Oh Happy Day!

What do you celebrate today? Do you celebrate the love that you share with someone? Do you celebrate that you are single like many who consider this day Singles Awareness Day? Do you spend the day complaining that this is another holiday thought up by someone trying to make a buck and the fact that they have succeeded because you have already gone out and spent money for the day? Whatever you celebrate I hope that your day is simply wonderful!

Almost February

It's almost February. The month of love. I need a change of weather and a change of blog and since I can't control the weather I went for the blog change. Do you have any plans for the one you love? If you do let me know because I need some ideas to show the one I love just how much I love him. Yes, it's Brandon.

What Would Wii Wear?

What is the proper Wii attire? At our house I discovered that pretty much anything goes. I walked out into the living room tonight and there was my husband in his snowman boxers and husker sweat shirt. He was too involved in the game to even fight me over taking the pictures. I hope that the curtains are closed.

Crazy Times In Steamboat

We took off on a weekend to Steamboat Springs. Emmaus hooked us up with a place to stay and food, a little angel hooked us up with gas money, and it was a recipe for a fun time. It was beautiful but it was snowy. I can't imagine living with that much snow all of the time. It was at least 4 feet deep, EVERYWHERE. It didn't stop us from blazing a sledding trail. The kids and the parents all had fun flying down the hill. Our only injuries were a bloody nose(Brandon), whip lash(Sidney), and sore muscles(all of us) from climbing up and down the hill.

The view from our sledding hill.

The sun didn't shine a whole lot while we were there but it didn't stop us.

The kids are ready for some fun.
These 2 were troopers.

Zach landed on his head and was still smiling.

What a rascal!

They are secretly arguing about who will be the first down the hill.

It's alot of work coming back up.
Fun Times Were Had By All Until...

The ride home. Bessy(the van who has seen better days) decided that the heater would only work on high so we were either freezing or roasting. We were mostly roasting because if we didn't keep it on the windows would fog over. After we got down the mountain Bessy decided that she wanted new rotors and our brakes started making this awful grinding noise. The Cheeks van(I don't know what it's name is) also decided that it didn't want to have power steering so there trip down the mountain was also quite the experience. I am glad that we are all home safe and sound.

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year to everyone. We hope that this year finds you well. We all have big plans for the new year, mine start with getting the laundry done. WooHoo! Do you know how awesome it would be to start the new year off without a huge pile of laundry? Very awesome indeed! So get out there and start your new year adventure. I will be in the basement doing mine.

The Christmas Story...Emmaus Style

Emmaus Road put on its first Christmas pageant last Saturday night. Justina and the kids worked for a few weeks on the skit that Justina wrote. It was the cutest thing. We had kids ranging in age from 9 to under 1. House church hasn't lended itself to a huge growth spurt in the number of kids so we were able to use everyone of them. You may be wondering who the "weirdo with the Beardo" is? Well you guessed it, it's Brooklyn. She had the honor of playing Joseph because she was one of the three kids (girls only) that can read. She was actually kind of excited about it. Sidney was the angel and loved that she got to look beautiful. Zach was not so thrilled about being a shepard and refused to wear anything on his head (I know you are thinking surely not Zach). Both of the girls had solos. Sidney is ready to sing again at any time but Brooklyn didn't enjoy that part quite as much. The play went off without a hitch and it made for a great evening.

Luke 2:9-12 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

A Little Christmas Humor

Character Counts

On Friday Brooklyn won a special award at school for her service. Each month they work on a new character trait and she received the honor for her service work at school. She is such a sweetie and always willing to help. We are so proud of her.

The Divine Sisterhood of the Traveling Blow Pop Undies

The Yada's (my old bible study from N.P.) came to my area for a weekend packed full of shopping. I think that we all needed it. Good food, good fun, and a new pair of Blow Pop Undies that showed up in our gift exchange. I can't wait to see Lisa model them. I'm sure that they are bound to show up in another exchange some day. Thanks ladies for the great time.

Oh, Yes! I found a picture of them.

Baby Got Book

An Elfamorphisis

My kids went through an elfamorphisis. Check them out!
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9617350799

The Month Before Christmas

Twas the month before Christmas
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.
Why the Politically Correct Police had taken away,
The reason for Christmas - no one could say.

The children were told by their schools not to sing,
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.
It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just a "Holiday".

Yet the shoppers were ready with cash,checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!
CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod ,
Something was changing, something quite odd!
Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.

But as Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears
You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.
Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.

Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!
At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.
And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace.
The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate "Winter Break" under your "Dream Tree"
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday,
Our Countries were founded under the Christian way
To our"guests" I can say,
If You don't like it ,You don't have to stay!!

His First 5K

Brandon ran his first 5k this weekend. I was so proud of him. He hadn't been training very long before he decided to sign up for the Race For Hope. He was disappointed with the time he ran. He came in 182th place out of over 500 runners. I didn't think that was bad for his first race. He learned alot of tools that he can use in his next race like don't start so far back in the pack, pea before you get there, and be over prepared. He is already talking about his next race.

Brooklyn ran in the kids fun run that day. She was so disappointed. She was planning on running a mile and when she lined up it was a bunch of little kids and they ran about 100 yards and turned around and ran back. She still finished in 2nd place but was upset with the length of it.

Ronald McDonald came to cheer them on.

A Day Full of Festivities

Halloween was a big day for the kids. Brooklyn had a medieval festival, Sidney had a character celebration, and Zach had a costume parade. I managed to make it to all 3 events so that no one would feel left out but boy was I ever tired at the end of the day. The kids all managed to get a boat load of candy that evening trick-or-treating in the neighborhood. Good times were had by all.

Brooklyn was Martha, (wife of a blacksmith)

Sidney was Queen Esther (a person of good character)

Zachary was a grumpy cowboy that refused to wear his hat and holster at the parade.

You Make Me Smile

First Field Trip

Zach had his 1st field trip on Friday. He was very excited. They went to the fire station. He was a little disappointed because it was within walking distance and he had his heart set on a bus trip but still it was a good time.

Everyone has to hold on to the chain so nobody gets lost.
Listening to the fireman's vast knowledge.Everyone wanted a hat except (you guessed it) Zach.

The Story of the Jack-O-Lantern

Let Your Light Shine
Jack-0-Lantern

"How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You pretenders! You clean the outside of the cup and dish. But on the inside you are full of greed. You only want to satisfy yourselves. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish. Then the outside will also be clean. How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You pretenders! You are like tombs that are painted white. They look beautiful on the outside. But on the inside they are full of the bones of the dead. They are also full of other things that are not pure and clean. It is the same with you. On the outside you seem to be doing what is right. But on the inside you are full of what is wrong. You pretend to be what you are not.

Matthew 23: 25-28

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If any of you hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with you. And you will eat with me."

Revelation 3:20

How is the stuff we pull out of the pumpkin like sin in our hearts?
Both are yucky! They're inside us, sticky and smelly!

How is the way we cleaned out this pumpkin like
the way Jesus cleans us out when we confess our sins?
All the yucky stuff is taken away!

"Anyone who believes in Christ is a new creation. The old is gone! The new has come!
It is all from God. He brought us back to himself through Christ's death on the cross.
And he has given us the task of bringing others back to him through Christ."

2 Corinthians 5:17

"God made us. He created us to belong to Christ Jesus.
Now we can do good things.
Long ago God prepared them for us to do."

Ephesians 2:10

How have we made this pumpkin a "new creation"?
He was a pumpkin, now he is a jack-o-lantern!
How do we become a new creation when Jesus comes into our hearts?
We learn to love him more, our light shines and we become God's children!
"Treasure is kept in clay jars. In the same way, we have the treasure of the good news in these earthly bodies of ours. That shows that the mighty power of the good news comes from God. It doesn't come from us. We are pushed hard from all sides. But we are not beaten down. We are bewildered. But that doesn't make us lose hope. Others make us suffer. But God does not desert us. We are knocked down. But we are not knocked out. We always carry around the death of Jesus in our bodies. In that way, the life of Jesus can be shown in our bodies."
2 Corinthians 4:7-10

When Jesus comes into our hearts, we become new creations.
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill can't be hidden. Also people do not light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand. Then it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine in front of others. Then they will see the good things you do. And they will praise your Father who is in heaven."

Matthew 5:14-16

How is the way the candle light comes through the pumpkin
like the way God wants our light to shine?
God wants our light to shine and help others find their way to Him.

"God said, 'Let light shine out of darkness.' He made his light shine in our hearts.
It show us the light of God's glory in the face of Christ."

2 Corinthians 4:6

What happens when we hide our light so others can't see it?
They might stay in the darkness without hope for a new life with God!

Let Your Light Shine for Jesus!

No Peeing and No Parking

Zach is getting so big. I am so proud of what he is learning in school. He is really starting to pick up on his letters. When I picked him up the other day he noticed a sign in the parking lot like the one above and asks me "Mom, why does that sign say no peeing in the parking lot?". I just about cracked up laughing. What a cutie!

Flagstaff Mountain

My family took me on a picnic at Flagstaff mountain for my birthday. Brandon took the day off, Brooklyn and Sidney didn't have school, and Zach was done at 12:00 so we headed up after that. Flagstaff is a very beautiful area just west of Boulder.

This eagle flew by the edge of the mountain by where we were hiking. It was as if it was just floating on the air. It circled a couples of times then was off. I really think that the eagle was my birthday gift from God. It was so awesome. My dad would have loved it.

"but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Isaiah 40:31

Soccer Saturday

We had a great day of soccer. Each of the girls won their games and the weather was GREAT! There is a chance of snow tonight and tomorrow so I wasn't sure what kind of a day we would have. Brooklyn scored her first goal of the season today! WOOHOO!

This little bug showed up to cheer Sidney on as well. I haven't seen anything quite like it.