Stretching it out

I feel like this is somewhat like the day before I go back to school at the end of summer. Well, we actually go back in the middle of the summer here in the sweltering humid South, but who is paying attention to that other than people with bouffant hair like moi! The last day of Christmas break. I am trying so hard to extend it. I keep lounging in my pj's, eating, reading, eating, cooking, eating, thinking about taking down my Christmas decorations, eating, watching movies I have already seen a zillion times, eating, looking at my pics from Christmas and grinning from ear to ear. It has been a great break. Did I mention I have been eating a lot? I have rested and spent a lot of quality time with all my peeps that I love so much.  Lots of quiet time by myself and lots of not so quiet time with  my family. I am most thankful for the past two weeks.

During my devotion this morning I came across one of my favorite verses that I posted in my header. How appropriate at the beginning of a new year and a new decade. Who am I Lord and what is my family that you have brought me thus far? I am a long way from where I started with God and thank goodness not where I will be further down the road with Him.  I know that before I can fully dive into what a new year holds I needed to look back at where all He and I have been the past year. How humbling it is to look back at prayer requests and trials I went through and see how He worked it all for good. Lots of blessings to behold this year. I have lived long enough to know that you can be up one minute and the wind knocked out of you the next. However I am so thankful that I am at the point in my life I trust He is in control. I may not like it at the time but I do know He is in control.

So back to the daily grind tomorrow. I am thankful for that too. Thankful for my job that I needed a rest from, but I love it so much. Can't wait for the fresh faces of newbies as a new semester begins. I wonder at all the ways this group will change me. Cause each group does, in their own way make me different at the end of the semester than I was at the beginning. So I will enjoy these fleeting moments with my man tonight. I have something simmering on the stove that smells so delicious he will mourn me going back to work as well!

Seems only fitting to end my break with something good to eat - I haven't eaten much lately!

Blessings,
Michelle

SSMT #1

I am so excited for the SSMT to be starting up again. In case you want to join in check out these instructions: http://blog.lproof.org/2010/12/siesta-scripture-memory-instructions.html

This was such a blast to do two years ago and I am looking forward to doing it again this year. I have been thinking about what I wanted my first verse for the year to be. I wanted something that would set the tone for the year for me. I was perusing another blog I read and this verse was the topic she was writing on :

Habakkuk 2:3 (NIV)

For the revelation awaits an appointed time;

it speaks of the end
and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
it will certainly come
and will not delay.

This verse speaks volumes to me. I did a bible study a few years ago and this chapter was the focus of the study. There are many things on my heart that I have been praying for and will continue to pray for in the upcoming year. Things I don't need to give up on praying about. This verse reminds me God has a plan and I must wait for it. There will be a perfect time for the revelation He has for me and I don't want to miss it - I want to wait for it -  for it will certainly come!!! What a gracious God we have. His timing and not mine.

New Year Blessings,
Michelle

The PawPaw Chronicles

What a glorious Christmas weekend we have had!!! Lots of family, fellowship, food, fun and thanking our Lord for our many blessings - most of all His Son. However, no matter where we were the past couple of days there was one repeated element.One thing I have heard over and over and over again. Not "present", not "mine", not anything of the like. I have had my two grandboys around the last few days and if I have heard this once I have heard it a thousand times. "PAWPAW" These two are eaten up with their PawPaw. They follow him everywhere and if one crawls in his lap you can bet the green-eyed other one is close behind. They adore him. And I am sick of it! Oh, they love me too especially when it is snack time or chocolate milk time but for all intents and purposes these two are PawPaw's boys. I think it's because he has the big boy toys. 4-wheeler, tractor, loud truck. Just boy stuff and these two are all boy.

This is where you will find them most of the time - right in PawPaw's lap.

Or building stuff with PawPaw.

Or singing "the PawPaw blues".

"Hey Look how cool we are- making music with PawPaw!"

"Play it again PawPaw!"

"Oh wait for me - I want in your lap too!"

"Is PawPaw coming back soon.? PawPaw? PawPaw where are you? You got out of our sight for 10 seconds and we don't like it! PawPaw"

"GiGi?"

"Yes sweet boys do you want to play with GiGi?"

"Um, no but can you go get PawPaw?"

A boy, his PawPaw and his tractor. Life is great!

But it just got better - I got my own tractor!!!

"Graham who drives the tractor?"

"PawPaw"

Who do you love?"

"PawPaw"

"Anyone else"

"No."

"I just want to be with PawPaw."

So as you can see I have a dilemma. And only Jeremy and Laura can fix it - I NEED A GRANDGIRL!!!!!!

ps - I love that these boys love their PawPaw and he is just as eaten up with them.

How blessed we are and thankful for our precious time with our family!

Blessings from PawPawville,

Michelle

Happy Birthday Jeremy!!!!

Our oldest son's birthday is today! He is a special young man to have such a special birthday. He is 28 years old today - I can hardly believe it. The Lord brought this precious boy into my life when he was just 7 years old. Time flies.

Jeremy,
There aren't words to express how proud your dad and I are of the man that you have become. However, you aren't much different now than you were as a little boy. You have always had a very keen sense of right and wrong - which you were always happy to share with your siblings! You have always loved the Lord and shared that faith with others. Dad and I will never forget the pride we felt at your graduation when you used your time as Valedictorian to share the love of Christ with thousands of people in that arena. Proud! Or the time that one of your peers came to visit Dad and I to tell us that he knew many people who professed to be Christians but you were one of the only people he knew that lived like you were. Man, talk about proud. However, God is the one who gave you all the talents and wisdom that you possess. We are just so thankful we got to play a part in raising you. When you came to live with us it changed us forever. Especially me. I never could have dreamed how much I would love mothering you and taking care of you. That is why you are so rotten and I have to apologize to your precious wife regularly!
You are a son that can be depended on for anything and you have always been there for us. We love you and we love watching you be a daddy to our sweet baby boy. God has blessed  you with much. Remember to whom much is given, much is required. Thank God profusely for all your blessings.

We hope you have a wonderful birthday and we love you so very very much!!!
Dad and M

Baby in a Manger

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

This morning I am in my living room staring at my lights, gazing at my nativities, my decorations, all the presents wrapped under my tree and wondering about that first Christmas morning many years ago. There was nothing but a baby in a manger. No grand hoopla around Him. Just a bunch of animals and hay and dirt. And a baby in a manger. He was out of place in this building for housing animals. "Wrapped in dirty rags cause there was no room for Him in the world He came to save."(while you were sleeping lyric).
My house doesn't look like a stable. It is filled with my treasures and my "stuff". In a couple of days it will be filled with my kids and grandpeeps and I cannot wait! But it is my prayer that in all the hoopla of the day and the ripping open of presents and eating of food, we don't just cast a glance at the baby in a manger. It is my prayer He is the center of our day. Of all our days. Of our lives.
I love my nativity in the picture above because it is what the nativity represents- JESUS! JESUS! Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
May Jesus be the center of your Christmas celebration. Make room for Him and don't just let Him be the baby in a manger. He is the reason for the day and the source of all our blessings. Many are hurting this Christmas season- Christ came to save a hurting world. A baby in a manger who will return as the bridegroom to whisk His bride away!
Hallelujah and Merry Christmas!
Michelle

School's Out For Summer!!!

Really? It is December 21 and we got out for CHRISTMAS vacation today. IT IS 82 DEGREES OUTSIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I got home and felt like I should weed my flower beds. Of course I then remembered that my vacation just started so I did not do that. Feels like summer. Yuck! It's December. But hang around Christmas day the high will only be 43.
Only in Louisiana!

A Few of My Favorite Things

I adore Christmas time!! I love all the twinkling lights all over my house. Early morning quiet time with my bible, coffee and staring at my lights makes me so content. Wish I could freeze those moments. Here are a few of my favorites this morning:

Our nativity tree nestled in the corner in the dining room. It makes me happy every time I pass it.

I love the theme trees that many people do, however I am a die hard traditionalist. Every ornament on my tree has some special meaning. It was made or given as a gift from someone. This one says, "Our First Christmas Together 1990". My husband and I were dating and he and his three little ones gave this to me. It is still one of my favorite gifts ever received. So thankful that it was the first of many Christmas' together.

We love to put out the things our kids made. Baby girl in all her toothless splendor! She has brought us much joy.

I can't help it - I think these homemade ornaments are the most beautiful because of the precious little hands that made them.

It is hard to see Jeremy in this picture but he will be 28 on Christmas day!

Sweet girla and her big pink bow. Here she is below with her sweet baby boy.

I take our Christmas cards and put them on the tree as I get them.

More sweet faces that I love with all my heart.

Our niece and nephew who are away at Missionary school and are expecting their first little one! I love how their happiness just radiates from them.

Two of my favorite people on earth - my in-loves. So much to be thankful for this year with them. I guess that is another reason I love my tree - it makes me take stock of not only the past year, but also just the past. All that there is to be thankful for. The good and the not so good. What a life of memories our tree holds. Have a blessed Lord's day!