A cute email I got today. Read and enjoy!

THE CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
My husband and I had been happily married (most of the time) for five years but hadn't been blessed with a baby.
I decided to do some serious praying and promised God that if he would give us a child, I would be a perfect mother, love it with all my heart and raise it with His word as my guide.

God answered my prayers and blessed us with a son.
The next year God blessed us with another son.
The following year, He blessed us with yet another son.
The year after that we were blessed with a daughter.
My husband thought we'd been blessed right into poverty.
We now had four children, and the oldest was only four years old.

I learned never to ask God for anything unless I meant it; As a minister once told me,
"If you pray for rain, make sure you carry an umbrella."

I began reading a few verses of the Bible to the children each day as they lay in their cribs.
I was off to a good start.
God had entrusted me with four children and I didn't want to disappoint Him.

I tried to be patient the day the children smashed two dozen eggs on the kitchen floor searching
for baby chicks. I tried to be understanding when they started a hotel for homeless frogs in the spare bedroom, although it took me nearly two hours to catch all twenty-three frogs.
When my daughter poured ketchup all over herself and rolled up in a blanket to see how it felt to be a hot dog, I tried to see the humor rather than the mess.
In spite of changing over twenty-five thousand diapers, never eating a hot meal and never sleeping for more than thirty minutes at a time, I still thank God daily for my children.
While I couldn't keep my promise to be a perfect mother -
I didn't even come close...
I did keep my promise to raise them in the Word of God.

I knew I was missing the mark just a little when I told my daughter we were going to church to worship God, and she wanted to bring a bar of soap along to "wash up" Jesus, too.
Something was lost in the translation when I explained that God gave us everlasting life, and my son thought it was generous of God to give us his "last wife."

My proudest moment came during the children's Christmas pageant.
My daughter was playing Mary,
two of my sons were shepherds
and my youngest son was a wise man.
This was their moment to shine.
My five-year-old shepherd had practiced his line,
"We found the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes."
But he was nervous and said,
"The baby was wrapped in wrinkled clothes."
My four-year-old "Mary" said,
"That's not 'wrinkled clothes,' silly. That's dirty, rotten clothes."
A wrestling match broke out between Mary and the shepherd and was stopped by an angel,
who bent her halo and lost her left wing.
I slouched a little lower in my seat when Mary dropped the doll representing Baby Jesus,
and it bounced down the aisle crying, "Mama-mama."
Mary grabbed the doll, wrapped it back up and held it tightly as the wise men arrived.
My other son stepped forward wearing a bathrobe and a paper crown, knelt at the manger
and announced, "We are the three wise men,
and we are bringing gifts of gold, common sense and fur."
The congregation dissolved into laughter, and the pageant got a standing ovation.
"I've never enjoyed a Christmas program as much as this one," laughed the pastor,
wiping tears from his eyes "For the rest of my life, I'll never hear the Christmas story without
thinking of gold, common sense and fur."
"My children are my pride and my joy and my greatest blessing,"
I said as I dug through my purse for an aspirin.

Jesus had no servants,
yet they called Him Master.
Had no degree,
yet they called Him Teacher ..
Had no medicines,
yet they called Him Healer.
Had no army,
yet kings feared Him.
He won no military battles,
yet He conquered the world.
He committed no crime,
yet they crucified Him.
He was buried in a tomb,
yet He lives today.
Feel honored
to serve such a Leader
who loves us.

I kicked butt on the Revelation Bible quiz?
Wouldn't it be AWESOME if this year was the return of the Lord!?!
--I'm ready--Are you?

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My Devos for the day

1 Chronicles 22:6-11

David keenly wanted to build a magnificent Temple for God. But God would only let him go as far as making the preparations. Even the greats of the Bible had to live with unfulfilled dreams, often as a consequence of their own actions. (Moses never got to enter the Promised Land because of one act of anger.) In this world, we do not always get our longings fulfilled. We must, like David, be content with what we are given to do (in his case, make the preparations for his son to carry out). What dreams must you surrender to the Lord? —Diane Eble, author of Abundant Gifts: A Daybook of Grace-Filled Devotions

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!!!!

Love, Kristel Anne and Terry

HAPPY BIRTHDAY POP-POP!!!

Love, Sara, Paul, & Timothy

Dee-Dee's 'deep' thoughts

I guess the whole New Year thing has me thinking about my life--the way things turned out different than I had planned and the way things are better because God took control. The question of who I am is a daily changing one because I have so far to go to be who the Lord wants me to be. I'm so thankful God doesn't change and constantly loves, forgives, disciplines, and kicks my butt (encourages me).
Often in defining ourselves we list our roles--it seems to be the easiest.

I am a daughter, sister, aunt, sister-in-law, cousin, friend, wife, mother, church member, teacher, etc...

I am a worshipper.

I am a student.

I am and will be for all eternity a worshipper of my Creator God.

Also, I'm a student, learning more about Him, His word, and His plan for me each day.

Because I am a child of the King my roles mean so much more and must have an enternal view. I need to go through each day with purpose knowing who I am is from God.

Does that scare me?

Yeah, but along with that responsibility comes a tremendous peace. You know what I mean, that peace that comes from being in the center of the Lord's will. Taking each step with Him to fulfill those roles that often define who I am.

I guess in this rambling my deep thought is:

In all I do and am,

I must be centered in the Lord's will

to be who He wants me to be.

Along with that comes peace, strength, growth, and wisdom

to fulfill the daily challenges.

New Year's Goals

"THE PRINCESS HAS SPOKEN"

Sara's New Year's Goals

--Become a better dancer
--Have more patience
--Strength to witness and do what God wants me to

"READ MY DOUG-LIPS"

Paul's New Year's Goals

--Be more flexible for Judo

--Have better cursive handwriting

--Read the Bible everyday

"LITTLE DRUMMER BOY"

Timothy's New Year's Goals

--Be better at piano and drums

--Be a better reader

--Pray more for people

"DEEP THOUGHTS BY DEE-DEE"

My New Year's Goals

--Strive to be who the Lord wants me to be

--Take better care of myself (diet/exercise/amout of sleep)

--Finish unpacking and make the house a HOME