Reminded this week that God is faithful...

and He wants His children to be faithful!   

Where I am...  

What I am doing...  

Where I am going...  

How long I am going and doing...  

Why I am going and doing...  

How I am going and doing...  

When I am going and doing...  

God wants me to be faithful!  

He has a purpose and a plan...

for my good and for His glory!

Thankful for God's peace in the seasons of life that bring grief, sadness, pain, struggle, and tears.  God called one of His children from our church home this past week.  Two other families are hurting as husbands/fathers face serious physical trials.  My auntie faces her last round of chemo on Monday.  Through the seasons in our life, are we testimonies of God's faithfulness?  I am thankful for the faithful heroes in God's Word!  Our SS small groups have been going through the book, Have Faith In God.  What a timely study!  I am thankful for those in my life that are demonstrating their faith in God...during the changing seasons in their life!

Friday night date with my love

What to do when the kiddos have plans??!!  Spend time with your husband!  And be thankful for that time!

Hot Chocolate Party

Sweets

Sunny, snowy days are beautiful!

We are seeing the sun for the second day in a row and it is lovely!!!  The snow was hanging on the trees after Monday night's snowfall.  The kiddos are hoping for snow days...I keep telling them it isn't going to happen this week!  For now...we are enjoying the beautiful blue hues of winter!

They are on their way!

Sunday morning, we prayed as a church family for Uncle Pastor and Mari and Scott and Michelle.  They left this afternoon for a missions trip to Thailand and Cambodia.  I would say they were all anxiously excited for this first trip ever to this region!  Praying for a safe trip and an encouraging visit for our missionaries!

Saturdays are for using tools!

 What my husband has to get to deal with a broken padlock of reenforced strength steel!

 What I now use to make yummy rolls and cinnamon rolls!

 What Teddy is learning!  How to build and repair small motors!

 How Alisa studies for mid-terms!

How Ashlynn studies for mid-terms!

Two neat blessings...

 that we have been enjoying!  A new cutting system in the teacher workroom.  A cute, layered snowflake border and letters cut in under 15 minutes.

Our bigger tv and apple device to bring pictures to life and to make learning all sorts of things fun.  We are grateful for the funds that our families raised this year.  These pieces of equipment add some flair and fun for our whole school/class!

It is Friday!!!!

 This made me laugh out loud during nap time the other day!  Everyone is on their annual-short-lived-healthy-kick.  I'd rather do one small thing and be successful at it till I make it a new habit.  I really am trying to drink more water...it is just hard to get away to the necessary room during my day for personal reasons...yet I stand in the doorway all the time to supervise.  This afternoon...we pulled out the 5 cup coffeemaker in our room and made a pot of chocolate mocha coffee to get through nap time without  nodding off.  It was a good thing!  And we will do it again and again...after we drink a bottle of water too!

 We had a good week back to school!  Snowmen and snowflakes are everywhere...

making us laugh!  "Who made the snowflakes?" asked Mrs. K.  "Elsa!" yelled Little L.  Another winter picture and more questions, "What do we call lots of snowflakes blowing around and piling up?"  Little A yelled, "A lizard!"  We've been a little chilly in our room this week with the below windchill temps, so we have gotten lots of hugs and cuddles from our little friends.  Cold hands and noses have been shared...and I am hoping the germs were trapped in the frigid air on the way to school!  Thankful for safety throughout our week!

We went from a layer of ice...

to a layer of BRRRR! 

to a layer of snow.  

Today, we reached a whole 3 degrees that felt like minus 14.  Tonight, the snow is falling and I can hear the wind rattling our windows.  Winter is finally here to stay!

I've been thinking a lot about the words LEARN and CONTENTMENT as we started the new year.  We sat as a family and talked about last year, and looked forward to the new year.  We read Proverbs 2 together.  Ted asked us to ask ourselves, "What can I learn from Proverbs 2 that will help me this year?"  There were a couple puzzled looks.  "Look for the action words.  That will help you as you read."  I had been reading as he was talking.  My eyes caught verse 6, "For the Lord giveth wisdom..." about the same time Ted was pointing out that verses 1-4 are "If you..."
RECEIVE
HIDE
INCLINE
APPLY
CRIEST
LIFTEST
SEEKEST
SEARCHEST
and verse 5 gives the "Then..."
I WILL UNDERSTAND THE FEAR OF THE LORD.
I WILL FIND THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD.
Why? verse 6-8
and verse 9 gives the "Then..." again
I WILL UNDERSTAND RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND JUDGMENT, AND EQUITY; YEA, EVERY GOOD PATH.
The rest of the verses in the chapter explain what wisdom, knowledge, discretion, and understanding do for the person who chooses a certain path.  There are still so many things that I can learn.  There are still many things that I struggle with on a day to day basis.

 So thankful for another year to choose to learn from God's Word and be content with what God has given me!

Girls' Day Out

 Olive Garden lunch and then shopping to spend Christmas money and gift cards.

 Our waiter, Reggie, took good care of us.

 And then a sweet treat at Yogurt City...

 The freezing rain stuck to the trees and made lots of slush...but we were still able to get around safely!  The closest we have come to winter, so far.

Resting and Relaxing the New Year Into Our Home

 Is it possible to be too lazy?  Not sure...but we gave it our shot!

 We did try a new place to eat!  MMMMM!  We will do it again!

 Game night...more Farkel...

 and some sweet treats!

On the thirty-first of December...

 Time with Grampy and Grammy...playing Farkle and eating a yummy grilled lunch with home-made buns using my new mixer.

 Relaxation in preparation for ringing in the New Year!

 Playing more Farkel...eating snacks...movies...games...singing...challenge...fellowship...

and we made it to midnight!  Happy 2015!

On the thirtieth of December...

 Visiting with Dad and enjoying some laughter!

 Bonefish Grille with the grown-ups!  And we almost picked up the plates and licked every bit of goodness of the Bang-bang Shrimp appetizers...but we didn't!

 Coffee and conversation...refreshing!

Thankful for another chance to spend time with Dad and Mom!  God has been good to give health and safety through another year!

On the twenty-ninth of December...

making special treats for another Christmas gathering!

 Fondue...chicken and steak!  Yum!!

 Grammy's special bags full of laughter!

 Grammy's fun games with special prizes!

 Trying out the new sling shots!

 Lollie safe inside...away from the shooters!

 Sweet time with our family!