Just a little teaser...

Back in November I posted that I was "distracted."  Although Reece's Rainbow's Angel Tree was ONE reason I was distracted, it wasn't the main reason.  The MAIN reason is our #1 in our Top 10 for 2011 and that will have to wait until tomorrow.  ;)

Today is the last day for the Angel Tree, so hop on over there and help us get each of these angels $1000 in their grant fund and then come back here tomorrow to see our #1.

Here are some of the sweet kiddos that you can donate to on the Angel Tree:

Many thanks to Sydney at Design by Grace and Faithful Always for the blog redesign.  Didn't she do a great job?

Happy New Year!

Christmas Fun!

Christmas day was wonderful!  Gloriously sunny, blissfully peaceful, and full of family and fun!  I didn't take many pictures, just enjoyed the day, but I did get some photos of the biggest hits of the day: balsa wood airplanes ($1 each), a dollar store "tattoo sleeve" (thanks Grandma!), and scratch off art (4 for a dollar).  I could have spent less than $10 for Christmas.  I'll keep that in mind for next year.  :)

The kids and my brother played "airplane golf" for hours in the back yard.  We also shot off the rocket that Uncle Nate got for LOTL.  Fortunately it wasn't windy, so we got some really good flights.  In the evening we had a scratch art contest.  The day was capped off with Skyping with much loved relatives who live far away.  Of course this consisted of lots of giggling and showing of presents and very little actual conversation.  A great day was had by all!

Little Pud with her airplane.

See the tattoo sleeve?  LOTL loves it!

Airplane golf...see who can get to the target in the fewest flights.

Look at Super T getting some air!

Grandma came out to watch the rocket launch.

Uncle Nate has always been interested in rockets so he was our expert.

Rocket on the launch pad.  The kids apparently are the supervisors.

3...2...1...Ignition!

Somehow I actually got a great shot of lift-off.

Landed safely.

Scratch art was a huge hit.

Uncle Nate won first place in the art contest.

Super T got a huge giggle fit while snuggling with Pa.

Skyping before it degenerated into show-and-tell, giggling, and wrestling to be in front of the camera.

I hope your Christmas was also wonderful!   I am thankful to the One who came to give us hope and joy and peace and love!

Merry Christmas!

This is how an eleven-year-old boy feels about mistletoe!

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas full of JOY!

Our Top 10 for 2011

10. Little Pud and Super T had fun being involved in Campfire USA.

9. LOTL earned his Arrow of Light and is excelling in Boy Scouts!

8. Justine had lots of patches to sew on because of Scouts and Campfire, but the pricked fingers were worth it.

7. Super T's adoption was finalized in November! We are so thankful!

6. Legos, Lord of the Rings, living history museums, Signing Time, jewelry-making, hiking, and swimming were favorites in 2011.

5. We welcomed 8 precious children into our home on a temporary basis (not all at once!) Little Pud loved it and is the best big sister!

4. Justine enjoyed her Tuesday night ladies' Bible study.

3. Summer was filled with family, friends, field trips, and lots of water!

2. We became a techie family (sort of) with an iPad (Super T's, thanks to Mission iPossible), iPods (LOTL's is a touch, bought with his own money, and Little Pud's a shuffle), and a blog (updated occasionally, but plan to do better in the new year). Fortunately LOTL is Mr. Technology to help things run smoothly.

AND...DRUM ROLL PLEASE...

1.  Will be announced on New Year's Day!  Just keeping it exciting!

Wishing you a merry Christmas from all of us!

Tying my hammock strings to Jesus

My big kids and I are reading Bruchko by Bruce Olson.  Bruce went to South America in the early 1960's at the age of 19 to be a missionary to the remote tribe of Motilone Indians.  It is an amazing story of trust, danger, excitement and how to be a missionary while respecting the people's culture.  We aren't finished with the book yet, but one metaphor stuck out to me.  After YEARS of living with the Motilones and not saying anything about Jesus...just living with them and adopting their culture and building relationships, Bruce's best friend wanted to know about Jesus.  Bruce told him (among other things) that he could "tie his hammock strings to Jesus."  The Motilone's lived in communal homes and all slept in hammocks, some suspended as much as 20 feet in the air.  Bruce had been hesitant about getting into the hammock at early in time there, and his friend told him that he had to get both feet in the hammock and be suspended.  Bruce told his friend Bobby (his nickname for the almost unpronounceable Motilone name), "You have to be suspended.  That is how it is when you follow Jesus, Bobby.  No man can tell you how to walk His trail.  Only Jesus can.  But to find out you have to tie your hammock strings into Him, and be suspended in God."

This reminds me of my current "theme verse."   Proverbs 3: 5-7 says

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.  Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

Not coincidentally, verses 9 and 10 of the same chapter talk about money, one of the most difficult areas of our lives in which to really "tie our hammock strings to Jesus" and lift both feet off the ground.

Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.

The picture was taken from Bruce Olson's website http://www.bruceolson.com/index.htm  Check out the book and/or the website and be inspired to trust.  Also check out my other blog today about two precious girls.

Wordless Wednesday--The Backyard Christmas Photo Shoot