Merry Christmas

In previous years I've written about our Christmas traditions, so this year I think I'll just share a few pictures and let you get the feel of our family celebration. It was a full house and a wonderful time celebrating the incredible gifts God has given us.

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play

And mild and sweet their songs repeat
Of peace on earth good will to men

And the bells are ringing 

Like a choir they're singing

In my heart I hear them

Peace on earth, good will to men

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

John 14:27

Christmas Eve

Christmas is such an incredibly special time of year!! I know that this post is late, but there are so many pictures from the holiday season that I wanted to add to our online journal! So I hope you don't mind revisiting a little bit of 2020 with us.

Once siblings started getting married we decided to celebrate our big family Christmas on whatever date everyone can make it to our place. But we still wanted to do something special for Christmas Eve just like we did growing up. So we created a slightly new tradition.

We have a simple, but formal supper, and then all gather in the living room and listen to Dad read the Christmas story found in Luke 2.

Then we pass out all the gifts! Instead of drawing names like we do with the entire family, we all just get random snacks and gifts for each other that we've collected during random shopping trips.

It usually ends up being a bunch of both useful and random gifts that make for a whole lot of smiles and laughs! This year we got Dad and Mom a pair of those big fuzzy pjs that are incredibly comfortable, so now we all have some!

After the gifts are unwrapped we all put on our pajamas, make a ton of yummy snacks and spend the next few hours playing games together. 

Then we all head down to the den to watch a Christmas movie until we all decide to call it a night and get some sleep.

"For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

Luke 2:11

1 + 1 = 5

Another little grand baby is on the way! And we are so thrilled!!!

Congratulations Ryan & Ruth and family. 

We cannot wait to meet this newest little blessing in July 2021!

"For You meet him with the blessings of goodness;

You set a crown of pure gold upon his head."

Psalms 21:3

Fall Fun

To celebrate Alaythia's birthday, she wanted to go to a pumpkin patch/corn maze place. Abi told us about a huge one that wasn't too far from us, so a few days before her birthday we went. And it was amazing!! So much bigger than I even thought it would be! 

It was very chilly, but we had a ton of fun!!!

They had so many fun activities and some of them may or may not have turned into some serious competition!

We've lived in Nebraska our entire lives and this was the first time that some had gone through a corn maze! 

Next time we will have to wait to do it on the weekend so we can take the whole family. Thank you Vala's for the wonderful time!

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is anew creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17

Trump Rally

I've shared this on our other social media accounts, but wanted to share this on our blog as well. This election is so crucial! 

Tuesday evening we had the great privilege to go to a Trump rally when the President came to Omaha, Nebraska. And it was really amazing!! There was such a patriotic spirit throughout the entire event. God was openly talked about, our veterans, military and law enforcement were honored and our constitutional rights that make this country so unique and wonderful were valued and upheld. We had to go in early and wait awhile, but we ended up getting really good seats which made it even cooler! It's not every day that you get to see the President of the United States up close in person!

You know, there are a lot of different opinions when it comes to politics, and it seems to be even more controversial this year. But when we go in to vote on November 3rd, we are not voting on a whether or not we like a person. On whether or not we completely agree with everything he says or does. But we are voting on the track record of what they do! We are voting on the lives of the unborn. We are voting on our freedoms and our rights as Americans. We are voting on policies. On our rights to worship freely, our rights to speak openly, our rights to make decisions according to the scriptures and to explore opportunities.

It seems that these days, more than ever before, we need to do the research ourselves and not believe everything we hear. More than ever before, we need to take responsibility and vote! More than ever before we need to get down on our knees, humble ourselves and pray!! Because He is on the throne, and no matter what happens, our mission and our message stay the same.

"If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

2 Chronicles 7:14

For The Beauty Of The Earth

For the beauty of the earth,

For the beauty of the skies,

For the love which from our birth

Over and around us lies,

For the beauty of each hour

Of the day and of the night,

Hill and vale, and tree and flow’r,

Sun and moon, and stars of light,

For the joy of human love,

Brother, sister, parent, child,

Friends on earth, and friends above,

For all gentle thoughts and mild,

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise.

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be ye thankful."

Colossians 3:15

Nathanael

Happy 19th Birthday Nathanael!!

Nathanael is someone who does everything whole heartedly!

He loves flying

Plays guitar

Is always down for playing sports or spending time with friends

One of the hardest workers

Extremely thoughtful

Always pushing himself to learn new things

And full of adventure 

You're one of a kind and we love you tons!!

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."

Proverbs 3:5-6