Prayer... Check!

I am very bad about accomplishing any personal devotions or quiet time... there... I admit it! I desire it, I want to do it, I just don't make it a priority I suppose. One of my favorite sister-in-laws gave me a book for Christmas that I have actually started reading. When I suggested it I knew it sounded like a book I could make good use of. Prayer Starters for busy Moms: How to pray all day and still put the laundry away. I have not read very much of it yet but I think it is going to be really encouraging.
Going back a couple of years in our Young Women's Discipleship Group one of our "assignments" was to spend one hour in prayer. After I accomplished this I felt so wonderful, it was encouraging and I knew I had spent that hour in God's presence. I so desire to accomplish that daily, even if just for 5 minutes.
I want to spend more time with Jesus! I want to know the closeness and love that comes from spending time in prayer. So I am going to work on my prayer life and pray through my day no matter what I might be "accomplishing". I encourage you to do the same. As I read through my book I will share what I learn so that you may be encouraged too!

Christmas Here I Come!

I am at my favorite part of the holiday season now... the final week before Christmas. I am done with my shopping and now I get to spend the next week baking and wrapping presents and watching my all time favorite movie, White Christmas! I still have plenty to do and my house still needs to be cleaned up but it will happen in time. I look forward to the different dinners and outings and the continual celebration of Christmas!

I did just spent the last hour addressing Christmas card envelopes to which I don't have the Christmas cards for yet. I promise next year I am getting an earlier start on my cards so I am not mailing them the week of Christmas! I am waiting for my cards to arrive so I gathered the envelopes from past extra Christmas cards as well as from extra baby announcements and got a jump on my "addressing"! Nothing like working ahead!

I hope you can enjoy these final days of the Christmas season and I hope that all the lights, wrapping, baking, dinners and presents will also be a reminder of WHY we get to celebrate CHRISTmas! In all the hussle and bussle let's not leave CHRIST out of our CHRISTmas! May they be a wonderful reminder to us all!

The Sister Train

I don't know what the girls were doing but they were really enjoying playing with the baby strollers. We just had to get a picture of them. It is fun to see them all interact together!

Some Things You Can Only Share with Your Sister!

Do you remeber your teenage years? I am sure most of us would like to forget them:) However, when I was in highschool, probably 16 give or take a year, my sister and I were HUGE fans of The New Kids on the Block. That is putting it midly. Well, last month my sister took me to one of their reunion concerts. We never went to one when we were younger but fulfulled this 'teenage dream come true' in our 30's. It was almost silly to think about and somewhat embarrassing....

However, we had the best time in the world. It was one of the best 'sister-bonding' moments I think we have had in quite some time. Probably because our husbands would have no interest in participating in a concert of thousands of screaming women... notice, women... in their 30's. Nor, would we have wanted our husbands to see us screaming like 16 year olds:) Yes, a little crazy! But oh so worth it. I can't remember when I have had that much silliness and in a long time. We got to scream like silly teenagers all over again. Yes we even remembered all the words to all their old songs. They might even sound better now than they did 15 years ago. I know it is silly teenage boy band all grown up and now in their late 30's but what I will remember the most is that I got to share this extra fun night with my sister. There is no one else I would rather of lived that "dream" with than Julie! There also isn't anyone who can appreciate what fun we had either, so we can relish those memories together and get giddy like little school girls all over again. Thanks Julie for so much fun and thanks for being a great sister!

Christmas Time Fun!

A few pics of the girls today, and yes we have Christmas decorations in our lawn!

Christmas Tree Hunting

We went and got our Christmas tree today and we like to go someplace we can "hunt" for the perfect tree and cut it down. Barry and I started this tradition before the girls even came along and it is always a fun way to involve the whole family. This is our picture from our Christmas Tree Hunt today. It will take me several days... I mean nights to get it decorated finally but it is fun!

By the way, can you tell I married a "farm boy" he has on Carharts from head to toe!

Big Sister!

Sydney knew we were looking for a backpack for Gracie for Christmas and tonight Sydney came home from Awanas with a new back pack for her little sister, Gracie.
They got some sort of "money" in reward for attendance, bringing their Bible etc each Wednesday night and then they get to spend it at the "Awana Store". She unselfishly thought of Gracie when she saw this backpack and spent the majority of her "money" on her little sister! She then picked out a little toy for Molly before finding something for herself.
I am so touched by her sensitivity and so proud of her. It is the times like this that make all the other struggles pale in comparison to the love of my girls for each other and thinking of each other first!