Country Church and Country Girl Birthday

Below are three pictures of our little church. We meet on Friday nights and worship, have a meal and then read the word and worship and pray for one another. We really like this little church. The heart of the people who attend are so beautiful. They want the Lord's will and His hand to be in this little place, to take His gospel to the community.

This building is over 100 years old and has such character. There is no bathroom and so we use a motor home just around the corner...talk about "country".

I took these pictures for a curious friend who will get such joy out of seeing them...enjoy my dear friend!

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Here is our princess and her special day...all pink! We ordered here a special cowgirl boot cake -which she loved. Her big brother purchased her the cute cowgirl baseball hat with his own hard earned money.

Special time with Blackie.

Spring???????

Here are some fun pictures for you to enjoy! First we have found a tree covered in ladybugs. My older son took this wonderful picture of the ladybugs. However, we are all wondering if they made it or not as just a few days latter we experienced freezing rain.
Second, my littlest is tippin his hat and sayin "Howdy Ma'am" - I love it! I think little boys look so cute in cowboy hats, wranglers and denim shirts...so cute!
Lastly we have a new friend...I'll call her "Molly". Can you tell what it is that we did? Isn't it funny! We were laughing so much it hurt.

Not So Little Things....

Over the past year there have been many things we have missed but not until the Lord opened this door did I realize just how much we missed them.

I almost cried when I saw my youngest just relaxing on the couch watching the snow fall...we had school to do, lunch to clean up, laundry, boxes to unpack....busy, busy, busy...but my little guy was captured by something others might consider little or insignificant....being still.

I learned a whole lot in this moment. I was reminded of the scripture where the Lord says, "Be Still and Know That I am God"....it has been a long time since I was "still" in spirit and in physical, but at that moment I realized the Lord has given me a tremendous gift - a place to "be still and know that the Lord is God"!

The second picture is of my boys playing video game.

A Picture Update....

Here are some pictures of our 14 year old birthday pie (wanted you to see the counters...blue!!!!!!! What is a girl to do with blue????? I'm going to do a french cafe look in the kitchen), also wanted to share our new place with you...don't worry more to come this is just a glimpse into our new adventure!

Banana Split Pie - what a treat! If you want the recipe let me know. It is easy and fun to serve!
Like I said in my last post, we are still living up in the mountains, surrounded by beauty that I can see out every window...what a joy!

Happy New Year

Our Lord is the only one who can make all things new...that is the whole message of the gospel...to make all things new.

In light of "making things new" I thought I'd share what the Lord has been doing in our lives.

As most of you know we have been living in a "box", but what most of you don't know is what the "box" really was. It was not a little RV as most of you have thought, it was a remodeled storage container - the kind you see stacked at shipyards. There were no windows, only a front door. It had windows, but that was it. My husband did put in carpet and flooring, walls, a propane stove for cooking, counter with sink for a kitchen and a shower and toilet. There was a wood stove for warmth. He also built fold-up bunk beds for the children. It was not comfortable, but it was warm and dry and feed....needless to say it has been a very tough year! Someday I will write a book about our experience - bet it will be a best seller!

After many hopeless days there began to be a light at the end of the tunnel....the Lord provided a miracle for us and filled a need for another couple through us.

A few months ago we heard of a couple who needed renters and someone to work as an Ad Rep as well as cover phones and do office work for their paper, The Huckleberry Press. We meet with them several times and worked out some details and received some training all the while the light getting brighter as we proceeded.

Dave is working on commission only and I cover the phones on Monday's only. The process of us replacing unemployment for Dave will take a while but at least we have a chance to get back on our own feet again.

The best part of all is that we were able to move into the rental over Christmas weekend. We moved in the snow and ice - crazy but we did it. We don't have all of our things as the roads around here are terrible, you know "country roads". We will get the other things when things began to thaw.

We are now living on 10 acres, 3bd/2bath and large shop, corral fencing, garden spot, fruit trees, and surrounded by the mountains and forest....our view is spectacular.

So not only did the Lord give us a way to get off of unemployment, he provided a home as well. We are ever grateful and praising the Lord for his goodness to our family.

I think we have learned a tremendous amount over the past year, we have experienced the bottom of depression when we thought all hope was lost, it has been very difficult. We look at this experience as "refiners fire".

To all of you who walked with us, prayed for us, held us close to your hearts we hope you see your prayer for our family has been answered in an amazing way - thank you for your faithfulness when ours was wavering, thank you for loving us when we were unlovable, thank you for standing and holding us when we could no longer stand and really needed to be held! We cherish you and appreciate all you have done for us.

The journey is not over, and there are more hurdles to overcome but at least we will be more comfortable and live life again...instead of "camping".

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!

For some reason I can't upload pictures of our "box", our Christmas, and our gift from the Lord...our new start and new place!

Pictures to come soon!

Stockings Hung With Care....

Here is our newest member of the family...haven't thought of a name and he will probably melt by the time we think of one anyway....snow gets heavy and it took two of us to lift his middle!

Stockings Hung With Care is the title of this blog...but you are wondering why since there is not one picture of a stocking being hung. Well, since all of my Christmas stuff is still packed and I can't get to it, and last year was so sad without "stockings", I decided to do something different! I went to Walmart and purchased these cute bags with matching colors and have dubbed them our official stockings for this year. I brought them in and put them on the table and the children's faces were so full of delight - I was so glad I did this. The two little packages are Christmas Eve and Christmas Day family gifts...they are movies and will be a welcome treat for all of us.
I'm hoping you find ways to bring joy to your family this holiday season. I've learned that things aren't always going to be what you expect and I can choose to dwell on the things we have lost, like I did last year, or I can purpose in my heart to "count it all joy". I don't think this stocking idea would have come to me if I was dwelling on the loss, and I know our Christmas season would not be as bright - I'm so thankful for the Lord who tells us what to do in adversity..."count it all joy"!
Merry Christmas to all of you!

Snowing Fun

I thought you might like some more glorious pictures of our marvelous snow fall. The road is an old logging road, just minutes from where we are. The dogs and I have claimed this road and walk it almost daily. I actually walked back to the "cabin" and got the camera just so I could capture the beauty - and so glad I did as right now as I type all this beautiful snow is melting away. We are not discouraged by any means as you can see this "melting" makes for great snowmen snow - I'm sure by tomorrow we will have our own little community of snow people. I think making snowmen has got to be my favorite thing about the snow - what fun!
Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the pictures.

Let It Snow....

Well, we've had quite the introduction to winter...and we are loving it! I'm sure that we have well over a foot of snow...and as I type this it is snowing.
We have been sledding and will probably try to build a snowman family this weekend.
I may not have a home to decorate for Christmas but the Lord has truly blessed us. We are surrounded by mountains, beauty and feel His peace. It is quiet and still here. It is a place of peace and refuge for our weary minds. We are thankful for this beautiful blanket of snow.
The senery pictures are just right outside our little "box" - yep, we are living in a post-card!

By the way my older son is responsible for the gorgeous scenery pictures. He did a wonderful job and I think he has an eye for photography....it will be interresting to see where this interrests leads.

Thanks for stopping by...may your Christmas season be bright!

I'm Thankful For....

I'm thankful for the beautiful view just outside our little "box"....I'm thankful for snow angels, silly girls who loose their hats and have the most ridiculous hat "hair" I've ever seen, boots for mom's toes - just because my husband loves me and wants me to have nice things, for children who are not worried about having the latest "snow gear" and are happy to just be sledding, for a son who laughs at himself when he looks really funny in his too-huge snow suit, for the beautiful snow that the Lord gave us on the first day of our Thanksgiving school break...we are a blessed family and are so thankful for so much! We are most thankful for a Saviour who sees us, and friends that care - we love you all so much - Happy Thanksgiving!