Nicole..

Last week i called Nic and told her that she just so happened to win a FREE photoshoot with me...ha-ha anyhow she took me up on the offer!

Nicole will be leaving on thursday for California to be with Adam a week or so then they will fly off to China together....please be in prayer for them!
Thank's Nic for the fun. I love you to the moon and back!

Our Curly Mom

About two weeks ago, Mom got her hair permed. We just had to share these fun pictures of her. One of the many things I love about my Mom is that she is so young-spirited! We have so much fun with her! She is one of my best friends and my biggest cheerleader. She always tells me I can do it. And in those times when I don't have the faith to hang on, Mom stands in the gap for me and believes for me. And yes, there are times that we butt heads, not always agreeing, but she's still my mom and I love her a lot! I am so glad God gave her to me!

Love ya, Mom! Thanks for all our good times!

~ ~ ~

PS. I thought of another random/weird thing that should have been a part of that list we did a couple days ago. When Tiff, Mom and myself are out together, people often mistake us as sisters. The best part is that once someone thought Mom was Tiffany's daughter!! BIG smile!

A Memorial

-- Here's to the good times in the snow--

We were so happy for a white Christmas, but wish it was back!

Oh well, we have hope that our snow adventures are not over... cuz  it's Iowa!

"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; was me and I shall be whiter than snow."

Psalms 51:7

An Afternoon Tea

While Tiffany has been working for the Brennemans, she has really enjoyed being a part of their Thursday afternoon teas. At their house, tea party day is always a big deal. Her stories have inspired the girls to get our own family tradition started. Unfortunately Tiffany and I miss out on the home parties. But this week while Tiff and I are home, we got in on the planning and partying!

A delicious soup - using Christmas lunch leftovers - was put in the crockpot and the baking began.

Grace made jelly and egg salad sandwiches... not together of course! *smile*

Tiffany tried a new scone recipe... which was delectible by the way! And I tried a suposedly great, fast fudge recipe... but it was nothing to write home about! (I guess you could say that it might have worked better if I would have used the right ingredients!) *smile*

The girls set the table with all the fancy finery...

The food was served up...

And the party began!

Thanks Mom and girlies for the great time!! I am so glad I could be home for the special tea party. I had so much fun and can't wait to do it again! Hopefully next time my fudge will turn out! *smile* I am so grateful for all the special memories God lets us make!

* * *

"A friend loveth at all times, but a [family] is born for adversity!"

Proverbs

A Country Christmas

We had the best of times yesterday with our new friends the Blairs. They drove to our house from Newton and spent Christmas day with us. Their family, Jeff and Cindy and children: Abriam, Auburn, Anabelle, Adalee, Amelia, Aliza, and Adison; were just to precious for words! Besides their beautiful redhair - which I can't help being partial to - they all had very sweet spirits and we found that our families have much in common. Here's a little glimpse at our day!
We had so much fun playing the hilarious game of Apples to Apples! The best part was watching the little girls try to decipher the words!

After several rousing ole' time dances, we had to step out onto the porch to cool off! (We decided we should get a head start on the New Year's resolution to excerise more!)

As much as we all were hoping for and 'dreaming of a' white Christmas, the pickin's were slim. But after a vote, we decided to don snow clothes and enjoy what white stuff we had. It was quite a scramble to find warm things for everyone, but we manged to bundle up. Immediately we girls were pelted with snowballs and a classic snowball fight - boys against girls - was in full swing. How the boys managed to win, while out number 3-1, we'll never know. I think if the girls could have had a better aim more often, the outcome could have been different. We did try to take the advantage by getting up on the chicken house roof, but it didn't seem to help us too much! Oh well, it was still a smashing good time - no pun intended! :)

After a supper of lunch warmed-up, we played a short round of Balderdash, with Tiffany and Don winning... only by a very small margin tho! :) Adalee and Anabelle played violin for us - and very well I might add - and then their family sang the sweetest Christmas song to us before leaving. Their smiling faces were such a blessing to watch!

We were so grateful to have spent the day with such a precious family and are looking forward to many more times together soon! Love you guys!

* * *

"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you!"

Philipians

Due to the lack...

...of decent words-in-pictures, i will have to satisfy you with plain words.

We are all getting ready for Christmas around here... today was a furry of house cleaning, gift-wrapping, and last minute shopping! Our extended family get-togethers aren't until after Christmas. It is kinda sad, but we are making up for it by inviting friends over who don't have relatives around here.

Our dear friend and adopted brother, Don, will be here. It will be just like old times... it was only two years ago in October that we first met him at a church get-together. He and his brother, Peter, came to our house on Christmas day that year. Since then, we have had many great times together. Much to our dismay, Don has accepted a new pastorial position in Oklahoma and will be moving shortly after the new year. We are glad he will be spending the holiday with us.

The Blairs, a family we just met this month, are also coming from Newton. Tiffany and I were at an 1850's Christmas Ball with our homeschool group and met their beautiful red-head daughters! Since their families are out of state, they are joining us for Christmas dinner. We are so excited to get the know them better!

Hopefully I can soon have pictures to share with you of our holiday festivies! It's such an exciting time of year. A wonderful time to relive memories of the past and making new ones... like our 'Charlie-Brown-christmas-tree'. It rains down pine needles everytime you lay a finger on it. So all the gifts are covered with a seasonal layer of green... to bad they hurt so bad when stepped on! *smile*

Merry Christmas!