Nursery Update....

I'll put a slideshow on when I get home, but for now...ya'll go check out Amy and Brians blog. She put a few sweet pictures of Carters room on! We've had so much fun...but tomorrow we head back to the frozen tundra. Can't say that I'm glad about that, but it'll be good to be home again. I think. And it'll sure be great to spend time with our dear friends and family in Nebraska! See you all soon!

I'ts beginning to look like a BABY BOY is coming!!!

We have had THE most delightful time down here in Phoenix!! Amy and Brian have been so patient with us and it's just such a pleasure to spend time with them as a couple again! We've talked, hugged, prayed, worshiped, talked, ATE, watched football, napped, (the boys have anyhow!), done chores, picked Grapefruit and made fresh grapefruit juice!, ditto with Lemons!, ATE, thrifted, painted, got Carter's nursery almost all ready for him, made Rylie's room very special for her arrival on Thursday, and ate some more! Guess that bout covers it! Sooooo...on Thurs. AM, weather patterns pending, we are loadin' up and headin' back north. Today it got up to 78 degrees....and that my dear friends and family, "Aint too shabby"!
Amy and I were all over the south half of the city today looking for the PERfECT childrens toiles, but alas, it wasn't to be found. I simmered her down a bit, reminded her that the Lord knew her desires and also knew where we needed to go to find it so after 5 hrs. of US looking, we headed to the first thing that came to our minds this morning, (but we didnt' follow up on it!) BURLINGTON BABY DEPOT!!! There she found the PERFECT crib set (bumper pad, crib sheet, quilt, dust ruffle, and valance and it was even WAY onsale today, which again was such a "provisional thing" for them!

When we came home, she got some laundry going and a few things orgainized while I made homemade mac and cheese and a big slice of ham and broccoli. French bread rounded out the meal and as soon as the dishes were in the dishwasher, we headed to Carters room to make it so dapper that he will be "DELIGHTED" to call that his room!! Soooo cute! Not overly baby as it would have been with that pretty toile she wanted at first, but just perfect as it goes with all the other colors she has in their house!! The walls are so pretty and fresh and by this time tomorrow night, there will be pictures to share. I've given her my word that I won't post them on my blog before she can get them on her's but she will have a flat 30 minutes...if they aren't on there by then, it's fair game, right girls? ; ) Trust me...it's ooo cute I could just sit in there for hours waiting for the little munchkin to arrive!!

Okay...off to bed. Just wanted to let you know we are doing GREAT, LOVING the weather and the mexican food and the kids. No particular oder! We tour Intel tomorrow, then go to Frank and Lupe's for dinner! I'm getting closer to my last day here...and I can't say that I'm ready to go yet! Hmmmm, maybe Amy and I will get into a big knock out drag down before we go so it'll make it easier to leave! Not likely!

Hope you are all doing well! I miss hearing about your lives....you all must be as busy as we are!

love you, c

From -2 to 68!!

We are in sunny ARIZONA!! Had a wonderful visit with Dennis' dad in Topeka, had dinner with our long time friends, (Lynn and Tim) and had Coldstone at their store before packing up and heading for Amarillo, TX. It was 21 degrees when we left Topeka and 17 when we got to Amarillo! I thought Texas was in the deep south for heavens sake! We left this morning at 7:30AM and it was 14 degrees there so we were thrilled to crest the mountain range outside of Phoenix and come down to a sultry SIXTY EIGHT DEGREES! Brian, Amy, Rylie and {carter michael!} were all out front when we drove up and we had a wonderful greeting and lots of hugs! Wish every one of you were here b/c of the wonderful weather, but know you are all just where you need to be this Christmas! I'll miss home and the rest of my family,(Adam and Ally...we sure wish you were here with us!!) but I'm already lovin' this weather! I don't think I'll have one bit of trouble making the adjustment and even think I could get used to Christmas in Arizona! I'll try to update with pictures as I can, but know you all will be very busy this next week too! Blessings to each of you!

Friday Favorite...a little early!!

We're heading for the south tomorrow for awhile but I had to take time tonight to make a special blog for my FIRST GRANDSON!! We are so excited to be adding a boy child to the family!! This will be a different Christmas for all of us, but we did have a celebration this past weekend with Adam and Ally and Mom and Dad, so now it's time to go visit the AZ kiddo's! We'll be stopping in Topeka to visit Dennis' Dad for a few days too, then making the Lincoln loop on the way back! I didn't send Christmas cards out this year. These little grandbabies are our gifts and we are so thrilled! Ally won't find out for another couple months what their baby is...but wouldn't that be so fun to have 2 little grandsons so close together? Whatever they are...it won't matter to us. We're gonna love 'em like there's no tomorrow!

With the joy this little guy has already brought to our hearts, it doesn't measure to the gift of our Lord, Jesus Christ so long ago. To think that God the Father, gave his only son, to be born, only to die on a cross as the penalty for our sin is hard to understand. But this is what happened so long ago and it is why we celebrate Christmas. Our hope for you is that each of you has made that provision personal in your own lives and that Jesus is YOUR Savior! Merry Christmas to all of our family and loved ones. I'll be back when I land in the desert!

I'm the Mom!

This just made me laugh tonight! Maybe it's b/c I have 2 pregnant daughters and I DO BELIEVE I've sang every word in this song! Memorize this girls...you'll be singing it's tune very soon! LOL! Enjoy your "quiet time"...it's about to END! I love you!

"Pretend Christmas Eve" and the P.P.P...

Make a Smilebox photobook

Since we are getting ready to "fly south" for a little while, we had our "Pretend Christmas" this weekend with Adam and Ally and today with Mom and Dad. Last night we had our typical Christmas Eve feast of "junk food snacks" only this year we added Carolyn's most delicious Chicken Pot Pie to the mix. Ally had a hankerin' for it and it hit the spot for our LLM (local little mamma)! Then, Santa filled the stockings and headed to bed. Today, we pretended Christmas...having our traditional Cinnamon Leaf Ring, fruit cup and Breakfast Casserole. Gift time and later Mom and Dad came over for Christmas Dinner and a gift exchange. It was "odd", but I found that I can make my mind "think" it's any day I want it to be!
Now for the P.P.P. explanation. PATHETIC PRIORITIZING PHOTOGRAPHER!! I was more of a Mary today...FINALLY! This being said, I laid my camera down after Sophie played with the wrapping paper and forgot to pick it up again! That's just GREAT isn't it? We had Christmas and I didn't get ONE HUMAN FACE in any of it! I just enjoyed my family and the fellowship and didn't think once of taking another picture! OH BROTHER...next year, they'd better hire another photographer! Enjoy what we have...maybe I'll do better in Phoenix! So long till then!!

There are definately some WONDERFUL advantages in having my honey home all the time {for awhile} and THIS is one of them! I found this wire organizing "thing" at a thrift store for $1.60 over a year ago. (I know this b/c it was new in the box {aka. NIB} and had the price written in magic marker on the side) Dennis and I have been busy cleaning and trying to get some things cleared out, finished up and organized in the basement and in so doing, he found "the box"!! Asked what this was for and I told him my "tupperware" cabinet someday. He brought that baby right upstairs and it's been sitting on my center island for all of TWO days! This morning...he installed it for me! OH...THIS is definately my FRIDAY FAVORITE for this week!!! (Can you BELIEVE this Amy??) Next up...the PANTRY! oh boy...now there's a JOB!

PunkinPaws...

Here's how a little girl has to sleep when she gets all 4 paw-paws declawed at one time! (well, I'm not sure they'd do them separately!) She was sooo cute when she tried to take a nappy...poor thing couldn't get comfortable and curl em up underneath her cuz they hurt so much. We fixed her a little bed on the couch and she laid right in between us for several days. Now she is gimpin' on 3 legs b/c her right front is still tender, but she won't let us give her any pain pills, so she's on her own. We're using shredded newspaper for kitty litter and she's not too happy about that. At first she just curled up in the litter box to sleep b/c it was so soft and cushy! We took her off her pain pills and that solved that issue! That was nuts!! : )

Holiness

"Surely that man must be in an unhealthy state of soul who can think of all that Jesus suffered, and yet cling to theose sins for which that suffering was undergone. It was sin that wove the crown of thorns; it was sin that pierced our Lord's hands and feet and side; it was sin that brought Him to Gethsemane and Calvary, to the cross and to the grave. Cold must our hearts be if we do not hate sin and labour to get rid of it, though we may have to cut off the right hand and pluck out the right eye in doing it." ~J.C. Ryle

"I am fearfully and wonderfully made..."

My tiny grandbabies are growing! The above pictures will be accurate by the end of this week. In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, I am reminded of this beautiful blessing many times a day! I find myself praying not only for my daughters as they carry these little ones in their womb, but I pray for my tiny grandbabies' salvation...even now! This gift of life is so amazing...and I am quite satisfied with this ALONE as my gift for Christmas! God knows just exactly how to bless each one of us at any given time...and I'm so thankful that this is how he chose to bless me this year! Amy's feeling great and Ally's still feeling punk...but this too will pass. It won't be long and I'll be making baby noises and huggin' till my heart is content! I love you little babies!! Grammy can't wait till you both arrive! What FUN we'll have!
Graphics: JanniScrapDesigns, Sweet BabyRosebud

A Blog that takes me away...

I normally don't put links to other peoples blogs on my own, but I just had to share this womans talents with you girls! I covet her home. There...that's out. Well, I really don't "covet-covet" it as in "sinful covet" and all, but boy, would that be a fantastic home to have others in your kitchen sharing coffee, a meal, girl talk or a Bible Study. Wow...to get more than 10 in a room comfortably..that would be glory for me!

ANYHOW...I'll hush my fingers and you mosey on over to Warm Pie, Happy Home if you care to snoop. She has a "flair" for decorating and I've often gotten ideas from her pictures. Her music is really swell too, so turn up the volume!! You might just see something in my house that she has in hers. Maybe she copied it from me!?!? Oh that's right....

...my blog is private!

Holiday Decorating...

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Welcome to our home for the holidays!

What's a Gal to do with her....

...leftover whipped Cream in that Fancy Pants Whipped Cream maker from Thanksgiving???

Well, make some homemade Gingerbread of course!!! We had fish for dinner tonight. You know how that leaves you feeling like you want something more...say, oh, 10 minutes after the dishes are cleaned up?? I had some buttermilk and knew whipped cream tasted mighty good on warm gingerbread...so I began my online search for the "PERFECT" gingerbread recipe. I found it!!! Honestly gals...this is a keeper!! (Ha...I always think of Kelly when I say that phrase!!)
Add a little more cinnamon and ginger if you love it...we do! Oh...it was sooo moist...and kinda crispy on the edges...and the whipped cream slid right off that beautiful wedge of Gingerbread! Looked like something Cheesecake Factory would serve up! (only about 10 times bigger than I served up!) Sorry there isn't a picture of it. We ate it before I could find the camera! But...here's the recipe ladies. REALLY...it's THE BEST Gingerbread I've ever eaten!

or maybe it's b/c I've been trying to give up sugar and white flour...whatever!!


Graphics by: http://www.irenealexeeva.blogspot.com/ Primitive Love

Praising Among the Thorns

Below is an excerpt from ROH this morning. I have come back to the computer at least 3 times today to read it again and again. This message has made such an impact on my heart today. As you know, we are living out another "light and momentary affliction". We are learning daily to trust the Lord for all our resources...which He is supplying exceeding and abundant of all we could ask or imagine. But this little part of her program today has challanged me to dig deep into my heart and ask the Lord to search me and see if there is any wicked way in me...to root it out that I might glorify Him. He has brought several things to my mind, but I wanted to share this with you girls too. We are learning to hold what we have in an open hand.

"So as we look at God’s purposes in bringing thorns and afflictions into our lives, I want to ask you:

~Would you be willing—are you willing—to have that thorn remain if it would protect you from sin?
~If it would keep you humble?
~If it would make you more dependent on God?
~If it would sanctify you?
~If it would make you spiritually more fruitful?
~If you knew it would further the spread of the gospel?
~If you knew that by your willingness to endure that thorn, you would be the greater blessing to others?
~Would you be willing to say, “Okay, God, I’ll accept Your grace to bear it, even if You never choose to remove it”?

You see, it really comes down to do we care more about comfort or about developing Christ-like character? Do we care more about a pain-free existence or about God’s purposes in our lives and in this world being fulfilled?
If comfort is what matters supremely to you, then when those thorns come into your life, you will resent them; you will resist them; and you will run from them. You’ll demand that God remove it.
But if what matters most to you is being like Jesus and being His instrument of blessing and of the furthering of His kingdom in this world, then you’ll say, “God, I wouldn’t have chosen this; I wouldn’t have written the script this way, but I believe that Your grace is sufficient for me, and I thank You for the blessing of these thorns.”

Father, I know that You have many, many purposes for thorns that we haven’t even touched on. I think of what I’ve heard John Piper say recently that in everything that happens in our lives, You are always doing a thousand things that we cannot see and we do not know. Sometimes You give us just a little glimpse of what You’re doing and what Your purposes are, but, oh Lord, Your ways are so vast, and there’s so much more.
So with the little bit we can see, and the lot we can’t see, we say, “Thank You, Lord. You do have purposes. Our thorns are not meaningless, and we ask that You use the thorns in our lives to fulfill Your holy, eternal purposes, and in the midst of it all, may we give You thanks.” I pray in Jesus’ name, amen." ~NLD

I also wanted to share with you some of the wonderful blessings the Lord has showered us with just today!

1. Ally had another "baby scare" this past weekend and today in the office, they did an external ultrasound and they saw the heart beating right away! THANK YOU LORD!!!

2. Dennis' former boss contacted him to let him know they are going to pay him a weeks worth of severance pay! THANK YOU LORD!!!

3. We re-listed Dennis' radial arm saw on craigslist last night (after trying several times in the past few months with no calls) and it sold this morning for the asking price! THANK YOU LORD!!!

4. B/C of the above blessings, Dennis made the decision to take out a Cobra health insurance plan for the both of us. This is a decision we have been praying about and asking the Lord to make clear to us before the deadline. Today we needed to let them know. The total together of the severance pay plus the selling of the saw came to EXACTLY 2 months worth of Cobra Insurance!!! THANK YOU LORD!!!! (do you think this means that the Lord is going to provide a job for my hubby in 2 months!?!?!)

Our hearts have been strengthened today b/c of his provisions and b/c of his CLEAR ANSWERS!!

God is good....All the time!!!