~Gratitude Moment~

"In the end, what effects your life most deeply are things too simple to talk about." Nell Blaine

That quote is on my daily calendar today. It has reminded me of how God has truly been in the process of showing me He is restoring the time back in my life that the locusts have eaten. This one: a new friend. She has fast become a dear friend. Within that friendship God reminded me of what I had forgotten-myself and things I used to love to do and make-like my own laundry soap-something too simple to talk about. She reminds me of what I used to be before I hid it all away. She challenges me to break free. It is in the too simple things of that relationship God has shown me restoration. Thank you my friend. Keep your Irish up. :)

Christmas Visitor

I love watching birds. So while cooking Christmas morning I looked out the sliding door to see if any regular visitors had come to the recently filled feeders. It was then I noticed a hawk sitting on my fence! I catch sight of them in the air and occassionally in a tree (we are not country dwellers- we are suburbinites) What a wonderful surprise! The kiddos got to see the full facial view but just as I was getting ready to take another picture from inside the house, it flew away. Amazingly enough this is the second time we've had a hawk on the fence. This one stayed long enough this time to get a few pics.

Tess

I love this dog! For you who don't know, Tess has been part of my life for ten years. We met when she was seven in April 1998 at the Humane Society. It was love at first sight. She moves a bit slower these days but her spirit is still strong. We nearly lost her twice: first to the crazy bad dog food issue and the second to a painful bad back. God has truly been gracious and allowed her quality of life to be full and mine too.


Christmas Nap & Gifts
(new bed and treats)


E and his prized possesion
cuddling up with Tess.


~Beautiful Girl~

If Emily could put Tess in her pocket and take her everywhere she would

(and tries). She loves mothering her. No wonder Tess has hung around ;)

The Wii vs The Flowers

The Wii is winning and it is a good thing we are ALL on vacation for two weeks. As if vacations don't mess up sleep schedules enough. The two night owls have been burning the midnight oil playing. These shots are daytime matches the day after Christmas. Thanks, Grammy~we all love it!


Shannon and Emily duke it out.


Emily is typically all about art but she totally gets into the Wii.


Brother watch out- Fore!

Brothers & Sisters

The Snow Princess and Clone Trooper
Halloween 2008




Gotcha!~ Who better to tackle than a big brother.
God help the one who comes between this sister and brother.





Bakugan Battle~How odd to hear that little girl voice come out with battle calls.




Team Work - A wise man may build his house on a rock, but Ethan and Emily chose icing... if any was left over after they "taste tested" it.



Snuggle Buddies~It is a rare and I mean really rare sight:
snow flakes in (our part of)Texas. Emily and Ethan snuggled and watched.

Beginning

"If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done." (Ecclesiastes 11:4)
It really isn't as if I was waiting for perfect conditions what for the closet I'd been in I couldn't see the weather. I hadn't even considerd a blog. That is until my dear sister kept "suggesting" at every opportunity that I create one. Its not as if it was on her To Do List! I think she finally gave up ;) Well, as the theme is for me this year I have titled this entry "Beginning". Sister, Thank you.~