Farewell to February!

For our family the season of winter is flying by!

We've all been busy with good stuff...projects, fellowship, chalk art, financial class...

A sweet friend of ours invited Bri and Brad to come and do chalk art for their homeschool group...

They even treated us to lunch! What a blessing!

Thanks Eugemia!

Valentine's Day came and went...my sweet hubby bought me flowers :)

Bri and I have been doing some baking! :)

Bingley Celebrated his 1st Birthday!

I enjoyed lunch with some buddies!

We had some lovely SN*W!

We have had some wonderful fellowship in the month of February, but I

don't have that many pictures of most of it.

The kids had a chance to go ice skating a couple of times with friends

I only have pics of one of them though :(

But, they had a great time everytime they went!

Gotta luv these socks!

Ready to go!

Our family is also attending the Financial Peace University which has been wonderful!

We are learning alot!

And last but not least...

Brad got a new Betta...Toothless :)

The one he had for a couple of years recently...departed

It's been a wonderful winter for us!

For, lo, the winter is past...

Song of Solomon 2:11

Unlike some, I do enjoy the winter very much, but I also look forward to Spring!

My friend called and said to come by and get some forsythia from her yard to force, which

I plan on doing today!

So, I am looking forward to Spring with joy!

And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:

Gen. 1:14

And all of these good seasons were created by God -don't you think He is sooo good to

give us such pleasure with His creation?

Thank you Lord!

Sacrificial Love

William Gladstone, in announcing the death of Princess Alice to the House of Commons, told a touching story. The little daughter of the Princess was seriously ill with diphtheria. The doctors told the princess not to kiss her little daughter and endanger her life by breathing the child's breath.

Once when the child was struggling to breathe, the mother, forgetting herself entirely, took the little one into her arms to keep her from choking to death. Rasping and struggling for her life, the child said,

 "Momma, kiss me!" Without thinking of herself the mother tenderly kissed her daughter.

 She got diphtheria and some days thereafter she went to be forever with the Lord. Real love forgets self. Real love knows no danger. Real love doesn't count the cost.

The Bible says, "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it."

But, as a mother, I can tell you that kissing that loveable little innocent baby is so easy!

God did something for us that was even more incredible. He loved us when we were UNloveable!

When we were sinful, and full of pride--He loved us, and showed it by giving us His precious and only Son.

He kissed us.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

It was an incredible gift, but, we each must accept it and make it our own.

Thank you God for loving me!

As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

John 15:9

~Jesus

Bye January!

Who can believe that January has come and gone? I know a lot of people who don't like the month of January, but I do! I love it's slower, snowy days!

"Little January




Tapped at my door today.


And said, "Put on your winter wraps,


And come outdoors to play."


Little January


Is always full of fun;


Until the set of sun.


Little January


Will stay a month with me


And we will have such jolly times -


Just come along and see."


- Winifred C. Marshall, January

I find January a month of quiet reflection on the year past, and the one to come...

it's also a time of organizing for me :)

...it is a month for playing in the snow...

and being cozy around the fire...

working on projects...

....cooking and baking...

looking through seed catalogs...

reading...

...catching up on correspondence...

...starting a new devotional...

listening to a new cd...

I hope you've enjoyed your month of January

I can't wait to see what February will bring!

A Busy Day...

How was your day today? Was it a busy one?

Mine was...

Bri was working on chalk art most of the day, so I spent the day alone

in the kitchen.

I had some cream cheese to use up, so I made an Apple Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

Above is the bottom layer of batter, with the cream cheese filling on top

I used a jar of apple pie filling that I canned

And I spread that on top

Then, I put the crumb topping and finished with chopped pecans

I baked it in a springform pan, and thought it came out real nice!

I also made two pans of the rolls (my son's request) :)

I let him choose today

Above is my trusty mixer, a big help in my kitchen!

While I was doing that...Brad and Dad went and picked up

his new snowblower (to replace the stolen one)

He got a great deal on it!

The Lord is Good!

Thank you for your prayers

January Happenings...

Here are a few pictures of what we've been up to thus far in January...

It's been so cold, the doggies need their sweaters!

Bri gearing up to take the guys for a walk...

On our snow day we did some fun things in the kitchen...this was a great way to use up the leftover candycanes!

Another batch of Raspberry Lemon cookies...

We were delighted with the SNOW!

The doggies on Brad's bed for the last time. We got rid of his bunk and got him a regular bed.

Here's a picture of Brad with his snowblower--getting ready for our first snow...before someone stole it!

He only got to use it once. :(

However, we know that all that we have comes from God, and that we're just His stewards...so, they actually stole from God. Yikes!

Bingley has been playing with his new toys :)

We're only 1/2 way through...and we've enjoyed some beautiful sunsets...and hope for some more

and, bring us more SN*W!



2011

I'm going to be on hiatus for awhile...but I wanted to say

May 2011 be a real blessing to you!

Why Did Jesus Come?

Click here and listen to find out!

This is why I love Christmas so much :)