Celebration of Advent

Our family began a new tradition last year to celebrate Advent. We have always focused on the true meaning of Christmas in our home, as this is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Messiah, in Bethlehem. Sure, we have our fun traditions of Christmas and will continue. We love to bake cookies, sing fun Christmas songs, and buy gifts.  But this was a way to focus our attention even more on the celebration of Jesus birth, the first coming, and also look in great anticipation for his second coming, when he returns for his bride!

I am excited to begin this again tomorrow on the first Sunday of Advent. It was a wonderful time as a family last year as it made us pause and share scripture together, pray together, and celebrate together what God has done and is doing now. A beautiful time of expectation and remembrance!

Here is a little video by LifeWay that explains a little about the Advent season.

Click on the link below:

Advent Video

Thanksgiving Eve!

One of my absolute favorite days of the year has begun! The day before thanksgiving may not sound like anything significant to you but for me, it is a day at home with my amazing husband and awesome kiddos, cooking all day, preparing for a celebration of thanksgiving with all our family. This morning I got out of bed and tiptoed downstairs for a special rendezvous with my Jesus and had to maneuver around children sleeping in the living room. Yes, Callie and Caleb decided to have a camp out downstairs last night and watch movies together. So, I quietly tiptoed past them and took my place off the kitchen where I could spend some quiet time reading my love letter from my Lord and telling him all the things he is to me.

O, there is nothing quite like being in the presence of Jesus! When I open this precious book, I read his promises to me and know exactly how he feels about me....his daughter. As I bow my head in honor before him and share out of a heart of thanksgiving for all he is to me, the tears flow. Not tears of sadness, but tears of joy because he is so good to me. Even through trials and dark days, my God is so good to me. He has carried me through some dark days this year but he has also celebrated with me on many mountaintops. Life is hard, but God is good! No matter what the circumstance, my God has been right there. At. All. Times!

In just a few minutes, I will be in the kitchen cooking breakfast, preparing my station for a day of cooking, and getting ready to welcome a couple extra kiddos for the day. I will play my Christmas music or watch a Christmas movie as I cook and I will enjoy the lights of my Christmas tree as I prepare our thanksgiving feast. (If you're wondering, it is possible to celebrate and honor the thanksgiving holiday even with Christmas decorations up. ) It will be a day to praise God with a truly thankful heart for the many blessings he has bestowed on us this year.

Thanksgiving..thankfulness..not just a day but truly an attitude that we should take on. Gratitude..to my God..for his blessings..for his goodness..for his faithfulness..for his love..for his provision..for his grace..for his mercy..for his protection..for his Word..for salvation.

Abba Father, I love YOU and I thank YOU!

"I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High."


Psalms 9:1-2 (NKJV)

My Prayer Today

Lord, today, help me keep my focus on YOU! This world is a dark place filled with hate but I am reminded of what you did on Calvary where love overshadowed all hate any human could muster. By stretching out your arms on a cross and feeling the sting of death all because of my sin and my ugliness, you displayed a love that conquered hate. Your sacrifice is the reason I live and am free today to walk this earth and share your love with others. A love that will overwhelm our souls and help us understand that there is hope. YOU are HOPE! Your love is better than life and today, precious Lord, I praise YOU! You tell me in your word that there will be a day where there are no more tears, no more sadness and today, I am reminded that this world is NOT my home. I am just passing through on my way to eternity with you my Abba Father. Help me to be a light in this dark world until you call me home or return for me. This world needs more light. This world needs more hope. This world needs more Jesus.

Today, sweet Lord, help others see YOU in me. You are Peace. You are Love. You are Hope. You are LIFE and today....I PRAISE AND WORSHIP YOU!

"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all."
Isaiah 53:5-6 (NIV)

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 (NIV)

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
Revelation 21:4 (NLT)

“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven."
Matthew 5:14-16 (MSG)

The Week of Thanksgiving!

Here it is! The week of Thanksgiving! I have so much to be thankful for and all praise and glory goes to my Father in heaven. This morning I sit at my kitchen table in the quiet and praise God for all that he is to me. Holding his precious Word in my hands and my heart overflows in thanksgiving. I praise him for salvation and the gift of his grace. I am a life transformed by that precious gift and I love him so much.

Today, sweet Savior, I sing YOUR praises and thank YOU for your mercy and love!

"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."


Psalms 100:1-5 (KJV)

A Moment of History

November 19, 1863, 151 years ago, President Abraham Lincoln stood before the people and delivered one of the most famous, albeit very short, speeches of all time. Though before him a very popular speaker had just delivered a 2 hour eloquently written speech, it was Lincoln that delivered a message that still resonates in our hearts today.

I thought I would share it with you today, as I will have my kids research it for their homeschool, to honor those who gave their lives for our freedom and remember what our forefathers stood for. Take this part of our history and remember today and pray for our country.

"...that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

~ Abraham Lincoln

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The Gettysburg Address

November 19, 1863

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate—we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Happy 14th Birthday Callie

Happy 14th Birthday Callie!

November 13, 2000, at 7:51 in the morning, Matt and I welcomed our beautiful baby girl into this world and we could have never fathomed what an incredible journey it would be! Callie brings so much joy to our home with her vibrant personality and love of life! It blesses my heart to see her growing every day into a beautiful young woman that loves her God and desires to be a light for Him! I am eternally grateful that God chose me to be her mom and count it such an honor to raise a young lady after God's own heart.

Callie, we are so proud of you and love you for the special, unique, beautiful, loving, passionate, joyful, charming, and fabulous girl you are! I am certain that this world is a sweeter place because you are in it and I cannot wait to see all that God has in store for you!

Happy Birthday sweet girl! I love you!

Honoring our Veterans

Today I get the honor of staying home with my kiddos! Though I LOVE my job immensely, there will never be a "job" more precious to me than that of mom to the three most amazing kids in the world. So, I'm going to treasure this day! I'm thankful to be able to cook them breakfast, share a devotion in God's Word with them and then help them with school (in the morning this time. Lol!) Then an afternoon digging deep in the Word of God. Oh, how I love His Word! I love the freedom we have in Christ and the freedom we have in this country to open that precious Book whenever and wherever we choose!

"Set them apart in the truth; your word is truth."
John 17:17 (NET)

Thank you to all the men and women who serve in our military to make these liberties possible. Yes, it's a day off for me, but it it is a reminder of the sacrifice and service of each person who serves our great country. Their service comes with a great price and I am humbly grateful.

So, to the countless heroes of our country. Today, I honor YOU!