no matter who you are.... you are important to him!

Can you imagine the shepherds returning to their flocks after the night they had? They had seen God's glory. They had experienced the presence of angels. They had seen the newborn King, the promised Messiah, the Savior of the world. Even more amazing, it was just as they had been told. In addition to all that Jesus was at the moment of his birth, he is also the answer to God's greatest promises.... and the greatest proof that God keeps his word. Incredibly, God had chosen shepherds, unnamed to us and unimportant to their peers, to be the witnesses and participants in God's glorious story of salvation. It is our Father's way of reminding us that no matter who we are, Jesus came for us because we are important to him!

God, I can only imagine what it was like for those shepherds who experienced your glory. However, Father, I do know how much Jesus means to me. I praise you for loving me and reaching my heart with your grace. Help me through the work of your Holy Spirit as I try to live my life in appreciation for all that you have done for me. In Jesus' name...amen

on this day......

12-01-2002 Andrew and his dad decorating the tree! He's putting up the star!
These pictures were taken last year.... we had snow a year ago today! We must have been having our Thanksgiving or something because everyone was over except Heather. It was so fun watching it snow. Didn't get alot but here is their snowman. Kevon loves being with the kids!

decorating the tree!!!!

Here is the finished product. It looks beautiful thanks to Dylan and Maddie!

Now.... here is the work in progress.....Maddie had so much fun!

Everything was going on the bottom branches.
Dylan had a bit of a tude..... the boy that wanted to come decorate my tree? I think he just wanted to come to my house! lol!
So..... I do what I do best.... make him stand in front of the tree until he takes a good picture.....
20 pictures later and much torture...
i think we got it!



Maddie with the finished tree....such a tough job....time to eat!
Dylan doing what he came over to do....
play on the computer! lol!
Maddie wanted me to come out and watch her pray.... and then repeat after her! Too cute!
Then she thought the lights went on because she was praying!
(It is on auto timer... but don't tell her. lol)
Maddie wanted her picture taken with baby Jesus

As you can see.... my tree turned out beautiful. Papa and I are very happy with it! Thank you Dylan and Maddie! We decorated the little one in the den too, but i didn't get any pictures of it. We had a good day. I gave Maddie some Christmas cards. Not sure how many she'll do.... I got one already though! I am sending out only a few cards this year. Doing my part in saving the world! haha.... and saving money! I am emailing most of my cards... or sending to those who I get one from. Some of my cousins and friends I never hear from and they write nothing in their cards but their names.... such a waste it seems. So... I am cutting back! I remember when Dave and I were first married I got over 200! Now I get about 30-40.

Maddie always wants to have Jesus moments over here. Is that what she relates my house or me with? That is a good thing.... right? It is very sweet when she wants to go out on the deck. Thanksgiving she wanted everyone to go out back where the fire pit is and each say what we're thankful for. That didn't happen.... too chaotic. Now she is making plans for Christmas and all of us going out on the deck and praying. hmmmm.

Papa got stung by a bee on the thumb! It sure was swollen! It was in his garage on a rag. He wasn't happy. He did get his oil changed in the car this weekend, though. We shouldn't be due on the vehicles for awhile now. He is very good at maintaining our cars and keeping them clean.

Today I am just going to be cleaning up some, I guess. It is kind of my lazy day. Not much going on.... I have the day off and we have bible study tonight. Hope you have a great day! Enjoy the Christmas season, too!
Don't forget to thank God.

What's Ahead:
Monday: foggy morning with rain later on this afternoon.
Tuesday: A few scattered showers.
Wednesday and Thursday: both look dry with partly sunny skies.
Friday: Rain is expected to return. That looks to be the start of a wet weekend ahead.