1 John 3:23-24

"This His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us,

by the Spirit whom He has given us."

We should be so available to His Spirit's leading, so aware of other's needs, and so willing to be open and genuine,
that God takes the things Satan meant for evil and transforms them into things of value.
-Nancy Leigh DeMoss

Happy aunt

Since my purse lacks a photo album filled with pictures of these precious lil' people that I'm related to, I thought I'd post a few candid pictures I took (or found on my camera!) when home for Christmas...

the little man

Yelana enjoying her cheerios

happy big sister, Elise

Aunt Hannah with Joanna

Uncle Dan holding Edmund

(For those wondering how we are all related --

Elise, Yelana and Edmund are Caleb & Abby's children.

Caleb is Dan's brother.

And Joanna is Josiah & Abi's girl. Josiah is my brother)

"Smile!"

I really, really like being an aunt.

The best kind of cookies

butter + sugar

+ little sisters

+ chocolate

a younger brother + muscles

all adds up to a wonderful afternoon in the kitchen and warm cookies from the oven!

[photo credits: Hannah Wissmann]

My blog's birthday

Five years and 685 posts.

This calls for a party!!

Except...this momentous occasion just happened to fall on a day where I sit and stare at the computer screen, my fingers poised on the keyboard ready to type -- and I can't think of any clever way to ask ya'll to let me know you visit my little place on the web. So I'm posting one of my new favorite pictures and will just say it.

"Leave a comment if you are reading this!"

[grin]

Mighty God

The Lord is my strength and my shield;

in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults,

and with my song I give thanks to Him.

Psalms 28:7

We need to understand that God's work must be done God's way... As you serve God, you will surely experience much opposition.When this happens you need to know who you are,

who you are not, who is the enemy you are facing,

and who is the LORD you are serving.

-Brother Yun

Wissmann Family in Concert

After hearing stories from my family's time in Branson and seeing pictures pop up on various blogs for two months, I was excited to finally see the Christmas show when they performed in Seward!

A few new songs...

the same wonderful smiles...

and fabulous new outfits!

"In God we Trust!"

Silent night, Holy night

Son of God, love's pure light!

Before the show began, we hoped to get a family picture 'real quick.' Add eighteen people to the equation and nothing is going to happen very fast! A few weren't quite ready yet and some were talking to the guests who were arriving -- but we managed to get everyone together and snap off a few pictures. [grin] What a joy to see the additions God has blessed our family with this year!

O Come Let us Adore HIM,

Christ the Lord!!

Grandpa and Grandma's house

it was definitely a white Christmas!

reading stories...

snitchin' cheese while waiting to eat the big Christmas feast

eyeing Grandma's pies --

2 pumpkin, 2 pecan, a custard, a rhubarb strawberry, and a cherry

special decorations that come out once a year

cookies

word games -- and tough competition

enjoying all the amazing aroma's wafting from the kitchen

(my sister counted 34 different dishes, not including the pies and desserts! Oh -- I'm getting hungry just thinking about it! My Grandma is an AMAZING cook.)

...helping cut more cheese!

And best of all, these wonderful people!

1 Peter 4:11

"If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides,

so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

To HIM be the glory and power for ever and ever!"

God does not want you to merely do what you can.

He wants you to believe HIM to do what you cannot!

-Brother Yun

"To God belong wisdom and power...

To HIM belong strength and victory."

Job 12:13-16