Sorry about the partial post. I hit a wrong button.
Anyway, he peddled along the interstate on the way to the small town where he preached sometimes. A tired driver fell asleep at the wheel and struck the young man from behind killing him instantly with wounds so bad that he was difficult to identify. At his funeral his powerful, sophisticated father spoke of him before a photo presentation of his son's life. He insisted that a picture of him with his long, beautiful hair be prominent. He spoke emotionally of his son's reason for having the long hair and relented from his passionate disapproval of it. His pride overflowed as the death of his son ripped away the prejudice from his eyes to see that his son had "become all things to all people so that by all means [he] might win some."
To connect this story with my recent thoughts I need to tell you about the sermon preached yesterday morning. Our son, in his near shoulder length dreds and his ghetto style clothes, presented a message of truth and inherent profundity. I know there are several (most?) members of the church who find our son's "look" repugnant. I wondered yesterday, though, if that "look" opened the hearts of those few people who were there only because of the holiday and their family loyalty. Had he become to these few the very heart softening ingredient they needed to accept the truth?
This son has wanted to be a counselor at a young men's leadership camp. He has been refused because of his hair and other unconventional stuff. He is perceived as a bad influence. I know I am his mom and have that emotional cloud around my thinking, but this refusal has frustrated me. I have wondered if he might be *just* the person to reach the one who would not otherwise be reached.
So what do you think about my questions regarding stereotypes? I have conflicting thoughts most of the time. I know that I have difficulty divorcing myself from the emotional thoughts that come when I try to think through the topic. Share your thoughts if you have some.

I have been thinking about something the last several hours. I have been wondering about stereotypes. I have long been opposed to "judging a book by its cover." I know that stereotypes exist, however, because of some general truisms. One question is how do you know when the stereotype is an accurate label and when it's not. The second is should we steer clear of things that might earn ourselves a negative, stereotypically driven label.
I knew a young man years ago. He was a good guy and from a well known, good family. His father had a couple of high profile positions.
When the young man reached adulthood he chose a career as a social worker. In his quest to be good at that he adopted some lifestyle choices that made him more accessible to those with whom he worked. He had lovely auburn hair that gently curled - the desire of any self respecting female. He grew his hair long much to his dad's dismay. He refrained from buying a car and adopted a meager existence. He rode a bicycle all over in the practice of social work and periodic preaching for a small church several miles away in another little bitty midwestern town. He was selfless and full of compassion. He was devoted to God.
Before riding a bicycle on the interstate was illegal, he, as he peddled al

How many times have you heard somebody say after a big, unpleasant event in their lives, "Dreading it was the worst part."?
I have experienced dread many times, including before my recent surgery. Perhaps for that reason Proverbs 1:33 jumped at me this morning. It talks about a freedom from dread. There is no reason that we ever have to experience this kind of self inflicted dread. Heeding God's words of wisdom are the key to that peaceful freedom.
"But he who listens to me [wisdom] shall live securely, and shall be AT EASE FROM THE DREAD OF EVIL." Proverbs 1:33

When I read Proverbs 27:18 (He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit; and he who cares for his master will be honored), I automatically thought of it in application to a wife with her husband. That was a new perspective on that, but a helpful one, I think. So many women gripe about their husband's inadequacies while never remembering to apply God's wisdom to the situation. Tend o the husband (according to his wishes), and it will more likely produce the kind of relationship hoped for. Trying to grab hungrily for honor always backfires. Letting go of the desire for it is the only hope of having it.

A lap full of blessing.

Jared made a Christmas tree out of tinker toys. Then today John gave him permission to put lights in it. Pretty cool!

Peas in a pod? No, no. Nuts in a tree!

Jason was playing with me and didn't get off my bed so I just made it around him. :-)

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Look carefully. This is Joshua! He and some friends made these costumes. Pretty clever, I thought.

My little(est) girl is growing up :-)

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Leviticus 27 sets the "rules" for making a special vow to God. These instructions were not for required rites but for those extra, voluntary ones. Why would God give instructions regarding something that was voluntary? It was suggested in a recent sermon that He anticipated that people may, from time to time, be wanting to express an extra measure of gratitude or love for God. Isn't that a happy thought? How wonderful it would be for God's children to acknowledge Him above and beyond the requirement.

Well, yesterday we heard a sermon on Malachi. It is a sad and depressing look at God's people roughly 1000 years after the law was given in Leviticus. God's people were far from desiring to show an extra measure of gratitude and love toward God. They were giving to God less than He required and shocked when He expressed His displeasure. He rhetorically asked, "But now will you not entreat God's favor, that He may be gracious to us? With such an offering on your part, will He receive any of you kindly? ...Oh that there were one among you who would shut the gates, that you might not uselessly kindle fire on My altar! I am not pleased with you...nor will I accept an offering from you." He also says that they found appropriate sacrifices tiresome, choosing the easier, less costly route.

I have been thinking about these things. Are we, nearly 2000 years after Christ drew up our adoption papers, like the ungrateful people of which Malachi wrote? Is my worship - my relationship with God - stale? Or is it fresh and as new as HIS mercies are EVERY morning? Do I ever find myself overflowing with love and thankfulness to God - enough to give Him "extra" like He anticipated in Leviticus?

Jason will have a new set of PE tubes on the 28th. He only has one of the last set still intact. The ear without is not good even though it appears the tube has only recently come out. This will be the 4th set - I think - since May 2008. If I'm wrong it is the 5th since then.

Jason Learning How to Ride without Training Wheels

Jason went from screaming in fear of his bike riding (with training wheels) to what you see in the video in a couple of weeks. I thought it would be fun to share.

Jared found a stick bug today. I just love the marvels of God's creation!

John and I had a gift card to P.F. Changs that we used tonight. I think, by the way, that it's my new favorite restaurant. Our fortune cookie guts are pictured. We thought their stark contrast was interesting. I think we'll toss one. What do you think? (That's rhetorical in case you were wondering.)

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The first canner full of spaghetti sauce is out of the canner. Now one more. Looks like bedtime at 1:30. I a few months I will know that it was worth it. Thank God for His provision of both food and enough stamina!

The kids and I (Elizabeth and her kids too) got to hear some excellent lessons yesterday on God being a warrior. I had already been thinking - reminding myself - about who the enemy is. That is important. If we become distracted soldiers and begin to see distorted images of the enemy in the form of some people(s) or circumstance then we despair. Those foes are impossible ones to defeat. We do not possess weapons that are suited to battle with them, so we grow weary and eventually are in danger of deserting.
However, when we remember that our enemy is satan there is only room for hope and vigor. He is the defeated enemy. He will NEVER be an impossible opponent. Jesus gained that victory solidly and works on as our strength against him. Don't misunderstand, satan is not a deflated enemy, rather he is an enemy of fury (Revelation 12). We cannot dismiss him, but we can have confidence in God's power which is at work in us. It is that very magnitude of power which cast satan down. If we fix our eyes and our hope on Jesus, strap on our armor, and remember that we do not fight an impossible foe, there is no reason at all we ever have to lose a battle.

I just noticed something for the first time while reading through Genesis 41. (Don't you love that happens?) The wife given to Joseph was the daughter of a pagan priest. We know what happened when Ahab married a woman of a nation of idol worship. He followed her like the proverbial puppy dog. It appears, however that Joseph remained God's man - remaining aware of Him as the Director of his steps (Genesis 41:51, 52; 45:7-9) That inspires, doesn't it? No matter what our circumstances we can remain faithful to God. Thank God for Joseph's stellar example!

I had a couple of partial jars of jelly. They were perfect for the ultimate is the jelly done test. Turned upside down if it stays put  you know it gelled. The ultimate is the jelly good test is spreading a piece of bread with it and tasting it. The blackberry jelly passed both!

Friday morning a friend called to let us know that his neighbor had about 1-2 gallons of blackberries that we could have if we went to pick them. I rarely turn down free food but accept it gratefully as God's provision, so we packed up and went. We went prepared to brave the thorns of wild blackberries (as we do at our house). We were pleasantly surprised to find tame, luscious, and trained on a wire framework berries. We picked 5 gallons! That afternoon Joseph and I cleaned them, then he and Jared deseeded them while I got ready to go to a wedding that evening. Saturday I spent several hours making and canning jelly. The yield was 21 pints! I am always awed at God's faithful provision and am thanking Him for a shelf full of jelly in the pantry.

This is a test of my ability to blog from my phone. I sure hope it works! My phone is much faster than our computer!

Just Wondering...

Is there anybody that checks my lonely, neglected blog anymore?

Be Seated

Have you ever sat down to enjoy a symphony or a wedding at which you witnessed some truly socially awkward or rude behavior in someone else who was present? If that someone was in attendance with you, you feel irritated and very embarrassed to be associated with them. If that someone is merely a fellow, unknown occupant, you feel irritation alone. Why? Our culture has molded our thinking about what is decorous in certain situations. When those cultural norms are abandoned, we know that behavior fitting the occasion has also been abandoned. In our world these norms may or may not be rooted in right and wrong, so as an offended party you may need to just get over yourself. However, there is another, more sober event at which you may find yourself required to conform to a preset and immovable norm.

If you are a Christian, you were once, by nature, a child of wrath along with the rest of human-kind. When Christ reached out to you in the ravage of that wrath, breathing New Life into you, God "raised [you] up with Him and seated [you] in the heavenly places in Christ.*" Having been escorted to such a magnificent seat, you must be aware of the norm that dictates proper behavior in it. When you violate God's norm (in ignorance or rebellion) you become like that symphony goer who cannot keep quiet or that wedding attendee who is texting during the ceremony.

Culturally speaking, the norms can be a bit fuzzy, having a bit of a span of flexibility. The exercise of them is certainly subjective. It is not so with God's norms though. They do not ever change and can be perceived with objectivity. As a result, you must acclimate yourself to them and never, ever try to acclimate them to yourself. Arm yourself in and with The Rule Book so that you might not be found an embarrassment or an irritant when the Father says to you, "Be seated."

*Ephesians 2:6

A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words

New Toy

This is our latest addition. I've been looking on and off for a free or really cheap piano. This one was just two miles from us. It had been just sitting unused. All the keys work, the sound is decent, and the "guts" look sound. I am pretty excited to have a piano again! It's been five years since we've had one in the house. I went through all the music, and have lots of beginner books. Jared has learned all the major scales. Jacob still remembers what he learned years ago. Now to find free or really cheap lessons...

Sick

Recently, the children passed a virus which kept Nancy and Jason down with fever for seven days. Joshua lost 20 pounds in three days. Jason's appetite was awful, so when he wanted some applesauce he got it! You can see him sitting, wrapped in a blanket to keep the chilling to a minimum, and sporting sunglasses because the sun from the window was bugging him. Pretty cute - even while sick!

Worshiping God

A friend was questioning some things about worshiping God recently. Her questions heightened some things that had already been on my mind. Since then, I've been studying the topic, off and on, in search of answers. It has been a sobering and worthwhile journey. It has become so much clearer to me, I think, than ever before, how important - vital - this topic is. I had the opportunity to teach a Bible study for women tonight on this topic. Now that I have completed that, I want to share here what I have discovered about what GOD thinks about worshiping Him. (I know I have had a tendency to skim over Scripture when quoted in an article or some such thing. I urge you not to do that, but rather to read those parts most carefully.)

Isaiah 1:10 - 17:
Hear the word of the LORD,
You rulers of Sodom;
Give ear to the instruction of our God,
You people of Gomorrah.
What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?"
Says the LORD.
"I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams
And the fat of fed cattle;
And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats.
"When you come to appear before Me,
Who requires of you this trampling of My courts?
"Bring your worthless offerings no longer,
Incense is an abomination to Me
New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies--
I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.
"I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts,
They have become a burden to Me;
I am weary of bearing them.
"So when you spread out your hands in prayer,
I will hide My eyes from you;
Yes, even though you multiply prayers,
I will not listen
Your hands are covered with blood.
"Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;
Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight
Cease to do evil,
Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Reprove the ruthless,
Defend the orphan,
Plead for the widow.

An important part of the Israelite's worship was the offering of sacrifices. God commanded it and gave much detail about what each was for and precisely how each one was to be offered. However, Isaiah's message from God was that the people were so evil that He didn't want their sacrifices anymore. Indeed, He was refusing to even hear their prayers anymore. God is a holy and perfect God Who requires that we come before Him in kind.

Numerous biblical examples of people worshiping God in ways that were displeasing to Him are recorded for us. The consequences were quite severe. Below I have recorded just a sampling.

Example One:

Genesis 4:3 -15
So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground.

Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering;

but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell.

Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?

"If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it."

Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.

Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" And he said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?"

He said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to Me from the ground.

"Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.

"When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; you will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth."

Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is too great to bear!

"Behold, You have driven me this day from the face of the ground; and from Your face I will be hidden, and I will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me."

So the LORD said to him, "Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold " And the LORD appointed a sign for Cain, so that no one finding him would slay him.

It was not recorded for us what specifically was wrong about Cain's offering, but it was not up to God's standard. His repulsive offering led to an horrifying story of murder and condemnation towards himself. God cursed the very ground that Cain worked and from which he'd offered his sacrifice and caused him to wander. Worst of all, was that he was to suffer the agony of a relationship with God gone sour.

Example Two:

Leviticus 10:1 - 3
Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them.

And fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.

Then Moses said to Aaron, "It is what the LORD spoke, saying,
By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy,
And before all the people I will be honored.'"
So Aaron, therefore, kept silent.

These new priests offered incense with unauthorized fire to God, and God took their lives with fire of His own. Moses' commentary to Aaron, the father of these two disobedient priests, was simply a reminder that God said plainly that He would be treated as He ought and be honored among the people. It was recorded in Exodus 30:9 that strange incense was not to be offered. In the instructions for the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16:11, 12, God gave specific instructions for the origin of the fire to be used for the sacrifice.

Both of these examples are of people who were at least relatively new to what they were doing. Indeed Nadab and Abihu were carrying out a brand new law of God. These novices were held accountable to worship God just as He desired. The holy and just God wiped them out when they did not do exactly as they were told.

Example Three:

1 Chronicles 13

Then David consulted with the captains of the thousands and the hundreds, even with every leader.

David said to all the assembly of Israel, "If it seems good to you, and if it is from the LORD our God, let us send everywhere to our kinsmen who remain in all the land of Israel, also to the priests and Levites who are with them in their cities with pasture lands, that they may meet with us;

and let us bring back the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul."

Then all the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

So David assembled all Israel together, from the Shihor of Egypt even to the entrance of Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.

David and all Israel went up to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim, which belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, the LORD who is enthroned above the cherubim, where His name is called.

They carried the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart.

David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, even with songs and with lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals and with trumpets.

When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, because the oxen nearly upset it.

The anger of the LORD burned against Uzza, so He struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark; and he died there before God.

Then David became angry because of the LORD'S outburst against Uzza; and he called that place Perez-uzza to this day.

David was afraid of God that day, saying, "How can I bring the ark of God home to me?"

The ark of the covenant was a very key part of the worship environment for the Israelites. It was to be kept in the holy of holies in the tabernacle where God dwelled. God gave detailed instructions for its construction and ornamentation as well as its location. He even provided in structure and words how and by whom it was to be carried when the Israelites moved from place to place. See Exodus 25:12 - 15 and Deuteronomy 10:8. Again, God expected strict adherence to His commands. Uzza lost his life as a result of David's disobedience in this detail that we might have considered in consequential. David was angry about the consequences that his disobedience brought. This story ended happily after David saw his way over to God's way of doing things in 1 Chronicles 15, and the ark did make it back home (1 Chron. 16:1).

Example Four:

(Background: When God's nation divided, the northern kingdom (Israel) was given to Jeroboam to rule as king. God told him: "'I will take you, and you shall reign over whatever you desire, and you shall be king over Israel. 'Then it will be, that if you listen to all that I command you and walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight by observing My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then I will be with you and build you an enduring house as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you.")

I Kings 12:25 - 13:6, 33 - 34

Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and lived there And he went out from there and built Penuel.

Jeroboam said in his heart, "Now the kingdom will return to the house of David.

"If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will return to their lord, even to Rehoboam king of Judah; and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah."

So the king consulted, and made two golden calves, and he said to them, "It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem; behold your gods, O Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt."

He set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan.

Now this thing became a sin, for the people went to worship before the one as far as Dan.

And he made houses on high places, and made priests from among all the people who were not of the sons of Levi.

Jeroboam instituted a feast in the eighth month on the fifteenth day of the month, like the feast which is in Judah, and he went up to the altar; thus he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves which he had made And he stationed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made.

Then he went up to the altar which he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised in his own heart; and he instituted a feast for the sons of Israel and went up to the altar to burn incense.

Now behold, there came a man of God from Judah to Bethel by the word of the LORD, while Jeroboam was standing by the altar to burn incense.

He cried against the altar by the word of the LORD, and said, "O altar, altar, thus says the LORD, 'Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name; and on you he shall sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and human bones shall be burned on you.'"

Then he gave a sign the same day, saying, "This is the sign which the LORD has spoken, 'Behold, the altar shall be split apart and the ashes which are on it shall be poured out.'"

Now when the king heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar in Bethel, Jeroboam stretched out his hand from the altar, saying, "Seize him." But his hand which he stretched out against him dried up, so that he could not draw it back to himself.

The altar also was split apart and the ashes were poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD.

The king said to the man of God, "Please entreat the LORD your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me " So the man of God entreated the LORD, and the king's hand was restored to him, and it became as it was before.

After this event Jeroboam did not return from his evil way, but again he made priests of the high places from among all the people; any who would, he ordained, to be priests of the high places.

This event became sin to the house of Jeroboam, even to blot it out and destroy it from off the face of the earth.

Wow! Jeroboam was one disobedient king! In fact, he became the measure for wickedness in the kings of Israel. He took his new kingdom (which God gave him) and violated four of God's laws:

1. He made graven images for worship. (Exodus 20:4, 5)

2. He chose his own places for worship. (Deuteronomy 16:5, 6)

3. He appointed priests who were not Levites. (Numbers 18:1 - 7)

4. He instituted a different feast day. (Leviticus 23)

God had promised him a dynasty if he'd obey God's commands, but he would not, and so his family only saw one more king on the throne. He, Nadab, only reigned for two years.

These examples should have sobered us. God has always wanted to be worshiped. He was and is worthy of our worship. Just as He asked not for any input from man regarding the construction of the ark in Noah's time, or the plans for the tabernacle, its furnishings and the priests attire and duties regarding sacrifices, so He has not consulted us to discover our ideas for worshiping Him. Nor will He yet.

When the incarnate Jesus walked the earth, He rebuked the Pharisees for "neglecting the commandment of God," and instead they "[held] to the tradition of men." (Mark 7:8) Their view of being right before God had become so distorted that when God, Himself, was manifest before them in the Son, they could not recognize Him as the Son of God. What about me? You? Have we so infused our own ideas about what is quality worship that we have neglected the commandment of God?

The examples given above were of real people in real time who pridefully set aside God's way to adopt their own. All of them suffered greatly for their wrongful worship. To God, worshiping Him is serious and real business. Again, He has not ever cared much what man thinks would be a great tribute to Him. Instead, He, the Creator, has always had supreme authority and will hold us as accountable for the kind of worship He wants in our lives as He did those of long ago. The very next thing to do then, is to search as if our lives depended on it (because they do) for the truth about what God wants and get busy transforming our practices and our associations into those which will bless and glorify the Almighty God.

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and unto him, are all things. To him be the glory for ever. Amen. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, and ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Romans 11:33 - 12:2

This sermon was very helpful to me in considering this topic. For what it's worth, I recommend listening to it.

Blogging in Reverse

I sat down at the computer a bit ago and decided I'd catch up reading blogs. I only have a handful that I watch, but I find that I'm not keeping up with it like I did in AZ. My time is often so full. We are studying anatomy this year for school. My method is new for me. (I am enjoying it a lot.) I have Stacey's college anatomy text book which I study and take notes from before teaching the kiddos. It is a subject that I love, but it is very time consuming. I am also studying the Bible with the kids in a more involved way than I have for a number of years. Again, it's been good, but takes time to prepare (not to mention implement.) I am often studying at night after the kids go to bed, then again early in the morning before they are up.

Those things, in addition to the other duties in my house and home, leave less time for computerized socialization. I miss it. I keep thinking that I'll get caught up and then stay caught up, but that is not realistic during the school year. I am determined to keep my priorities straight and be not just home, but at home. I'm sure that I will find myself wandering back to the blogs now and again, but to peruse them each night like I used to isn't possible right now. I find it kind of a melancholy thought, but summer will come, and then I can use my nights differently. That is until we start in with chemistry next year...

P.S.S.

Once upon a time there WAS a ridiculous hat with a star on top. Dan WAS bedecked with it, and it WAS captured by the camera afterall.

Christmas 2010: A Collage

I thought it'd be fun to show everyone as they emerged from their collective sleeping quarters Christmas morning. I realize a couple are repeats, but oh well. Notice Nancy's impressive slack jaw and that Joshua came out fashion show runway style.

P.S.

Dear Boring One,

I thought the same as you. Sadly, all pictures of Dan were too far away to tell he even had a had, or the top of his head was cut off. Maybe we can get *him* to pose and pretend - just for the blog, you know?

Mom to Anyone

Christmas 2010

For Science this school year we are studying anatomy. I got college level anatomy coloring books for Joshua and Jacob. Elizabeth saw one a few months ago and said she thought it'd be fun to have one - and that she'd really do it. Immediately I filed that away as a great Christmas gift. Just so you know, she has been coloring it too.
















John and I went to John's Christmas party for work. It's a coat and tie affair, thus the formal attire (that we rarely wear). Because it's such a rare event to "dress up," I really wanted a picture. John cheerfully obliged. (No, really. He really did so cheerfully.) This is even take #2. Most have likely seen this on facebook, but I thought I'd put it here for those who may not have. (Mom, I really did make prints, and now you're waiting for me to send one to you. Please don't hold your breath, or you'll be a cold corpse before I remember to do that!)
















Here's another picture of Haelley and Brennan, just so you don't forget how adorable they are =)

Christmas 2010

This was the tree after Santa came and before it had yet been discovered. I still love the twinkly warmth of the lighted Christmas tree.





















Part of the routine on Christmas morning is for the kids to come one at a time (youngest to oldest) to spy with wonder the tree and the transformation that took place while sugar plums danced in their heads. Jason, still being a rookie, didn't understand what he was supposed to do, and, without an older one ahead of him to show the way, he just did what he thought might be expected. Because I was standing at a distance with the camera, he thought I wanted a posed picture of him. Twice he stopped, without looking at the tree and its bounty, to smile for the camera. It was pretty cute.

















Michael, Elizabeth, Haelley, and Brennan came late in the morning. In case I haven't said so - and for the record - grandchildren are pretty amazing creatures! Haelley loves pretty dresses and wears one even if she has a multitude of goose bumps and purple lips. I found (without looking) a magnificent dress at Goodwill. I imagine that it had been a flower girl's dress once. For Haelley, it is a glorious wedding dress.

















Brennan was such a boy - and a wonderful one at that! I found this 90's era Tonka dump truck (which is back when they were stoutly made of metal), and Stacey bought him some tractors. That was plenty for him. He loaded up and was on his way to go play. It was such a bummer for him that there were more gifts to open.

Christmas 2010

My parents send money to our children for Christmas. Every year my mom comes up with a clever way to present it. This year each child's money was in a pair of gloves. You can see Nancy holding hers with much delight. I had a hard time picking a picture of Nancy for the blog because my little drama queen had great expressions in all the pictures. Her you have her big, grateful, pleased smile.
















I had a hard time picking which picture of Josiah to post also. Each one had some story to tell. This picture is adequate for two of them. It is hard to find all natural candy where we live. What I can find is very expensive and almost an hour's drive away. Much to my delight (and Josiah's) I discovered that Necco is now making their Necco's and Clark bars all with all natural ingredients. Even better, a friend discovered them at a pharmacy only seven minutes from our house! If you look by his folded legs, you can see Clark bars that were in his stocking. You can also see the Bible he got. He is fanatical about Bible study and Bible notes, commentaries, outlines, etc. He had asked for an NASB, and what mother could refuse that?
















I wanted to choose pictures somewhat uniquely to give different vantage points of our Christmas day, but this picture of Jared with the gloves and money from his grandparents was precious. Thanks to their generous grandparents, I took the four youngest shopping on Monday. We had a great time. They were all well behaved which made for a fun day.
















Once again, you see a pair of gloves with the mysteriously hidden money. This time Joseph is the happy recipient. Funny thing about Joseph is that he made a list of things he wanted (at my request), then wanted to go buy some of them with his birthday money! We had to hold him off because Santa wanted a turn at that list first.
















Here's a happy Jacob. He's not just happy about receiving his gift of the jacket. He's also happy because his wait for it ended Christmas morning. He was with me when I was looking for a jacket for his Christmas present. He ended up picking the one he liked most after I made him promise to act surprised on Christmas morning.

Christmas 2010

This picture was one of those "catches" that left me feeling victorious. Joshua was feigning this frown over his gift. It had caused the room to erupt with laughter, and I managed to capture the expression.


















James and Andi spent the night with us and got up in the morning for the Christmas morning fun. Here you see James looking at a gift from Stacey. I believe they were gift cards. We bought them a copy of "Fireproof." It is a wonderful movie, well capturing the essence of marriage that God intended.

















Andi, our newcomer this year, was a bit overwhelmed, I think. You see her here with a Groupon for a quaint, white table cloth restaurant in Cordyon, IN. If you haven't heard of Groupon, it's a fun way to get good deals on things for yourself or for gifts. Google it.

















We had a special visitor for Christmas this year. Our congregation has a sort of intern right now. He was to travel to Alabama where is family was going to be for Christmas, but his car wasn't running well enough for him to go. He spent Friday night and Saturday with us. He is one of those people who brightens up a room by various means. This picture captures the goofy, ham-it-up Dan. For some reason, I enjoy feeding him. I made his a generous French silk pie, which he would certainly sing for if I asked.

















John, for as long as I've known him (and many years before) has used his grandfather's feather pillow. His grandfather died in 1975, and the pillow was used then. He has been protective of this pillow, not allowing me to re-tick it or wash it. Needless to say, we have ribbed him from time to time about his "yucky" pillow. A while back he actually said that maybe he should get a new pillow. I ran with that and found a terrific deal on Black Friday for a feather pillow. He is officially using the new pillow while the other is enjoying retirement.