It's a Wonderful Life!

I really DO love my life! What an amazing day! Actually...it's been a pretty great week! We've really been praying about keeping our focus this month firmly where it belongs...on Christ. As everyone knows, with all the hype and marketing...it is so easy to be distracted by the deceiver...to focus on the "holiday" and the 'busyness'.

We started a few years ago, to basically get rid of all Christmas decorations that were not Christ centered...I kept just a couple homemade things that either my mom made, or were special gifts....but I started collecting nativities.

This year, we pulled out our Christian unit studies. One is Christian symbols of Christmas, another is the history of Christian Christmas hymns, and my favorite is 25 names of Jesus. These have been constant, wonderful reminders of why we are celebrating Christmas...and my little ones are really getting it...and reminding us frequently as well! LOL

Yesterday, after Ron had put up the outside lights....Ronnie and Anna ran outside to view them, where Anna exclaimed "OH! They are PERFECT, Dad!"....then..."why do we put up lights for Christmas?" To which Ronnie, with all the wisdom of his almost 8 years replied " Because Jesus is the light of the world, of course!" Which made perfect sense to Anna! LOL Oh, the perfect trust of children!

Today, we had an amazing day. We have a tradition, that every year, Ron takes all the children to pick out the "perfect" tree....and I stay home. The 5 of them find the perfect tree and lug it home, where Ron and I string the lights, then the kids help decorate it....well, today for the first time in 20 years, Ron & I put up the tree, with Christmas carols in the background without any swearing, attitudes or fighting....we even teased each other and laughed! LOL What a blessing!

Then, instead of the very healthy meal I had planned, we ate hotdogs (yes, on buns!), and tater tots in the livingroom in front of the fire while we watched "White Christmas"....what a fun, memorable evening we had! Half-way thru the movie...Sara (the expert) started roasting marshmallows,too. I think this should become a tradition...when Mom relaxes the "food police"...and we all just have fun!

Will be posting some pictures and observations of things we are doing differently this year...some things that are helping us to be Christ focused....and making memories, as well! Hope you all are having a blessed start to our Christmas season! ~Sue~

Twilight Zone

*OHHHHHHH MYYYYYY GOSSHHHHHHH!*

That is the sound of millions of tween/teenage girls dashing to the movie theaters to see the newest phenomenon since High School Musical: Twilight. New Moon to be exact.

I don't know about any of ya'll, but anytime I hear/see anything related to Robert Pattinson, Twilight, or vampires I groan, roll my eyes, or shake my head (or all of the above). I mean, come on! The story is a romance/thriller (as it is officially categorized by the National Film Association) so there you have it: the category goes with teen girls as much as lip gloss and texting does. But while they are watching this movie, do you think they will be focusing on anything God related? If you answered no, you deserve a prize. They will be focusing on how cute Mr. Pattinson is, how perfect a match Edward & Bella are, or how sweetly protective of her he is... GAG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, in honor of my fellow twilight-hatin homies, I have found a tee shirt (I know, big surprise) that fondly states my views:Oh yeah, how cool is this?

A Closer look:

Jesus is THE LIGHT! Jesus said I am the light of the world. Those who believe in me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life. Put that on a t-shirt! (Oh wait, they just did!)

It just cannot get any better than this unless God suddenly granted my request to make horses free of cost... but anyways, whatdya think?

Comment on it!

PS: To any Twilight Lovers, I apoligize but this had to be said!

Thanksgiving Memories....

Thanksgiving 2009....so much to be thankful for!!! After an insanely busy week and weekend... and me not feeling well...I finally got around to posting our pictures! We were able to celebrate with family from my side and Ron's....see family in from out of town...it was a nice day! The Gorecki family at my mom's house...Meghan 16, Sara 14, Ronnie almost 8 and Anna 5...Ron & I....old! LOL
" Grammy's Girls"...Tina 13, Sara 14, Lauren 20, Anna 5 and Meghan 16

Our little Angel, Ty with his best friend, Anna....
One of our many "sister" pictures...(they always put me in the middle!)

My mom and I at the end of a wonderful meal and visit...and then it was off to Ron's mom's house....
Where we were thrilled to spend time with Ben, Crystal and my Great-Nephew, Hayden, who were visiting from Delaware. I FINALLY finished Hayden's quilt in time to give it to them. It ended up much bigger than I thought....so it should last him a very long time! He is growing so fast (and is so darn cute!)...even if he is giving his mommy and daddy a run for their money! LOL(that's what babies do!)
Great-Grandma, RoRo....dancing with Hayden in the kitchen.
Ron's sister , Mauren....otherwise known now as "Grandma ReRe" with Hayden...he looks so much like his daddy did as a baby!

This is what little girl cousins do when they have nothing else to do...."draw" on the condensation on the door with their feet...check out Anna and Julia!

Ron's brother Sean was in from Chicago...Ronnie LOVES spending time with Uncle Sean!

~Friday morning, the girls and I got up and headed out to do some shopping. First, we hit Starbucks around 8am (Sara treats every year) ...then headed to Joann's Fabric for some great sales...from there, we headed to Michael's for more craft supplies/gifts....then we visited my great aunt in the hospital...after which we had the BEST pizza (hey...we needed nourishment for the rest of the day!)...then to the resale shop and Family Christian stores....finally home to decorate for Christmas! Thank goodness Meghan had made an extra casserole the other day...we were able to pop it into the oven, then light a fire and relax when we were done!

Yesterday, we did a lot of cleaning and then.... RoRo took 3 special little girls to see the play "Madeline's Christmas"...cousins, Anna, Molly and Julia. They had a great time, then she treated them to Sarris' for icecream! What a treat!
Anna picked out her "princess" dress to wear to the play

The happy girls after the play and icecream...

~We spent the rest of the day cleaning up....made some popcorn, watched the Crippled Lamb....and hit the hay! Today...after a wonderful time of worship and a timely sermon on "rejoicing always, praying continuously and giving thanks in ALL circumstances"....only possible with the Holy Spirit!

Hit the grocery store after church...then Ronnie has his friends, Steven & David over for the afternoon....it is so nice outside!!! Yesterday...the Lord provided us with a FREE basketball hoop! I've wanted one since I was young...I wanted one at the old house, and I've wanted one here....yesterday, someone was giving one away for FREE....what a blessing!!! We've had so much fun already! (Ronnie can't believe I can play basketball!) Not only does the Lord provide for our needs...but He delights in giving us the desires of our hearts! Now it is off to finish dinner....do our devotions for Advent...light a fire and have a special beginning to our Advent season! God bless everyone! ~Sue~

Happy Thanksgiving!

Quote: "Your blood, has washed away my sins...Jesus thank you!!! The Father's wrath completely satisfied...Jesus thank you!!! Once your enemy, now seated at your table...Jesus thank you!!!"
Sovereign Grace Music

~This is the song that was going thru my head, all night long...I woke up with it this morning, and as I quietly lay in bed, I realized that THIS is what I am most thankful for! May everyone have a very, very blessed Thanksgiving!~

~Sue~

Priceless.....

These are a few of my favorite things....dough rising for homemade dinner rolls....
six pumpkin rolls DONE...

a little calico kitty by a fire....

kitchen help from a 5 year old....
Priceless!!!

Thankful Quote of the Day...

"Let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!"

~Henry Ward Beecher~

Special memories with Ohio Friends!

On Friday, Ron's day off...we headed out to Ohio to spend the day with our very special friends, the Teeter family. As I may have mentioned on here before, Jolyn and I were reunited as friends by our Heavenly Father last year...after a 20 year absence...and reunited closer than we ever were in the past when we were growing up...true "Sisters" of the heart! It is wonderful that our husbands get a long so well, too! So...we headed out....got to their home, relaxed for a little while, before heading out to a buffet resteraunt that Jolyn's dad manages for a HUGE, wonderful lunch/early dinner....after being thoroughly stuffed, we all went back to their cozy home to laugh, visit and relax! Here is Jolyn, my Meghan, her Autumn and me talking and visiting. Meghan is embroidering His/Hers pillowcases for a friends wedding coming up soon, and I am crocheting an afghan for the new married couple....Jolyn was admiring our work....she is so uplifting and sweet!!! A little background...she had a brain anerisym years ago, and is doing so well....but she is a constant reminder to me of how precious every minute is...especially with family, children and those that you love....you never know when that will be gone.
Anna and Autumn...Autumn is so sweet and cheerful...so giving, so good with Anna! She stayed with us for a week this summer and was such a joy to have! Can't wait until she can stay with us again!

These two....Sara and Autumn...their birthdays are only weeks apart....and they hit it off right away....true soulmates! Together...they crack us up!!!
Jolyn and my Meghan....we all love Jolyn so much!!! Both of the girls love talking to her about things and sharing things with her....she is just so loving and sweet!

~We forgot to take any pictures of us! Or the hubbys! But....we all had a wonderful time visiting and talking. We got to know Jolyn's son, Michael a little better...he is very quiet, so the fact that he stayed home on a Friday night to visit with family friends, was very nice for a 16 year old boy to do!

I have to remind myself to be grateful....grateful that we are so close now, and that they ONLY love alittle more than 2 hours away....and not wish they lived 20 minutes away!!! I have to do the same with my friend, Stephanie who also lives in Ohio....I guess, since I've conquered my fear of driving on the interstates, that 2 hours isn't THAT far!!!

Jolyn and Mike....thanks for the great visit! Next time...the football hall of fame (not for me!) ...and LEHMAN'S!!! Can't wait! Jolyn...don't stress over Thanksgiving....enjoy!!! Love you all! ~Sue~

I'm dreaming of a White Christmas....

Last week, Meghan & Sara and I had the fun priviledge of going to see Irving Berlin's White Christmas performed at a local highschool. This is one of our very favorite movies, and to make the evening even more special...we were able to see it with good friends AND watch one of our dearest friends perform in it as well. Wonderful job, Miss Bella!!! The girls outside posing in front of the sign...from left: Arianna, Grace, Meghan, Tess, Michaela, Morgan and Sara
My beautiful daughters! I love doing special things with them...making memories...time seems to be going so fast...I blink and they are 14 and 16!

We were greeted by our friendly "elf", Tori...a friend of ours from church who was helping usher. Doesn't she make the perfect elf?!

Bella is dancing front and center with the long, flowing brown locks! She is a wonderful dancer, but she really looked professional out there!
Bella, on the right, singing with the chorus...
It is always so good to get together with "my" friends, too....like my friend Renee on the left, Marybeth (the proud Mama of Miss Bella!) in the middle, and me
The girls after the show. We all had such a wonderful time!!! Great job, Bella!!!!

A great way to start off our holiday, Christmas season! ~Sue~