Happy Thanksgiving!

...Ok, so I think I've forgotten how to blog!

 I just looked at my old blog posts for the first time in a while, and I don't even feel like the same person I was before. 

It's funny how things change. 

I've learned soo much in the past few months.

God is teaching me so much right now, and my prayer is that I learn with a happy attitude:) 

I really do miss all my blogger friends!  

For those of you that don't already know my loverleyy family I'll introduce them:)

Starting from the left, from row:

Cole, Nona, Max, Kimmi, Kamryn. 

and now from the back row left:

That's my dad and mom, Cason with Jessie on his shoulders and then me:)

And my mom's pregnant with number 9! :)

Hope everyone is well, and enjoying a big yummy 

Thanksgiving dinner!! :)

God is Not Dead; Nor Doth He Sleep!

Mr. Davis, one of the men in our church, during prayer request time Sunday, decided to read this poem about peace.

It was written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.  He wrote this during, the Civil War, a war where our country lost many, Longfellow's son being one of them. He was going through much pain because of his loss, and it was Christmas when he wrote this poem. We live in a war filled dark world, but as this poem reminds us "God is not dead; nor doth he sleep! The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail,"

 I think the meaning and story behind this poem brings so much hope.

Christmas Bells
By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


Then from each black accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!


And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"


Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!"

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
~ Luke 2:14 ~

• Week Full of Christmas Fun •

 Just to let everyone know what we've done in the past week...

We made gingerbread houses, as we have done every year since the 90's. We use orange juice boxes and graham crackers... we're so sophisticated!

The one above is Nona's house... my personal favorite! ;D

This is Kamryn's beautiful house. She's so good at doing things! She's really has really seemed more grown up to me lately. She's such a sweet blessing to our family!

We also decorated gingerbred men. That's a newer tradition. One that started this year. hehee

•••

We saw our favorite babysitter in the whole wide world from when Cason, Kimmi, and I were much younger! You can't really see her well, but that's just to keep her identity hidden... no actually that's not true. Remember, my camera got washed. hehee

•••

We went to a live nativity yesterday with friends. It was much fun, and it was so cute because children were the actors for the nativity play. There were camels, lots of goats (I think they were supposed to be sheep, or maybe those angels were speaking to goatherds... not shepherds. heehee)

They also had a donkey which was the cutest thing ever! I want a donkey! I'm gonna name him Lester.

Daddy and Max. It seems like so many picture we have of him he's cutting his eyes like he is in this one. I think it's so cute!

My very handsome little brother, and oh so cute Jessie Carol!

Ok, so the same person who washed my camra was the photographer last night. This person forgot to turn the flash on so we don't have any very clear pictures of the actual natitvity.

•••

We've been wrapping Christmas presants.

 (and opening them...woopz-ie heh heh)

I wrapped this one myslef... TALENT!

Kimmi and I went Christmas shopping today and got our siblings presents.

That girl is crazy good at walking into a store and going straight to the best section for what she's looking for. She doesnt even tell me where she's going or what she's getting.

I would't call myself a follower of very many people, but when we walk into a big store I just follow Kimmi. Really, I do. I don't even realize I'm doing it half the time.

I love Kimmi...her strong will and all!

She's my BFF!

•••

•••

We have lots of sweet, and fun, Christmas traditions.

Do you and your family have any fun traditions you like to do every year?

If so, what are they? I would love to hear about them!

•••

Hope you all are all having a blessed Christmas season!

....and also, if anyone even noticed, this isn't Ten Thigs I Love Tuesdays. I love the idea, but I did it once and I sadly can't be as creative as Alyssa, and have a new ten things every week. ;D

 Just to let everyone know what we've done in the past week...

We made gingerbread houses, as we have done every year since the 90's. (We're old school!)

This one's Nona's house... my personal favorite! ;D

This is Kamry's beautiful house. She's so good at doing things! She's really has been seeming more grown up to me lately. She's such a sweet blessing to our family!

We also decorated gingerbred MEN. That was a newer tradishion, one that started this year. hehee

•••

We saw our favorite babysitter in the whole wode world from when Cason, Kimmi, and I were much younger! You can't really see her well, but that's just to keep her identity hidden... no actually that's not true, remember my camra got washed. hehee

•••

We went to a live nativity yesterday with friends. It was very much fun, and it was so cute because childrent were the actors. The had camels, lots of goats (I think they were supposed to be sheep, or mayby those angels were speaking to goatherds... not shepherds. heehee

They also had a donkey, which was the cuest thing! I want a donkey! I want to name him Lester.

Daddy and Max. It seems like so many picture we have of him he's cutting his eyes like he is in this one. I think it's so cute!

My very handsome little brother, and oh so cute Jessie Carol!

Ok, so the same person who washed my camra was the photographer last night. This person forgot to turn the flash on so we don't have any very clear pictures of the actualy natitvaty.

•••

We've been wrapping Christmas preasants.

 (and openinging them...woopz heh heh)

I wrapped this one myslef... TAAALENNNT!

Kimmi and I went Christmas shopping today and got our siblings presents.

That girl is crazy good at walking int a store and going straight to the best section for what she's looking for. She doesnt even tell me where she's going or what she's getting.

I would't call myslef a follower, to very many people, I mean I could probably name 5, but when we walk into a big store I just follow Kimmi. Really, I do. I don't even relize I'm doing it half the time.

I love Kimmi, her strong will and all!

She's my BFF!

•••

•••

We have lots of sweet, and fun, Christmas traditions.

Do you and your family have any fun traditions you like to do every year?

If so what are they? I would love to hear about them!

•••

Hope you all are all haveing a blessed Christmas season!

and also if anyone even noticed, this isn't Ten Thigs I Love Tuesdays. I think I might not do that, I can't think of ten things one more time! heehee

• I've Been Tagged! •

My very sweet blogger buddy, Kathrann, over at He Keeps Me Singing, has tagged me and I think tags are so much fun!

 Ok, so here it goes. =D

1) Do you like sugar cookies?

A: Yes, love them, and all year around too!

2) Do you like a LOT of lights on your Christmas tree, or just a few?

A: Lots! I love the colorful lights best.

3) Do you prefer a real tree, or an artificial tree?

A: Definitely a real tree, but we went with artificial this year.

4) What's your favorite Christmas carol?

A: I have so many so I really don't know. I guess my favorites are the more traditional ones.

5) Do you like egg-nog, or boiled custard?

A: Neither. Well, I guess I can't say that because I haven't tried boiled custard, but it sounds a little bit disgusting. I think I'll just stick with the sugar cookies. ;D

6) Do you want a lot of snow for Christmas, or just enough to sled in?

A: Lots of snow! It doesn't really snow much here. Maybe a little white rain, but not really snow-snow.

7) What's your favorite part of the Christmas story?

A: I would probably say all the symbolism surrounding His birth that points to His death on the cross for us.

8) What's your favorite Christmas movie?

A:  Charlie Brown's Christmas 

9) If you could spend $1,000,000, what would you buy?

A:  I would probably want to invest it in a house.

10) What is your favorite name(s) of Jesus?

A:  Emmanuel, Christ, Lord, but  I love them all!

Thanks so much Kathrann for making this!

Now, I tag:

Abby 
Alyssa 
Lauren
Chloe
Nana
Abigail
and 
Lindsay
=D
Enjoy you
guys!

• Jessie's Second Christmas Tree •

•••

Mark 10:14

Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 
•••




Merry Christmas!!

• Sweet and Six! •

Happy Birthday Nona Klare!

Nona is six-years-old today!!! 

I can't believe it! 

She's such a sweet blessing to the whole family and to every one she's around. She is so giving and loving! Anytime she goes out anywhere she's ALWAYS looking to get something for someone else.

I had the honors of making her cake. Nona knew I was going to make it, so for the past couple weeks she's been talking about what sort of cake she would like. At first she wanted a gingerbread house cake with TWO houses on top, and she wanted it on a sheet cake. No idea where she came up with this! THANKFULLY, about a week ago she came up with a candyland themed cake, so I listened to all her requests and did it. I have never used fondant, but I did with this one and It was fun! My arms are actually sore from rolling it though. haha

Anyway, the cake turned out cute and Nona loved it.

In this picture Nona had just opened her crown we got her. As you can see she was wearing a "homemade" crown that she had just put together, but she was happy with giving the "homemade" crown up for the real one. ;)

Love you Nona!

• Baby Curls & Block Parties •

 I had some oh so adorable pictures of Jessie up yesterday, but this morning, I took them off because my mom thought she looked nasty... she did.. but she was such a cute looking nasty  baby! My mom said I should just put some pictures of her all dressed  and pretty.

She had jelly all over her face, and she was only in a diaper.

These pics were taken a few Sunday ago, and she was wearing the same dress but one looks purple and one looks blue... or is that just me? 

I love this one because it really shows off her baby curls! SO SWEET!

•••

I'm getting excited because I'm just about to go get on my costume. I haven't dressed up for halloween since I was probably 12, but our family, and Emily my friend, will be going to a block party in about an hour.

I'm going to be Esmerelda from the Hunchback of Notredame, and Cason's going to be Quazimoto. You know... the hunch back. haha... It cracks me up thinking about him dressing up as Quazimoto!

Cason's so sweet!!!

Now how many bigger younger brothers would dress up for their sister? I'm really not sure, but Cason is one of them! =D

I'll post pictures of everyone's costume's later.

Hope every one is having a really great day! =)