LAUGHTER...good for the soul

Happy Monday!
I ran across this video and had to share it! Enjoy.

A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face;
a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day. (Proverbs 15:13 -MSG)



If there is a blank space where a video box should be, click here.

This week's MEMORY VERSE

I've been memorizing Scripture for the past five years with some getting planted in my heart word-for-word and others I've honestly not remembered all too well. This week, I ran across my little "Memory Verse" booklets (little 3"X 5" spiral memo pads) from the past several years and had a fun time refreshing my "memory" on God's Word and what I committed to my memory at those particular times in my life. The neat thing that God spoke to me through finding these booklets, is that even though some of my "memory verses" I couldn't recall word-for-word, the power of these verses have left an imprint on my heart and impacted how I live my life. God's WORD never comes back void! I actually surprised myself that I remembered more than I thought- they'd been "written on my heart"! God wants us to hide His words on our hearts so we might not sin against Him (Psalm 119:11). I thank God daily for giving us His Word in the BIBLE (Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth), the ultimate "how to do life right" guide. I thank God also for Jesus- The Only One who bridges the gap for us to be in God's presence... the Way, the Truth, and the Life... our Perfect example of how to live life right. With that said, here's my memory verse for this week:

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

(2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV)

Prayer: Lord help me continue to hide your word in my heart so that I might not sin against you. Help me to have enough brain cells to actually remember what I learn from Your word this year and live it in my everyday. As I refresh my memory on past memory verses, help me remember them as well, that the ones I've forgotten, will get hidden in my heart. I can't do this on my own, Lord, I need you. I know I can do all things through You and You alone give me everything... Thank YOU that you are my EVERYTHING! May all the glory be Yours! In Your Name I pray, Jesus. Amen.

Chore Charts

Since being "Mortified", we have been making changes around our house hold to keep up on cleaning duties! I am happy to report that the chore charts for my four kids have been somewhat effective as a motivator in getting them accountable and responsible for doing their part (except for my 4 year old, Joe, who thinks the goal of his chore charts to put his stickers any old place he chooses)...

There are a variety of categories included and for each task accomplished, the child earns a sticker. By the end of the week, a minimum of 20 stickers for older kids (10 stickers for younger kids) must be achieved in order to earn their allowance ($10.00 for two older kids- 2 top level charts; $5.00 for two younger kids- 2 lower level charts) Good behavior/attitude is also considered in these chore charts for earning stickers. Getting and KEEPING this house cleaned up is an ongoing process; doing it as a team is definitely the way to go!

Therapy~Chenille Jackets

Many of the activities I do in life,

are like therapy for me...
sewing is definitely one of them!
When my daughter Jessie was born in 2001,
she recieved a little chenille jacket as a baby gift.
Every where we went, she'd get compliments on how
cute she was and how "adorable" her jacket was.
After much enjoyment from the jacket my daughter received,
I was inspired to make them for other precious little girls.
I've been working simultaneously on several chenille
jackets made of vintage bedspreads I've purchased over time.
Only about 4 jackets can be made from one bedspread,

so no two are exactly alike. I pour my "Heart and Soul"

into them as a "Thank You" to God for Him

being the ultimate Creator and blessing me with a variety of talents (sewing, one of them).
He has blessed me, so I can bless others.

I call my handmade creations,

"Heart and Soul Creations" (Luke 10:27).
So far I've only made these jackets in little girl sizes
"S" (6-12 mo); "M" (18 mo-24 mo); "L" (2T-4T)
and I give them as gifts.

This jacket is a surprise gift for my little niece in Oregon.

I also made this same jacket in a size smaller for a

Bible study friend who is having her 3rd child (first daughter!)

Born into Purple

This past week I caught a segment on the History Channel about ancient Greece and their royalty. TWO THINGS struck me.

1. As an adult, I LOVE HISTORY! I find it fascinating... when I was a child in high school I nearly failed my History classes and was bored out of my mind! What is up with that?
   
2. The other thing that struck me was at one point the commentator was talking about the lineage of the Kings and how they were... "born into purple".

I can't stop thinking about that phrase, "born into purple"... The color purple represents royalty. As a born again Christian, I am "born into purple"! Anyone who accepts and receives Christ as "King" of their life is "born into purple"... it's such a cool thought, and really helps me see myself as God sees me~ His heir and His beloved.

So, next time I'm feeling worthless, I'll be reminded...

I'm not worthless.
I am royalty.

I am a daughter of the King of the universe.

My Father in Creator of all things!

I am BORN INTO PURPLE!

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (Romans 8:17)

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9)

Prayer: Thank You my God that Christ died for me... that I am your daughter, born into purple through faith by Your grace alone. Help me bring You glory in all I say and do as Your heir and Your ambassador (2 Corinthians 5:20). In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.

This week's MEMORY VERSE

I've been dedicating time looking at King David's life these past 4 weeks, and with him as my inspiration, many of my memory verses are matters of the "heart". It's been awesome and eye opening to draw closer to God as I get to know King David, a man after God's own heart! My memory verse this week:

Psalm 51:10 (NIV)

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Birthday Scrapbook Project

I've been inspired to get the dust off my scrapbooking projects and finally work on updating them! Just a little info about my scrapbooking personality... I'm totally into it (when I "get to it"). I pretty much stick with Creative Memories product and style (I like journalizing in my own handwriting so my kids have that also as a memory and personal touch). I'm big into "theme books" (Christmas Albums, School Years, Birthday, Family Memories, Heritage, Wedding, Vacation, etc.); I have over 40 different scrapbooks -ranging in size- either in progress or needed to be started! I'm VERY behind on them right now, having allowed myself to get behind over the past 6 years.
... keeping up with scrapbooks can get overwhelming when a person let's everything pile up like I have over the years! But there's hope... I found a starting place and will take baby steps to get caught up.

I'm committed to "invest" in my children and family to work on the family scrapbooks this year so they know how special they are to me. This week, I'm working on my updating the smallest albums I have- one for each child- 4 total... their "BIRTHDAY ALBUMS" ... size 5 x 8 (sample of my oldest daughter's album below.)

The boys' albums are shades of blue, while the girls have pink and plum colored albums. Each year is reflected in a double page layout.

The kid's absolutely love looking at how they've grown and changed over the years. This album is fun to keep up with, too... The hardest part is going through memory cards and computer files to find the birhtday photos to get printed! UGH!

Never the less, I feel victory working on the 4 albums this week!!!

This week's MEMORY VERSE

PSALM 86:11-12

11 Teach me your way, O LORD,

and I will walk in your truth;

give me an undivided heart,

that I may fear your name.

12 I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart;

I will glorify your name forever.

This Week Re-cap in a Nutshell...

The "deep cleaning" of my house is coming along (from being "Mortified"). I feel anxious when I'm living in the midst of disorganization... WE ARE GETTING ORGANIZED; I am more at peace over this. We got our appraisal back, and to our surprise it was A LOT higher than we expected. So obviously the messiness of the house had no effect on the value of the house (thank God).

I'm still working on getting some new "chore charts" worked up for the four kids to be able to track their progress in our "team effort" of home cleaning maintenance. My excitement is the kids will be motivated to start helping out again like they did all last year (taking a lot of the burden off me)... their motivation for the chore charts is to finally start earning allowance again. (which they haven't really done since November when our last chore charts where being utilized).

I'm thankful today is Friday... TGIF!!!! I get to sleep in tomorrow morning! I've been on the sleepy side since I'm still battling this head cold and funky sinus congestion. My coughing isn't as bad (at least I'm not coughing up a lung like last week). Also, my husband and I are attending a new "home group" through our new church tonight for the first time (Bay Area Fellowship), which we are pretty excited about. Tomorrow, Kirk and I are planning work in the yard together (which I LOVE to do), attend church service in the evening, then watch "Fireproof" as our family movie. We will also be starting our "Love Dare" book together- day one; ALL this on VALENTINES DAY! Couldn't think of a better way to celebrate this day of love than to do the all these "LOVELY" things together.

I've been sewing this week on these cute baby girl chenille jackets made of vintage bedspreads (bedspreads I bought off eBay). I will post pictures of my projects in the next couple weeks. I enjoy making them as gifts and have a couple sweet baby girls in line to give them to as surprises in the near future. I've also been motivated to pull out my scrapbooking! I'M SO BEHIND in getting my family's' photos in my albums!!! I need to just pull them out and start in baby steps. I've visited several blogs of other scrapbookers that have really got me inspired. I will be working on updating my kids' "Birthday Albums" as my first updating projects. I can't wait to start this next week! That's all the updates for now... TGIF!!!

Mortified!

O.K. I had a situation happen today that mortified me; something that needed to happen for me to have a reality check to take action.

Last week Kirk started the process of re-financing our house so we can get a better interest rate. Part of the process, besides the loads and loads of paperwork, is getting the home appraised. The appraisal guy showed up today, mid-morning. He had phoned us on Friday and said he would be here Monday morning (today) to access the property. Having a busy weekend, Kirk and I totally forgot appraisal guy was coming. The doorbell rings, I answered the door, and then remembered.. appraisal! Hopefully the guy didn't notice my surprise. He said "I'm here to access your home and will TAKE some PICTURES! Shouldn't be a big deal right? Well, my house looked like a hurricane hit it. I was so embarrassed & MORTIFIED! We usually keep a clean house, but these past couple weeks we've let it go. I'm not kidding when I say it was (and still is) a mess! I don't care what others think, but I've decided the embarrassment I experienced of a stranger most likely thinking we live like slobs is what I needed to take action and fix our slob-like behavior...

...Today is the start of some changes around our home!

• I started some major "deep cleaning" and will conquer one room per day until it's caught up. Once the "deep cleaning" is accomplished, we'll be a team towards "maintenance".
• Each of my 4 children will get a new "chore chart" ; a new one each month with the different responsibilities expected. We did it last year and it was very effective. They would earn mini-stickers on their chart and have to meet 20 stickers to get paid their allowance. But so far this year, I haven't made any chore charts and their bedrooms are proof of that!
• I will encourage and enforce the "clean as you go" expectation with all family members.
• At the end of each day, we will have a "10 minute tidy" family clean up... it's really amazing how much gets accomplished when 6 people are working together.

"M" is for Mom, not for Maid.

We're a team and that's the way it's going to be.

...hopefully the messiness of our disaster-zone home won't influence how our appraisal comes out. Yikes!

STAR LIGHT, STAR BRIGHT...

STAR LIGHT,

STAR BRIGHT,

FIRST STAR I SEE TONIGHT,

I WISH I MAY,

I WISH I MIGHT,

HAVE THIS WISH I WISH TONIGHT...

Do you remember as a child gazing up at the first star in the darkening sky, believing that wishing on this bright star would magically bring what ever it was you wished for?

The other night while driving, it was almost dark, I heard my 7 year old daughter in the back seat of the car recite this poem in her sweet little voice. I smiled to myself and began to think about what was being said... "I wish I may, I wish I might, have THIS WISH, I wish tonight". My mind began to wander... thinking, "WOW! Could you imagine being given the opportunity to ask for something with the possibilty of actually getting it!"

At Gibeon the LORD appeared to King Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." (1Kings 3:5) Solomon had found favor with God and God was giving Solomon a wish! Solomon could have asked for anything he wanted; he asked for wisdom to lead God's people: "...a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong... (1Kings 3:9)

Something I've learned is that wishes do come true! Not by the act of wishing upon a star, but by the act of seeking the Creator of the stars. We have a Heavenly Father that is the ultimate wish fulfiller - a true gift giver. He loves fulfilling the desires of our hearts- our wishes; he plants many of those desires in our hearts so that he can make them come true for His glory. We need to just ask him. I'm not saying we are to treat God as a cosmic Santa Clause that we wrecklessly throw our selfish "wish list" of things we want in a "gimme-gimme attitude". I'm saying that we can feel comfortable approaching the throne of grace with courage and confidence, presenting our requests to him in a humble manner. He knows our hearts. All through Scripture, God's Word encourages us to "Ask" (Mt 7:7-8 ; Mt 21:21-22 ; Mark 22-24 ; John 14:14 ; John 15:7 ; John 15:16 ; Ephesians 3:20 ; James 4:2 ; 1John 4:2) . Keep in mind when we "ask", we are to believe and not doubt, and we are to have God-centered motives and not self centered attitudes.

Do wishes come true?

Yes, they do!

Think about this~

IF YOU WERE GIVEN JUST ONE WISH,

WHAT WOULD YOU WISH FOR?

Happy Heart Doing Cartwheels!

Just a quick post to share how awesome God is! Like we didn't already know! : ) My heart is doing cartwheels and I'm feeling so giddy over the sovereignty of our God and thankful for answered prayers.

I got a call from my sister yesterday in WA state (over 2,000 miles away) and can't stop thinking about her joy, peace, and new found courage she is finally experiencing (so long over due). She has had a very rough year; has gone through trials I wouldn't wish on any one. Through all the real bad stuff that broke her down emotionally and physically, she has found a relationship with God; THIS IS THE REASON for my heart doing cartwheels! She's traded her "religion" we grew up with in for a real "relationship" with Jesus our Lord and SAVIOR. She's always known who God was, but never KNEW GOD. I'm so excited for her! WAIT - while I actually stand up and do a "happy dance" in celebration over my sister... the angels in heaven are also rejoicing!

Isn't it cool how God will allow us to get to the end of ourselves... we lose almost everything and then we can finally see how much we need Him. Once we put away are self sufficiency, He then can show himself in mighty ways as only He can. Yeah GOD! My sister is living in the middle of a miracle through her new faith in Christ, by His loving grace. I am thrilled for her and the journey she will continue on as she grows to know Him.

He has brought godly women to surround and encourage her and has led her to a wonderful church to shepherd her. She has plugged into a Bible study (Beth Moore- Breaking Free) and is soaking in God's Word. Thank you God for answered prayer for my sister I so dearly love! She's still got along way to go with her horrible year behind her and the circumstances still following her, but with you, Lord, nothing is impossible! I can't wait to hear all about the abundant blessings on my sister as she continues to surrender to the Lord and follow in his ways.

My sister and I

(photo taken April 2008 when she visited Texas from Washington State)

PRAYER: Thank you Lord for your love and for your perfect timing. Thank you that you never give up on us, even though much of the time we give up on you through unbelief, worry and pride.. You NEVER leave us nor forsake us no matter what! You love us beyond what our brains can comprehend! I pray for continued blessing over my sister, over her employment and financial situation, over the injustice in her life. You Lord, are ultimate judge, you provide all our needs, you truly are our EVERYTHING. Thank you that you will provide for my sister and her family double portion of all that has been lost in her life. I also pray for my other family members that don't know you; that I can be salt and light in their lives (long distance) and that you cross people in their paths that will reflect your goodness and love to help them come to know you, just like you did for my sister. You are awesome God, I lift up my banners in the name of the Lord in celebration of all your goodness. It's in Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Weekly Memory Verse

Since my last week's memory verse was Mark 11:24; God has encouraged me to memorize the two previous verses 22 & 23 to make my mind and heart in tune with him so that he can grow my faith like he was teaching his disciples to do in this Scripture story.

I want faith that will move mountains! I need to focus on BELIEVING God and not doubting him. So, with that said, here's my Memory Verse for this week Jan 29- Feb 4:

"Have faith in God," Jesus answered.

"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain,

'Go, throw yourself into the sea,'

and does not doubt in his heart

but believes that what he says will happen,

it will be done for him.

Mark 11:22-23 (NIV)

Therefore I tell you,
whatever you ask for in prayer,
believe that you have received it,
and it will be yours.

Mark 11:24 (NIV)

last week's verse

LAUNDRY~It's Never Ending!

"Mom!" I hear my child's voice yell from across the house, "I'm out of socks."

I yell back, "No you're not, there's some in the laundry basket."

As my child digs through the laundry basket half full of nothing but socks (looking for a "match"), guilt sinks in and I think to myself, "why have I allowed this basket to sit for three days?"

I quickly answer my own question... "I despise folding clothes, specifically, matching socks. It's a never ending job! I know I am not the only person out there that feels this way!

I have no problem getting the clothes gathered and sorted, pre-treated where needed, getting them in the washer, and even following through with getting them dried and in the laundry basket; but for some reason, most times, the clothes get stuck at this stage, sitting in the basket for a day, or two, OR THREE. I end up feeling guilty that I finally fold them and put them away... UGH!

Maybe deep down, I wait, letting the baskets sit, in hopes somebody else with fold them and the clothes will miraculously get neatly put away where they belong. This does happen on rare occasion when my older children are really motivated to earn their allowance for the week.

The thing is, just as one basket of clothes gets folded and put away, there's always one or two others behind it. It's never ending! Can ya'all relate?

So, as I sit here typing this blog, the guilt is setting in once again... I should be folding the laundry baskets of clean clothes that are cluttering around my table needing my attention. UGH!

I realize I can never catch up on

the laundry situation...

unless, of course, my family moves to

a nudist colony.

NOT!

On the bright side... the spring and summer seasons will be here in a couple months and we'll be back in flip flops on our feet; the basket of unmatched socks will go away for a while. YEAH!!!!

Weekly Memory Verse

One of my commitments for the year to "Invest in my... WALK WITH THE LORD" is to memorize a new Scripture verse each week. As I learn each verse in my mind, they will penetrate in my heart, and I will focus on "living" them in my actions and everyday life.

Thank you, Lord, for your Word, encouragement, and direction!

This is my third verse for the year... Jan.21-27, 2009

Mark 11:24 (NIV)

Therefore I tell you,

whatever you ask for in prayer,

believe that you have received it,

and it will be yours.

For Today...

Outside my Window... Clear blue sky, mid 60's, GORGEOUS weather!

I am thinking... I really need to get off the computer, make my "to-do" list, and get some things done.

Personal growth I'm focusing on... Accountability, dreaming my dreams and staying encouraged, being content and thankful.

I am thankful for... Kirk is a great husband and I have 4 wonderful children. I love my entire family... I'm thankful for connecting with my past friends and meeting new sista galfriends in Corpus and on the internet.

From the kitchen... Dinner tonight~Sweat and Sour Beef (in the crock pot) on rice; pears, and french bread. Kids and I will probably make cookies, brownies, or cupcakes in the next couple days while they're off of school.

I am wearing... Green "Hood River" sweatshirt and Old Navy sweat pants

I am reading... The Bible, "Turn Your Dreams into Realities... " (Excellent Book!!!)

I am hoping... That the kids aren't too bored and keep themselves busy over the next couple days off of school and that I can get started on my "Chenille Jacket" project to give to my niece, Evyn.

I am hearing... Clifford the Big Red Dog (Kid's TV Program)

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...
Same ole, same ole...
laundry, house work, de-cluttering, maybe a little yard work, reading, family movie night Fri or Sat PM, go to church... hopefully Kirk and I can go on a "date night" sometime this weekend, since we haven't gone on one in a while.

B-O-L-T

When I was a new believer in Christ, I was trying to understand what being a Christian was all about. I had accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior (and through faith by His grace I was saved - Ephesians 2:8); I could see and feel the changes God was doing in my heart (and my life), but was kind of confused as to what I to do now, going forward?

While I was having some prayer and quiet time with God one day, I asked Him "Now that I'm saved, what does it (Christianity) simply come down to... what do I do now?". I love how God answered me by giving this acronym to teach me how simple walking with Him as a Christ follower really is...

B... Believe (God) (Don't just Believe IN God, but BELIEVE GOD and all He says in Scripture- He's got lots of stuff to say!)

O... Obey (God) (Follow Christ's example of righteous living... Obedience is freedom and results in victory.)

L... Love (God & Others) (The Greatest Commandment! Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27 )

T... Trust (God) (God is forever faithful and worthy of our whole hearted trust.)

In order to "B-O-L-T" God, I've learned I must be in his Word (Scripture) and seek Him daily. There are multiple Bible verses re-enforcing "B-O-L-T". I have been blessed beyond measure as I exercise these areas (B-O-L-T). Now and again when I start to get off track (from my Belief, Obedience, demonstrating Love, or Trusting), God reminds me to get back on track -through the visual of a bolt.

As a fun reminder, I have a loose bolt here and there in several drawers around the house and I've hung a bolt from a string on the rear view mirror of my car (since I seem to be in it so often).

Today I B-O-L-T... How about you?

Aspirations, Dreams, and "To-Do" Lists

I have shared it before, and I'll share it again...
I'M A HUGE "LIST PERSON"!

I seem to stay on track with my goals when I write them down. I'm really a scatter brain with out my list and spiral notebooks have become a prized possession around my house! On any given day I have anywhere from 2-4 different lists going...

For example- today, I have my grocery list so I can do my shopping tomorrow; my daily "to do list" - so I remember what needs to be done "today"; I have my monthly calendar hanging on the wall, to I can see at a glance the list of activities penciled in for the whole family; I have my daily list of every food item I put in my mouth so I can journal my food intake and be sure not to go over 1600 calories for the day (need to lose the weight I gained from the holidays!); I have my "Bucket List"; and I have my newest list for 2009... of my yearly aspirations and dreams.

These lists may seem a bit obsessive compulsive, but without them I would live my life stagnant, not moving forward to the best of my ability, or worse, I'd end up going backwards... wasting my time away.

When I write down my needs, passions, dreams, and desires, several things happen for me:

• first- with a list, my natural forgetfulness is spurred with a "reminder" of what I need to do or want to to. I'm able to reflect on my written goals and dreams visualizing what I need to do to accomplish them and visualizing the victory of success throughout the process up to the point of experiencing the actual victory of accomplishment.
  
• second- my list helps me be accountable to myself and help others hold me accountable.


• third- my list allows me to experience visual victory as I'm able to accomplish those things listed by marking them off, celebrating the accomplishment, and moving on.

As I mentioned, my newest list is my 2009 Aspirations and Dreams list! I'm very excited about this list focused around 20 items in 09 different categories regarding ways I plan to INVEST myself for the year. I am a "FAMILY INVESTOR" after all! My 2009 aspirations seems like a big list, but I am determined to stretch myself to make things happen this upcoming year!

I didn't write out my dreams and goals for the year in 2008. Instead, I just kept them in my head thinking about them now and again. As I now reflect back on the year I feel a bit disappointed in myself. Although I did feel some victory with some accomplishments, I know I didn't live to my potential for the year and I wasted a lot of time being distracted (because I didn't have a list to follow!). This year I do have a list- posted publicly-to help me stay "on track".

“Some people make things happen, some watch things happen, while others wonder what has happened”
(Gaelic Proverb...author unknown)

IN 2009, I don't want to "watch things happen", or "wonder what has happened"... I want to be the person that will "make things happen"!

Prayer: Lord I thank you that you have given me the gift of administration and that I can use it in simple ways for your glory in my everyday existence. Thank you that you are my biggest encourager and partner in all my endeavors (even as mundane as victory through my grocery list). I pray you help me experience complete freedom in following my lists and experience victory as items are accomplished on a daily basis, monthly basis, and for 2009. Thank you Lord that you plant passions in my soul, desires in my heart, and you direct my path. I will commit my plans to you that I may have success in all I do as I seek you each day! (Proverbs 16:3) Amen

Happy New Year!... (?)

O.K. I have to admit, this year hasn't started out quite like I'd hoped...

Let me back track a bit - My family and I spent the Christmas holidays in WA and OR states which was an awesome, fun time!!! We saw family we hadn't seen in years, we saw snow- LOTS OF SNOW!, and we were able to use our time in the Pacific Northwest to allow God to show us a few new things about ourselves as well as how we can better pray for our family members. We arrived back from our two week trip late night, Tuesday, December 30. We woke up December 31 in our own beds in the comfort of our own home to 80 degree weather. OH THAT WAS NICE! We all got up in the morning, said a family prayer and opened our Christmas gifts we had left behind under our undecorated Christmas tree (I was so busy prior to the trip, I never found the time to decorate it!). It was a good day, and great to be home! We brought in the New Year quietly, staying up just past midnight.

Our minds and hearts were set to begin 2009 full of energy and ambition. New Years Day started out with goals to unpack from our trip, take down Christmas decorations, and just enjoy being home. I worked on my *20*09* Blog and got it finished (to post later in the day on my "birthday time"). Our "Happy New Year" was starting out "happy".

Then it hit! ...head ache, body aches, sore joints in knees and ankles, a scratchy tickle in the throat, exhaustion... by the evening I was running a fever. By the next morning, 5 out of the 6 Wymore's were feeling like we couldn't move, body aches ALL OVER and every cough was like trying to cough up a lung. Kirk, Kelsie, Jessie, and Joe ALL also had "it". Andrew our 13 year old was the only one who wasn't sick. His mega doses of "AirBorne" paid off! Wished I had done that!

Here it is today, Monday, January 5, and we are all just now feeling better. Man, it sucks when a virus hits and knocks a person right off their feet for nearly a week! You might be wondering... does the Wymore family get flu shots? The answer is no, not all of us. Kirk is the only one of us that get a flu shot each year. The crazy thing is he's gotten the flu TWICE this year, and it's hit him worse than all of us both times... so much for a flu shot! Weird, huh?

OK now that I've vented about how sucky it is to start the New Year off sick, I'm going to Praise God for our answered prayers of restored health to us and for His faithfulness in restoring our energy and ambition! Today I have luggage to unpack, laundry to work on and Christmas decorations to begin taking down. Thank YOU Jesus, I can do ALL THINGS through You who gives me strength! and also help me know my limits not to over do it!

I WILL have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Christmas 2008 Memories

Love...

Christ...

Love...

Family...

Love...

Friends...

Love...

That's what I'll remember this Christmas 2008...

Getting ready to leave Texas! Southwest Airlines ROCK!

We arrive late Dec. 16 to the Great Pacific Northwest

and wake up to snow in Castle Rock, Washington!

We get to Hood River, Oregon, on Friday Dec. 19, just in time...

the Highway was closed for several days right after our arrival due to heavy snow and ice.

Getting our sledding hill (the driveway) packed down!

Hanging out with the younger cousins. (Left to right- Jessie, Adia, Evyn, & Kelsie)

MMM-MMM, Christmas Cookies!!! Thanks Grandma!

Monster ice cycles that keep growing...

Andrew knocks down ice cycles from the house!

Seriously, this thing could be a weapon!

Kelsie, Andrew, and cousin Robo build an impressive snowman!

The Wymore Clan in Hood River, OR!

The Eccles Clan in Castle Rock, WA!

Back at home in Texas, Dec. 31... Kids passing out our Christmas gifts.




Yeah!!! I love my new shoes! COOL Color!