Our "Pray & Plan" weekend!

Well friends,
I don't have any new pictures to post, but boy have we been busy at the Grooms house! God has been so gracious to us! Jason and I just finished our annual "Pray & Plan" weekend for 2010. We've done this now for 4 years and it is definitely a high-light that we look forward to. Usually, we book a cabin or hotel for Friday night and Saturday night, but our budget wouldn't allow for that this year, so we sent the boys to Mimi and Pappy's house and stayed at home! Friday night we went to dinner at Puleo's and just enjoyed couple time that night. Saturday morning we typically have breakfast and spend time praying and talking about things that center on just us as husband and wife, and man and woman. Around lunchtime, we spend time praying specifically for each one of our boys and discuss things for and about them. Then Saturday evening, we pray specifically for our finances (budget, upcoming expenditures, and savings goals) and discuss anything pertaining to that. This is our usual game plan, but this weekend had just a few kinks thrown in.......but we managed to discuss and pray over what we felt we needed to. Plus, because Jason had to go into the office and work a little, that alone time gave me opportunity to extend my prayer time!

I really enjoy this time that Jason and I take. It ensures that we are both on the same page and allows us to discuss in detail things we normally don't have the opportunity to talk about what with the kids running around! I encourage you and your spouse to consider starting your own tradition of "Pray and Plan". Some of you may already have lots of opportunities to do this kind of thing and that is fantastic, but for those who don't, trust me, make the time! It is soooo worth it! God teaches Jason and I so much during this time, and He also uses this time to refresh us and tighten the knot of love around us!

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!