Things that make my heart "proud"...

1. Having a husband provide for his family...taking care of all their needs...well, and their wants.
2. Seeing my kids tithe and budget their money.
3. Having my oldest attend a worship conference for college students and hearing how excited she is to come home and tell us all about it.
4. Seeing my middle child go to Lifeway Christian bookstore last night because she couldn't wait to get a new devotional...and then walking into the playroom to see her and her boyfriend reading it together and discussing it.
5. Watching my youngest excited about public school and telling us about the kids he's already asked about their faith.
6. Knowing all my kids love the Lord and will spend eternity with Him...true peace!

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

No longer a teenager....

Today, our oldest turns 20! So hard to believe. This is also the first time ever that I've been away from one of my children on their birthday...actually, it's Heather that's away. She's at The Passion, a worship conference for college students. There's no where else I'd rather her be. I know she is having an amazing time.
Happy Birthday, Heather! We thank God for you everyday and we love you.

Wordless Wednesday...

Just a few pictures from Christmas '09...

My Christmas gifts...

I don't need any gifts this year, because I have already been given so much. God continues to bless me over and over, even though I am so undeserving. My greatest and most treasured gift is my salvation. I thank God for my greatest blessings...

my husband...
my children...
my parents...
my sisters...
friends...

Merry Christmas...from our family to yours!

Is this not THE BEST season? I LOVE Christmas. I love everything about it...the lights, decorating, baking, the music, kids on break from college/school, celebrating Christ's birth.
The only thing that has been sad this year is watching some of our traditions going by the wayside. We have always lit an advent candle each morning with our kids that counts down the days beginning with December 1st and ends with December 24th. Not this year...nope, with Lindsay away at school, Heather either sleeping in or rushing off to work/school, and Caleb just barely getting out the door on time for school, that's not a big deal to them anymore. So we passed it along to friends to light with their small children (I'll bet they're enjoying it just as our kids did when they were little). And then there is our advent calendar. I remember our kids used to look forward to pulling out that little ornament each morning and hanging it on a felt Christmas tree. They'd get so excited to hang that final ornament on December 24th. Nope, not this year (see reasons above)...the little felt tree is hanging on the door with not one ornament hung in it's place.But we will bake together next week, watch Christmas movies, the kids will sleep together on Christmas Eve (including Max, our dog), and they'll be up at the crack of dawn on Christmas morning. At least they haven't given up on that...yet!
Hoping you and your family have a wonderful Christmas season, celebrating the birth of our Saviour who was born to die for us!