It's January and all I can think of is SUMMER!  People talk about spring fever...usually happens about March for me...not this time.  I am so wanting to be on a beach, sipping ice cold water and enjoying the sun!  I can not wait for summer to get here.  I plan to live at the lake with the kids this year or in our small pool.  I can't wait to get things started for the garden too.  This year I plan to do straw bale gardening.  It will be interesting to see if it works as well as I have read it does.  I sure hope so, I hate wasting money on new things but I think this might be a great new adventure!  While I think and plan what I want to garden and sit here looking out the front window, there is a lite dusting of snow on the cars and I hear the roads are slick with ice.  Sigh! 
   We are having a snow day and I have spent the day talking to friends on Facebook, searching for school curriculum for next year and just enjoying a quiet day to relax.  This week has been packed full of birthdays.  Eli and Sara turned 9 this week.  Oh how I miss those baby/toddler days.  I miss rocking them to sleep while they snuggle up with their noses against my neck.  Gone are those days but having older children has it's benefits too.  I want to capture every day and cherish each moment because I know before long I will be longing for them to be 9 again.  "All my days are written in His book," Ps139:16

Check out "Not Short on Anything"

My dear friend Martha (Marty) has started a blog.  She and her husband Michael are some of our closest friends.  They were part of our wedding party and have walked with us through many things and us them.  Marty is the mother of two wonderful children, Lucy and Jay. Both have been classified as autistic but it does not define them!  Just like autism does not define our son Kris. 
   I share this because she has started her own blog called, "Not Short on Anything."  Funny thing is God gave her the name and their last name is Short. Marty is a very talented writer and honestly I don't think she knows how talented she is.  Can I ask that you go over and check it out.  It is so encouraging!  Book mark it because I know you are going to want to come back and read her posts!

It's a New Year...

...full of promise!   I haven't posted in while.  We were busy with a surprise visit from my brother and his family for Christmas! Which makes our holidays happy!  The new year is upon us and does promise the best of possibilities.  I am trusting God and believing for so much this year! I believe this is the year we will harvest all that God has promised us as a family.  We have been sowing for years and I have hope and faith that this is the year of reaping all that has been promised. The Lord has directed me to pray specifically  certain scriptures such as "Oh that you Lord would bless us indeed and would enlarge our territory, that Your hand would be with us and that you would keep us from harm." 1 Chronicles 4:10.  I believe this year He will increase our finances (despite what the media says will happen), I believe He will increase our living space, He will increase our health.  I believe He will open doors to ministry that we have never thought of or see coming.  I believe that this year God's favor and blessings will REST upon us.  Yes REST upon us.  One definition would be a place of resting...or LODGING!  I love that!  Let his favor and blessings LODGE over our family! 
Just a few of the holiday festivities... Cousins = FUN!

Lexie, Eli and Sara...8 yr olds.

Kris and Tim....10 yr olds.

Jaron and Maddie...12 yrs old.

 Waiting to ambush!

Attack!

Cookie decorating fun

My brother Ron, who hates having his picture taken.