Stuff of the Day

Okay, good news: my best friend, Valerie, is pregnant!! I am so excited for her! She had a burst ectopic and almost died last year, so this is such a blessing. I am praying for her health and that of the baby's. Bummer news: I am not pregnant this month. I know God's timing is perfect, so we are just waiting for that.

In other news, I picked out a new digital camera...finally!!! It is a Nikon Coolpix S1 and you can look at it here: http://www.nikonusa.com/template.php?cat=1&grp=2&productNr=25529. I am posting a couple of pics I have taken with it. I love that it is quite compact and I can slip it into my pocket and run off to take pictures of the children. It's an amazing camera and can do things I'll probably never do with it, lol! I hope I like it. A few weeks of use and we'll be able to tell. It has a HUGE screen on the back, too.

If I don't get to post until the new year...have a happy one! Our verse for the day was: "A cheerful heart is good medicine." Proverbs 17:22 I am working on getting the littles more into learning the bible. Proverbs is always a good start!

The best Christmas gifts

Sorry I haven't posted. I've been very busy and out of town! What an interesting Christmas this year. I received 2 digital cameras! I am an avid scrapbooker and my 35mm broke a couple of years ago. I have been using those throw aways and couldn't decide what to get to replace them with. My hubby and my dad bought me a digital. We are taking both back and I will pick one out. Making decisions like that never comes easy for me. I'm a details person which can be a drawback. Also, in other news, I got to spend Christmas with my younger brother, Jamie, this year. A rarity for sure. I only saw him one other time this year and that was in July. Enclosed is a picture of us. I believe he's the one on the right. My older brother, Ed, is on the left. I feel blessed!

Busy little hands

As I type this post, my 16 month old son, Tommy, is swinging his arms back and forth and clasping his hands while he stands in front of our recently decorated Christmas tree. Danny, Max, and I finally decorated it this morning during Tommy's nap. We also hung the stockings on the wall. Gotta love those command 3M thingys! Anyway, it's amazing how much better our old tree looks when it's decorated. I had really worried about putting up the tree this year. It's a bit of work with the baby. Every time he reaches for an ornament or pulls one off he gets a, "No, may not!" It seems to be working because he doesn't know what to do with those little hands now. In a few years, I will have lots to keep those little hands busy! I feel blessed today!

The Battle is in the mind

During the message on Sunday our pastor reminded us that the battle we fight day to day is in the mind. I can most assuredly agree with that as I experience the loneliness and frustration that has come with this particular Christmas season. Rather than spend this whole blog telling you about it, I chose to focus on what Phil said. Since the battlefield is in the mind we must put on the helmet of salvation. Preach the Good News to yourself every day. Remember the Grace you have received from Jesus and share it with others. While you're at it, read the book of James. It's one of my favorites and I find it encouraging. That's what you'll find me doing when Tommy lays down for a nap. Also, focus on this:

"But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for ALL the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10-11

Let us thank Him every day that this life isn't all he has for us. That our salvation is sealed and we will live forever with Him. Thank you Jesus!

When Elves Take Hostages

My children are leaving....sniff...sniff. Here's what Celeste, 14, did to Jamie, 11, last night. I will miss them for 17 days!! I love you guys!

Prayer Requests

Hello! Yes, I know it's been about a week since I posted. We have been unbelievably busy with the children going to events this week. We had a caregroup Christmas party, we watched our friend's 20 month old (they were in labor with their 2nd child), Jamie went to a boy scout holiday party, the older kids had a church youth Christmas party, we went to my brother's to open gifts with the olders and ride the horse, and we've had friends over galore! Meanwhile, I've been busy Christmas shopping and running errands with the children. Jamie and Celeste leave tomorrow morning at 3:30 AM to catch a flight to St. Louis. In addition, we have our church Christmas party on Sunday evening, yea! Please pray for the following:

--Stu's safe travel as he takes Jamie and Celeste to Orlando tomorrow
--the Beck's new baby boy, Caleb, and his mommy's quick recovery from C-section
--my mother is currently living in a hospital and needs a place to live (special circumstances)
--Stu's mom, Sara, recovering from surgery at Thanksgivingtime
--healing for my friend, Charity, who hurt her neck and back in a car accident last week

Also, pray that we will take time to focus on the REAL meaning for this season...Jesus birth. Without this we would not have our salvation. Praise God for his many blessings!

Getting started

Okay, today I got started on some Christmas shopping. It wasn't too bad, but then I ventured out in the morning. Everything is not so safely "hidden" in our closet. I wonder if I have to resort to hiding things in the attic. I was pretty bad as a child....my younger brother and I would carefully unwrap things and then just to get a peek. What was that all about? I think encouragement from my siblings goaded me on! Hopefully, no one here will want to ruin their surprise. I LOVE surprises....and presents. I love giving them and I love receiving them.

I have to type this fast because the 3 older boys are playing outside. It's the nicest day we've had this week and it's quite overcast. Tommy is in his high chair having a snack and watching me type. That won't last long. It's going to be a challenge without my big helpers for 17 days! I can do it. Other people do and I did it all summer long. I just love my children! I enjoy playing games with them. Did I say I took Celeste to see Pride & Prejudice. I enjoy taking them to the movies, out to lunch, and shopping. ALL of them. It gets a little hectic sometimes, but it's worth it and better than being alone. Have a super weekend!

Much ado about something

Thursday greets me with rain, but not in my soul. My heart is light for I have had a wonderful week already. What a wonderful anniversary Stu and I had! Today the children and I will be baking cookies and Nancy's Apple Bread for our caregroup Christmas party this evening. With all of the rain, I'm sure the bonfire is out, but I am looking forward to the fellowship just the same.

Since I home school, we are on an abbreviated schedule this week and will be concluding our studies for the calendar year tomorrow. Celeste has been working hard because she is in high school now. I am proud of her. She may continue with math into next week, but otherwise I am on vacation for 3 weeks. Jamie and Celeste leave next Thursday evening for St. Louis. Their flight leaves Orlando on Friday morning. I will miss them a lot! But I know they will have such a wonderful time with their family in the midwest. Meanwhile, we will try to make the most of Christmas without them. Which reminds me...I need to gather a few gifts here soon! As I really only have a couple. Please pray for Stu's business. We are in specific need for his Beacon Hill project to close--this depends on good weather which we are not having today. I still praise His holy name for He has kept us in good care!

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Isaiah 9:6

Blessed be His holy name!

Happy Anniversary!

Today is my 8th wedding Anniversary! It seems like longer...but in a good way. Just ask either of us and we'll tell you that. Stuart Bradley Palmer married Nancy Jean Van Winkle on December 6th, 1997 at 2:00PM. Believe me, I remember a magical and blessed day. I stayed at the Magnolia Plantation Bed & Breakfast the night before my wedding. What a beautiful place...and so romantic! Check it out at http://www.magnoliabnb.com/. Stu and I spent our honeymoon night there. And so did the maid of honor, Celeste Rodgriguez, and the best man, Brian Caffee, and my bridesmaid ,Laura Mosimann, and her fiancee, Jasper. I have so many wonderful memories. I LOVED the cake--it was delicious AND beautiful. You know how you're supposed to save the cake and eat it on your first anniversary? Well, it was so good that we ate it just a few days after the wedding!! Stu gave me a beautiful ring. The marquise I had always wanted (but much bigger!) with sapphires and diamonds on the wedding band portion. What a wonderful thing to have a wedding at Christmas. It truly was one of my best days! It reminds me of how thankful I am for Stuart. He is very dedicated to me (and our children), loyal, and hardworking. He has provided for me to stay at home with the children and supports my idea of home schooling them. He honors me in my choices when it comes to planning our family. I am so fortunate! God has truly blessed me over the 8+ years.

Above all, love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8

Sugarcane Fest at Dudley Farm

On Saturday we went to the Dudley Farm which is a state park about 3 miles from our home. We had always wondered what they had there. It's an 1880's working farm that has been restored and is 325 acres. They had a sugarcane festival there. The kids got to see them grinding the cane to make juice and then boiling it to make syrup. They had all sorts of old timey things there. How about doing your wash in wooden buckets? Or spinning wool into thread to make things. Anyway, it was a good time. The weather was great and all of us enjoyed being outside. Enjoy the pictures!

Experimental Christmas Pic

I thought I'd show you a couple more cute pics. I tried to take a pic of the kids for Christmas card, but the resolution on the camera was too low. This is what we got. They're really cute even if it's not perfect!

New Graphics

I am so excited! I got a new signature tag (many thanks to Becky!!). It's actually my first one. The rub now is trying to figure out how to use it, lol! I'm a computer ignoramous at times. I'm trying, though. We've had a busy day! Celeste performed with MimeTime for the pastor's luncheon. I'll try to get a picture up for that. Tommy had a well check. He weighed 24 pounds, 2 ounces (45%) and he was 32 1/2 inches long (90%). Lean and mean baby...healthy, too.

Now off to figure out dinner and get ready for Jamie's guitar lesson/care group this evening...