Happy New Year 2010

 

I love this next picture but Mason didn't want me to send it out for our cards this year :-)

 

Have a wonderful year and hope you find joy in our savior, Jesus!  We love you!

Read the Bible in a Year

Tomorrow is the beginning of a new year.  Aren't you all excited?  I am!!  Join Erick and I as we are going to read through the Bible in 2010.  This year we are going to do the Discipleship Journal's One-Year Plan.  I like this plan because you get a variety (OT and NT) each day and it gives you a few make up days at the end of the month to catch up. Another good plan is the  Chronological Bible Reading Plan.  

This could be the perfect answer to a number of the questions in my post from yesterday  :-)  Come on, you can do it!!!

10 Questions to Ask in the New Year

By Don Whitney:

The beginning of a new year is an ideal time to stop,
look up, and get our bearings. To that end, here are some questions to
ask prayerfully in the presence of God.

1. What’s one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?


2. What’s the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?


3. What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?


4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?


5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?


6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?


7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?


8. What’s the most important way you will, by God’s grace, try to make this year different from last year?


9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?


10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?

Whitney writes:

The value of many of these questions is not in their
profundity, but in the simple fact that they bring an issue or
commitment into focus. For example, just by articulating which person
you most want to encourage this year is more likely to help you
remember to encourage that person than if you hadn’t considered the
question.

Whitney also offers an additional 21 questions to help us “consider our ways.”

Read the whole article here.

via: JT

Dangerous Desserts

These are Extreme Rice Krispie Treats.  The kids loved helping make them and they got a nice sugar high for when our sweet babysitter came over (sorry Courtney)! 

Mmmm Yummy!

So first follow the directions to make the Rice Krispie treats as described on the box of cereal.  Press them out into a 9x13 dish too cool.  Then pull them apart and roll them into small balls (about 40?).  Heat up some chocolate.  Then I poked the rice krispie balls with skewers and let the boys dip them in the melted chocolate.  I placed them on the cookie tray to cool for a few minutes.  It helped to let the chocolate firm up before adding the sprinkles.  Then I let the boys decorate.  And then let them cool at room temp a few hours till the chocolate hardens a bit more.

 

This is one of my favorite toppings.  I once bought a half a gallon container of these at Smart 'N Final (not so smart).

Mmmmm don't you just want to bite into that little guy?!!

Cousins

Joshua (11m), Ellie (13m), Lucy (2 1/2), David (3), Matthew (5), Miles (5), Wesley (6), and Mason (7)!  I think I got that right.

Weeeee

Ellie LOVES the swings.

 

 

Christmas 2009

Here are some pictures from Christmas eve and Christmas morning.

Lucy, Mason, Wesley, and Miles

Ellie was all excited to open her present and then this happened....

I don't know why she burst into tears.  It is so unlike her.  But it made a great picture!

Christmas morning!

I love her in her penguin jammies!!!

These boys really like Legos.

Ellie at 13 months

Merry Christmas

"And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.  And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,  "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"  Luke 2:8-14 

"She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."  Matthew 1:21

Cutie

 

 

This is a classic Ellie face.  She loves to scrunch up her nose.  So cute.

Christmas Lights

We have really enjoyed taking the kids out to see the lights in nearby
neighborhoods this year. Last nights were amazing! The whole cul-de sac
was synchronized together. There is a sign that says to turn your radio
to 88.1 and then you see the whole street light up to the beat of the
music. Incredible. It was located at Bainbridge Circle in Murrieta.

Another one of our favorite sites was at 39682 Avienida Miguel Oeste in Murrieta.  I don't have a video but you can read the story of the husband and wife here.  The husband is out in front every night talking to everyone and handing out candy canes.  The kids loved the snow machine. 

Miles and Mason

Antipasta Kabobs

Hope you all are coming tonight to Kaleo's Christmas party!

 

Don't come just for these tasty bites.  There will be much more food, friends, and always amazing fun with the white elephant gift exchange.

Ok, I always want to do my own thing when it comes to recipes. It said to cook some cheese tortellini, cool them, then marinate them in Italian dressing.  I thought I would improvise and just chop up some mozzarella cheese sticks.  Not a good plan, they like to split in half.  Stick to the tortellini.  The recipe said to use olives too.  I am not a fan.  But they are not just for me, Right???  I just don't get why anyone would eat olives so I refused to put them on  :-)  But they would have given them some better color variation.  OK, you probably didn't want to know all my thoughts.... anyways, fun appetizer and kid approved  :-)  Hope to see you tonight.

Modesty Heart Check

It is that time of year when we get all glamored up for fun Christmas and New Years Parties.  I just wanted to pass on wise wisdom from some of my favorite ladies.  Below is a part of an article the Girl Talkers wrote on modesty.  Please take it seriously and take it to heart when you are getting dressed to go out.  I know it is difficult, I struggle too.  Also if you have never listened to CJ Mahaney's message the Soul of Modesty, please do!  It totally convicted me and I think about it whenever I try on clothes. 

"In other words, the immodest girl seeks to dress in a way that draws
attention to herself and to her body, instead of serving others and
bringing glory to the Savior.

How can we know if pride is our fashion style of choice? By
considering our motives: why we wear what we wear. Here are three
arrogant desires that can often motivate the way we dress. I know,
because I’m familiar with all of them.

1.    A desire to be selfish.
I simply don’t
want to invest the time and effort required to find modest clothing. I
mean, let’s face it—it’s not easy to be modest these days! I have to
try on three times as many pairs of jeans as the girl who isn’t
concerned about modesty. I might as well go on an archaeological
dig--it’s that hard to find a stylish, attractive shirt or dress that’s
modest. Not to mention that I have to leave hanging on the rack many
things that I think would look really great on me! However, when I
grumble and complain or make excuses for immodesty, I’m putting my
selfish desires above serving others and glorifying Christ. That’s
pride.

2.    A desire to show off.
I want people to
think I’m trendy. I want them to include me because of how I dress. I
worry they’ll reject me if I don’t dress a certain way. This is a
common temptation. But really, it’s just another campaign for my own
glory. I want the attention from others that I should be directing to
God instead.

3.    A desire to seduce.
This is the most
serious of the three. While many women who choose immodest clothing
aren’t literally trying to seduce a guy, in it’s infancy, there can be
a desire for that lustful attention. We want to feel attractive and
desirable. However, this is sinful, and a particularly virulent form of
pride. It’s says: I’m worthy of the kind of attention that’s forbidden
in God’s Word. It tempts men to sin against God’s holiness.

If these three proud desires—to be selfish, show off and seduce—are
lurking in our hearts, we must first admit to the ugly truth. Then we
must repent and receive the forgiveness that comes only through Christ.
And we must purpose to put on humility—first in our hearts, and then in
our dress. For if immodesty is an expression of pride, then modesty is
humility expressed in dress.

So how about you? Are you wearing humility today? "  Written by: Carolyn Mahaney, Janelle Bradshaw, and Nicole Whitacre.

“[Do
not dress] from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more
significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own
interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among
yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus…” Philippians 2:3-5

Read the rest of the article:

Part One, Part Two , Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, and Part Six.

Gift Idea

We just got this in the mail.  It is said to be one of the best stories ever written.  We are going to start reading it to our boys after Christmas.  I am so excited to read it too!

Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan and edited by C.J. Lovik

Here is what Elyse says:

"The longer I journey through our dear Immanuel's land, the more
grateful I am for John Bunyan's 'dream' and the cruel imprisonment that
occasioned it. What a gift weary travelers have been given in this
precious, timeless classic-and what beauty, insight, and encouragement
was borne out of his suffering! Unafraid to challenge the outward
trials of moralism, materialism, and persecution, humble enough to
confess his own doubts and despair, Bunyan leads us on our way to the
Celestial City we long to see. And what a gift modern readers have been
blessed with in C. J. Lovik's careful editing and Mike Wimmer's
luminous illustrations! This book is beautiful! The Pilgrim's Progress
has always been a cherished treasure, but this edition makes
Christian's story-our story-sing! I'm so thankful for it!"

—Elyse M. Fitzpatrick, Author of Because He Loves Me and Comforts from the Cross

The art work in the book is beautiful too!

Hopeful Post-Christmas Melancholy

I found this on the desiring God blog.   I thought it was insightful.

Hopeful Post-Christmas Melancholy

December 27, 2008  |  By: Jon Bloom  |  Category: Commentary

(Reposted from last year)

Each year Christmas night finds members of my family feeling some
melancholy. After weeks of anticipation, the Christmas celebrations
have flashed by us and are suddenly gone. And we’re left standing,
watching the Christmas taillights and music fade into the night.



But it’s possible that this moment of melancholy may be the best
teaching moment of the whole season. Because as long as the beautiful
gifts remain unopened around the tree and the events are still ahead of
us, they can appear to be the hope we are waiting for. But when the
tree is empty and events are past, we realize we are longing for a
lasting hope.



So last night, as Pam and I tucked our kids into bed, we talked about a few things with them:

• Gifts and events can’t fill the soul. God
  gives us such things to enjoy. They are expressions of his generosity
  as well as ours, but gifts and celebrations themselves are not designed
  to satisfy. They're designed to point us to the Giver. Gifts are like
  sunbeams. We are not meant to love sunbeams but the Sun.


• Putting our hope in gifts will leave us empty.
  Many people live their lives looking for the right sunbeam to make them
  happy. But if we depend on anything in the world to satisfy our soul’s
  deepest desire, it will eventually leave us with that post-Christmas
  soul-ache. We will ask, “Is that all?” because we know deep down that’s
  not all there is. We are designed to treasure a Person, not his things.


• It is more blessed to give than receive.
  What kind of happiness this Christmas felt richer, getting the presents
  that you wanted or making someone else happy with something that you
  gave to them? Receiving is a blessing, but Jesus is right—giving is a
  greater blessing. A greedy soul lives in a small, lonely world. A
  generous soul lives in a wide world of love.

It’s just like God to let the glitter and flash of the celebrations
(even in his honor) to pass and then to come to us in the quiet, even
melancholic void they leave. Because often that’s when we are most
likely to understand the hope he intends for us to have at Christmas.

O Christmas Tree...