2011 in review

It is so hard to believe there are just a few days left in 2011.  These are a few of my favorites of the year to tell our story of the wonderful year of two thousand eleven.

These commandments that I give you

today are to be upon your hearts.

Impress them on your children.

Talk about them when you sit at home

and when you walk along the road,

when you lie down and

when you get up.

Deuteronomy 6: 6-7
Owen and his great great grandma.  Family is and will always be important to our lives.  She turned 90 this year.

 My son, keep your father’s command

and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

Bind them always on your heart;

fasten them around your neck. 

When you walk, they will guide you;

when you sleep, they will watch over you;

when you awake, they will speak to you.

Proverbs 6:20-23

Owen and Matthew planting raspberry bushes.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:9-12

One of my best friends, Jamie, got married.  Owen and I were honored to be part of her day.

For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
the LORD bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.
Psalm 84:11


Owen hanging out at Merlefest.

A friend loves at all times,

and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

Proverbs 17:17

Best Friends.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
Psalm 139:13


Owen kisses his baby sister, for which he has prayed for.

Every good and perfect gift is from above.

James 1:17

These three truly are my greatest gifts.

We love because he first loved us.
1 John 4:19


Let them always love one another as brother and sister.  They are precious and good in his sight and mine.

Start children off on the way they should go,

and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

Proverbs 22:6

Owen started school this year.  So hard to believe.  They grow so fast.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14

She grows everyday.  She is beautiful and I thank God for lending her to me for her time here on earth.

May the Lord, the God of your fathers, increase you a thousand times and bless you as he has promised!

Deuteronomy 1:11

Thank you Lord for the blessings of 2011

 



after

we feasted with family

we read the verses

we talked of His birth

we opened the presents

we gave gifts to those we love

we sang the carols

we left the cookies and milk

we said Jesus is the reason for the season

but afterwards as I clean up the mess of Christmas

the dirty dishes

the paper 

the trash

the trash

i think how can we ever celebrate Him enough

and what did we do for Him today

did I teach my children the true meaning of Christmas

what will they remember

how will they celebrate His birth with their children

a holiday all about Him and we have made it all about us

cue the Charlie Brown music

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'"

did you give Glory to God this Christmas?

lovely linkys

 hear it on sunday, use it on monday

 soli deo gloria
on your heart tuesdays
  tuesdays unwrapped

wise men

do you know why the wise men came?

the first gentiles to worship the King

they traveled a long, long ways following a star

to find but a mere child 

but upon finding they fell on there knees 

and worshiped!

when was the last time you found Jesus

and fell on your knees 

and worshiped!

when was the last time you gave him the greatest gifts you have,

your gold and incense and myrrh?

they worshiped this infant King

unaware of his miracles, unaware of the price he was going to pay, unaware of His holy spirit....

be filled this week...

find Him, seek Him.....worship Him

time flies

the night he was born 

i loved with a love i didn't know was possible

it didn't matter how i got where i was

and that others disapproved

and that the future was unclear

it didn't matter that i was student teaching in three weeks

it didn't matter that there was less than $100 in my bank account

all that mattered was him

he was everything

fast forward six years.....

my heart is still growing for the love i have for him

and it still doesn't matter what happens tomorrow, next week, next month

and it still doesn't matter how much money is in my bank account

he is what matters

Happy Birthday Owen!

l

linking up with these lovelies:

emily for imperfect prose
beki at the rusted chain for fingerprint friday

michelle for caffeinated randomness

Mary's Gift

Scared, Worried, Alone

Mary sat

Mary pondered

Young, Poor, Pregnant

But Gabriel brought words of comfort, healing, understanding:

“Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”  

Mary carried an unexpected gift in an unexpected way

And Gabriel held words to bring her through:

“Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” 

She was brave and she was strong

She held the greatest gift ever born.

Celebrate. Rejoice.  Mary brought forth her first born son and laid him in a manger.

love this song!

See what I said last year here and now I have this gift

Photo Card

Modern Christmas Christmas

Send Christmas cards personalized with your favorite photos.

View the entire collection of cards.

Friday Photos

Capturing my world in the smiles on the faces of my children...

 the colors of God's blessings in my life.....

 captured on a Friday afternoon on the farm by my best friend.

Thank you, MHC Photography. check her out.

Now to pick a Christmas card...eee.

keeping up with friends

through out life we form friendships with the people in our path

in school you were friends with people in your class

in college you are friends with roommates, classmates, random people you met as you walk to class

at work you are friends with those who share a cubicle, a building, a hallway

but you grow up and graduate school

you don't see each other every day

you graduate college you move away or your roommate moves to alabama

you change jobs, you move offices, you change schools

but those relationships, what happens to them?

friendships take work if they aren't convenient 

as my grandma would say its the season of love

reach out to a friend this season

reach across the years, the miles, the change, whatever it may be

it might just make their Christmas

how do you keep up with friends?

tired

t  i  r  e  d  

up at 3 am

to hold a sweet baby girl

up at 5am

to get ready for a friday

with lots of student minds to mold today

7:20 they are right on time

3:30 they leave for the weekend

not too worry they will return monday morn

t i r e d

and this new mother will be ready!

my first baby will be 6 years old this month....it's worth all the tired

  rusted chain for finger print friday
a new one

unwrapping a tuesday

Today has been one of those days.  One of those days when you're thankful its curl up on the couch time.

I fought back tears today.  I fought back anger.  I fought back harsh words.  I fought back the urge to throw up my hands and say "do whatever you want" and walk away.  Instead, I smiled, I said good morning, I said "it's OK," I said let me help you, I said please don't say those words in my classroom or any where else for that matter, I said thank you, I said "it's OK," I smiled.

And with each pencil mark Owen made to practice the letter F. I thought you don't have to be perfect Karrie. 
And on this Tuesday I unwrap imperfection. 
And I'm thankful God loves me, all of me, even through my imperfections.

 http://poemsprayersandponderings.wordpress.com

Linking with Emily @ Tuesdays Unwrapped