Christmas

I had to do this fast so things are not in the order I would like but here is our Christmas in pictures...

Debbie , Tierra, and Colton

Annika looking beautiful

Bryce Valarie's boyfriend and Valarie

Ben by a BIG pile of cookies

Daniel Laura and Isaac

Tierra

Annika with the anime picture that Jed drew her family

Ben looked like he liked the blocks we got him

And it looks like Isaac liked the toy we got him also

A present for Colton and Mommy

Activity

My Mom among the kids and grandkids

Neeka happy about the socks

My Mom and Ben on skipe with Uncle Bill and Aunt Kate

Loy's Dad came for a visit

Me looking like more than my belly is getting round!

Ingrid with Colton

Grandpa and Grandma Johnson with Annika and Colton

Loy with his new slippers

David with his big present

David when he saw it was a phone

Poor Joey grounded on Christmas. Yes we actually are making him wait to open his presents

from Annika

yeah....a shirt

Some nice clothes for church

the boys

Loy and the tree

ooooh let me see what is under the tree!!

breakfast Christmas morning and stockings

the cookies I got made this year

We let Joey have his huge stocking even though he was grounded

David with his stocking

Annika wrapping presents

Chase is a very helpful Daddy

Cookies that Loy and David frosted

Frosting the cookies

My Christmas shirt

I made this

Belly shot at 24 weeks

Me, Marian, Jennifer, and Julie

Marian, Julie, and me made this candy train while Jennifer played Christmas songs on her banjo

David at his piano recital

Merry Christmas!!!

Reading

We started reading in the evening after dinner (but before going to bed). Loy reads one of the biographies we have while I work on some sewing project or other hand work that I have. It's very enjoyable. Right now we are reading about Robert Murray McCheyne. He was a man who desired holiness. He said, "Lord make me as holy as a pardoned sinner can be made." As the unholiness of his pleasures became more apparent to him, he wrote an entry in his journal, "I hope never to play cards again."

As much as I desire to be holy (set apart from the world for God), I realized that it is nothing compared to the desire this man had who wanted to redeem every moment unto God and to spend his life serving people and preaching the gospel. After spending an evening "too lightly" he writes, "My heart must break off from all these things. What right have I to steal and abuse my Master's time? 'Redeem it,' He is crying to me." And on another occasion he writes, "If nothing else will do to sever me from my sins, Lord send me such sore and trying calamities as shall awake me from earthly slumbers. It must always be best to be alive to thee, whatever be the quickening instrument. I tremble as I write, for oh! on every hand do I see to likely occasions for sore afflictions." Do I desire to be THAT holy and dedicated to God and His kingdom?

Convicting...

Friendship tree

I made a friendship tree!

I went through all my ornaments and separated all the ornaments that friends and family have given me and I had the idea to find a little tree (at the thrift store of course) and make a friendship tree. I looked at several thrift stores (over 3 or 4 days) for a smaller tree and they were all way too expensive. They wanted 30 dollars for them! Also, they were too big. I found a nice white one with pastel colored lights at Salvation Army for 15 dollars which was more than I wanted to pay. I was looking to get one at about 10 dollars at the most. Upon inspection of the tree at Salvation Army I found that it was broken and wouldn't work so the next day I tried a thrift store I rarely go to and found this cute little white tree for only $4.95!!! I was so happy! I finally got around to decorating it today and I also fixed my favorite earrings which were broken.

The tree we got on the 5th is downstairs with water in it but it's not decorated yet. We will (hopefully) decorate it this weekend. I have a lot of cleaning to do and we have several activities coming up. Julie and Adam FINALLY got the keys to their first house and will be moving in this weekend so the cookie making extravaganza will be postponed. We also have two birthdays and a TKD Christmas party and a baby shower for Laura coming up. Lots and lots to do the next couple of weeks! Here are some pictures of my friendship tree, my earrings, and other decorations around the house. Can you see the ornaments you have given me???

I hung some old fashioned ornaments on my chandelier

My earring

These are my new favorite decorations the velvet ornaments with beads and stuff on them

Miscellaneous decorations

The friendship tree