Hey, It's Been Too Long!

So I need to drop little notes on occassion, but truly I have a very full life! I want to update you on my heart, but need to get the notes on Facebook which is currently under site maintenance apparently! So just want to say hello for now, and let you know to look to be up to date on my heart and the plans ahead over the next few months very soon.

God bless...T

Win A WII!

Hey, couldn't we all use a FREE WII! So here's my post, now cross my fingers!

Win A WII!!!

Made It Through the Year

Well, 2008 is done. No going back, no do-overs, it's just over. Looking back it's amazing how much faster each year goes. I long more and more for Jesus to return so that we can all spend eternity with loved ones and in peace and harmony with one another. There will be no more pain, no more sadness, no more hurting one another, jealousy, back-biting, angry words, lack of grace, meanness, joy-robbers, hate, disfunction, disillusion, selfishness, pride, lying, bitterness, and on and on the list goes. We will be in the presence of the One Who created us and what a wonderful place that will be!!

We rang in the new year with our neighbor boy Marty, and dear friends Dave and Casey.

Our family photo New Years Morning before we took our tree down!

Our Baby is 18 Months. Where has time gone? What a joy it is to watch them all grow!

This has been a great year in many ways, as well as very difficult. We are all looking forward to a fresh start in '09! God bless you all as you enter yet another year!

Have A Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Our official family Christmas card is available for you to view!

I will add more photos to my page after Christmas!!!

Please click either photo to go to link and view photos!

Enjoy!!!

Christmas Is Comin' Are Ya Ready?

Are you ready for the day? The moment we all await all year long? I can't wait!!! However, we don't wait to celebrate on one day, noooo, we enjoy the month! Just the thought of gearing up for the big event is so special!!! A great reminder of our Dear Savior Who came to live here...WOW! Among the lame ;)...that's us!

We are wrapping gifts, decorating, preparing to make our Gma Graber's favorite cookies, even making gifts, which ends up being the most fun! The kids get their creative flares going and we even have a laugh or 2! Maiah was making a gift for Marlee the other day, and it was so cute. She pasted paper all over a cereal box, it was priceless! She was so excited when she saw what Marlee made for Mandee, and then when Marlee told her to get out of her room so she could make her a special gift she got all excited! "Marlee's going to make me a wonderful gift too (as her voice raised higher and higher and her eyes widened) like Mandee's (can't say what it is)" She was sooo excited! Way cute! We also plan to watch The Nativity on Christmas Eve in our jams with hot cocoa and munchies. We are all really looking forward to that time as a family!!! Might even exchange a gift or 2!

Dad and his wife will be here for a week, and leave the day after Christmas, so we will have time with them. We plan to go to his house with my brother's family to do a little celebrating, and the Grabers always plan something!

Anyway...I am nursing colds at the moment, doing laundry, the kids lunch is in the oven, and now I am heading downstairs to do school. I will post more about our Christmas fine moments later.

Happy Thanksgiving

Hey all...just wanted to wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving. What a great day to remember all the things we can be thankful for. Actually, we should have Thanksgiving everyday. Daily thanking the Lord for all He's done for us, given us, and spared us from. He is a good and faithful God!

So, today I am blessed because I have life, not only physically, but life in Him! I have a wonderful husband who is healthy and able to work to support all of us in this crazy economy. I have 5 gorgeous children that are able to stay home with me, and I have the pleasure of schooling. I have not lost my home, but am safe in it. I have my health, and that is priceless! Even more of a blessing...so does everyone in my family. I have neighbors who I can freely witness to. I have family, friends, a car to drive, food to eat, a yard to enjoy, a church to worship at, photography jobs, blessings upon blessings, there is no reason to complain!

So today I will be thankful, and though my pick for President was not MY PICK at all, I know my God has allowed him to be there to finish what He has started. My friends...we are on our way HOME!

God bless...have a blessed day!

What Is A Real Friend?

Ok girls...this is the biggie! We (as women) have been on at least one up and down roller coaster of friendship in our life. Whether it be when we were little girls, teens, adults +, or somewhere in between. We have all experienced the good, the bad and the ugly of friendships. One thing to remember is that each one is special. May not always be good, but there is something in it that God wants us to get out of it!!!

I want to encourage each of you to take a look at the friendships you have encountered in your lifetime and think about what God might have taught you during that season. For some it may have been patience, others maybe trust, how to encourage or offer grace, and maybe even how to love more like Christ. I need your help...please respond to my blog or email me at etm5@q.com with some personal stories of what you have experienced in your friendships over the years, stories of what you have loved about the friends God has placed in your life, and even the difficult times you've had with them. If you're brave, share the stories about how you've been a good or not-so-good friend at times. I will update you as I get to where I'm going with it all. One day at a time! As the Lord leads!!!

I also just got the book "Grown-Up Girlfriends, Finding and Keeping Real Friends in the Real World" as a bday gift from my dear hubby because I told him I wanted it! I know some of you from Calvary did this as a Digging Deeper class. I would love any and all imput you are willing to share.

If you want names kept private just let me know...not that I'm using it for anything right now, but since this is a blog and all!


God bless...Tonya