Monday, January 28, 2019

Make Every Day A Holiday

My mom receives Guideposts magazines each month in the mail. When she is completed reading them, she passes them on to me. I enjoy reading the stories of encouragement and hope. Recently, I read a story of a lady named Julie, who likes to find "fun" or "bizarre" days on the calendar and celebrate them, as a holiday every day.

I thought it was a nice idea. She said that she likes to put a picture and a Bible verse with the name of the funny holiday, and post it with a few hashtags, such as #makeeverydayaholiday and #thisisthedaythelordhasmade. I thought I could join her in making them a few days a week. I've done several lately, and posted them on Instagram and Facebook. I usually find the pictures on the internet somewhere, and save it. I add the verses and words using different apps, called "Retype" and "Over". I have used these apps before for pictures that I wanted to write on.

It is a fun little new thing to brighten my days in the cold of winter. The holidays range from silly to outlandish. I wonder where some of them came from... I mean who thought making a "Measure your feet" day was a grand idea? Our Bubble wrap appreciation day (today)? Most of the days have 2-4 holidays on them. There is chocolate cake day, National blueberry pancake day, Data Privacy day, and Thank a Plugin Developer day. Kinda wild, right?! It is sometimes a challenge to find a Bible verse that applies, but it is a good & godly pursuit!

I hope you enjoy the pictures, and maybe you can join me, in making every day a holiday? ;-D
 Morning sleepiness fighting day was on a Monday, which seemed fitting to me!


National Milk Day!

 Customer Service Day
 National Book Publishers Day
Come in from the cold day

Measure your feet day...

What about you? What funny or bizarre holiday do you celebrate? I'd love to hear about it!



Psalm 118:24
This is the day which the Lord has made;Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Esther 9:28
So these days were to be remembered and celebrated throughout every generation, every family, every province and every city; and these days of Purim were not to fail from among the Jews, or their memory fade from their descendants.

2 Chronicles 30:23
Then the whole assembly decided to celebrate the feast another seven days, so they celebrated the seven days with joy.

Monday, January 21, 2019

Empty and full

As a mom, I feel like I spend so much time filling and emptying all kinds of things. I fill the dishwasher, run it, and then empty it again. I fill the sink, wash the dishes, put away the dishes, and then sink fills up again. (Especially when my daughters bake!) The hampers get full, I empty them into the washer, then empty the washer into the dryer, and refill the washer again. The laundry baskets get emptied when I fold the clothes, and the dressers fill up again. Then the process starts all over...

When the cupboards get empty, I go to the grocery store, and fill up the grocery cart with good food. I empty all of the new food into the house, filling up the cupboards, refrigerator, and freezer again. The food gets emptied out day by day, as it is cooked to fill the bellies of my family. I fill plates that get emptied of food. I fill water and milk cups that get emptied.

At times it amazes me how quickly things get empty. It amazes me also to see how easily things get filled. I try to fill the minds of my children with good things each day. I try to fill their hearts with love from hugs, kisses and time listening to them.

There are many things that are full in our lives. There are bookshelves that are full. Our days our filled with classes, reading, talking, discussing, learning and much more. Our home has lots of good furniture that fills it up. Our home fills up with people during family gatherings or parties. At times our home is filled with laughter, other times it is quiet, sadness, or contemplation. We have so much, yet at times, we can feel empty.

I have found what fills my days with joy, when I feel alone, empty and undone is only Jesus. My love for God fills me heart each day. My desire to serve Him alone can encourage my soul when I am weary. When I am weary of the ways of the world, weary of winter, "weary of doing it all," I can lay my heart at the feet of Jesus. It is there that I find true meaning, and fullness in my days. I can open my Bible, and be filled with the fullness of God.


Ephesians 3:14-21

For this reason I kneel before the Father,  from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.  I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,  may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,  and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Monday, January 7, 2019

Christmas 2018 highlights

This past Christmas was one of my favorite Christmases ever. Why?, you ask. Well, because I got to see ALL of my siblings (we live in 3 different states) and be together for several days with each one. My oldest brother from Texas came with his entire family-- including his wife, 5 kids, 2 spouses and 4 of his grandkids. The youngest is about 16 months old, and I had never met that miracle baby! (She was born very premature).

So on the 22nd, the crew from Texas arrived. It was loud, close together time at my parents' house for one week. After they left (13 people), my sister and her family came. My two other brothers overlapped that time too. We were only all together (my siblings and parents) for one evening. I loved every moment. I think my parents did too.

One of the main logistical problems is feeding 20+ people at the same time. We planned several meals ahead of time, and that was a help. But even then, since we weren't used to it, we got pretty low on food. We made runs to the grocery store nearly every day. We ate a lot of fruit, 4 jars of applesauce, soup, French bread, bagels & cream cheese, and more. Everybody did not go hungry, which was a goal! 😄

It was wonderful to see my nieces and nephews, to catch up with them, and play games with them. The kids played lots of Nertz and Spades. Sometimes the adults joined in the games. There were walks to a nearby park. One day a bunch of the kids went to a nearby Fun Park and played laser tag and at the arcade. Another day, a big group went skiing in the mountains. That day, some of the rest went sledding and to the ice rink.

After the Texans left, we did take a day and go roller skating. It was pretty fun! I was glad that I never fell, and after about 10 rounds, it started to come back to me! Three of my kids and three of my siblings went skating, as well as my niece and nephew!

My parents were big-time troopers through it all, since we gathered at their house most of the time. My dad, who loves to sleep in, even got up early one day to get bagels at Einstein's! We enjoyed the bagels a lot! My dad did lots of shopping, and they did lots of dishes, cooking and cleaning. We really appreciated them! My dad kept saying how much he enjoyed having everyone there. I did too!

So here are some pictures of the days spent together during Christmas week... ( I know, it's A LOT!)

 Enjoying "the baby...

After dinner all together the first night...

 Playing Nertz with cousins...

Pulling the baby at the ice rink... 
"Cousins" enjoying games on Grandpa's phone...
On Christmas Eve, after the service at our church...
Watching "The Polar Express" ... 
 Hanging out...
Opening gifts on Christmas Day... 

B got a new outdoor game... too bad it's snowy! 
C loved his new winter coat! 
M was pretty excited about her crochet stuff in a box, including yarn, needles, a bowl and hooks! 
R got "LaLaLand" and was so happy! 
Loved this sweet baby's hat! 
Grandpa loved holding his great-granddaughter! 
My brother with his great niece... 
Chatting on Christmas morning, my hubby in his "Three Kings costume" haha!😆 
Hanging out with Uncle Tim...
SO glad we took pictures together of us... doesn't happen often enough!
 Together is the best place to be!
Baby petting the soft doggie...
The crew after Laser tag!
Look at that pile of plates! It was kind of amazing!
Our group roller skating...
My girls...
And the last morning, before "the cousins" left... loved seeing the kids play! 
After the family all left, we were glad to settle back into the routine of being home again, but I felt like the hippo at the end of "The Hippos Go Berserk!" missing the other hippos... It was a great time together. A little overwhelming, loud, crazy but oh so fun. I have lots of cousins and great memories of getting collectively at my grandparent's house at Christmas too. I'm very glad we got to be with each other this Christmas.


Our family is not quite the size of Jacob's family in the Bible...

Acts 7:13-15
On their second visit, Joseph told his brothers who he was, and Pharaoh learned about Joseph’s family.  After this, Joseph sent for his father Jacob and his whole family, seventy-five in all.  Then Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our ancestors died.


I love this picture of Jacob and Esau coming back together after so many years apart...😓

Genesis 33:1-4

Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two female servants. He put the female servants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear. He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.
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