My Favorite Guys

Oh, can you tell that I got my digital camera? :-) We're having fun with it!

Family Getaway

My family all (except Sam and Tyler) went to Stormer Lake last weekend. We had a fun time being together and doing some of the stuff we enjoy together: playing games, staying up late and being silly, singing, eating, making gingerbread houses, exchanging gifts, etc... I came home quite exhausted!! Here's a picture of Dad and Dru with all the kids. I'd post a picture of the whole family, but Derek didn't send me one yet (hint, hint). :-)

Presents! We had a little gift exchange and Matthews gave us presents from Madagascar. That's the guys all wearing shirts from Madagascar. And Larissa (Matthew's youngest) opening her presents.

Making "gingerbread" houses. From the top: Wendy (Jeff's wife) and their oldest, Tia. Sierra (one of Matthew and Rhonda's four) and Helen (Mike's wife), Caleb.

From the top: Matthew, Alicia (Sheldon's oldest), Alabama (Jeff's second daughter) and the newest member of the family - Scott Jacob. He's Derek and Elise's first baby. He's just over a month old.

My Latest Decorating Endeavors

The picture arrangement in the living room is finally done. Thanks to Iris for picking out a picture of Josiah to put up. (It's the bottom, centre one.) The quilt is hanging in the basement. The quilt is one that my Grandma Slaubaugh made for my Mom and Dad - I think for their wedding. The wrought-iron quilt hangar was made by my uncle Paul Eichorn. I'm very pleased with it. Some time this winter (hopefully) I'm going to put up framed black and white pictures of our ancestors - a grouping by the quilt and a bunch on the wall beside it.

Here's Another Good One

I know I should be doing something profitable like laundry, but I just have to share another quote with you from the same author. This one hits me right between the eyes!

"...develop an attitude of gratitude. Be thankful. God is more concerned about your being thankful than just about anything else.... How you tell your story (the story of your life, family, ministry, church, etc.) to yourself and others will be a powerful indication of your thankfulness or bitterness. You have the power to put different spins on all the phenomena of your life. You can (without lying) tell your story so as to make people cry for you out of pity or envy you out of awe. Let others sense your thankful heart when they hear your story."
-James Abrahamson in "Lessons In Leadership"

Yes, well! I struggle against bitterness and negativity as a lifestyle. So, this is a kick in the pants for me!! I'm now asking God to give me a thankful heart in the midst of my struggles. I want to see God and His goodness in all of my circumstances - even the hardest ones!

And now, my hubby is going to take me out for lunch! So there's something to be thankful for right now!

Quote For The Day

I read this yesterday and it really struck a chord with me. I suppose it's all stuff I've known before, but it was said in a different way, or I was ready to hear it in a new way. I hope you're blessed and enlightened like I was...

“…always remember that God accepts you without approving of all that you believe or do. Avoid the cult of “grace lite” (which is usually accompanied by “law lite” and “sin lite”). When you doubt God’s grace you will be tempted to make the Law manageable and sin tolerable. Don’t be afraid of acknowledging your depravity. Things are not as bad in your soul as you think they are; they are much worse! But God’s grace is able to cover the greatest sin. So let the holy Law of God convict you deeply – but don’t ever base your relationship with God on the verdict of the Law. In other words, don’t link the fact of God’s acceptance of you in Christ with God’s appproval of all your beliefs or behaviors. Remember that you walk with a God who “justifies the ungodly” by faith.
Similarly, God’s love for you is not increased by your obedience nor is it diminished by your disobedience. The exact same love that the Father has for Jesus, His Son, is also offered to you because you are hidden in Christ.” -James Abrahamson in "Lessons In Leadership"

Once Upon A Time...

Long, long ago there were three silly young girls. They liked to talk and talk about many things great and small, go canoeing and camping, climb rock cliffs, talk about boys, make true confessions, read Winnie-the-Pooh, make up and play crazy group games, struggle through the issues of young-adulthood together, do crazy skits at youth retreat, sing, listen to music, laugh and laugh, play preposterous tricks on each other, work (work?!?) together, and just plain hang out.

And then those silly young girls grew up and life got harder, but better, and suddenly, between the three of them, they had 10 (yes, ten!) children. And all the children were beautiful and precious, and the now-not-so-young-and-silly girls still enjoyed getting together to share their lives and rememeber the past and get to know each other’s kids. Oh, and one of them still had enough silliness in her to get marshmallow shooters for the kids to play with!

A Few of Those Ten Adorable Kids

Who's Confused??

The other day I was trying to phone a company that sells supplements, to see if I’m giving Josiah the right dose of his iron supplement. Part of the conversation went roughly like this:

Nice guy: hello, mumble, mumble, mumble
Me: May I speak with Lida, please?
Nice guy: Lida who?
Me: I don’t know, I was just told to ask for Lida.
Nice guy: Give me your name and number and I’ll check for you.
Me: Jenni, etc, etc,
Nice guy: And what was your question?
Me: I’m giving my baby the Floradix iron supplement and want to be sure I’m giving him the right dose.
Nice guy: This is General Motors

So, if anyone wants to phone General Motors, I have the number! (And I did get the correct number for the supplement company.)

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We were going for a little drive after church and drove through the cemetery. Here’s a rough reconstuction of the ensuing conversation.

Logan: What are we doing here?
Keith: I just wanted to see the place where Grandma is buried.
Logan: Married?
Keith: Yes, buried.
Logan: People get married here?
Keith: Yes, buried.
Logan: That’s a stinker place to get married!

At this point I intervened and translated for Keith and the whole misunderstanding was cleared up. And we laughed and laughed!!!