Merry Christmas

I am getting ready to head for bed pretty soon on this blessed Christmas Day! It is absolutely freezing here in Kansas and different parts of the country have had a major winter storm--namely Oklahoma. Even Texas has had snow - some parts for the first time since 1926!!! Wow!
We have been so very blessed this past year and this Christmas Season. Our girls are alive & healthy; we have a warm home; food to eat; clothes to wear; a mind to understand and a body to live--we are so very blessed. Most of all, we have a Saviour who gave himself up for us; for me. I am so very blessed.

Ellen (8), Erin (7), Emily (5) had a great Christmas. Ellen & Erin each got Nintendo DS's and Emily got an MP3 player. They were so pumped!!! It was so fun getting that for them and watching their excitement - it was awesome and I hope every parent can experience this joy. However, it wasn't long before Emily was a little forlorn that she did not get an Nintendo DS and it about did Ryan in. So, while we were getting ready for church this morning (Shari spoke and did a great job) Ryan asked what i thought about getting her one--can you say his little finger is taken?!?!?
Mom & Dad & Marlo Gehring came over for lunch and then we napped and then we went to see Nelson and then we went over to Drue & Amber's new house and enjoyed the evening with them.

God has been growing me as satan has been testing me--what have i learned most through the past couple of weeks/months/days . . . that God is 'my exceedingly great reward' (Gen 15). He is! Like the Mark Schultz song says, He is, He was, He always will be . . . You are God - You are my EXCEEDINGLY GREAT REWARD! I PRAISE YOUR NAME AND HONOR YOU. It has been a time of much growth; thus, inherent in growth is some strecthing and some growing pains . . . i have learned that God alone can rub them and make them dissipate. God alone. God. Alone. God.

Last night's Christmas Eve service was very nice. Ellen & Erin each played a duet with their Uncle Vonn on the piano - he is so very good and we are so fortunate for his willingness to do so! The girls were so proud and so excited to do that with him; after all, he is Isaac & Isabelle's daddy (and that is what really excites them!).

Ryan gave me a Nikon camera and I am so pumped to start reading about it and using it - yea!!!! I guess if you keep on asking; he will give in. Next, i'm working on an indoor dog - ha! I really am serious and just need to do some research and give some time to set & prepare the stage. We'll see . . .

Tomorrow i am looking foward to a long run on the treadmill and preparing for Russ & Lisa and girls for the evening.

Thank you Lord Jesus for Your gift; thank You for Your love; thank You for Christmas, for Emmanuel, for the Word made flesh so that ALL may be saved. You and You alone - yes, You and You alone are to be praised!