Not the Christmas Picture...

But still kinda cute!

Ewww, yuck!
A kiss!

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!


Chloe was unaware that Sawyer was in the picture!

Happy Sunday!

OvErFlOwInG

Colossians 2:6-7

Spiritual Fullness in Christ

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,
continue to live your lives in him,
rooted and built up in him,
strengthened in the faith as you were taught,
and overflowing with
thankfulness.

Finding JOY...

even

in

potty training!!

Unwrapping this moment with

Emily
at
Chatting at the Sky!!

Today

Preparing for a Thanksgiving feast

Multiplication tables
6
7
12

Geography
We traveled to India, then China and ended our trip in the Philippine Islands!
Whew, we're tired.

Copied for handwriting and read

Nehemiah 9:5-6

“Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. 6 You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you."

Spaghetti sauce simmering on the stove

Its yummy smell filling the house

Garlic bread in the oven

Violin to practice

Songs to rehearse

Walk to take

Bible to study

Family to love

What a day!!

THANKFUL

As we prepare to celebrate the holiday of thankfulness, I have been reflecting on the countless blessings in my life.

Why do we receive blessings?

What should our response be to the good things from God?

Should we hold on to our blessings?

I have been reading a great book by David Platt, "Radical". It has caused me to pause and examine my heart.
Here's one of many great excerpts from "Radical."

"In the beginning of earthly history, God's purpose was to bless his people so that all peoples would glorify him for his salvation. Now, at the end, (he had just quoted Revelation) God's purpose is fulfilled. Individuals from every nation, tribe, people and language are bowing down around the throne of God and singing praises to the one who has blessed them with salvation. This is the final, ultimate, all-consuming, glorious, guaranteed, overwhelmingly global purpose of God in Scripture. It is the great why of God.

God blesses his people with extravagant grace so they might extend his extravagant glory to all peoples on the earth. This basic, fundamental truth permeates Scripture from beginning to end. Yet I wonder if we unknowingly ignore the great why of God."

I have been motivated to get in His word because I know that,


"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness," 2 Timothy 3:16

Remembering to be thankful for God's blessings in order that I may become more like Him and ultimately use His blessings to glorify Him.

Encouragement for Today

Psalm 25

One of my favorites.

In you, LORD my God,
I put my trust.

I trust in you;
do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
No one who hopes in you
will ever be put to shame,
but shame will come on those
who are treacherous without cause.

Show me your ways, LORD,
teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
for you, LORD, are good.

Lessons complete

Laundry folded

Dinner only a thought

Violin lesson soon

Library trip to take

Thank you Lord for making the ordinary extraordinary

in YOU!

Weekend Recap

Our life group at church was fortunate to spend an afternoon here.

11 children

and 9 adults.

It was
in a nutshell

LOVELY!

The children enjoyed the adventure of

climbing
and
terrifying

their parents with visions of

broken limbs

and the need for stitches.

Nobody fell in the water.

All in all
it was a
a glorious afternoon spent reveling in creation.

To top it off,

we ate here.

Ready to face the day with determination!

How about you??

Lasting Memories from Shutterfly

Have you ever used Shutterfly for your photos?

I have and am more than pleased with their products and service.

Last year for Christmas each grandparent received a photo book complete
with pictures of our family from the past year.
Lots of oohs and aahs were heard when this gift was opened!

Photo books are a fantastic way to have lasting memories of
vacations,
the Christmas season
or any event you want to remember forever!

Shutterfly is easy to use for uploading photos and the ordering process is super simple.


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What about a playful design?

Want to make someone cry tears of joy?

Picture your family in this one!
(this is one of my favorites!)

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I love Shutterfly and I think you will too.

Guess what?
If you are a blogger,
YOU
can get
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(here's how)

Have fun browsing the great things
Shutterfly has to offer!

Need a little CuTeNeSs Today??

Word of the Day

MERCY

“The act of sparing, or the forbearance of a violent act expected.”
Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary


Mercy--not getting what you do deserve / withheld punishment

Grace--getting what you don't deserve / unmerited favor

In the New Testament, the Greek word that is usually translated as "mercy" is the word "eleos."

Eleos is God's love poured out upon His people.

Psalm 103:8,10-14

The Lord is
compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love...
He does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgression from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.

THANKING GOD FOR HIS TENDER MERCIES TODAY!

EnOuGh...ALWAYS??

Desiring God's love to always be enough!!!

HoPe

Unwrapping the gift of each day.

Celebrating Chloe's 9th birthday gave me the opportunity to stop and think.

This is my 3__ autumn and I can't believe it.

How has time passed so quickly?
Last week I watched my elderly neighbor taking care of his lawn,

I realized that he was in his 92nd autumn season.

WoW!

He has watched the leaves change from green to magnificent

gold, red, and orange

92

times.


And watched them fall 92 times.

And 92 times he has watched the trees become full and beautiful

for 92 springs.


Folks, is that not astounding?

Did he ever think about this and did he wonder how his life had passed by at lightening speed?

This world is not our home.

We are just passing through.
(from a song we sing at church)

I pray that I leave a legacy of love and devotion to God for my children.

I pray that life is full of meaning and of "things" that really matter.

I pray that I seek first His Kingdom.

I pray that the trials we as a family encounter will only bring us closer to Him.
God said we will have trouble in this life

but

we

have

H O P E!

Romans 8:24

For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?

Halloween Recap

This was a weekend that included a birthday and Halloween.

Can you say...

BUSY??

We managed to squeeze in a little fun.

The costumes this year included a ninja, cotton candy and a red bird.

You can probably figure who was what.

Have a great Monday.

Today will be spent recovering from the weekend with things like:

Cleaning and throwing away,

grocery shopping,

and many other boring, mundane tasks that must be done in order to maintain some sense of order.

HAPPY MONDAY!!