December daily book

I really love the idea of this book so I'm working on my own. You create a scrapbook for the month of December, and work on it each day so you have a completed book at the end of the month. I was able to go scrapbooking with a friend last month and got started on it. Since then, I've found a few spare minutes here and there and got all the pages done. Now I'm taking a picture a day to put in it. The first few pages will be advent and decorating the house.

A couple of my brilliant friends planned a fun activity for the first night of advent. We got together and had a Jesus birthday party. We had cake and crafts and talked about the real meaning of Christmas.

Each of us ladies created an advent wreath to take home.

Later, the men enjoyed a few games of darts.

At home, we lit the first candle and read some verses of the Bible. I hadn't yet dug out Jotham's Journey which we usually read each night.

All this week we have been getting the house decorated and making crafts. We did a simple, homemade advent calendar which I'm filling with small treats.

I'll try to update as the season goes on.

Yes, that is my SON =)

Thanksgiving 09

My parents were in town for Thanksgiving again this year. We had our big meal around 1pm and then had all my in-laws over for dessert in the evening. It was a wonderful day; I love taking the time out from our busy lives to just slow down and enjoy family.

It was especially sweet since Scott had been out of town the 10 days leading up to Thanksgiving. I was extremely thankful to have him back home again!!

My mom and dad with their grandkids

It's snowing lightly outside; fat, lazy flakes that take their time from the clouds to the ground. I see God's magnificent mountains, the snow-covered trees surrounding them, a soaring eagle in flight.

This is from a journal entry I made the Sunday before last as I was sitting by a fireplace at a lodge in Breckenridge. I'd gone there for a retreat with four fabulous friends. We created our own weekend and it went something like this...

As we walked along a mountain path, a fox walked nearly right up to us. Later, he visited us along the walkway around the hot tub. A blue jay flew overhead. Or was it a crow? (inside joke)We watched a muskrat and huge trout race each other to devour food thrown from a bridge.

We laughed, we cried, we talked of painful things, past mistakes and the families we are all so proud of.

We planned, we shared ideas, we created a concept that's going to be so great in the lives of many families.

We relaxed, we walked, we shopped, we swam, we separated for bible study, reflection and time alone with God.

We grew closer to God and to each other.

Oh, and the views weren't bad either.

Halloween 2009

This year we had a garden gnome, a clown, a gorilla, Betsy Ross, a pirate and a teenager.