The most wonderful time of the year....

I realize it has been a very long time since my last blog, but I'm just not good at keeping this thing up! I was thinking about some of the Christmas songs I've heard lately. "Jingle Bells", "Mary, Did You Know", and "Winter Wonderland" are just a few of my favs. But I thought about the song "Most Wonderful Time of the Year" today and kept asking myself, "Why is NOW the most wonderful time of the year? And is it really?" Don't get me wrong, I love the Christmas season! The parties, the school plays, the events to attend, the messages, the songs, all of it I love! But as a Christian, celebrating my Saviour's birth and life should be the most wonderful time ANY time of the year! Yes, I agree, that this season brings about nostalgia and fondness that we all love, but do I realize that it is because of the life Christ gave me, that I can even enjoy this season or any season for that matter? I'm guilty of saying things like, "Jesus is the best gift" to my kids and others, and while it is completely true, do I life that out and treasure Him as the BEST gift? I fall way short I'm afraid. I want to marvel at the fact that Almighty God would empty heaven of its BEST, and send Him for me, to be born, live, and die so that I might have my wretched life exchanged for HIS BEST LIFE!!! It blows my mind, and yet all I can do is praise HIM for it!

My family and I are beyond blessed. We are healthy, have plenty to eat, are well dressed, and have a comfortable home in which to live. We're spoiled indeed. We are so thankful for our friends and family. We have such a fantastic bunch of people in our lives that we love deeply. Our prayer for ourselves and all of you is that we each will truly treasure the gift of Jesus Christ, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the awesomeness of God our Father! Because of Jesus Christ, this and every time of the year is the most wonderful!

Merry Christmas! We love you all!

4th of July fun!

Summertime is the BEST time!!! We have loads of fun while the boys are out for summer break. Going to the pool, watching baseball games, eating ice cream, and get-togethers are some of our favorite summertime activities! Celebrating the 4th of July is another great get-together that we enjoy. We had friends and family over to enjoy a big cookout and lots of fun! The boys planned a water-balloon fight, the kids decorated tattoos on each other, and had fun with their sparklers! We all ate more than we should have, and topped our dinner off with super yummy banana splits! I love entertaining, and desire that all those who enter our home, feel at home! We had lots of fun watching the kids do what they do best.....be kiddies! Earlier in the week I spent time really pondering what it means to be "free". So many folks have given their lives so that my family and I can enjoy the liberties that we do. But I smiled every time I thought about the complete freedom I enjoy in Christ Jesus! Nothing is sweeter than being set free by the Creator, and Almighty God!

"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore, keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1