Happy New Year!

Ok, well the camera thief still has not come and confessed, so I have no great pictures to share with you of Christmas, but we had a wonderful time! It was great to get together again with our family and celebrate the birth of Jesus! I'm enjoying so much the boys getting older and the fact that they (especially Nathan) are able to understand Christ's birth more. (Except for the fact that I had to make a slight correction in my teaching when Nathan said "Jesus was burned" instead of Jesus was born...). Ah, the minds of 5 yr. olds! They had such a good time over Christmas. Michael taught us the meaning of a Christmas tree during family devotions, and it was fun to see that they remembered the next night what each thing stood for!
Now as we head into 2009 ( hard to believe) I have all kinds of things I'm looking forward to, but I want to make Jesus #1 in my life! Sometimes that's hard to remember in the middle of a busy or frustrating day, but oh what peace it brings when I can just slow down and pray for peace and patience in the middle of it all. God is so good, he gives me peace beyond all of my feeble understanding!
We wish you all a very blessed New Year!

Merry Christmas Eve!!!!!

We pray you all have a wonderful and blessed Christmas and a happy New Year! We have enjoyed watching our boys open presents here at home this morning and now we're packing to head to WV to spend some time with family! I'm panicking because I can't find my camera, but hopefully I'll have some pictures to share when we get back!!!

Contentment

(This is taken from a devotional in the Women of Faith Bible)

The words of this hymn by Madame Guyon are especially meaningful because they speak of her attitude during and after many years of imprisonment for her beliefs.

MY LORD, HOW FULL OF SWEET CONTENT

My Lord, how full of sweet content;
I pass my years of banishment!
Where'er I dwell, I dwell with Thee,
In heaven, in earth, or on the sea.

To me remains nor place nor time;
My country is in every climb;
I can be calm and free from care
On any shore, since God is there.

While place we seek, or place we shun,
The soul finds happiness in none;
But with God to guide our way,
'Tis equal joy, to go or stay.

Could I be cast where Thou art not,
That were indeed a dreadful lot:
But regions none remote I call,
Secure of finding God in all.

-Madame Guyon (1648-1717)


Phillipians 4:12-13

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through him who gives me strength."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NATHAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's hard to believe that 5 yrs. ago today, at 2:14pm, my sweet boy was born into this world. So much has happened since then, and it's amazing to look back and see how God has already used him for His glory. We are so grateful for him!

Here are some pictures from his party that we had for him this past weekend. We just invited a few of his friends over to celebrate, and was it a boy's world! One sweet little girl came, his friend Lydia, and she kept up with the best of them! Nathan had so much fun that day, and I'm sure he'll remember it for a long time!