Christmas Day

Our Christmas morning started out with filled Stockings,

you know full of girly things like warm socks, headbands, eyeshadow, candy, bath and body works soap....all those things that Santa knows girls need!

Deann got one really fun thing put in her stocking from the youth pastor.
It is a snow globe that one of the youth made and was passed around at the youth Christmas party and then decided that Deann needed because she wasn't there.
On one side it says "Jesus loves you and is watching over you and so am I" the other side as you can see is a picture of the youth pastor.
Deann loved it.

The girls also got the annual Christmas Gift from their Aunt Joyce in California.
Matching Joy bags filled with candy and santa ears.
(Joyce has always bought all 9 grand daughters the same thing ever since they were born. It use to be really cute matching outfits,(( they are a bit too old for that now though)) shirts, scarfs, purses, nail polish or something, she is really sweet and the girls look forward to opening her gift)

The best gift of all was the matching I-pod touches
they got from Dusty and I and my mom!
They love them.

I borrowed a couple of blog recipes this year for Christmas.
The first a German Pancake
(and from whom I don't know)

Melt 5 tbsp of butter in a 9 x 13, in a 450 degree oven.
then add 6 eggs, 1 cup milk, 1 cup flour and 1/2 tsp salt all mixed together.
bake until fluffy,about 15 minutes.
Add whatever toppings you would like, the possibilities are endless.
We added cinnamon and powdered sugar and covered with pan cake syrup, it was really good.
That is also a small side of bacon too.:)

Then I made a delicious pie from my Friend Christy at Between Here and Home.
Cranberry Bog Pie!
It was a hit and will make it again.

We had a relaxing day and even took a walk outside in the snow.
This has been our lawn for a month.
Lots of snow.
A real white Christmas!

Hope your Christmas was blessed.

Merry Christmas

We are stopping by to wish you a very Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas

This evening we will spend time at church at the candle light christmas service.
My kids love this and look forward to it every year.
I love it because it is the climax to a very busy month.
A time to stop and remember the real reason for this season
the birth of our dear Savior Jesus!
May your Holidays be Blessed

Confession

I have a confession.....I love my Girls.
And I can't stand to see them treated badly. I'm sure your not surprised.
This week, I got so angry at a basketball game that I almost had to be escorted out of the gym. Yes, I am a Pastors wife and a child of God.
Did I act like it , no! Have there been consequences, yes!
Woo! That was hard to admit.
My daughter has been playing basketball since she was in 2nd grade.
She has never had a coach that was belittling or an out and out screamer.
I had my fill and let it fester, rather than going to her and talking about the problem, I sat and stewed and then she did the thing that broke the camels back and called her stupid.
Now there is lots of mending to do.
Will this hurt my daughter, I don't know. But I do know that she is going to see her mother apologize and try to encourage a young lady that I would rather spank. Yes, she is probably old enough to be my daughter.
A christian is not perfect!
A christian is real, they admit faults and they apologize.
They pray, they search the scriptures and
they try to walk so closely to the Lord that others see Him and not us!
Christ continues to be the Lord of my Life
and I want others to know that and
not about my bad attitude.
Is there a lesson in this?
Go to someone and In love , talk about your issue, try not to let it fester.
Our words have the power to heal or destroy.
May my words heal and build!

Updated:
I talked with the coach , well all three of them and it went well.
I even gave that young lady a hug and she was very sweet.
I am praying that we can build a relationship
maybe this will be a beginning.

Snow

I wanted to share these darling pictures of my daughter, Denae.
Her sisters are both taking a photography class and are really learning to take some adorable pictures.She loves to be there model :)
This picture was taken by DeAnn about two weeks ago with the first snow!

And these pictures were taken by Darci a couple of days ago.

I am wondering where her shoes and coat are but glad that she is a kid and loves to try something new. They had a lot of fun taking these, of course , I wasn't home.

Christmas

This is our foyer. I used the Mr and Mrs Claus that we got the first two years we were married and added a fresh small evergreen arrangement. Notice the darling hanging evergreen on the mirror. My father-in-law made that for me for my birthday this year.

Our mantel

This year when putting up the tree we decided to go red and white, so If it wasn't red or white we didn't use it. I think it is prettier than the pictures show. It is not a very big tree but perfect for this spot.

Have I told you how much I hate the TV above the fireplace....but I am making it work.

We are also enjoying the fireplace. It has a gas log and is easy to light.
The girls light it while doing homework and it is so peaceful.

Last year we had no tree, as we we moved on December 22.
We are glad to be somewhat settled and ready to have Christmas in our own home this year.
Hope yours is blessed.

New Driver

Darci got her license , officially this week.
No more permit, no more mom and dad setting next to her....all grown up and driving to school by herself!
In Kansas she was driving 2 years ago and had just finished drivers ed when we moved here but in Indiana you have to wait until you are 16 years old and 1 month to get a permit and then 6 months of driving to get a license.
At first I was ticked but now I am glad that she had to wait
because she is a much better driver now.
Say a prayer for this mom ...I can't believe I have a driver in my home!

A few changes....

I found this cute saying while checking out blogs and I love it.
I found one at Hobby Lobby and knew immediately where i wanted to put it.
The place where we eat the most!

This is the entry to our house it has been blank for months, 6 to be exact.

Last week my husband and i were at Homegoods and found this table and lamp.
I would love to get a couple of unique chairs to put on each side of it
but for now it will store all my gift wrapping supplies.

I took this picture before Thanksgiving.
This was my fall table, filled with pinecones I got from my moms house this summer
and acorns I got while hiking with my husband and girls at Turkey Run State Park.
And the candle holder was from my Mother-in-law for Christmas last year,
picked up while on some vacationing adventure.

Fun Memories!