Christmas Night

This year was a special Christmas in our family. A Christmas that was centered around TEENAGERS! (Well, Kenadee is a pre-teen but acts every bit of a teen!) This made Christmas a little less about toys and more about thoughtful gifts of love.

When my kids were small, I use to take them to the Dollar Store to buy their gifts for their siblings. Mainly because at a $1, they could buy ANYTHING In the whole store for one another. This made the possibility of gift giving endless to them. As they have grown older, things have changed and they no longer shop for one another at the $1 store. Instead, they thoughtfully think of the other one and their personality and give a gift that they KNOW the others will love. This part of Christmas is so treasured.

The gifts my kids give one another are so special because I can tell how well they know they one another. How much they care to give each other something special and unique just to them.


As a mom, I also get a little teary eyed because I want to pray my children will continue this tradition as they grow older. I hope that when they enjoy Christmas that they will continue to give one another gifts of love....Even if it is a small handwritten letter or an extravagant gift. As long as they have done what they could for one another in love and with the sincerest thought the gift does not even need to cost a cent.

This Christmas closes but once again I am reminded of what Christmas gift giving is all about. I am left hoping I never grow a Grinch like heart where my holidays don't mean what they should. I know too many people (even me sometimes) who give out of obligation, fail to give when they should and make the holidays a day to get thru rather than a day to treasure.

Thank you to Kagan, Kade & Kenadee for being children who inspire their mother to be more like you. I am blessed to be your mom and to each of you I honestly can say that the gift of each of you in my life is the greatest gift of all. I love you all and wish you a very Merry Christmas!

CWF Photo Challenge - Day 9

A picture of the person that has gotten you thru the most

There is no doubt about it - Kaleb Moss!

CWF Photo Challenge - Day 8

A picture of something that makes you laugh

Hey, can't blame a mom for trying!

Thru the Bible 2011 - Joshua

Joshua is book full of childhood stories and heroic adventures. It is a book of the bible that shows the faith of Joshua but it also contains my favorite bible character.

A few years ago, in a bible study, we were talking about women in the bible that we found ourselves to be most like. Of the choices, I picked Rahab. The more I study about her and put into perpesctive her life - the more I think most Christians are like her.

Thanks to the story of Rahab, I am reminded that:
- God never uses your profession to define your importance for His calling.
- God never requries you to be perfect to be chosen.
- God can destroy a sinful nation and save a sinful women who choses him.
- The faith shown by a woman who had only heard about "God" was able to experience Him and live in harmony with his people.
- The impact of one woman "changing" herself brought about her being a part of the lineage of Christ.

Rahab is unique in her story line in the bible. I can not relate to living the type of life she lived but I can relate to making mistakes. I bet Rehab felt guilt and concern over her past but I also know she never regretted picking God when she did. She might have just been one of the few people where being in the wrong place at the right time - was perfect timing for God to show his grace to her.

A simple sign of a red cord, in the midst of a fallen city, points towards a chosen daughter of the King. Gives me goosebumps when I think of how she must have felt as she walked out among the devasting rubble of destroyed Jericho. She likely saw the faces and bodies of those who once looked down upon her, who abused her and who counted her as a nobody! Yet, because she chose to be faithful --- God saw her and counted her as somebody!

CWF Photo Challenge - Day 7

A picture of your most treasured item...

My parents. Thanks to them - I learn to value what really should be treausred in life.

CWF Photo Challenge - Day 6

A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day.

I would trade places with Eve before the fall of man. I wonder what it would have been like to have been in a sinless world, walking in the beauty of eden, no care in the world and having your only real "job" be to be the helpmate to your spouse.

She had God to talk to. A life abundant and beautiful. The only woman in to experience such a life was Eve.

CWF Photo Challenge - Day 5

Most of my most precious and favorite memories are only captured in my heart and mind. No kodak moments for most of the ones that I treasure the most.

The best memory as a family was when we went to Disney and were asked to be the 1st Family. We got to open the park at Animal Kingdom. It was a great treat for our family and was the start of a great vacation.