New Book

I am now reading a new book that Chris got me for Christmas. I am reading Free Fall by Fern Michaels. This is a follow up book to Lethal Justice that he got me last year... (We are pretending he meant to do that.) Anyway, it is good and once again Fern Michaels has let her imagination go wild and come up with a crazy story line that I can't get enough of. I would not be surprised if I am done with this book in a week.

Spiritual Patriots by Aubrey Johnson is/was very good. I have not completely finished it yet since Chris and I are trying to read it together. It is a really great look at the book of Jude from a very military type of perspective. Satan is alive and well in this world and we are expected to fight him and keep living for the Lord.. each day!

At the beginning of each chapter Mr. Johnson tells us in one line something that will help us to know victory. They are challenging and some are very hard to do. Here they are:

• If I am to know victory, I must be willing to take a stand.
• If I am to know victory, I must adapt my plans to fulfill greater needs.
• If I am to know victory, I must never use grace as an excuse for disobedience.
• If I am to know victory, I must learn from history.
• If I am to know victory, I must fill my heart with holy aspirations.
• If I am to know victory, I must choose my path carefully.
• If I am to know victory, I must make pleasing God my highest aim.
• If I am to know victory, I must be content without becoming complacent.
• If I am to know victory, I must never underestimate my enemy.
• If I am to know victory, I must prepare daily for Jesus' return.
• If I am to know victory, I must not be easily disheartened.
• If I am to know victory, I must accept personal responsibility for my spiritual growth.
• If I am to know victory, I must trust God to sustain me through trying times.

Playing with Pictures

This is a picture of Hannah from last Christmas.

I wanted a way to take care of red eye and brighten pictures on my laptop, while I was away from home so I found this free program and downloaded it. It is http://www.picasa.google.com/ and I think it is going to work. These are the things I did with this picture with that program. It was really fun to play. If you are looking for a free program to help you with your pictures, I recommend it --- so far.

Lyrics Matter

I was introduced to two new songs today.
Both touched me more by reading the words than listening to the music.


The Way I Am
Ingrid Michaelson

If you were falling, then I would catch you.
You need a light, I'd find a match.
Cuz I love the way you say good morning.
And you take me the way I am.
If you are chilly, here take my sweater.
Your head is aching, I'll make it better.
Cuz I love the way you call me baby.
And you take me the way I am.
I'd buy you Rogaine if you start losing all your hair.
Sew on patches to all you tear.
Cuz I love you more than I could ever promise.
And you take me the way I am.
You take me the way I am.
You take me the way I am


Everyday People
Reba McEntire and Carole King
(My wonderful hubby got me the Reba Duets CD for Christmas!)

College kids turning 21 in their senior year
Spring break was here
They headed South but not for sun on their skin
Where the storms had been
It was hard, fixing windows and shingles and doors
And tired never felt so good before

Everyday people
Are the ones who are making miracles
And it's beautiful
Everyday people
Lifting up the world, like and answered prayer
I thank God they're there, they're the ones who care
Everyday people

Doctor said, "Good news, we caught it soon enough
We can clear this up."
But she's thirty and single with two kids to raise
Times are tough these days
So her friends make some calls and the word spread around
How her bills got paid, she don't know how

Everyday people
Are the ones who are making miracles
And it's beautiful
Everyday people
Lifting up the world, like and answered prayer
I thank God they're there, they're the ones who care
Everyday people

A little girl takes her mama's hand and walks inside
Saying please don't cry
As the people who built this house just for them
Laugh through the tears as a family movies in.

Everyday people
Are the ones who are making miracles
And it's beautiful
Everyday people
Lifting up the world, like and answered prayer
I thank God they're there, they're the ones who care
Everyday people
Everyday people
Everyday people

Sweet Christmas

Sorry, I took over 100 pictures and narrowing it down to 20 or so is very hard. These are pictures that I just thought were sweet and had to share.

And, yes, it was Hannah who had to be sure that Hannah the Cabbage Patch Kid learned about Jesus.

Special Christmas Thanks

Thank you Mommy and Daddy for a big Bible like everyone else at church has.

Thank you Maw Maw and Poppa Bob for my table and chairs. I have already had a "tea" party on it.

Thank you Uncle Lee for playing kitchen with me.

Thank You Mr. and Mrs. Jones for this fun toy.

Thank you Uncle Matt, Aunt Sara Jo, Cole, and Savannah for my awesome Adidas outfit!

Thank you Uncle Al, Aunt Diane, Megan, and Andrew for the neat books and all the other great stuff!

Thank you Nana and Papa Joe for the Hannah Cabbage Patch doll and pots and pans for my kitchen!

Santa

Santa came and brought Hannah a kitchen. At first she did not understand the big new object in front of the tree but once we showed her what it was, Christmas was officially over for Hannah. She was not interested in any other gift!

Saturday's Christmas

We had so much fun having Christmas with Grandmom and Grandpop on Saturday. I think Hannah's favorite activity did not involve anything that was given to her. She loved Grandmom's sheep!! (She may have thought it was a horse, though!)

Late on the pictures

I didn't do so good this week on the timing. Here are our Sunday pictures.




MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Friday Fill In

I found this neat blog that gives you sentences to fill in every Friday. I am a little late but I thought I would still do it for this week. The blog is www.fridayfillins.blogspot.com.

You should try it.

This is #51!
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1. Snow Man.

2. I'm looking forward to Hannah seeing her kitchen on Christmas Morning.

3. Christopher is the best husband ever!

4. One of my favorite old tv shows is The Cosby Show.

5. I'm done with Christmas Shopping. Yippeee!

6. The most enjoyable thing around the holidays is having days off work with my family at home.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to sleeping, tomorrow my plans include seeing Grandmom and Grandpop and Sunday, I want to hang out with the Georges! We are so excited that Luke, Melinda, and Hannah's Uncle Andrew are coming to visit!
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(I filled in the blanks pretending that it was Friday! Maybe my timing will be better next week!)

Thankful Thursday

#1
I am thankful for sunroofs. Hannah is just at that stage in the car when she can see out the side window some but she knows she wants to see more. She quickly learned that if we have the sunroof uncovered (not open to the outside... brrrrrr) she can see outside very well. This means that if the sunroof is covered and she can not see out that sunroof window when we get into the car she will say "owside? owside? owside? owside? ... " until we open it. Once we open it she says "OWSIDE!!" It is so cute that Chris purposefully closes the sunroof just to hear her say it.

#2
I am thankful for the ability to teach and the willingness to learn. Lately we had been trying to get Hannah to correctly answer the question, "What is your name?" For a long time, when we asked her she would just say "name" since that is the last word she heard us say. We kept working with her and we mentioned we were trying to work on that to her Day Care teachers and they said they were working on names and could probably help us out some. Well, just a week or so ago she finally got it. If you ask her what her name is she will now proudly say "Hannah!" The funny thing about this new found knowledge is that she thought everyone in her class should also know that her name was Hannah. She has somehow "taught" all the other kids in her class "Hannah." The teacher told us this week they hear "hannah hannah hannah hannah.." all the time now. I didn't really understand until she asked one of the other children to say Hannah. He did and then he said it again and kept saying it over and over. Then another little girl in another part of the room started.. "hannah hannah hannah.." Suddenly all 4 of the children left in the room that afternoon were saying "Hannah" over and over again. Chris and I thought it was hilarious and when we looked at Hannah she was just smiling. She thought it was really neat. Way To Go Hannah!! Once you learn... Go and teach!! We are so proud! :-)

#3
I am thankful for my spaghetti. I do not make the GREAT and WONDERFUL spaghetti that my Mom and Grandmom make. I make a little simple version. Even thought I have never had one bite of it (I am not a big spaghetti fan) I love making it because my Chris and my Hannah think it is great. I thought you might enjoy the following pictures of this spaghetti I am thankful for.

WOW, mommy and daddy, this looks like a lot. I am not sure I can eat it all.


Oh my this is good! I like it!


I am working on it. I can't stop myself!


GONE!
Just an FYI.. Her tray did not have one bite of spaghetti left on it. She ate it all!


Just like her Daddy!

Happy 83rd Birthday

Mr. and Mrs. Steele have grown to be very special to me, Chris, and Hannah. As you can see, they were there when Hannah was born. And since we don't see any of Hannah's Grandparents weekly, they adopted her as theirs immediately.

Mr. Steele is an elder for our congregation and today is his 83rd birthday.

He has not been feeling very well and has not been able to come to church lately so we went to see them tonight. They were so happy to get hugs and kisses from Hannah. Unfortunately, I believe he will have to go back into the hospital tomorrow.

Celebrate his life with us in your heart.
And Please keep him in your prayers.