An Altogether "Christmasy" Post

Time really does fly by! It's amazing to see how fast this year has gone! 2010 is just around the corner and I am so excited to see what the Lord has in store for our family this next year!!

This year, our family didn't do as much for Christmas as usual, but it was still a very special day! Or should I say set of days:)

Wednesday, Opa came out to visit us and stayed till Thursday evening! Mama and I spent the majority of the day, preparing the "Christmas Dinner" which was alot of work, consisting of a turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, yams, carrots, rolls and chocolate chip cookies! It was very tiring, but well enjoyed and worth all the preparation.

Opa

Enjoying our "Christmas Dinner" (Since Opa came Wednesday, we had it then instead of Friday)

After everyone had helped themselves to seconds, and we cleaned up. Daddy asked Katie and I to teach Dutch Blitz to Opa, who had never heard of or played it. We had a fun time playing against Daddy and Opa, who made quite a good team and caught on very quickly! Unfortunately, we didn't get any pictures.

In the morning, we opened our stockings, which Daddy always fills for us.(the flag is a random decoration put up by one of the children:)

Yes, this is what we look like in the morning:)

Mama got a new curling iron.

Ryan got some needed supplies

Sidewalk Chalk!

Katie had been asking for a purse for sometime...

plenty of candy to get sick on:)

Natey digging into his:)

"Thank you, Daddy!!"

Once the stockings were emptied and everyone was finished thanking Daddy, we sang some Christmas carols. Opa joined us for breakfast, which was scrambled eggs with turkey, sliced apples and oranges.(No suitable pictures due to the fact that the majority of us are still in pajamas, I thought I'd save us all the embarrassment!:)However, I just had to post the two below!)

Timmy's breakfast hat:)

His own idea:)

Later in the afternoon, Danny decided to try out his new chalk set. The little ones were all very interested and tried to help him when they could.:)

Danny is also learning to give the Gospel with playing cards

some playing cards...

For dinner Opa bought us pizza from Sam's Club!( Thank you, Opa!)He and Daddy went to pick it up so we could eat at home.

Natey, decorating our little Christmas tree.

"Ta-da!"

Eating dinner outside

Listening to Opa's stories about his childhood

Opa and his "Little Flock":)

the gentlemen

Daddy and Opa

Waving goodbye to Opa:)

Aunt Adriana stopped by on Christmas Eve to deliver some presents! We were surprised and delighted to see her! We always really appreciate her gifts as they are always very practical!!

Bubbles for Timmy:)

"What is it?"

Markers and drawing pad for Natey and Joshwee:)

Isaiah, thrilled with his new army tank and men:)

Sidewalk chalk for Katie

(This picture requires an explanation: Ryan started to unwrap his present and began to laugh really hard.......)

Just what he wanted.....a shaving kit:)

Mama got a tomato planter:)

What a special Christmas we had! We really enjoyed going to the Christmas Day service at church and having fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ there. We spent a quiet day at home and watched "Sergeant York." Mama and I also had a "Fudge Grudge." (Mama tried to make fudge the day before but, it did not turn out right. So Daddy, had a grudge:), because he wanted some "fudge" and so we figured between the two of us, one of us had to get it right!!) It was fun and provided plenty of time to talk! The Lord was gracious and allowed them both to turn out well!:)

Sometimes, it seems like the year has passed by and you haven't done a whole lot, but then when your Daddy asks you to put a slideshow together of the year in review....you realize it's been a year of the Lord's rich blessings!!

"Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God..." 1 John 3:1

"The blessing of the LORD it makes one rich and he adds no sorrow with it." Proverbs 10:22

Thanksgiving at the Johnsons

This year, our family was invited to spend Thanksgiving at the Johnson's (A dear couple from church). We were just thrilled, and looked forward to the day, till it came!

Since we were going to the Johnson's, this year, we didn't need to make hardly anything! Mrs. Johnson asked us if we could bring the cranberry sauce, bread, and mashed potatoes, which we quickly agreed to, as she was making the rest of the huge traditional meal!!

Morning came faster that we would have liked it to and it was quite an adventure! Mama and I pulled ourselves out of bed and headed for the kitchen. Mama started heating the cooked potatoes, while I started the Bosch and added the needed ingredients for the bread. I quickly prayed over my bread, before setting it in the loaf pans to rise in the oven. They rose and baked beautifully, and I was quite pleased with myself until I tried to take the loaves out of the pans to set them to cool. They wouldn't budge, and it hit me! I had forgotten to spray the pans!! Now, I was sitting there ruining those lovely loaves, trying to get them out!

If that wasn't bad enough, my next job was to mash and flavor the potatoes. I guess they didn't get wholly cooked, cause they were not mashing well, and were rather clumpy. After several attempts I finally decided my arms didn't have the power to mash those potatoes and so I resorted to using the blender. That worked splendidly but, it took a long time to get that huge pan done. I had to do it in batches, and could only fill the blender half way. It worked, but it took about an hour and a half! (A lesson in patience perhaps?)

This year, our church picked Thanksgiving as "Old Fashioned Sunday" to dress up, for the Thanksgiving service. Our family decided to try for a mix in between western/country. We didn't have much of a selection, but Mama got creative and we did our best, and got out the door.
We went to the Thanksgiving service at church, visited just a bit, and then headed off for the Johnson home. We didn't know what a wonderful house the Johnson's have, until we got there! (One of Isaiah's friends at church had told him a little bit about it.)

Their home was simply adorable, like a cottage right out of a storybook! There were flowers, hedges, and trees, everywhere. It was like being in the country, and it was very refreshing!
Part of what made their home so wonderful, was the love, and warmth of fellow believers. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson welcomed us with bear hugs and huge smiles. Their hospitality was a huge blessing to our family and we had an absolutely wonderful visit!

Mr. Johnson did an excellent job cutting the turkey for us, this year. Mrs. Johnson is in the process of taking a leg off for the platter, but it wasn't quite cooperating!

While the food was being prepared, Joshy and Natey enjoyed playing cowboys, which is something they are almost always doing!!

When the meal was finally ready we all sat down to eat. Mrs. Johnson decorated the table, and everything was lovely. The food was delicious, and we had lemonade from the Johnson's tree, which was very yummy. We all enjoyed the meal, and had a wonderful time of fellowship!

Mrs. Johnson managed to get us all around the table and it was very snug. We made sure to take this picture before we started eating. You can see everyone, except Joshy, who was sitting next to me.

After we finished our meal, the boys went outside to play, while the dishes were being finished up by us ladies. Mr. Johnson and Daddy played a game with the others, while Timmy enjoyed the tree swing.

Natey was walking around with one of the rackets, strumming on it. When I asked him what he was doing, he told me that he was "playing his guitar."
When the clean-up was finished, Mrs. Johnson suggested a walk, and everybody agreed that it was a good idea. ( I was sleeping when they went but, I heard it was lots of fun.) Mama and Mrs. Johnson got a nice opportunity to visit more, and the boys got their energy out...or at least some of it!

Ryan and Katie decided to tackle "Monopoly" while Daddy and Mr. Johnson talked and observe the game.

Toys are in abundance at the Johnson home, and Natey and Joshy played to their heart's content!

Mr. Johnson thought we might enjoy watching something, so we headed upstairs and watched two cartoons, and a video Mr. Johnson had taken while he was in an airplane, lift-off and all!(That was pretty neat!!)

We had a very special time with the Johnsons, and thank the Lord for their friendship and fellowship! The Lord has given our family so much to be thankful for, and even in my personal life He blesses me continually!! "Thank you Lord, for all the many blessings you have given us!!"

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever. O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth forever. O give thanks unto the LORD of lords: for his mercy endureth forever. Psalm 136:1-3