Looking back

As another year comes to a close, I enjoy looking back on the past year. This year it was very easy to do, and I actually had to in a very real way. Maybe I need to back up a little bit...

Do any of you struggle with wondering what to give your parents for Christmas from year to year? As we were wracking our brains for ideas for something to give them, the subject came up that the gifts that are the most treasured can't be bought with mere money.

As we continued to bring up and veto various suggestions, the idea was mentioned to give them this whole past year of happenings and memories: scrapbooked. For those of you who have done anything of the sort, you know it is a time-consuming project. Oh -- and did I mention that this idea hadn't been thought of until 5 days before Christmas?!

A scrapbooking marathon ensued. With my sisters taking turns helping me and covering for my home chores, I scrapbooked almost non-stop for 4 days. Whew! In between developing all the pictures, finding just the right colors and accents, writing the perfect sentiments, and putting together close to 70 different pages, I was reminded over and over again of the faithfulness of the Lord over the past year.


Pictures bring back so many memories. There were definitely joys and struggles. Times to enjoy each other, as well as grow closer together as we'd persevere through an exhausting schedule. Hugs, tears, work, sweat, laughter, beauty, peace, forgiveness, patience, flexibility, love; how is a year summed up?

The most miraculous happening was the bus accident back in February. Whenever Daddy shares the story during one of our family services, it sometimes seems like it was just last week, and yet so much, so much has happened since then.

Prison crusades, children's ministry, more miles on the bus, crazy laundry mats, seminars, a little home time, big brother leaving, and now working on the bus again; it has been a full year.

I just have to laugh, because anytime anything out of the ordinary happens (which in a family of 15 is probably once every other day or so) someone will invariably say "Oh -- think of all the memories we're making!" The one problem is: after so many memorable moments you began forgetting them! But hopefully not now for the year 2007! It is officially compiled to be remembered -- not solely for our benefit or enjoyment, but to record the faithfulness of the God we serve!

"One generation shall praise Your works to another,

and shall declare Your mighty acts."

Psalms 145:4

And yes, Daddy and Mommy were thrilled with their present.
[smile]

(And in case any of you are interested in knowing: the scrapbook is one of the reasons for my lack of posting recently! If you don't think that is a sufficient excuse, just try scrapbooking 300+ pictures in 4 days -- and you'll understand!)

Random photo

Waiting...

My soul waits for the Lord;

He is my help and my shield.

Psalms 33:20

God often requires that you wait on Him. This is not because God cannot keep up with you or that He does not know what to do next. God is interested in a love relationship with you. Your waiting on Him develops your absolute dependence on Him. Your waiting on Him assures that you will act on His timing and not your own.

You may think of waiting on Him as a passive, inactive time. Waiting on the Lord is anything but inactive. While you wait on Him, you will be praying with a passion to know Him, His purposes, and His ways. You will be watching circumstances and asking God to interpret them by revealing to you His perspective.

While you wait, continue doing the last thing God told you to do. In waiting, you are shifting the responsibility of the outcome to God -- where it belongs. Waiting on Him is always worth the wait. His timing and His ways are always right. You must depend on Him to guide you in His way and in His timing to accomplish His purpose.

-Henry T. Blackaby

Christmas is coming!

How many observe Christ's birthday!

How few, His precepts!

-Benjamin Franklin

For an Auntie

:: smiles from your niece and nephews ::

(and what adorable smiles, too!)



But lest you think they all smiled perfectly in every single picture...Janae pulled a surprise on this one!

As requested

Grandma's Donuts

1 1/2 cups scalded milk
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup mashed potatoes
1 tablespoon yeast
1/3 cup butter or margarine
1 teaspoon salt
4 1/2 - 5 1/2 cups flour

After scalding the milk, add in sugar, butter, mashed potatoes, salt and nutmeg; blend well. When cooled to lukewarm, add the yeast (which has first been dissolved in 1/4 cup warm water). Add in the flour, knead for 7-9 minutes. Let raise until doubled in size, then punch down and let rise again.

After rolling the dough out to 1/4-1/2 inch thick, cut donuts out. Let raise. Putting the upper, dry side in first, fry in oil heated to 400 degrees, flipping them as they turn golden brown. Drain, drop into a frosting glaze, and enjoy!

1 Peter 5:5

"God resisteth [ranges oneself against or opposes] the proud,

and giveth grace [bestows a divine influence upon the heart that reflects itself in one's life] to the humble."

At every stage of our Christian development and in every sphere of our Christian discipleship, pride is our greatest enemy and humility our greatest friend.

-John Stott

Life's path

It is God to whom and with whom we travel, and while He IS the end of the journey, He is also at every stopping place.

-Elisabeth Elliott

He will show me the path of life;
In His presence is fullness of joy;
At His right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalms 16:11

You know

...you have a large family when during family devotions your six year old brother prays:

"Dear Lord,
bless Rachel
Ruth
Josiah
Bethany...um...er...
Elizabeth
[pause]
Andrew
and...well...

all the rest of my other siblings!"

Christmas baking

The winter season definitely has its own joys!

As the snow began falling again this afternoon, we decided it was time to make donuts, which is a once a year family tradition of ours. What makes it special is that the recipe is one that has been in the family for years and years, going back to my great-grandma. And believe me, this recipe has nothin' on Krispy Kremes!

What made it even more special is that my grandma is here for the weekend, and was able to make them with us and show us how it really goes! Love you, Grandma!

A cup of hot chocolate, a hot donut freshly glazed, family and friends to share them with...
yes, winter definitely has joys all its own!

My lil' snow angel

Job 15:5

"Happy is the man whom God correcteth."

Happy, because the correction is designed to bring him into paths of blessedness and peace.
Happy, because there is no unnecessary severity in it.
Happy, because the chastisement is not so much against us, as against our most cruel enemies -- our sins.
Happy, because we have abundant words of consolation.
Happy, because whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth.
Happy, because our light affliction is but for a moment.

-George Bowen

Modern tools

I have a spelling checker;

It came with my PC.

It plane lee marks for my revue

Miss steaks aye can know sea.

Eye ran this poem threw it,

Your sure reel glad two no.

It's vary polished in its weigh,

My checker tolled me sew.

A checker is a bless sing,

It freeze yew lodes of thyme.

It helps me right awl stiles two reed,

And aides me when aye rime.

To rite with care is quite a feet

Of witch won should be proud.

And wee mussed dew the best wee can,

Sew flaws are knot aloud.

And now bee cause my spelling

Is checked with such grate flare,

There are know faults with in my cite,

Of nun eye am a wear.

Each frays come posed up on my screen,

Eye trust to bee a joule.

The checker poured ore every word

To cheque some spelling rule.

That's why aye brake in two averse

By righting wants to pleas.

Sow now ewe sea why aye dew prays

Such soft wear for pea seas.

::author unkown::

Simply follow

Rest in this -- it is His business to lead, compel, send, call, or whatever you want to call it. It is your business to obey, follow, move, respond, or what have you.

-J. Elliot

"Walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him,
being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."
Colossians 1:10