LAST day O' the year ... 2011

Can you believe it? The last day O' 2011?! Wow ... what a year ~ In review, I travelled quite a lot in the beginning of the year and visited places I had only read about! WoW!! Then our youngest married Tosha ~ I was blessed with planning a wedding. Who would have thought? A momma of all boys? The wedding was beautiful, I had friends to help and such JOY and blessings too. Both of us turned the BIG 5 0! And such a wonderful new phase of our lives! Interestingly how no one ever 'plans' on such grief in the wake of 2 funerals of 2 matriarchs ~ yes, my MIL (Jean A. Reader) and my grandmother (Hazel M. Campbell) went home to the Lord within one month of each other. And continued blessings and the Hand of God through all of it. Oh, FOREVER in our hearts both of you will be! Later in the year, October 5, a precious grand baby girl arrived (Makayla Ray-Jean Reader). Great Grandpy reminded all of us that Makayla is the first girl in over 50 years; because his daughter Deborah was born ~ then 3 boys ~ then 7 grandsons ~ NOW, 1 great grand-daughter. Yep, I'm a G-Ma! (Pssst ~ a pretty good one I might add.) Life so changes ... Darlin' D has made such a tremendous impact in the fruit world that he decided to move into a new adventure. Yes, he is the new CFO of South Beach Diet. And yes, that means we will be relocating to fabulous sunshiney (is that a word?!) FLORIDA. Another chapter for all of us .. and by all of us, I mean 6 ~ yes, we are a family of 6 now. So we wait, and anticipate ALL that God will do. Such a good God we have, serve and worship. Come 2012 ... all that you bring, give and will guide into more of living for Christ. Happy New Year everyone ... bye 2011 and welcome twenty12!!

m

B A B Y ...

 

Joy ~ BABY ~ Happy ~ ...

Facebook .... If Mary & Joseph had Facebook

Turn off my music on the blog ~ can be done on the far right above the music grid!
I love this ...

He shall be called ...

 

I may have blogged this before ... but it's where my mind (and heart!) go quite a bit. I don't seem to have any answers and then I begin to think of all the names & attributes of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. From A to Z .. and back again. What about you?

Red Sox & Santa Stocking .... add baby

 
 
as if the baby were talking .... "G-Ma take the picture already!!" and Happy Christmas ... LQQk daddy, mommy made the blanket and I'm playing with it before she gives it to YOU! Merry Christmas" xoxoxo, baby girl!!

World Vision Donations: Gift Catalog

World Vision Donations: Gift Catalog

This is just the best!! Really the best way to give and bless!!

Happy & blessed Thanksgiving!!

 
 
 
So so much to be thankful & grateful for ... blessings my friends!!

pretty in PINK blanket

 
 
 
My SIL, Carrie, knitted this beautiful PINK blanket. It is stunning! It's circular and baby M loves it!! See ...

wanna read?

 
 
 
Hello baby Makayla!! Wanna read? I'll read to you and you listen. K? Okay, Papa ~ you read and I'll listen!!

Red ... & your fav?

 

Merlot, shiraz, petite shiraz, zin, ..... what's your favOrite red??

Great GrandPARENTS from TX

 
 
Papa & Mimi visit .... great grandparents!! Oh have we had some fun fun & FuN!!

angelic ....

 

 

if photos could speak ~ angelic I think!! baby grand-girl

photos ... pics... PICTURES

 
 
and YES! I am a pathological photographer. My camera is attached to my hip and I carry a small backup camera in my purse (along side the bubbles O' course!!) ... go take some photos!! TODAY

learning

 
 
 
"Tell me & I listen. Teach me & I remember. Involve me & I learn." ~ Benjamin Franklin This is the way I 'learn' best and ironically the way I 'teach' best. Get involved and bring a friend with you!! What are you learning and teaching TODAY??? For we do learn and teach daily!

nature ...

 
I LOVE it ~ nature that is. I try to 'garden' and am somewhat sucessful. Wherever I go, I look for what is 'out' there. I am surprised by the familiar and unfamiliar. A rose ~ I had an anniversary rose garden in Idaho and now I have 3 Reserve rose bushes in California! They are linked to memories .... memories!! we all have them ~ and a LOT of mine are within photos ... or the ordinary, extra-ordinary, familiar and unfamiliar!!

Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." What don't you see? What do you hope for ... be still before the Lord and let Him show you.

explanations ....

 
 
 
 
Ate at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) and dined well and desserted upon olive oil ice cream. Me too .. I thought yuck and noooooo way! but NO!! incredibly smooth and velvety!! and yummy!! the rest O' these need no further explanations.

2 Mr. Readers ...

 

Yep! Darlin' D's dad got off the island after 8 years to visit his great grand-daughter! Yep .. and so, we headed north to 'play' ... here they are 2 Mr. Readers ...

Prayer ...

 
 
I've been praying like I always do ... and yet, there's more! My heart is heavy and aching ... and I pray because there is more! I'm 'happy' to see baby girl grow and what I've learned from her in just 13 days ... and I pray. Decided to study a bit more on prayer ~ and here are just a few things I've embedded into my heart. Grace of tears (Job 16:20), listening with the heart to the Holy within (can you hear it?!), God's power to forgive is greater than my power to sin, we are called to life transforming obedience, covering in prayer, sealing ourselves with the Cross of Christ. There is just sooooooo much! Prayer ... keep it simple and short ~ but don't be afraid to be real and honest before your God! To be done individually and corporately .. with joy & love! To pray ... have you today?

Six in the Suburbs: Outrageous & Awesome Halloween Party Appetizer, Th...

Six in the Suburbs: Outrageous & Awesome Halloween Party Appetizer, Th...: Last year, my sister-in-law made the most unbelievable display for the annual Halloween party...words can't even explain it- but all I ...


HAD TO SHARE THIS!!

9 1 1 ...

I heard a story today, about a family in a cornfield that were "lost". So, they called 911 and/or GPS to get them out of there! Okay ~ how many times have I been lost? many! driving around endlessly ~ should've called GPS! and YOU? ever been lost? in trouble? well of course! all of us have been, are or will be! 911 = Calling on the One who can help you, save you, rescue you, restore you ... heal you ~ make you whole and fully ALIVE ...

His name is Jesus! Jesus!!

The Source for our lives ...

“I am the Vine you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

The Source for our lives will make all the difference in how our lives are lived day to day. It is true, we can succeed and even do well for days, weeks, even years on our own muster. But to truly be successful? To keep on enduring without burning out? To keep on loving when there is not love left to give? That takes drawing eternal water from the Eternal Source.

As mamas we don’t want to give our children a cheap imitation of Christ’s love, we want to give them the real thing. We want them to see Jesus in and through us each and every day. We can only do this when we spend time with Him, allow Him to love on us, allow Him to heal our hurts, forgive our sins. We need to drink from that beautiful Living Water, drink in His grace, His love, His light, in order that we may continue to serve and love our families.

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10
(where do you go to 'be still?' I have a chair in my bedroom that's my new favO'rite spot!)

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
(GRACE ... )

Yes, we are weary. There is no time in the day, why is that? There is no peace.

Yet, have you really tried to carve out a little space just for you and Him? Or is it easier to remain busy than to go before the Father? Are you worried about how you might look before Him? Still thinking about yesterday when you yelled at whoever, or how you spent the money on something other than what you should have? Or are you embarrassed that you frittered away precious time on the Internet? (not that I would know about any of these things. me? moi? YES! me/moi!)

You don’t need to clean up to go to Him. He knows your weaknesses, your struggles, your failings. He knows you. And He wants to spend time with you. He wants you to ask Him for help, to rely on Him for your every need throughout the day. He adores you, and is proud of you. Yes, you.

“Lord, my they see the gospel in my daily life?!! And, now rest in His arms and admit your brokenness.” Yes, REST ... even me, moi!!

So, today, I encourage you to fall into His loving embrace. Enjoy the fellowship. Enjoy the grace. And then, when you are filled up, share it with your family.

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1

Are you like me and need to rest in His arms today?
What do you think? Where are you with eternal waters? Where are you with Jesus? call me!! .. wanna go for coffee??

b a b y ....

 
 
 
 
Baby, baby & baby!! Who knew she'd bring so much joy ~ and baby talk!! and kisses and lovin'? Baby, baby & BABY!!
Not often do I have all my family under one roof ... blessed and my family just got bigger!! and my heart has melted & grown GIGANTIC!! soooooooo in love ~ Baby, baby & baby!!