Christmas in our home.

Last year we received this beautiful card.

I loved it and had to save it to use with my Christmas decorations.

The amaryllis is starting to peek out!

A winter bouquet from none other than Trader Joe's

This year it has been especially fun to set up our naivety sets as Arabella is understanding more. One night Thane read Luke 2 and had the children help play out the story of the birth of Christ. Bella is now seeing that it means more than just a play toy.

Arabella showing you her and Orrin's Nativity set .

Orrin loves to just knock them all off the table.

The remnants of black PERMANENT marker on the food. A little girl (no names here!!) wrote on our couch, chair, coffee table, all over her Nativity set and started on the carpet before I interrupted her art work. I don't know what I was more sad about, her disobeying or my reaction of bawling then having loud anger about material things.

How can we change our reactions to responses?

{By the way, Mr. Clean magic eraser works wonders and we have scheduled a carpet/couch cleaning!!}

Baby Jesus is now clean! Are you washed by HIS Blood?

Are you ringing for Christ? Crying out Joyfully!

I like to read these out loud to help sink into my mind then go on read the Scripture to see exactly what the writer is telling us through the word of God!

THE BELL

I KNOW WHO I AM

I am God's child (John 1:12)

I am Christ's friend (John 15:15 )

I am united with the Lord (1 Cor. 6:17)

I am bought with a price (1 Cor 6:19-20)

I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)

I am a personal witness of Christ. (Acts 1:8)

I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt 5:13-14)

I am a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27)

I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom. 8: 1-2)

I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant (Phil 3:20)

I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31 -34)

I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Cor 5:17-21)

I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18)

I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)

I cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom 8:35-39)

I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor 1:21-22 )

I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8:28 )

I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16 )

I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12 )

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13)

I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5)

I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3: 16). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)

I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3).. I have been justified (Romans 5:1)

I am God's co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1). I am God's workmanship (Eph. 2:10)

I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected. (Phil. 1: 5)

I have been redeemed and forgiven (Col 1:14). I have been adopted as God's child (Eph 1:5)

I belong to God

Do you know

Who you are?

Sorry the bell gets messed up a bit by blogger!

{Sweet Things:: Berry Pies & Babies}

Who likes pie and babies? We do!!

Today the pies came first{for caroling tonight} then on to visiting the babies!{second time for me but Arabella & Orrin didn't get to meet them last night as they were still in the nursery}

The berries waiting to doused in Creme sauce

Thought I would share my chicken scratch of recipe card

My Mom & I made this recipe up to imitate the good Boysenberry Sour cream pie of the now closed Vella Farms in Modesto,CA

*** WARNING I am not a recipe follower

I just make what strikes me at the moment so if your pie doesn't look like mine do not despair

Heavy Cream, SUGAR, Creme Fraiche

When ever I get to Trader Joe's{one of my all time fav. stores} I like to pick up this delish Creme Fraiche. I put it in this pie or soups, sauces or whatever strikes me at the time...yummy,yum!

My constant little shadow helping stir






The best part being pour over the berries

I want to enjoy some now with my coffee

Good thing my pies seem to always have extra filling to "try out" some!

Don't mind the smudges on the spoon, little Bella hands and mouth had to have some also


NOW ON TO BABIES--MUCH SWEETER than PIE

For those of you who haven't heard the news

Last evening I became an auntie to not two but THREE babies!

Our God surprised Thane's family { doctors and hospital too!} We had been praying for two babies to come safely into this world but he went ahead and gave an extra blessing of another one!

Three sweet girls

Arabella is Quite pleased to be holding Julie Eileen
6lbs 7oz
2:25pm

Josie Jean

5lbs 15oz
2:16pm

Janie Irene

5lbs 13oz
2:37pm

LOTS of Babies as Bella calls them.

Betsy is the triplets oldest sister

{Opening up Shop!}

Dogwood Designs

We are now open. Close to you!!!{through your screen}

Come on over!

We have a few items up, with more to come. Check back often!!!

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Giving Thanks most of all to the Lord our Provider

O is for Orrin, O is for One

We had Orrin's birthday party a couple of weeks ago when my parents were still in Ohio. Our little house was full of friends and family in every room.
This is as close as I'm going to allow on Orrin's cake.
It was a sad flop but it still tasted good

[Here is my pride coming out]
This is what the cake was suppose to look like with a few more boyish accessories.

[Cakes from Arabella's first birthday]

Cupcakes for our Guests

Treat bags for the children filled with old fashioned candy and animals

Orrin is One!Cousins waiting for some action

Birthday Boy with his cake!

Orrin is ONE... and PRAYing for our children.

Happy Birthday Dear "Buddy-Buddy" as Bella calls him.

It really is so hard to believe that it has been a year!!

Our sweet baby Orrin

a few hours old.

Orrin's Birthday Breakfast

Cream of Wheat with blueberries

[poor Orrin with his diet restrictions, no french toast for him]

Figuring out ( after the fact) the blowing out the candle part!

Made me laugh!

Trying out Orrin's big boy car seat that came in the mail today.

and it seems GREEN was the color of the day.

Pictures of Orrin's party are still to come ...I have been having technical difficulties and time issues.

Hopefully soon.

ARE YOU PRAYING FOR YOUR CHILDREN?

Praying specific prayers for our children has always been something that I have felt the need and had the privilege to do. So I was thrilled when Angie @ Bring the Rain (link is also in side bar) made a great example for us as Christian parents by challenging us to pray 7 times a day for 7 days, connecting to activities to remind us to do so. Please take a look and consider joining her in this. All that we do for our children is nothing with out HIM, our LORD. Pray!

Some birthday prayers for Orrin William as he grows from 1 to 2

Father God,

May Orrin feel your presence always

The LORD replied," My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. Ex 33:14

May Orrin learn to praise you with song from his mouth and have a thankful heart.

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trust in Him, and I am helped.

My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. Ps 28 :7

May Orrin learn that in obeying his Papa and Mama he is obeying

and glorifying YOU our GOD.

(and may I as his mother not allow him to continue in sin even

when I think they are "little, not going to matter sins". Whining is sin.)

Orrin, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Col 3:20

Lord, May Orrin learn the value of sharing with his sister and friends

Give to everyone who asks of you, Orrin, and if anyone(Arabella, etc.) takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Luke 6:30

Father, We give Orrin back to you. Help us , mold him into the young boy you want him to be. Praising you our Heavenly Father,

your children t&b

Fall Leaves {and an end of an "era"}

Our big helper

sorry a little blurry, she was working so fast!

Orrin wasn't too sure about the leaves but Arabella thought they were great

{wreath taken off of my parents door of their "home" in Ohio}
After 5.5 months my wonderful parents went to their real home in California, marking the sad "end of an era." We immensely enjoyed the time with them and are hoping to be with them again around Christmas time. Arabella and Orrin are going to miss their "in person" grandparents. I have said from the beginning of moving away, that we as adults can still maintain our relationship across the miles but with the children you miss out on the daily growth and little things.

{Which has been the whole point to this blog, for all of you to peek in our everyday lives.}

So Grandpa and Grandma check in on us anytime! We miss you already!

First & Last of 2008-- Camping

Last weekend was our fifth year of camping

with this group of friends. We were married all with in a year,

now it's growing with more little ones each year

playing with beck






sweet baby graham & kim
Don't you just want to squeeze his cheeks!

This might be a tad close !!!

keeping warm

Arabella & Maebrianna romping around

a clean place to crawl

babies and camping = DIRT

fast asleep in their little cubbie beds

relaxing by the fire now that the babies are in bed

Rise and Shine and Give God the Glory

Camping Breakfast is the BEST

Biscuits and Sausage gravy

Eggs fried in Bacon Grease

Fruit

Coffee Cake

Yum! Yum!

Sitting quiet for devotions[!!!]

Arabella trying out camera skills.

I think she captured the shallow depth of field part!!!

The Girls and Graham

It was so fun to be with all of you!
We took off early to get ready for Orrin's birthday party --35 people in our little house!!!!

Our little home for the weekend

Thanks A&S for letting us use it.

Showers here we come!!!