December 27-Our birthday girl

Words of wisdom from our newest nine year old:                                        

Relax deeply-"you must not do anything, just breathe deeply"

Dream big- "my dream is to become a doctor, have a daughter, have a nice car."

Believe with all your heart- "what I believe: Jesus! I believe I'm going to have a nice, crazy future."

With a birthday only two days after Christmas we typically celebrate with the family earlier and then have a special day with just a few of us on her actual birthday.  So, today started with hot cocoa in mom and dad's bed, along with some interesting conversation and a few good laughs. 

Then, daddy prepared a late breakfast topped with candles and a 

Happy Birthday song that hopefully was not recorded!

After a relaxing day at home, we went to the movie to watch Annie and consume lots of buttery popcorn and soda. Followed by dinner at her favorite place, Panda Express.  

I'm not so sure her use of chopsticks would be acceptable in China, but it certainly gets the job done!

Our evening ended snuggled on the couch, in front of the fire playing games.  It is so hard to believe that our sweet girl has already spent 5 birthdays at home.  It seems like she has always been part of our family. We thank God for every birthday we celebrate as she continues on the journey(in her own words),  to her "nice, crazy future."

November 23-Indescribable gift

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15 NIV)

Gifts that money can't buy....

A godly husband...

 Best friends....

Brothers.... 

Sisters....

A Godly mother....

                                                                   Grandparents....   

And one of the very best...

A grandbaby to snuggle

This week of Thanksgiving we have so many things for which to 

give Thanks and the greatest gift of all is a Father in 

Heaven who has provided us with grace, mercy, miracles and 

most of all a future glory in Heaven that far outweighs any gift we will ever 

experience on this earth. 

November 22 - Spending of Ourselves

...if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.

Isaiah 58:10

As this cool, rainy day draws to a close I find myself reflecting on a devotion we chose for our family tonight. 

How do we spend ourselves? 

We spend our money....our time...our resources...but how do we spend ourselves?

Something happened to us tonight that I don't remember happening ever before.  After enjoying a nice dinner at On the Border we received our check and were told that someone else had picked up our tab.  What a joy to be on the end of such generosity.  To whomever it was, 

thank you very much!

Last week, I had a precious friend give me a calendar for next year because she heard me say I needed a new one.  I was overjoyed to be on the receiving end of her sweet gift. 

So, I ask myself, do I give away to others the way they have given to me?

"When we begin to invest the resources of our lives into others, the way God has invested himself for us, ...our light begins to shine." (Heartwork devotion)

 Whether it is painting the dull wall in an orphanage to brighten it up for the children,

 or using your voice to sing His praises,

Or taking the time to share the little moments

 or gently caring for a little one, who can't care for himself,
Spending of ourselves is the most rewarding thing we will ever spend!

   

                     Sometimes spending of ourselves means sharing a victory with those
who look up to you the most.

Congratulations, Lady Eagles on winning state!
You have giving so much of yourselves and we are so proud of you!

But most of all, it requires giving away part of ourselves that we may not realize we had to give,
but when we allow God to mold us, we may have more to give than we ever realized.