Twas 3 Weeks Before Christmas

And a new toy arrived (thank you again Mrs Angie). How is it you know what the boys like?

Luke was quite happy to have 2 new wheeled toys. Because really, who can have enough trucks? Certainly not my son. But wait, I explained, we have to put batteries in the drill. A power tool? Really?

He was quite pleased.

Then Erin gets home from school, and who says a girl can't play with a drill? Not me.

But she is a real girl, and real girls need to exfoliate to keep skin this young looking!

Let's Say Thanks

It only takes a minute to say how much you appreciate them. Those who are putting their lives on the line, their families on hold, to protect us so we can be home with ours.

The Secret Things Of God

Have you ever stopped to think about the secret things of God? What mysteries the heavens must hold! There are certainly some things about God we will never know or understand.

There are secret things that belong to the Lord our God, but the revealed things belong to us and our descendants forever, so that we may obey these words of the law. Deuteronomy 29:29

There are three things the children of God can be certain of:

I - Our Home Awaits Us In Heaven

A. Heaven is a prepared place

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:2

B. Heaven is a promised place (Revelation 21:10-11)

II - Our Faith Is Secure In Christ - Forever / For All Eternity

He will do what He has promised.

III - Our Departure Is At Hand

A. Jesus promised He would come

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:2

Are you living for Jesus? The stage is set for the return of Christ.

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6

Please be in prayer for the family of Danny Branch. He was in a near fatal tree cutting accident last week.

A Spider, A Remix, And Grace Returns

Can you name that tune?

So, maybe she got a bit mixed up on her songs or just maybe, she meant to do that!

2 Chairs And A Blanket

Even though my dearies have a "real" play tent, somehow the "2 chairs and blanket" tent is always way better.
Erin also thought this would be the greatest place for a photo shoot!

These are the results. dum-dum.

The Manhattan Declaration

The Manhattan Declaration
A Call of Christian Conscience

Christians, when they have lived up to the highest ideals of their faith, have defended the weak and vulnerable and worked tirelessly to protect and strengthen vital institutions of civil society, beginning with the family.

We are Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical Christians who have united at this hour to reaffirm fundamental truths about justice and the common good, and to call upon our fellow citizens, believers and non-believers alike, to join us in defending them. These truths are:

1.the sanctity of human life
2.the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife
3.the rights of conscience and religious liberty.

Inasmuch as these truths are foundational to human dignity and the well-being of society, they are inviolable and non-negotiable. Because they are increasingly under assault from powerful forces in our culture, we are compelled today to speak out forcefully in their defense, and to commit ourselves to honoring them fully no matter what pressures are brought upon us and our institutions to abandon or compromise them. We make this commitment not as partisans of any political group but as followers of Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Lord, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

You can sign the declaration here
Or find out more about it here

Let The Decorating Begin

After asking every.single.day for a week now, my dear daughter finally got to decorate the tree!

And when the decorating seemed to go on forever, Luke decided to join in too!

note the extreme cluster concentration of ornaments in this area,

and how incredibly sweet and well behaved my children are working side by side without arguing...yet

Happy Birthday Jesus!