December Fun..part 1

I wanted to start out by saying thank you so much for your prayers regarding my grandmother. She has had some rough days the last week but one good thing, I actually got to talk to her and hear her tell me that she loves me. She hasn't been able to hardly talk but one day last week, she was having a good day and was actually able to sit up in her wheel chair and talk to everyone. I was so excited. Please continue to keep her in your prayers as every day is a struggle in itself, but God is good!

WOW! I thought November was a busy month, but I think December has been more busy! We started out the month by taking a trip to Gatlinburg. I highly recommend you going to Gatlinburg the week after Thanksgiving! The traffic coming out of Gatlinburg was horrific, but for us going towards Gatlinburg, it was a breeze. I'm not kidding, the traffic was backed up all the way from the interstate entrance ramp in Sevierville, all the way through Pigeon Forge and into Gatlinburg. I am soo glad we didn't have to sit in that traffic. It was a great time to go because the hotels were extra cheap which allowed for us to stay an extra day than planned and we didn't have to wait in line for anything. Also the stroll up and down the streets of Gatlinburg was nice because there was hardly anyone there so we didn't have to worry about holding on to dear life to our kids because of all the people. Our first day there was a little rough because it had rained on us the whole way there and the kids were couped up in the van and unable to release their pint up energy so when we got there things didn't seem to get any better but God was good and answered my prayers that the rest of the trip would be wonderful! We had a blast! It snowed while we were there and for some reason, they have BIG chunks of snowflakes that fall...not like our itty bitty flurries we sometimes get around here.

The picture below is my favorite picture from our trip!



Boogs was helping daddy drive through Cades Cove.

We saw lots of deer including an 8 point and 10 point bucks. That was neat!

The snow was absolutely beautiful and we even saw some wild turkey's.




After we left Cades Cove, we decided to take the kids to the Dinosaur Museum. The boys love dinosaurs so we thought that would be something neat to do. It was interesting to go through, but I don't think we will spend the money to do it again.






This next picture was taken outside of the Knife Works store. We parked right outside of the front door and were covered in snow by the time we got to the door. Notice the flakes and how big they are...it was so beautiful coming down!


Thank goodness for hotels with indoor pools!!


In case your're wondering, Meggy was not crying. That's just how she chose to smile at that moment.

OOHHHHH and I really started to feel the baby move on this trip! That was exciting! I tried to explain to the kids how it feels....by holding up my hand with fingers closed and palm facing my other hand. Then I would lightly flick my palm with my fingers from the other hand...the kids loved it and just giggled! I can't wait until they can actually see and feel the baby move! :)

Urgent Prayer Request & Thankful Thursday

I would like to ask you to please keep my grandmother in your prayers. It is my mom's mom. She fell a week or two ago and completely shattered the ball part of her hip and because she is 94 years old (95 on Dec. 27) the doctor's advised that they would not do surgery. So she has basically been in the bed and in pain ever since. She is not doing well and my uncle and aunt(whom she lives with) thinks that pneumonia has set in. Things are looking grim and my mom has gone to be with her.

I know that God is the giver and taker of life and everything happens in His perfect timing, but I would just ask that you pray for my grandmother to be peaceful and pain free and that God would show mercy and go ahead and let her go home instead of continuing to let her suffer. And also please keep my mom's family in your prayers as they struggle through this difficult time. Thank you in advance for your sweet prayers!

Thankful Thursday~Now for the exciting news. Boogs (my youngest who has showed absolutely NO interest in using the potty) started pee-peeing in the potty yesterday!!!!!!!!! I can't tell you how excited I am about this. I have been asking God to please help him be interested and at first it was a struggle but he has been using it ever since. Of course we still have the "poo-poo in the potty" issue that we haven't come across yet, but hopefully he'll be interested in obtaining that goal as well. I have wanted to get him potty trained before the baby comes because I would really like to have only one in diapers as I have done the multiple children in diapers thing before and it's NOT fun! But with him not showing any interest and pitching a fit every time I made him go in there, I knew he wasn't ready and I didn't want to scar him forever of learning how to use the potty, so I haven't pressed the issue. BUT PRAISE THE LORD, he started yesterday!!!! I am hoping this new found independence will continue and the training part will be quick and a breeze. So, please say a prayer for us in that manner as well.

I went to the doctor on Tuesday and got to hear the baby's heartbeat briefly. It wasn't long enough for her to be able to record the beats to see what the heart rate was, but that was ok with me. Just to hear it was exciting because of not being able to hear it on my last visit. We get to go back on January 6th to find out if it's a boy or girl. I am so excited and can't wait!!!!

I still have pictures of things that we have done this month to post, but just haven't had the time. It has been a very busy month so far and the rest of the month promises to be just as busy. I'll post soon though!!

Thank you so much for your prayers for our family! :)

Loves!

Amazing Grace

I hope you will take the time to watch this...it's beautiful!

~~Remember to "pause" the music in my sidebar.~~

Elfing Myself

BBBHAHAHAHHAAAAAAA!!!!!

~~Be sure and "pause" the music in my side bar before you start the video.~~

Today is Thankful Thursday and I am thankful for the ability to laugh!! I am thankful that God gave us that emotion to express. What a joy it is to be able to laugh at ourselves sometimes!! :)

Refreshing Wind

Why does our life have to be such a struggle sometimes? Why can't it always be peachy where everyone gets along and loves one another and treats one another with kindness? Is it because of this time of the year where we celebrate our King's birth and the evil one doesn't like it, so he tries to make it miserable for people? Is it because our children are growing up and that's just what comes with growing up? I don't know what it is, but I feel like my children are fighting more and more everyday. I would be a rich woman if I had a dollar for every time I said, Let's love one another or Jesus says to be kind to one another or STOP FIGHTING!!! I feel so discouraged sometimes and wonder if they will ever truly love each other. Of course, I do see the true love when one of them gets hurt and the other one goes to comfort the one that is hurt, but it's during the fighting times that I wonder.....I definitely can tell that the evil one is at work because he doesn't want kindness and love. He wants confusion, hatred and anything else that goes against how Jesus wants us to act towards one another.

All that to say that He does offer us refreshing wind~literal and spiritual. The last few days have been too cold for the kids to play outside but today has been slightly better. It's warm but the wind makes it chilly..not too chilly though. Anyway, I had the window over my kitchen sink opened to let in some fresh air and I was standing in front of the sink and I was hit with this wind and I thought...how refreshing...how calming. I immediately said Thank you Lord because it was as if it were from Him reminding me that everything is ok and everything will be ok.

You know how when you go to the beach and your sitting in your beach chairs with your feet in the sand and the wind is constantly blowing? Have you ever thought how marvelous it is? How incredibly calming it is to be in the midst of the wind? How all your struggles or problems seem to be a distant memory at that minute? You instantly feel relaxed? That's how I felt earlier this morning when I was hit with my almighty God's wind. It was instant relaxation and a reminder that He is the one in control. I couldn't help but take a deep breath and breathe it all in. It was a reminder to run to Him with my struggles as a mom because just as He says in I Peter 5:7,"Cast all your cares/anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." ALL meaning everything. That means struggles as a mom too. How great it is to know that we can go to Him with every care!

Hope for the Holidays

I received this email the other day and thought I would share it because it speaks to me in a big way and I thought it might speak to someone else. I know I fall into the category of labeling myself by my past mistakes. I took comfort in the encouraging and reminding words below.


Hope for the Holidays

by Micca Campbell

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:37 (NIV)

Devotion:

God gave each of us what we needed most—a Savior to save us from ourselves. Therefore, the holiday season should be a time of cheer. For some, however, it can be lonely and depressing. While the days leading up to Christmas should be filled with peace, joy, and hope, sadness over past mistakes can hover like clouds on a rainy day. We all have a tendency to define ourselves by what we have or haven’t done.

We tend to label ourselves by our past mistakes, and then we wear these labels as if there were no alternative. Failure; Unfaithful; Unfit Parent; Liar; Gossip; Addicted; Bitter.

The Bible tells us that as a person thinks, so they become. Therefore, if you want to live an unhealthy life, you can. If you want to punish yourself, you will. However, being self-destructive is not God’s plan for your life. In fact, to think this way is to see yourself outside of God’s saving grace.

That’s why the Christmas season offers such hope … because God gave us what we needed most—a Savior to save us from ourselves. The key to putting your past behind you, and moving forward with a bright and hopeful future, is to accept Christ’s forgiveness for you.

You’ll find it comforting to know that you are not alone in your troubles. The Bible tells us, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23, NIV). That means there is not one perfect person in the entire world. We have all made mistakes. I know I’ve made my share. Still, no matter how hard we try to do everything right on our own, we can’t. So God gave His only Son as payment for our sins. In other words, Christ paid our debt. This payment is a gift of God which He freely offers to you and me.

The awesome thing is, we don’t have to earn this gift. Through Christ’s death on the cross, God simply says, “Your sins are paid in full.”

All you and I have to do to receive His forgiveness is to agree with God about our sins. You might say something like this in prayer. Yes, God, I did that thing … I receive your free gift of forgiveness for the wrong I have done, and I accept heaven as my eternal home. Cleanse me and change my life. Fill me with your love, hope, joy and peace.

If you sincerely mean what you’ve confessed, then you have been forgiven. Your slate is clean. God remembers your sins no more. It is as if they never were. That’s the good news of Christmas and the open doorway to peace!

The next thing you must do is forgive yourself. You will stay in bondage if you continue to label yourself as a bad or unworthy person for what you have done instead of focusing on the changes God can bring about in you. You must stop defining yourself by your past and read the Bible to learn how God defines His people.

Just think; this could be a Christmas where you experience real peace, joy, and forgiveness. It’s why Christ was born … to set you free.

Dear Lord, I am a sinner. I believe You died for me and rose from the grave to forgive my sins and secure me a place in heaven. Come into my life and take control. Forgive all my sin and help me to forgive others. I’m now turning from my sin and I trust You alone for my salvation. Fill me with your love and peace, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Thankful Thursday

Well, it's Thankful Thursday time and I am thankful for so many things. We had a great Thanksgiving. It was a lazy day at our house. I started out making pancakes and trying to make some initials with the pancake batter as my parents did when we were growing up. My mom somehow managed to write our names out with the batter, but me..haha not so much luck. I was only able to manage an initial. They were still delicious along with some sausage balls I had made the night before.



I decided at the last minute to actually do a Thanksgiving meal and I'm so glad I did. I knew we were going to be having turkey that night at my dad's so I decided to get a ham and made green bean casserole, rolls, cranberry sauce and even attempted to make stuffing for the first time. It turned out ok for my first time. I know in years to come there will be much tweaking to the recipe. Dee-deed came over and we stuffed ourselves!

Later that night we went to my dad and Judi's for dinner. They had a house full with our five, then Dee-deed, my brother and his family(4) and then Judi's daughter and family(another 5) and then Judi's son. It was fun though. My dad recently bought a Wii and so we had a little bit of fun trying to figure out how to play the tennis game.




I figured out then when my player served the ball, then I won the game, but if the other player started out serving the ball, then I lost...oh well!

Cousins from the T/B side.

Boogs, Meggy, Bud, M & G.

This past Saturday was the Iron Bowl. Dee-deed came over and my best friend since high school came with her three boys. We had fingery foods and it was so much fun. Dee-deed didn't really care who won the game. David, an Alabama fan, was ecstatic that Alabama won, and Stephanie and I were shocked that Auburn didn't even score. Not even a field goal. It was disappointing, but I must say that Alabama has done well this year for the most part...good enough for them to be #1 right now. The AL/FL SEC Championship game should be an interesting one to watch!!

We went to Gatlinburg this past Sunday through Wednesday. It was fun and I have lots of pictures to post but will do that maybe tomorrow. I hope each of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving as we did!