HAPPY NEW YEAR !

I Don't Get It!

So when I preview my post, it looks good. As soon as I publish it, the blog monster chews it up and spits it back out! Maybe one of these days I'll figure it out.

Anyway, now that I've vented my frustration, I can get on with my post.


We had a good Christmas in spite of the blizzard. We got stranded at my mom's house, along with my sister and her husband that live in Arkansas. My other sister and her kids live across the street from my mom, so we all got an extra day together. Lots of time for fun, food, and fellowship. Sarah Grace and Aunt Lynne went outside and had a snow fight



We woke up Christmas morning to about 6" with some 3' drifts











My nephew Zachary and son Michael (who insists on wearing shorts even while playing in the snow-what's the deal?)






My Mom lives on a great sledding hill - I slid down it a lot growing up, and now my kiddos get the same fun!



Christmas morning I had to wake every one else up! Every Christmas since my kids were little I've been the one pacing the house waiting for them to get up! I guess I just get too excited!

Granny's ready to get going : )






Merry Christmas Aunt Lou!

My dear hubby




Bethany, Sarah, and my niece Kendra got matching bags handmade by Granny




Sisters





Christmas night we all played games. Imaginiff is a great crowd pleaser - hilarious!




We all had a wonderful Christmas! Thank you Jesus for your birthday!

I Really Wasn't Dreaming of a White Christmas

I love Christmas! We get to celebrate the birth of our Savior all month long!

The Christmas lights.

The baking.

The Christmas Eve blizzards.

Wait! This is Oklahoma; we don't get blizzards!

Well we sure did this year!

Crazy Oklahoma weather!

Merry Christmas!

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, 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, goodwill toward men!"

Merry Christmas...from our house to yours!

Santa Who?

You know the economy is bad when Santa has to get a second job!

Sisters

My daughter Bethany wants to study photography someday, so little sister Sarah often gets to be a guinea pig for practicing on ;)


They went outside for a photo shoot several days ago. These are some of my favorites.

Of course they had to get some of Sarah Grace's true personality!

Then Hezekiah decided to join in and that pretty much ended the the shoot :)

It Finally Happened

Well, we finally got our first freeze of the season.

My poor flowers did not enjoy it!

To everything there is a season... a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted...

I think it's time to pluck :)

Happy Thanksgiving! (a few days late!)

We had a blessed Thanksgiving. Like the Israelites' "Thansgiving" feast ( The Feast of the Harvest), ours lasted a whole week this year.

The week started with our annual churchwide Thanksgiving dinner Sunday afternoon.

Monday we helped pass out Thanksgiving turkeys at the John 3:16 mission in downtown Tulsa.

Wednesday was a day of baking (and sampling!).

Thursday we spent the day at my mom's, along with my sister and her kids.

Friday was spent decorating the house for Christmas.

Saturday my husband's dad, brother, and his family came to our house for the day. We ate lots, listened to the OU/OSU football game on the radio, (since the game ended up being on cable, which we don't have, we got to use our imaginations!), played Wii, and just enjoyed hanging out together.

(Part of) My family.

Whose teenage boys

are those?

Cousins

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

What Month Is It?

So the calendar says early November; 2 radio stations are playing Christmas songs 24/7; the temperature today is 80 degrees; my tomatoes are putting on again; and my daffodils are coming up!












Crazy Oklahoma weather!

(Now if I can only figure out how to turn this crazy picture!)

Summer Memories

During the summer, our local Christian radio station hosted a series of free concerts for the community. They were held at a small outdoor amphitheater on the river. Several big artists were brought in - Philips, Craig and Dean; Francesca Battistelli; John Waller (whom I had to miss and am still upset about!); and a few others.

The only one we got good pictures of was Britt Nicole. We were on the third row and I found it very awkward to be eyeball to eyeball with her for the concert :) My girls loved it though!










She is really an amazing performer and person. She stopped singing a couple of times to go minister and pray privately with some ladies in the audience that the Lord put on her heart. Then she invited several little girls to come on stage and sing with her. Those girls will probably remember that the rest of their lives! She was there not to entertain, but to minister. Her love for the Lord was very evident. Such an awesome concert!












I can't wait to see who they bring in for next summer!

Girls Just Want to Have Fun

So what do girls do when bored at a restaurant?

Get out the camera!

War Eagle

Yesterday my girls and I went with my mom to War Eagle Mill in Arkansas. They host one of the biggest arts and crafts shows in this area of the country. Hundreds of booths of very cute stuff - from jewelry and clothes, to rustic furniture and old books. Of course I seemed to migrate to all the old antiques - the rustier the better! I was good and didn't spend much, but I did find this cute little bird house. It's made of cedar wood that should weather beautifully. I love it!






An ice storm last winter destroyed my favorite bird house that was on the post in the background. So now I can replace it and not have just a pole sticking up out of the ground!

Fall Is in the Air

Fall - my favorite season! Cool fresh air, beautiful leaves, the smell of woodsmoke from the fireplace; and just the feeling that you're coming alive again after the long, hot, humid days of an Oklahoma summer. This is living!

(Of course, it doesn't last long enough and winter is just around the corner. But I try not to think about it!)

Some friends of ours went to Hawaii last week, and we had the privilege of keeping 4 of their children for a few days. I remarked to my husband that for having 8 kids around the house, it sure was quiet! I love their children; they're so polite and well behaved. We had the first campfire of the season; complete with hot dogs and smores - yummy!

My daughter Bethany (in pink) and her friend Hannah.



Yes, my son Jacob is having a hard time giving up summer :)

On Saturday we were blessed to have a group of men from church come out and help us cut down several dead trees around our property. I'm kicking myself for not taking picures to post, but trust me, they got a lot of work done! It's so nice to have Christian brothers and sisters who care for each other and are willing to help each other with hard physical labor. Thanks guys!