Ringing in the New Year 2017

Happy New Year!!

I have to be honest.
I did not come up with this idea on my own.
I relied heavily on Pinterest.
In fact, you can find the links for this inspiration here! 

We had such a great time with our whole family gathered together,

cooperating and encouraging each other, 

laughing and just having fun!

"Minute-to-Win-It" games are perfect for our family

because they move fast,

are challenging to complete for all ages,

and if someone gets bored we're moving on to 

another game in one minute!!!

After a fun dinner together around the table with a final

family worship time for 2016,

the games began around 8:00 pm!

 Kisses Countdown

 New Years Stack Attack

Drop Around the Clock

Tick Tock....Tic Tacs

 The Final Countdown

Just Dance

The evening wound down with a movie and the countdown to midnight.
With a good printer and some very simple supplies, this fun evening

was a cinch to pull together.

Everyone commented how much fun it was

and I know the memories we created were worth the effort

put into this family night!!!
My children are growing up and just on the cusp of leaving our nest

so I cherish these few moments we all have together!!!

He Gave Everything 2016

Last December, I had lunch with our church's Music Minister to discuss

the dramas our church was going to present during the upcoming year.

We discussed the major holidays and we laid out some

general plans for Christmas 2016.
I handed him a script I had directed many years ago in a former church 

which had been warmly received

that I felt still had a very relevant message for today!!

He was very receptive to it, and in September we began casting and rehearsals.

Garrett had been begging me to not make him 

be a part of the junior choir anymore,

and I needed a young boy for our story, 

so he was happy for a way out of singing!!
Aryn got to sing in the children's choir during the performance,
and Ashlyn also worked all through the fall season on her part too!!
It was a collaborative labor of love for our family, 

and what a blessing it was to present!!!

He Gave Everything 2016

 

Family Service Project: Christmas 2016

One of the things I like to do over our Christmas break is to 

participate in a project as a family that gives and helps those

in our community who are less fortunate than most.

There really is no better way to teach your children to think

outside the little bubble of themselves

and to see that they really have so very much to be grateful for.

Children learn compassion when they see what it is.

When they are taught how to find those in need.

To look for those they can show their appreciation to as well.

I don't know why we've never gotten involved with this

community project before, but it's one we'll definitely do again!!

My children so enjoyed getting to wrap presents for children

who most likely would receive nothing for Christmas.
We wrapped all the gifts for a family who have NINE children with

another baby on the way!
Then, once that was done, we moved on to another family with FIVE children!

Later in the week, we were able to participate in delivering all these gifts, 

along with staple and pantry items, to many of these families!

For more ideas on service projects you can get involved

in as a family, click here.

Merriest of Christmases!!

"Christ, who called all things into being, gives you sun and moon and stars, the earth under you and sky over you, and this ocean of air for every breath that fills every lung of every living thing--to you, to you, to you!! We live in an ocean of grace. 

And when we sinned and weren't satisfied with what God gives, as if we refused to breath air and died, when we longed for something different, something more, something, better, He came and GAVE US HIMSELF.......'Take Me? Let Me be your enough? 

Always now, no matter what--let ME be your enough.'

You can have this as the best Christmas ever as much 

as you gaze into your Father's face and receive His gift.....

Christ, the always Gift for all our days." ~The Greatest Gift

"For God so loved that He gave...."

May you and yours bask in the joy and peace and grace of His lavish love today....for you!! As witnessed through the unspeakable gift of Jesus. 

Merry Christmas!!

Glimpses of Christmas 2016

Busy times these days in December.

Rehearsals, parties, Christmas programs, sweet treats, gifting, and athletics.

All while we wait.

Hope.

Anticipate a coming.

Look for an arrival!

Be present.