Thursday, January 20, 2011

Another gift from GiG.....

Today's devotion from Mary Southerland in my "GIRLFRIENDS IN GOD" email was truly touching to me. Sometimes I just don't ask. I don't take the time to ask GOD to bless me. I know I take my list of burdens to Him and wait for Him to take care of them all, but frankly, I don't ask for the blessing. So, this was meaningful to me today. I thought it might be meaningful for you, as well. Enjoy.


1 John 3:21-23 "Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us" (NIV).

When we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and seek to obey His commands, we can come before God in confidence, knowing that He wants to pour out His blessings on our life. He is waiting. We just need to ask.

Prayer
Father, thank You for loving me. Please help me walk in obedience to Your commands and live my life in a way that pleases You. I really do want to be a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ. Right now, I surrender all that I am to You and ask for Your blessings in my life.

In Jesus' name,

Monday, January 17, 2011

If you have come to my blog and now noticed a picture of a lady that you may not recognize; her name is Joanne. She is the author of the blog "the simple wife". She is an author and mother and young woman of only 38 who suffered a massive stroke last week and her young daughter found her. She now struggles for her life. So I added her to my prayer list and I hope you will add her to yours.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Safe...

Let's Pray
Father, I am so tired of playing it safe, of bowing to the wrong crowd and listening to the wrong voices. I lay down my pride and surrender to You and Your plan for my life in this New Year. Stretch my faith. Give me Your eyes to see those in need. Fill me with Your power and strength so that others will be drawn to You.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

This was in my daily devotion from "girlfriends in GOD" the author being Mary Southerland. I found that it rang true in my heart. I felt compelled to cry out that prayer as my own. I struggle to live a life that doesn't offend others, keeps everyone happy and most of all keeps me safe. But, I read in this little devotion that I need to let go of some of those "safe" things. This is what she said before the prayer....


People are desperately looking for ordinary women like you and me whose lives have been changed by an extraordinary God - the One who is calling us to be "God with skin on" to those who don't even believe He exists. I want to love every excuse and doubt right out of their minds. I want them to see a power in me that they cannot explain in human terms and a message that shouts of God's mercy and forgiveness. I want to be hungry and thirsty for God as never before. I want my normal life to be abnormally extraordinary because God is alive and well and at work in and around me.


I just felt like this was meant only for me, just for my heart today. I don't really know what else to say but that I want to be "abnormally extraordinary because God is alive" in me.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Ice Skating with Friends

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Peanut took her girlfriends on a skating trip for her birthday.

Peanut's birthday celebration

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Just a little momento of her family birthday party on Wednesday

Monday, January 3, 2011

New Year's Eve 2010

Peanut decided to have a few friends over for New Year's Eve.
They started out playing with the wii.




The girls.......


then the boys....






and the girls again.....



and the boys.....


then mixin' it up a bit...




then.....the snow began falling and they were more interested in playing outside in the snow. Which I totally understand! We loaned all of them some warm coats and sent them on their way.


snowballs and snowmen to be made....




frozen fingers to be had....


Not just a little bit of snow either. I mean , we got ourselves doused with some white!
It was rather remarkable if you ask me! I don't ever recall a New Year's Eve with snow.
It was quite the memory. Good bunch of kids with some good times.
Happy New Year!!!



Christmas 2010

Our Christmas 2010 was to be a nice quiet little family affair. The parents had decided to go to my sister's for the weekend. J and I had to work both days before and after, so we couldn't make the trip. Papa had gone to see the doctor for his post op visit prior to their departure the next day to Sister's. Well, the doctor advised Dad not to travel that far at this particular time. So, the plans changed. Now, Sister and her family were coming home for Christmas. They were going to pack up and head down on Christmas eve. They now have a lab puppy, who is 5 months old. She is a beautiful girl, Hershey, a little playful. Too playful to stay with Nana and Papa, so she stayed with us......so did Sister and her husband and the kids. My quaint little home got a whole lot more little over the next couple of days!
Christmas morning I found myself not able to sleep much. I woke at 3 am and cooked the ham, followed by the turkey. Sister's kids were up and at 'em at 7 ish. Our girls were not so quick to get themselves up and out of bed. So my niece and nephew had their Santa Stocking time well underway before our little ones sauntered in the room.
The children passed out the gifts, later to my dismay, I had forgotten to read the Christmas story. Every Christmas morning since the girls were born, we read the Christmas story and then open our gifts. I totally FORGOT! I was so sad about that, but I had to ask for forgiveness.
The gift exchange was huge, it always is when my sister is involved! *wink*
The girls were getting a special gift from their parents, we gave them one present with both their names written on it, the only gift under the tree for them for a couple of weeks.

They opened it and found a Norton Antivirus kit.....
Well, as they turned around their Dad was holding a box for each of them.

If you can see what is on Bugg's lap, it is the box for the lap top.
Both of the girls got one. They were so surprised. They had no idea!
They thought when they opened the anti virus, that maybe they would be getting one lap top to share, not realizing that they each got their own.



You can see them here.
I would like you to know that all that stuff in this small room is from my Sister, she is other wise known as Candy Claus!! :~)


Checking out their gifts and we are checking out the mess!


I nearly got an entire new kitchen from my sister, this is just one of the boxes of Pampered Chef items that she supplied me with!
We went on later in the day to have Mom and Dad over for dinner and My brother in law's father as well. We ended up presenting Mom and Dad with a Big Flat Screen TV for Christmas.
We highly anticipated my Dad being a little over reactive, but much to our confusion, our Mother screams......
"Oh, NO!"
at the top of her high pitched voice and then began to cry. We didn't quite know what to do with ourselves, but we know they enjoyed it!
That my friends, was our Christmas 2010.
Hope yours was extra special and you were as spoiled as we were!






Christmas Eve 2010

Christmas Eve is our traditional time with the Luiz side of the family. We look forward to dinner and presents because we never truly know what will happen during the evening.
One year, the power went out and that was probably the most memorable, if not the most fun!
We will start with the tree.


My sister in law decorates it a little different every year. This year was more of an elegant simple theme. None of the PEPSI ornaments on the tree, but always a ton of presents.
My Niece, she is getting so tall. She is second only to Bugg now, much to her sister's dismay!

My oldest niece, delving in to the package. She really wanted it!



Auntie B, playing Santa!




J's new tool.



Miss J and Auntie B unwrapping their loot.






My brother in law, E with the girls.






Crash~ exactly what I wanted to do ;~)



Contemplating their goods.




Getting in to one of her gifts...



Opening their gifts from us



K is checking out those moccasins

that's me and my sister in law :~)


Us girls with Auntie B and J needing in the picture!


Ok, now with just Auntie B.
We had a great time with them. My sister in law cooked us some great Ravioli, we had a great gab fest and wonderful gifts. Always, so look forward to our time with the other Luiz 4 :~)