Jesse Tree

We have started 2 new traditions this year for Christmas...we are reading Jotham's Journey about a little boy's adventures right before the birth of Jesus. An excellent read (thank you, Kim P, for your suggestion).

And then we are reading a daily devotional & creating a little "ornament" for our Jesse Tree each day. The boys are enjoying this so much.

Here are the fruits of their labors so far...

And I forgot to show you a picture of my favorite spot in this house...there is a ledge in the living room with the vaulted ceiling that allows me to display my Christmas pictures. I love it!

Our New Home--Center, Texas

We're getting settled into our new home in Center, Texas...well, it's our rental home until we sell our house in Malakoff (please pray that it will sell SOON). Anyway, I thought I'd share some pictures of our new home.

Ethan was being particularly sweet and posing really cute!

Our living room

Our bedroom looking into the bathroom & into the hallway & laundry room

Our bedroom looking outside

Evan's bedroom (the boys are both sleeping in this room)


Ethan's Room/School Room

Kitchen/Dining Room/Office area looking from the Living Room

(We love the open floor plan...feels so spacious)

Another pose I couldn't resist...

Kitchen (notice the 2 posers...Eric pretending to cook & Evan looking cool)

That's it for now...more stories to come when I have more time to write.

Memory Verses #23 - #24

Well, we've made it another year memorizing 2 verses per month. I have missed having the Beth Moore Siesta Scripture Memory Team as my accountability, but I made it anyway. This semester, I have worked on Romans 12 with Evan. I'm so proud that he has memorized an entire chapter of the Bible as an 11-year-old! I didn't do that until I was in graduate school...that's when I memorized Psalm 139 with a Bible study group.

So here are the last 2 verses for the year...

Verse #23

Romans 12:19-21

Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written:

"It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.

On the contrary: If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

This last verse has become one of my favorite prayers and blessings...

Verse #24

Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Memory Verses #21 and #22

Verse #21

Romans 12:15-16

Rejoice with those who rejoice;

mourn with those who mourn.

Live in harmony with one another.

Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.

Do not be conceited.

Verse #22

Romans 12:17-18

Do not repay anyone evil for evil.

Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you,

live at peace with everyone.

Evaporation

Ethan's Preschool Lesson

Yesterday at Cottage Garden, Miss Rae Lynn taught Ethan (and the rest of the class) about evaporation. I'm not exactly sure what they did, but I saw her carrying a jar of paint brushes. So I'm suspecting they may have written their names on the sidewalk with water & a paint brush & then watched it evaporate.

I saw the class coming in the church right after their experiment & Miss Rae Lynn said, "Ethan, tell your mom what we learned." He said, "My name just evaporated!"

Wow! What a big word for a 4 year old!

I wasn't sure if he really understood the concept until we discussed it after school. He said that they wrote their names and then they disappeared into the air.

Fast forward to tonight after bath time...

Ethan decided he wanted to take a bath in our big bath tub. He enjoyed playing & splashing quite a bit of water. I noticed as I was getting him out of the tub that he somehow managed to splash or squirt water all over the ceiling! I told him Daddy was not going to be happy about that.

After he got dressed for bed, he came up to me & said, "It's ok, Mommy! That water will just evaporate!"

I think he gets the concept!

Pappy's Pumpkin Patch

Yesterday, we had a great family outing in Tyler!

My friends, Jennifer & Jenna, told me about this neat pumpkin patch in Tyler. It's called Pappy's Pumpkin Patch & it's opened on the weekends in October. They have a huge playground, hay bale maze, and several other attractions. The boys had a fabulous time! And the best part is that it is all free! What a blessing this family is to the area...we had a blast and have some wonderful photos to prove it!

A Few More OLD Pictures

I found a few more pictures that I just had to post...

Evan couldn't believe these pictures were of us...he said Daddy looked like Uncle Kevin. :)

This was our engagement pictures that my Uncle Vernon took for us. Don't we look so smitten?

A Blast from the Past

As I was cleaning & decluttering the laundry room storage shelves, I found this picture & just couldn't resist. I'm sure my sister will NOT be happy with me, but I don't mind. I'm the one that looks SOOO crazy with my BIG hair...this was only 20 years ago...1990! The days of the BIG hair! I'm sure Beth Moore would like it! By the way, my very talented Mom made both of our dresses & Shellye's cake!

Blueberry Buttermilk Muffins

I am always looking for good blueberry recipes because we picked so many blueberries last summer! I found this one on cooks.com. It is great!

2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour

2 1/2 t. baking powder

1 c. sugar

1/4 t. salt

1 c. buttermilk

2 eggs (beaten)

1/4 lb. butter (melted)...yes, that's a whole stick!

1 1/2 c. blueberries (rinsed & drained)

Mix dry ingredients together. Make a well; add buttermilk, eggs, and butter. Mix well. Fold in blueberries. Fill well-greased muffin tins 1/2 full and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Best when served warm. Makes 2 dozen.

My Fall Guys

A few weeks ago, our friend, Donna, with

Dimples & Dreams took pictures of the boys during her Fall Special. She did such a fantastic job! I think you still have time if you want to contact her for a session! She has a facebook page too! We were really pleased because she was so patient wit them! Here are a few of the highlights...

Memory Verse #20

Romans 12:12-14

Be joyful in hope,

patient in affliction,

faithful in prayer.

Share with God's people who are in need.

Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you;

bless and do not curse.