Monday, December 30, 2013

A Word for the New Year

Two years ago in December (or January?), I read an article in Guideposts Magazine by Debbie Macomber, about "A Word for the New Year." You can see Debbie explain this article/ idea and her book idea in the video here.

The past two years I have chosen a word for the year. In 2012 it was FAITHFUL. I felt God has been faithful to me, and I could learn to be more faithful to Him. I explored this word in my quiet time, looked up the definition, wrote down verses and memorized them with my theme word. In 2013, my word was JOY. I had had a tough year in 2012 (and early 2013) with my depression, and felt that I needed to explore God as my source for JOY. Once again, I explored the word in my Bible times and found verses to memorize. I even made a decoration for my home with the word JOY to remind me, and help me memorize the verse.

We also could find one verse for 2014: a promise to reflect on, a different way of thinking, a new discipline. Through prayer and reflection, choose one verse that captures what you're seeking in 2014.  Then display your Bible verse where you'll see it every day: a bathroom mirror, at your desk, your desktop background, even on your phone's home screen. You can share your verse with family and friends, about your verse and why you chose it. While one verse is a good focal point for the year, God's love can't be boiled down to a single verse. Explore related verses, using your verse as a springboard to dig deeper into the Bible and your faith as your continue to pursue God's word throughout the year. (Idea fromYouVersion email, #verse2014)

A good challenge for me? Yes! And it can be for you too...

I have not yet chosen a verse for 2014, or a word of the new year. I am going to be pondering that this week. I may try to let you know next week when I am back from my New Year's break with my family!

Happy New Year!

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Lamentations 3:22-24
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”


Zephaniah 3:5
The Lord within her is righteous; he does no wrong. Morning by morning he dispenses his justice, and every new day he does not fail, yet the unrighteous know no shame.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Luke 2:1-21     (I can almost hear Linus reading it!)


In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,  and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.


---------------------------------

I'll be taking several days off from my blog to spend with family! I hope you all get some family time too!

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Music Monday: "This is Love / Come Thou Long Expected Jesus"



"This is Love / Come Thou Long Expected Jesus" is track #8 on the album Christmas Worship.

This CD of Paul Baloche's is new, and we have been enjoying it the past few weeks. Yesterday in church, my hubby had put together a Christmas choir, and they sang this song for offertory. Our daughter Rebekah sang the beginning part, (which features Kathryn Scott on the recording). I didn't know she was going to do it, and I was pleasantly surprised! I wished I had a recording of our daughter singing it! I hope you enjoy this song as much as we have!



This is Love / Come Thou Long Expected Jesus 

Heaven's splendor left behind,
The King of glory born to die.

God and man to reconcile,
You came to offer up Your life.

This is love, this is love,
Incarnate King, begotten Son.
This is love, this is love,
You choose to make your home in us.

Worship fell that holy night,
Angel voices filled the sky.
Lowly shepherds raised their eyes,
Following the star so bright.

This is love, this is love,
Incarnate King, begotten Son.
This is love, this is love,
You choose to make your home in us.

Come thou long expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free.
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our peace in Thee.

This is love, this is love,
Incarnate King, begotten Son.
This is love, this is love,
You choose to make your home in us.



You can see a video and hear this song here.
Luke 2:15
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

John 3:16For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

2 Corinthians 13:11
Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peacewill be with you.

Monday, December 23, 2013

Family fun: Sledding!

While we have been pretty busy lately getting ready for Christmas, we did take our kids sledding on a hill behind our church one day last week. Joshua had bought a new sled for our kids (the old one was looking pretty sad-- 2 of 4 handles only...). So we sledded with the new sled and old sled. Some friends of ours joined us toward the end, and Caleb got to stay with them longer. It was lots of fun and a nice, sunny day too!
 Daddy pushes Bethy...
 Off she goes!
 Zoom!
 Here goes Mallory!

 Rebekah on her knees!
 Caleb and his friend go together on different sleds!
 Mallory pulling her friend up the hill!
 Two sleds loaded with two girls each!
Daddy goes down with Bethy on his back!


I went down twice-- once alone, and once on Joshua's back, and I rolled off!

It was a great time! Do you take your kids sledding? It doesn't have to be a very big hill to be fun!


Daniel 7:9
“As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.

Matthew 28:3
His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.

Revelation 1:14
The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Wordless Wednesday: Tree decorating...

Here are a few pictures from when we decorated our tree a few weeks ago...
 Silly boy!
 Ho, ho, ho!
Mallory helped add the finishing touch!
The final product...
A few of my favorite ornaments...





Genesis 2:9
The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the treeof the knowledge of good and evil.


Psalm 1:1-3
Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.


Luke 13:18-19
Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.”

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Mary, the Mother of Jesus

This past Sunday, I read a small biography-type page in my NIV Women of Faith Study Bible about Mary, the Mother of Jesus. I enjoyed it, and thought my readers would enjoy it too...
Image found here

A Faith to Follow
Like a woman covered in veils with only her eyes to convey her heart, Mary is wrapped in mystery. We are left to guess so much: her appearance, her relationship with Joseph, how she mothered Jesus, her widowhood, her death. Yet the glimpses we have-- like windows to her soul-- sketch a clear image of a woman of great faith. Mary believed God-- completely.

She believed the angel Gabriel. How much did she know about the prophesied virgin birth when only the boys of her time were schooled in Scripture? For that matter, did anyone understand? Even so, Mary's answer was a simple, "I am the Lord's servant, may it be to me as you have said" (Luke 1:38).

Mary believed God spoke to Joseph in his dreams and gave him wisdom to care for her and her child. She followed him to Egypt in the middle of the night to escape from Herod. About two years later, she followed him home after another dream.

Mary believed that Jesus was the Messiah--even when He was on the cross. But she didn't understand any better than his disciples what the full plan of God was, so she certainly suffered grief and loss and confusion after Jesus' death.

Jesus had grown from the tiny fetus in her womb to the resurrected Lord of glory. Mother became daughter, parent became disciple, but Mary was always a believer. Hers was a simple life- daily faithfulness to menial tasks in a remote part of an obscure nation. Hers was an extraordinary life, with angels, prophecy, Magi and a sword that pierced not only her Son's body but also her own heart- a life given to conceiving, birthing and raising the only Son of God.

The tiny band of disciples that grew into a multitude respected Mary not for her position or celebrity but her faith. "From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me-- holy is His name' (Luke 1:48-49). 

It's hard for us to remember that Mary was a real woman. Through the years, she has been made into an almost magical figure. But she had real problems, fears and failings. God uses real people to accomplish His will. We respect Mary for her faith, but One greater than Mary said, "Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother" (Matt. 12:50). Faithful obedience, like Mary's, is the evidence that we are spiritually related to Christ, just as she was. 

Candid Snapshot: This is how the birth of Jesus came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came go ether, she was found to be with child through the Hold Spirit (Matt. 1:18).

Mary: find more in:
Matthew 1-2, 12:46-50
Mark 3:31-35
Luke 1-2, 8:19-21
John 2:1-11, 19:25-27
Acts 1:14

copyright 2001 by Zondervan

Monday, December 16, 2013

Music Monday: "Child in a Manger"

This CD is one of our favorites, by a band called "First Call". They aren't together anymore, but we saw two of the three original members in concert once, and got this CD shortly after. I heard this song yesterday and had it "in my head" all evening and this morning. Then at church, we discussed Luke 1, and Mary's song, "The Magnificat". On the same page in my study Bible were the lyrics to this hymn, written by Mary Macdougall Macdonald (1789-1872) originally in Gaelic. It was translated into English after her death. I had no idea that this song was an older hymn! I think it was providential that I saw the lyrics on the page in my Bible the night after I heard it. I thought it would be a nice one to share with my blog readers! It's a different song, not one you hear often at Christmas...


First Call - "Child In The Manger" 



Child in the manger
Infant of Mary
Came as a stranger
Born in a stall
Sweet little Jesus
Sent down from heaven
God's gift of new life
Offered to all

Once the most Holy
Child of salvation
Gently and lowly
Lay here below
Blessed peacemaker
Mighty redeemer
See Him victorius
Over each foe

Prophets foretold Him
Infant of wonder
Angels behold Him
There on His throne
Worthy the Savior
Of all our praises
Happy and ever
Blessed are His own



image found here


I had a hard time finding a video or recording of this song to listen to... :-(I hope you still enjoyed the lyrics and can maybe find it on iTunes...

Luke 2:10-16

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

Friday, December 13, 2013

Recipe: Chicken Scampi

This is an old recipe that my college rookie Julie gave me a while back. She made it a few times when we lived together, and it always reminds me of her when I make it, and those good old college days. She originally got the recipe from the Creme de Colorado cookbook, and altered it to fit her own tastes and ease.


Here is the delicious recipe:

Chicken Scampi
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup onions (green or white)
1 Tbsp minced garlic
juice of 1 lemon (or 1/4 cup juice)
2 lb chicken breasts-- boneless, skinless and cut into 1/2" pieces
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper
1/4 cup fresh parsley (or several Tbsp ground)
1-2 tomatoes, or one 15 oz can
1 bell pepper, chopped
RICE or buttered noodles

Directions:
In skillet, hear together butter and olive oil, and sauté onions and garlic. Add lemon juice, chicken, salt, pepper and parsley. Continue cooking, stirring constantly for 5-8 minutes, or until chicken is done. Add tomatoes and peppers. Heat through. Serve over noodles or nice. Serves 4-6.

Let me know if you try it! I'd love to hear your review!


One of my favorite Bible stories of oil...

1 Kings 17:7-15

Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. Then the word of the Lord came to him: “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” 10 So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.”

12 “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”
13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’”
15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Wordless Wednesday: Bethany's 5th birthday!

(Well, almost wordless!)

Our youngest daughter Bethany turned FIVE this past weekend! We had a fun day celebrating her...
 We began the day with pumpkin pancakes on the special plate!
 She opened one gift from us after breakfast-- new shoes!
 Daddy getting the cake ready for the lunchtime party...
 The completed cake for the Avengers party... Captain America's shield-- cool!
 Our birthday girl enjoying her lunch!
 Opening gifts (we had a tough time getting good pictures since the sun was shining brightly in the big bay window!)
 Coloring/ activity books and markers from Grandpa Nadel...
 A Captain America shield from the three big kids...
 Getting ready to blow out the candles with friends around...
 Make a wish!

After the party, we went to the Parade of Lights on Main Street all bundled up...
Then after the parade, we went out to eat at Red Robin for her birthday dinner and song from the wait-staff! It was a very fun day!

We are so thankful for our sweet girl Bethany and the JOY she brings to our family! What a blessing from God she is to us!



Psalm 5:11
But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

Psalm 28:7
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

1 Thessalonians 3:9
How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?

3 John 1:4
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Monday, December 9, 2013

Music Monday: "Little Drummer Boy"

This song is one that we discovered a few years ago, sung by "The man in Black", Johnny Cash. We like his version of the song with his deep bass voice, scooping singing and of course, the message of the song. In church yesterday our pastor was speaking about the gift that Jesus gave to us, and what we can give Him in return. We really can't bring anything to Him that is "fit to give a King" as the song says... 

Little Drummer Boy- Johnny Cash

Come they told me
Our newborn King to see
Our finest gifts we bring
To lay before the King

This is to honor Him
When we come

Baby Jesus, I am a poor boy too
I have no gift to bring
That's fit to give a King

But may I play for You
On my drum

The Mother Mary nodded
The ox and lamb kept time
I played my drum for Him
I played my best for Him

Then He smiled at me
Me and my drum

Songwriters
TRADITIONAL, / BERGDAHL, EDITH / COLE, NAT "KING"

Read more: Johnny Cash - Little Drummer Boy Lyrics | MetroLyrics 

You can listen to this song on YouTube here. I like the recording that we have better though!

I also like this poem that we have framed in our home:

A good reminder, whether you are a "drummer boy" or not, to serve and honor God with our lives and our hearts, today and all year long.


Luke 2:1-19


In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

American Girl class: Felicity#2: Week 6

We had a great Felicity class this week! After we discussed book 6 in the Felicity series, Changes for Felicity, I showed the girls my sampler that I made for my home while teaching the class 2 1/2 years ago. You can see the picture here. I also showed them a ball and cup toy like one in Felicity's Craft Book. Then I read the book Mary Geddy's Day (found on Amazon.com here), about a Colonial girl in Williamsburg. There were several similarities to our Felicity book!

For our craft, we made potpourri sachets. I bought small organza bags to put the potpourri into. In the past, I did a round piece of fabric and a ribbon, with potpourri in the middle. That is a better way to do it, and more like the craft in Felicity's Craft Book. The advantage of the bag was that it was a quick craft, giving us more time to work on cross-stitch bookmarks!

For snack, we were to have lemon tartlets (recipe found here.) There was a small mix-up in the 2:00 class and we had no snack. :(  In the first class, we had lemon cookies, and they were great!

After snack, we worked on our cross-stitch bookmarks again. This was the last day of class for the semester, so the girls got to take them home! Several of the girls completed the three letters in their initials. For parents at home, you can find cross-stitch directions found here. I had my own directions that I printed for the girls to take home too. It was a fun class project, and I hope they will finish them at home!
 Making and smelling the potpourri sachets...
 Snack in the first class...

 Diligently and carefully working on our bookmarks....

 I also had a few girls finish my five semester cycle of American Girls, so I gave them certificates of completion!

 The 2:00 class...
 Potpourri sachets and bookmarks...

 Almost done-- she even started on her heart on the bottom! Awesome job!
 More certificates of completion...

I will miss these girls over the Christmas break! Next semester I will be teaching the American Girl CAROLINE for the first time (along with Josefina)! So I may see some of the girls who finished my five semester cycle again for the new class!

Have a Merry Christmas, girls!

Genesis 8:21
The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.

2 Corinthians 2:14-16

But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Wordless Wednesday: Thanksgiving Highlights

(Well, almost wordless!)
We had another wonderful Thanksgiving this past week-- filled with delicious food, lots of fun family time and even a visit to a tree farm (though we didn't get a tree, but a wreath). The kids loved getting to play with their cousins, and play and play and play, and laugh, and giggle, and sleep together too!
 My mom-in-law made these fun knit cowls for all of the girls and hats for the boys--love it!
 Eight cousins-- so happy to be together...
 Five pies that my mom-in-law made-- my favorite was the chocolate pecan-- YUM!!
 Happy knitters-- finger and otherwise...
 I walked two miles on Thursday morning in a Turkey Trot with my three older kids and my hubby- he ran 4 miles!
 Four of the kids who walked/ ran the Turkey Trot together...
 I made sweet potato casserole-- so delish!
 My sweetie and me on Thanksgiving evening...
 We played lots and lots of games... this is the card game Golf.
 Roasting marshmallows at the tree farm with Dad-- we got a wreath, went on a hayride and saw friends too!

The best leftovers ever! YUM!

How was your Thanksgiving this year? I'd love to hear about it!

Psalm 69:30
I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.

Psalm 95:2
Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.

Philippians 1:3
[ Thanksgiving and Prayer ] I thank my God every time I remember you.
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