody and Tricia

Drive Thru Nativity-Modern Day Family.

We volunteered to do this Dec 19 and 20. There were over 2000 cars that did the drive-by.
It was a fun experience.

With all of the happenings this season, I must sit and reflect on why we celebrate.

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Luke 2:8-12

Happy Birthday Jesus.

Christmas tour of Home '09

I snapped some pictures of the Christmas decorations in our home this year.


The kid-friendly manger scene. The breakable one is under the tree with the Wise Men, Mary, Joseph, the cow and sheep all huddled around baby Jesus who has a kleenex over Him to keep Him warm.


The Christmas tree. I know I just stated the obvious, so I will say that our tree has a whole bunch of Hallmark ornaments and homemade ornaments which are priceless.


The stockings are hung by the chimney with care. A potential fire hazard, so we took down the 2 stockings in the middle.

The advent wreath. The candles are leaning sideways due to spending the summer in the upstairs of the garage. It may look like a fire hazard, but it really isn't.

A very pretty lighted church.

Christmas music on the piano. I have sat down a time or two and played around. Primarily, our Christmas music is Casting Crowns, Travis Cottrell, Chris Tomlin and Michael W Smith CD's.

This is the extent of the outdoor decorations this year. Red and Green lights on 3 corners of the house. It looks pretty neat.

I have 3 candles in the window (plugged in), because that would be a fire hazard.

Thanksgiving Day

Mr. Smoked Turkey



Mr Mike Ryan by the fireplace.






I was just playing around with my camera. Notice the candle in the middle. The tiny lit speck.






The table setting.
I have no idea why I took that picture. I felt like taking a chance? I felt like thinking outside of the box? I felt like getting proof that the dining room table can actually be used for its intended purpose?





Grandmother Wells preparing the stuffing. It is Great Grandmother Wise's recipe and we live for it at Thanksgiving. Well done, Grandmother.

This Thanksgiving was low key. It was a peaceful day. We went to the Thanksgiving Day service at church. It was bittersweet to say the least. Our first Thanksgiving without mom.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever. Psalm 136:1

Thanksgiving parties and a turkey named Jeff

Happy Thanksgiving, a little early.

The girls had their Thanksgiving parties today at school. Now they get a week off and a much needed break.


This is Lisa's creative story about a turkey named Jeff. Two pages. I hope that she didn't name the turkey we have Jeff. I don't know if I can eat a turkey that has a name.


Katie thankful for "everything." Can you tell?






Lisa with her apple and caramel snack. They sang cute little songs and ate cheese and crackers, cookies, carrots, butterscotch haystacks (yummy!!)

Now we get to relax some for the next week. We will get some time to be refreshed, renewed, finish reading a book, get ready for Christmas. Where did this year go?