Christmas...and the days after.

 My family and I had a wonderful Christmas! 

I woke up about 4:00 a.m.  and could hardly get any sleep after that!  I felt like I did when I was young.  I could hardly wait for the sun to come up!  Not just so I could open presents, but because I knew that the days ahead would be full of just  my family and me! 

At about 8:00 a.m.  We all got up and started the presents opening.  We went from oldest to youngest this year and I so enjoyed looking around our family room to see every one (in there pajamas of  course)  opening the gifts that were so lovingly wrapped by one and all.  It was Elijah's first year in wrapping the gifts that he had gotten everyone...he loved it!

I was so thankful to God that he had not only given us His Son, the best gift of all.  And, as I looked around the room  I know the second best gift that God had given me....it was my family. 

The days after Christmas were filled with us doing the things we liked to do together.  Playing with the new Lego train, watching funny family movies together, cooking together, and many other simple but wonderful things!

And I want to say right here right now.  Thank you Dear God,  for sending us Your Son to die for us and take our sins away so that we may live with you!  And thank you Dear Father,  for giving me my family!

And I also want to say.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Happy Birthday  Jacob!  Now 21! 

Happy Birthday Elijah!  Now 9

Happy Birthday Emma!  In two day going to be 14!

And Happy New Year to one and all!

The days ahead.....

Here we all are stuffed with turkey, dressing, and pie.  Now what?  Well in our family we are starting to get ready for Christmas.  Setting up a tree, reading our advent story, and cooking peppermint candy. (We are all done shopping for one another : )  

I LOVE Christmas shopping for my family!  I could not wait to get started!  (So, now, I am done really early : )  And in my mind I have lots of things I want to bake and cook, candy, cookies, and cinnamon rolls.  There is so much that I want to do and am excited about.....but....most important thing of all that sometimes I don't pay as close attention as I should.  It is that Christmas is the time when we think and celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus.    

I can get SO rapped up in the busyness and excitement of the season and forget (at lest for a moment) what I am really suppose to be doing and thinking about. 

Jesus, our King, came into this world as a humble baby.....to save US!  Sinner's that do not deserve to draw the breath that our King gives us!  But since He is a kind and merciful King, He gave Himself for US!

Let us all, remember why we really celebrate Christmas.  And NEVER forget what He has done for US!

Do you go through similar experiences and thoughts?  I would LOVE to hear form you! : )

Give Thanks!

This is the time of the year that we really think about what we are thankful for.  Of course we need to be thankful to Our heavenly Father all day every day.  But this is time that we really start thinking about the first Thanksgiving and why the Pilgrim's were so thankful to God.  And it makes me think how privileged I am in living in a free land, where we can worship God in the way we think is right. 

I know there are times when we struggle with different things.  Hard things.  But, we are so blessed to have a God that loves us and hears us when we cry out to Him.  And I find that when we are going through tough times, it helps when we say some of the things we are thankful for.  Maybe keep a diary to right down a few things each day.  And then when we go through tough times, looking back on all the things God has given you and done for you, can really help you keep things into perspective
Here are some things that I am really thankful for.

~ My merciful,  heavenly, all knowing, all  righteous God.  Who is faithful and loving.  Even when I mess up.

~ God's Holy Word.

~ My amazing wonderful family.  Who love me...even when I mess up. : )

~ Freedom.

~ Good food. : )

~ My sisters in Christ. 

~ Hot tea.

~ Chocolate....milkshakes....chocolate....peppermint....cinnanmon....hot chocolate..... : )

And there are some of the many many things I am thankful for! 
Thank you dear God for all these things!

My dear readers,  What are some of the things you are thankful for? 




~



~      

Prayer Requests.

Hello my Dear Readers!

I am so very sorry that I have not posted in so long!  Life seems to be happening in abundance of late!
I was going to post about my 18th birthday, but I have not yet had time to down load the pictures.  Or make even a blog post in almost a month!  Please forgive me for my neglect of posting regularly!    

I have three quick prayer requests.

* One, a friend of ours has lost his job. Please pray that he finds another one soon. And also pray that we may be God's shinning light to this unsaved couple!


* Two, my Poppa was in a car accident today. He was okay, but his back is now hurting him and he banged he right knee. The car is a total. So please pray for Peace and healing for him, and also that all things would some how work out for  a new car.


* My friend and her family are going home for Russia tomorrow. Please pray for there safety.

Thank you my dear readers!

10-10-10.....BIRTHDAY!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DEAR MOTHER!!!
You are so special and wonderful! I praise God that He has given me such a wonderful mother like you!
May God bless you in this your new year!!!

MY MOTHER IS......

Self-sacrificing
caring,
thoughtful,
loving,
generous,
patent.

All in all, a wonderful mother that I am so thankful for! One of the things I like best about momma is that no matter who is at our house or why they are there they NEVER go away hungry! : )

I love you so very much momma! Happy Birthday!!!

Trip to the Beach!

Here it is my dear readers, our family vacation to the beach! I am so sorry that it has taken me so long to post this!

All trips must have some adventure or another even before you have arrived at the designated place! 

                                        Oh yeah, a little cutie pie wanted to come with us!

To start we woke up very early in the morning around 5:30 a.m. We wanted to leave at 6:30. But that didn't happen as you can probably guess. : ) One thing after another needed to be done and we did not leave till about 7:00. "Oh well, I thought, even though we are late we will soon be at the beach!"

After a long morning drive and about five McDonads later, : )(they have really good tea)  we made it to the beach! And as we drove up to our little cottage we wondered if it was ready for us.  (If it was clean or not : ) As we were early and the people that had been staying there before us and checked out late.  Plus it was a Sunday.

We all jumped out of the car excited that we had made it, and all of us ready to go for a swim. Then we opened the door to find that the cleaning people had not yet been there.  A man that had just drove up said that he could help vacuum and get us any cleaning supplies that we needed. So momma told him the sort of stuff we could use and when he drove off to get them we had a very quick lunch of pizza bread.

By the time we were done with our bread a cleaning lady came and   said that she was sorry that she could not get here sooner because she was at church.  Now that we had cleaning supplies, momma, poppa, me, and the cleaning lady set to work while Jacob took the younger ones for a walk on the beach.

After an hours work it was all clean.
So, dear reader's that was our first adventure that we had on our trip!


So now, off to the beach!!!

   We saw many different kinds of sea life but the most facentating one was about 7 to 8 feet long!  Can you guess what it was? After chasing it down the beach a long way we found out it was a huge manatee!!! It was so big and so cute! We praised God that He let us see such a wonderful looking creature!

There were many wonderful swims in the ocean!  After a few hours of fun swimming we would go to the pool for another delightful swim!

One day we went to a state park where we snorkled and saw thousands of fish!

On one of our last days at the beach we went to a used book store where, when we walked in there were so many books all around us.  Emma truned to me and said with a big smile, "We are going to be here for a long time!" And she was right!  And I am glad to say that we found  what we hope will be good books!


At night time we would sometimes go on a walk on the beach to see the lovey sunsets and to  catch some tiny crabs


So all in all it was a wonderful trip! It was a little sad to leave but we were so thankful to God, that He provided the time for us to be together and to see so many wonderfull things!


P.S. I am sorry that there are not more pics! The computer will not let me put any more on here!  I will try again sometime soon!

Movie Review.

The Winslow Boy, made in 1999, rated G.

This movie filmed in "play" style and set in the 1890's or early 1900's  It  is about a family who is shocked to learn that there fourteen year old son is being sent home from school  with a letter for his father from the head master, saying that the boy is being sent home because he is acused of  stealing.  The family, not willing to believe that there son is a thief, go to great lengths to give there son a fair trial. They go to a very successful lawyer. (Jaremy Northam.) Who after some consideration takes the case.

The movie, I thought was a good movie.   In the story,  there were some very humorous parts that made the movie quite fun!  And I enjoyed seeing Jaremy Northam , who I saw in one of the older  "Emma." movies.

The one that I had a complaint about was the movie was a little slow.   Also, the older sister was a part of the woman's sufferage movement and some smoking.

But as I said, it was a good story about a family ralling together to help there young boy.  The boys father was willing to risk a great deal to help his son.   And again, as I said there is some great dry English humor in there.

So, I recommend this movie with very little precaution!!  We love a good movie around here :-)! 

Fall & Books.

Hello dear reader's!

Can any one believe that's it's September and that it's almost Fall? I for one can not quite grasp it yet!

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year! How  lovely the tree get, and how cool it is. So that it no longer hurts to walk out side! : )

During this time I just love to sit down with a good book and read  away! I seem to go into the world of the book and am friends with the characters that I like, and follow them through the advetures and life lessons that they go through and learn. You see you can have a grand adventure safely in your favorite reading chair  and not get in  trouble. And you can learn very important lessons with out going throughout the things that the character does.

Right now I am reading a book to my dear sister called, "The Hidden Hand." This book is full to overflowing  with mystery, abventure, and a wonderful story about a young girl in 1800's who in a long and mysterious turn  of  events is taken off the streets of New York and is abopted by a kind but gruff old gentleman.   Taken  to his big rich house full of mystery and were she has unbelievable adventures! Now I dare not say more execept  that if you love a good book with mystery and adventure with notorious outlaw's and heroic characters then I highly recomend this book that  my sister and I  are enjoying so wonderfully!

                                                               Me and my dear sister Emma.

Good Bye Date.

Yesterday I went on a "Good Bye Date" with my dear friend Jenna, who is leaving for Russia in a few day's.
And I thought I would share some of the Pics. and experiences we had.

Frist we went to our local bowling alley, were we played two games of....you guessed it, BOWLING! : )

First up Jenna! Who, by the way won both games!

Her score was, the  first time was about 64. And the secound time it was 80. She was GOOD!

                                                                     Up next me!

                                                             Thinking about it......  

                                                              ......then let her go!
My score on the first game  was about 24. And then my second game was 30....cough...cough. Yes, I did not do well at all! But all in all it was tons of fun!

Then we went and got ice cream at the DQ.

 There I got a mint and oreo blizzard. And Jenna got an M&M one. And I am very glad to say that I beat Jenna at the ice cream eatting contest! : )

                                                                        YUMMY!!!

Then we went to my house where my mom made us a wonderful dinner.

So very Good!

And to top ot all off we played a game of "Sorry" and I won! : ) All in all we had tons of fun!!!

Please pray for Jenna as she is going to be gone a long time and in a different country away from her family.

I love you Jenna and I will miss you!

 

Question.

My dear reader's.

I have a question for you. Would you mind if I had pics. of you, would it be alright to post them from time to time on my blog? Just comment and tell me if you would not mind or if you do mind?
Thank you!

Family.

Family is one of God's biggest blessings that he give to all of us. It may not seem like it sometimes, you know,
when that little one in your family wants you to play with them nonstop, or you find out that it's your turn to change that diaper or wipe that rear. It don't feel much like a blessing then.

But think for a moment what God is doing in those moments. The above for example. One day we will be  blessed by children of our own. Playing and spending time with that sibling and changing diapers are wonderful chances that God gives us to learn and to grow.

Or how about that older sibling? They are indeed older and have been where we are. They can help you in different situations. Because they have been were we are and have learned those lessons that we are trying to learn.

And then parents. I prasie God again and again for my parents!
Who help me and guide me even when I am slow and stuburn. And protect me is so many different ways that I can see and at times I can not see. And they love me so much that though I don't understand at the time they keep me from much harm by not allowing me to go or do  certain things.

God had given me (and all of us) family to protect, grow, teach, and love! We need to thank God every day for our family! For that older sibling to give us advice and be there to hear us and help in that wonderful sisterly or brothely way. And for the younger ones, to teach us patients and self- sacrifice.  And for our p arents, oh that love us when we are mess up and are there to guide and protect us down this road called life.

Tell your family how much they mean to you. Be specific. They are going through stuff to and need a good  encouraging word.

I love you so very much Poppa, Momma, Jacob, Emma, and Elijah!!! And I thank and prasie God for each and ever one of you!!!

I Love Lucy!

For those who have not seen my kitten here is a few pics.
(I am also using this as an excuse to learn to put pics. on my blog! : )

This is my older brother holding her when we first found her in our shed at 4 weeks old.

Lucy is learning to read here! : )

Cutie pie!

I hope you  enjoyed these pics! Now I need to learn how to put movies and the like on here! : )

What We Say And How.

The other day me, my little brother and little sister with my mom were doing our devotions for the day and the first thing that momma read was  Proverbs 15:1. "A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.
It was so simple yet I noticed as she read that I sometimes forget that, when some one is talking to me and is  being snappy or mean. If I just answer that person with a soft word or two it would make things calm down between me and that person.
But many times I would get defensive or angry then I would answer back with a harsh word and then it just keeps going down hill from there.      

A good example.
My older brother works at our locale Chick-fil-a dwarf house. So he has to work with all kinds of people. Some sweet and some grumpy. Lots of the people there were "warning" Him of a certain someone.
"Yeah, you had better look out for so and so, not friendly!" He said that he would and keep on working.
Well, latter he gave so and so an order of food, and so and so looked at him and said something like... "This is NOT right! This is NOT how you put the food!"
Now, He had two choices. One, he could have just said, "I have only been here a few days! Get off my back!" Or two, realize his mistake and apologize.
This is what he said. Oh, I am sorry, I did not know the food went like that."
So and so looked at him and then seemed to calm a little and said. "That's alright, I will show you where it goes."

God gives us simple instruction that makes a really big difference in our every day life. I Praise God that he had given us His Word so that we can know and be reminded of this!

What are your thought's on this? I would love to hear them!

    

First Post.

Thank you for coming and visiting my blog! This is the first time I have ever had a blog or did any thing like this! So if somthing looks different or......something, just know that this is all very new to me and am learning as I go!

I decided to name my blog Simply At Home because that is who I am and how I live. And the Lord has  me learning and striving to be a keeper of my home. (Titus 2:4-5)

Thank you again for visiting! I pray that some how in some way that my blog will be a blessing to others.
And right now I am going to dedicate my blog to my Heavenly Father. "Lord, bless this blog and help me to use it to honor and glorify you! I give my blog to you Lord! AMEN!"