The end of a great holiday

As our vacation winds to an end, I find myself feeling two things: sadness that our visit is over, and anticipation for returning to our own home/beds/routine. I think the hardest part is not knowing when we'll be back.

We've had a great time and have really enjoyed ourselves. Enjoy these last few pictures from our trip to the local indoor playground, another stay at Gma and Gpa Grey's, scenes from Idaho, and also a quick visit with our cute friends the Joyces. (Thanks for driving so far to see us for a quick visit!)

Goodbye, Idaho. South Cackalacky, here we come...

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Enjoy some photos of our busy couple of days. The kids have been great, visiting with and meeting new family and friends. We spent Christmas Eve and morning with B's dad and step mom and then spent Christmas Day and night with my mom and step dad. We had a lot of fun, and the kids were just showered with lots of fun things from Santa and family.

Love to you all and enjoy!

Scenes from Boise

I haven't been back to Boise in almost 5 years. Each time I return, I am shocked at how much the area has changed. No longer a small town, but a big city...

B~~ Enjoy the scenes from Idaho. The only thing missing is YOU! I love you! H2H

Let it snow...

Each day we've woken up to more snow. The kids are thrilled!

Here's a few more photos from our fun in the snow, as well as our trip to Build A Bear, and to the Garden Aglow -- 250,000 lights...

Enjoying Idaho

We've been in Idaho for about 6 days now, and are having a ball. We've visited with both sets of grandparents, visited Build a Bear Workshop and, of course, are LOVING the snow...

Enjoy the pictures and come back for more updates soon!

Christmas Corinthians

I heard this yesterday at my Bible study. I'd never heard it before, but was really touched by it. I pray it helps you focus on the reason for the season!


1 CORINTHIANS 13, CHRISTMAS VERSION

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata, but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust. But giving the gift of love will endure.

Merry CHRISTmas!


-- Author Unknown



1 Corinthians 13:13 "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

A giggle for the day

Out of the mouths of babes...

JACK (age 3) was watching his Mom breast-feeding his new baby sister.
After a while he asked: 'Mom why have you got two? Is one for hot and
one for cold milk?'

MELANIE (age 5) asked her Granny how old she was. Granny replied she was
so old she didn't remember any more. Melanie said, 'If you don't
remember you must look in the back of your panties. Mine say five to
six.'

STEVEN (age 3) hugged and kissed his Mom good night. 'I love you so
much! That when you die I'm going to bury you outside my bedroom
window.'

BRITTANY (age 4) had an ear ache and wanted a pain killer. She tried in
vain to take the lid off the bottle. Seeing her frustration, her Mom
explained it was a child-proof cap and she'd have to open it for her.
Eyes wide with wonder, the little girl asked: 'how does it know it's
me?'

SUSAN (age 4) was drinking juice when she got the hiccups. 'Please don't
give me this juice again,' she said, 'It makes my teeth cough.'

DJ (age 4) stepped onto the bathroom scale and asked: 'How much do I
cost?'

CLINTON (age 5) was in his bedroom looking worried when his Mom asked
what was troubling him, he replied, 'I don't know what'll happen with
this bed when I get married. How will my wife fit in it?'

JAMES (age 4)! Was listening to a Bible story. His dad read: 'The man
named Lot was warned to take his wife and flee out of the city but his
wife looked back and was turned to salt.'
Concerned, James asked: 'What happened to the flea?'

TAMMY (age 4) was with her mother when they met an elderly, rather
wrinkled woman her Mom knew. Tammy looked at her for a while and then
asked, 'Why doesn't your skin fit your face?'

The Sermon I think this Mom will never forget.... this particular Sunday
sermon...'Dear Lord,' the minister began, with arms extended toward
heaven and a rapturous look on his upturned face. 'Without you, we are
but dust...' He would have continued but at that moment my very
obedient daughter who was listening leaned over to me and asked quite
audibly in her shrill little four year old girl voice, 'Mom, what is
butt dust?'

A visit to the Christmas Tree Farm

Today the kids and I went with Matthew's school to the local Christmas tree farm. We had a great time reading stories about baby Jesus' birth, coloring, eating a fun Christmas tree snack, and, of course, helping to pick the perfect tree for the school.

While the kids were having fun, I was attempting to snap the perfect picture for our Christmas cards... SIGH!! Did I get one? Watch your mailbox...

So Long, November!!

In looking back through our photos from the month of November, I can see we've been really busy. From Disney on Ice to playing around the house, to checking out the tractors who've worked on our road, to a visit to FL to see relatives and meet our newest little cousin, Jordan. We've had a great month and hope you enjoy the pictures. There's lots of them, so sit back, relax and enjoy!