Memorial Day

Memorial Day. 

A day to remember.... the military who have kept and our keeping our Country safe and free. 

A day to remember... our loved ones who are no longer with us, but will forever be in our hearts.

A day to remember... the pride of our Country.

A day to remember... to raise our Flag.

A day of remembrance.

Forever in our hearts.

Brenda

Happy Easter

Blog 357:  Easter Reflections

         Easter, like all Holidays, make you think of not only what God has done for us, but about family and friends, about what you are blessed with, about being grateful.  God gave his only son for us.  He died alone, then rose again, into salvation.  We are truly blessed, for all who believe.

            Holidays are a joyous time.  Church has a special meaning.  This is a time to be at peace, to pray, to think, to relax, and to enjoy the fellowship.  The scriptures tell us the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection.  Sometimes, different scriptures tell us a subtly different version.  But the meaning is the same.  He died so we could be saved.  Hallelujah!

            He is gone.  He has risen.  He is with us always.  Alleluia!

            It was a good feeling to be in church today.  It was a good feeling to be greeted by people who we haven’t seen for a while.  It is a good feeling to have people tell us that they were glad to see us.  The greetings were heart-felt ad sincere.  We have been missing this in our lives and now I feel that it’s time to have it again.  It’s time to be part of our church family.

            Today we enjoyed Easter with Micah, Jacob, Amber, Caden and Tyler.  Next weekend, we continue our family celebration when Sara, Jake and Makenzie come home. 

            We had a fantastic ham dinner, with Amber’s potato casserole and Micah’s green bean casserole.  Yesterday was hubby’s birthday and today was Jacob’s birthday, and Amber made a birthday dessert, apple crisp.   Hubby did have a Dairy Queen Ice Cream birthday cake last night!

            The boys did some target shooting.  The girls joined in.  Pistol shooting is different than 22 rifle shooting, and I have to figure out why I am shooting high, low, and to the left!  Geez!

We had an Easter egg hunt.  Pop, where did you hide all of them?

            It is going to be great to have the whole family together next weekend! I can’t wait!

Sara, Jake and Makenzie, we miss you!

Happy Valentines Day

Hubby and I went out to eat last night, which was nice.  We have never, or hardly ever, celebrate Valentine's Day.

We got a Valentine Card from Caden.  We liked what he told us in the card!

Christmas in Colorado

Makenzie is excited that Grandma and Pop came to visit her at Christmas!

We played in the snow and swung on our belly!

Christmas morning!

Makenzie is excited to see presents!

Looking at presents with mommy.

Sara, Jake and Makenzie

Pop, Grandma and Makenzie

Christmas Thoughts

            Tonight is the night of our Dear Saviour’s birth.  Even my 3 year old granddaughter, who just had her 3^rd birthday 2 weeks ago, knows that tomorrow is Jesus’ birthday.  Sometimes, Makenzie seems like a big girl, and sometimes, she seems like she is still a toddler.  But no matter what her age, she knows the Christmas story.

            Christmas Eve services are traditional. And I love traditions.   Christmas decorations.  Christmas trees.  Christmas carols.  Christmas Eve service.   Christmas with family.  Christmas cookies and pies.  Homemade Christmas.

            Christmas is about love, peace, joy and hope.  Jesus brings all of this to us. Not in presents, but in His presence.  Not in crowds, but in a child’s laughter.  Not in busy-ness of the Christmas season with cards, and cooking, and traveling, but taking that time and enjoying family.  And not with what is, but with what is to come.

We find this love, peace, joy and hope when we are with people who think the same Christian way as us.  Who go out of their way to be friendly and outgoing and accepting of who you are.  We need to find that in the people who we chose to be our friends.  We need to do as Jesus did.  We need to befriend those who want to be our friends, even though their ways are unacceptable.  Through Christian love, we can show others the true meaning of being a follower of Christ.

We need to find the peace within us to spread that peace to others.  Only then, can we truly spread Jesus’ words to others.  Peace within our souls, hope to move on to what we need to do, of what God calls us to do.  The joy of sharing.  The joy of doing what God intended for us to do to be truly happy.  And the LOVE of doing for others.  The LOVE of doing what we truly LOVE to do.

And only through God’s LOVE do we truly understand the meaning of Christmas.

The baby Jesus who was born to us, in the City of David, a long, long time ago.  A baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  A stable with cows, and sheep, and I pray, horses.

And as you go to your Christmas Eve services and to your Christmas morning services, feel the love of the Christ Child warm your hearts.  Feel his peace and love, and spread that to others around you.  Spread the hope of the coming New Year that God has planned for you.

The baby Jesus brings us the peace of the Christmas season that we are looking for.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

Brenda

Jumpin for a Birthday Party

We had a great Thanksgiving weekend, which besides that Holiday, was also Christmas time for the kids as this would be the only time everyone will be together. And we also have 2 toddler birthdays, so Birthday Party time also.

We went to a bounce house called Jumpin. The 3 year olds, Makenzie and Caden had so much fun! Afterwards, we went to Build a Bear, since Uncle Micah bought them gift cards as a present. Makenzie got a Rainbow Bear "Rapunzel" and Caden got a German Shepherd "Super Dog".

Enjoy the pics!

SO much fun and so many smiles and giggles!

Tyler hung out with Aunt Sara.

Time for Build a Bear!

Makenzie has a Rainbow Bear being stuffed.

Caden has a German Shepherd Puppy being stuffed.

Tyler hangs out and just keeps chewing on his toys!

SO many choices of outfits.

Dressing Time.

Checking out Time.

Ready to leave with our Bear and Puppy Boxes.

What a fun, fantastic, Family Day!!!