Home sweet home

The last time that we were with family for the Christmas season was 2003.
The year Mike got back from Iraq.

yes, 10 years ago....we were stationed in Panama City Beach Florida for 10 short months
and enjoyed being close enough to family to drive up and visit.

Here are some family photos from our Christmas in Alabama 2013!!

cousins on my side of the family
my three and my brother Derrick's two

the newest member of the family
my step-brother's baby boy,
Brendan

some of the cousins on Mike's side
His brother Matt's kiddos
and sadly, his sister's two boys were sick
(yes, we are BOY heavy on both sides of the family!)  

Mike's brother, Matt and his family

Only part of the crew
My 86 year old grandmother center
and her 3 kids and their spouses
My mom to grandmother's left
My mom's brother to her right
Her sister behind his right shoulder
and then a smattering of grandchildren and GREAT grandchildren
Total grandchildren:  7
total greats:   12 with 2 on the way

my cousin Wes Craft took this photo of our boys
He is an excellent photographer and has had his photos published in more magazines than I know!

family time

Random:

The is the "butt" of Zion's snowman - I  took a picture because never in my life has a pile of snow lasted more than a week.  (He made this December 8th,  so....it's cold here)

We had a little family Christmas before leaving to visit family.

as corny as it is... I was super excited to find red, white and blue wrapping paper to match my tree
I'm a nerd!

MEMORIES!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

I have always loved Christmas,

but each year I find myself in a different place.

sometimes physically, (Navy life will do that to you)

sometimes emotionally

and sometimes spiritually

Regardless:  each year I try to focus on the reason we celebrate Christmas and ponder on the story; looking with fresh eyes for something that I haven't noticed before.

This season, I read a story that has been replaying itself in my heart.  

I am sorry that I can't remember where I read the story, and thus, don't know who to credit.*  

It goes something like this:

A missionary was teaching children in a poor, rural village.

As Christmas approached, she taught the children the story of Jesus' birth.

As the days drew closer, one little boy brought in a package bundled up in old newspaper.

As she opened the gift,  she found a beautiful shell.

Thanking the boy, she ask him how he got the shell, since the nearest beach was many miles away.

He proudly told her that he traveled to get the special gift for her on foot.

When she told him that he shouldn't have gone so far -

he sweetly replied, "The journey is part of the gift".

This has touched my heart in a way that I never imagined in relation to the story of Christmas.

His journey is part of the gift.  

The God of the universe;

That spoke everything we know into being - 

came to earth;

confined to womb of a young girl;

formed in a body that had to learn to talk;

to walk;

100% human 

AND yet also,

100% God

His journey is part of the gift.  

as the song says, "this is such a strange way to save the world"  

Merry Christmas friends!

(*If you recognize the story, please let me know.  

And forgive my poor paraphrase if I missed some of the facts.)  

Wednesday, December 18th

Another great service at Grace Covenant Church

Check out our worship teams' Christmas CD ---- click here ---


Or come visit us on Sunday morning - early bird or sleep in kinda person?
Doesn't matter - we have four services, so no excuses!  ;)


Candlelight services -
what is it about these that are so moving?
Always love it!

Advent in Music

Grace Covenant Church
Advent in Music

children's choir

Leon Timbo

Grace Covenant Worship Team

Love our church - love the people - love REAL worship - Love Christmas - LOVE JESUS!

PARTY!

We had a little OPEN HOUSE Christmas party on Sunday.

We have friends stationed here that we knew from Port Hueneme, Texas A&M, and Guam, so it was the best excuse I can think of to invite everyone over.

Here are a few photos of the prep - but sadly, I didn't take but two during the event, (because as always)  I was chatting!

because dipping Oreos in white chocolate can't be wrong

sugar cookies - OF COURSE!

these cookie cutters are older than I am - no really, they are.

I bake - the artist decorate

he might actually just be eating mini-M&M's ...... 

Pioneer Woman's brownie bites recipe

 Added after baking - candy cane Hershey Kiss
UH-mazing!   

partial spread
now we just need people to come!  

All of us moved here from Guam - crazy right?

FUN TIMES!~
Thank you everyone for joining us!

December 11th

Two hour delay going to school today, which puts Zion home until 11am.

Nonetheless,  trying to get back into a routine for another week and then, we will be packing up for my mom's house.

The sun is shinning and the snow is melting, although, the high is only 33, so there will still be piles of snow in shaded areas and those spots where the plows piled it all in the corners of parking lots.

Another front moving in on Saturday with a little snow predicted.

The boys are getting their wish for a white Christmas, or December at least.

Photo challenge today is:  Elves  (*does the dog count??)

December 10th

A REAL snow day from school - (*instead of ice)

The snow was falling about an inch an hour from about 6am until 10.
It was beautiful.  I always love it from inside a warm house when I don't have to get out in it.
Mike left for work, but got the call that they didn't have to come in when he was in route.
So... we did a few morning chores and then headed out to play.

Here are a few snapshots and videos.

Backyard winter wonderland 

snow angel ?? 

Without the real OK from the doctor, we decided Michael probably shouldn't take a shot

So.... Mike, Isaac and Zion did most of the sledding.

Michael threw snowballs at them going down the hill -

and I did make a couple runs with Zion to help him increase his speed!  

Happy SNOW DAY and Merry Christmas!  

December 9th - First snow day

The boys were excited that they didn't have to go to school today, although, the snow day was really an ICE day - since the snow from yesterday started melting and froze over.

Here are the trees in the backyard - hanging low with heavy, icy branches.

Oh yeah....and our power was out for about 5 hours.
Thankful we have a gas heater!

This is from the upstairs window
You can see a line of some kind laying across the roof
and ice hanging off the other 

heavy pine branches 

teenagers are still teenagers as long as the battery still has life
iPod gamers!

soup anyone?
Yes, it worked great!

The photo challenge today is shopping:
We did NONE of that - I'm blowing this thing!

Sunday and snow!!!

The prediction of snow in the forecast did not disappoint this time -

forecast for Sunday

We had real snow falling (lightly) as we got ready for church on Sunday morning.

Zion was beside himself, and worried that it wouldn't snow long (or stick)
so he went out before church to make the most of the 100 flakes on the ground.

Zion before church

Mia wasn't too sure about this stuff at first....

But Zion couldn't stop himself!!!

just a portion of the beautiful tree at church!

Much to Zion's delight, by the time church was over, we had snow for real!

after church 

He played outside for a LONG time.... and Mia decided it was fun too.

So finally, I sucked it up and went out to help him with a snowman.

Mike came out too.

Our first Virginia snowman!  

home sweet home 

Saturday, December 7th

Michael has been going to PT since his surgery, so it has become the Sat. morning routine.

There is talk of snow in the forecasts, so I guess it's time to buy milk and bread.

Why is that always on the list?

ANYWAY..... After PT, Michael and Isaac had hair appointments and we got home just in time for the Auburn SEC championship game.  

They won! It was a good game and thankfully, not quite as dramatic as the last two games.

Here is a photo that I copied from the world wide web

And the photo challenge for the day is something furry -

so here is Mia the wonderdog!  

(although I did NOT take this photo today)

photo challenge

I love these and it just hit me today that I was a day late, so I searched and found this one.

So for yesterday, day 1 (or December 1st)
Oh Christmas Tree
Actually, I posted a photo of our tree yesterday, so I pass without even knowing it!

But, in case you missed it -  our new house has a sun room and as I was closing the door to go to bed, I decided I liked the way the tree looked and snapped the photo through the door.

December 2nd - Glitter
As I went to the tree to find something with glitter, I found myself remembering many ornaments from previous duty stations and ornament exchanges and took SEVERAL snapshots.

We have so many Navy / American / red, white and blue ornaments after 20+ years
that we have a separate tree for them!  

Diver bee!!!   

autism awareness 

Port Hueneme Seabee ornament exchange

Jan King painted this one!
NMBC 5 - Port Hueneme 

Yeah - that one is from Auburn 

Never thought I'd miss a tropical Christmas

Otherwise,  today was a typical Monday.
The boys were back to school after a 4 day weekend and hard to get moving out the door.
I worked on the normal weekend laundry pile and hit the grocery store for Turkey Pot Pie fixings to use up those last bits of turkey!  

Happy December 2nd!!