thankful...

 

We would like to thank all of the men and women who have given so much and sacrificed their lives for our freedom!

We are forever grateful to you...

May God bless you all!

 

::

 

"Greater love hath no man than this...

that a man lay down his life for his friend."

~John 15:13~

Happy Thanksgiving....

 

...to our Canadian friends as you celebrate Thanksgiving day!

 

 

We had a Thanksgiving dinner tonight to celebrate with you!

 

 

We love you all!

 

 

Mothers Day // 2016

 

 

 

God could not be in every place
With loving hands to help erase
The teardrops from each baby's face,
And so He thought of mother.

He could not send us here alone...

 

 

 

And leave us to a fate unknown;
Without providing for His own,
The outstretched arms of mother.

God could not watch us night and day

And kneel beside our crib...

Or kiss our little aches away;
                              And so He sent us mother.

                                 And when our childhood days began,
                                  He simply could not take command.
                                  That's why He placed our tiny hand
                                             Securely into mother's.

The days of youth slipped quickly by,
Life's sun rose higher in the sky.
Full grown were we, yet ever nigh
To love us still, was mother.

And when life's span of years shall end,
I know that God will gladly send,
To welcome home her child again,
That ever-faithful mother.

 

 

 

We love you so much, Mom!

Love~

Your 8 Blessings

 

 

mothers day 2016

 

 

Hello 2016

Wow. It is hard to believe that we are already 5 days into our new year!

Since Dad's birthday is on New Year's day, we always have a grand party. The different foods are prepared. Yellow cake with chocolate frosting is made. Excitement builds as we set the table and talk of the past year and what we hope God will do through us in the new year. Then we sit around the table and gather hands to lift our thanks to God.
As we sit around the table it is a humbling and beautiful sight. God has blessed our family so much and we  have a lot to be grateful for!

And...this year did not disappoint!

We actually celebrated on Sunday, as on New Year's Day
we were at our friends home! Smile...

So, after church we asked Dad to take Mom out for a lil-date. It was a way to get him out of the house, and what better way than doing something with his best friend!

 (party preparations went into high gear after that!) 
I was so busy...that unfortunately, I don't have any 'party prep' pictures. :(

Let me share some pictures from our night...

This was our table for this year! It has been fun to see the younger children step up and start doing things like this on their own....Sophie did the table!

We have so many great memories around that old wooden table...

We made something new this year...onion rings! We made one recipe for a "test round"...and we may or may not have made another test round...and another...:)

(yes, they were as good as they look!)

Along with that we had chips/taco dip, Polynesian meatballs, brownies, chocolate covered peanuts, pretzel/rolo candy treats, chex mix, and orange punch to drink!

When Dad & Mom arrived home it was so fun to see the surprised look on his  face!

Shortly after that, we ate together and then Dad opened his gifts....we headed into the living room where we read the Proverb of the day and started watching the movie on William Tyndale's life, "God's Outlaw"...the man who was martyred for translating the scriptures into the English language. Thank God for these heroic ones who were willing to lay down their lives for the cause of Christ!

And we ended our day with Dad praying (as he does every night) before we all go to bed.

I went to sleep that night with a full and grateful heart...

what a blessed way to start our new year.

As a family...in one accord!

 

Thank you God, and thank you Dad for your Godly example to our family!

“And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:”

Jeremiah 32:39

 

 

And of course, his favorite...

yellow cake with chocolate frosting! :)

How does your family spend the new year?

Goodnight...

Maggie

Merry Christmas!

 

 ^"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

Luke 2:11

 

 

 

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas...

Many Blessings from our home to yours!

 

Reflecting...

As we look back at the month of November, we reflect on all we have to be thankful for.

Thankful for the gift of salvation and trusting in Christ by faith....not of our own works or the

'mechanical stuff'....but by faith. Surrending it all to the One who gave it all,

so that we may have life and a home in heaven.

Thankful for family and the amazing strings that knit us together....

the memories that we hold and cherish.

The good times that are such a blessing...and the hard times that mold us and shape us for who we will become. Thankful for the wonderful experiences that we have had together...and thankful we have each other, every single day. Thankful for the joy of living in a home and sharing this journey of life with the most amazing brothers and sisters that anyone could ever ask for...thankful for parents who continue to train and guide us in the ways of  God.....thankful that they are always there to talk with us. (even into the wee hours of the morning.) That's love. Thankful that they want to raise us with a muti-generational vision so that one day when they launch us out from their quiver we can continue the heritage and pass on the faith to our children....and grandchildren.

 



Thankful for the awe and wonder of God's marvelous creation....

what more can be said when we see His hand in everything that we do?

 And now, as we wrap up this thanksgiving season....we enter into the season of celebrating Jesus's birth. May that be what our focus is this season...not on shopping, gift wrapping, parties, etc.

But on taking time to celebrate Jesus....the little baby in a manger who was born to die upon Calvary. He suffered our sin to forgive.....born to die upon Calvary, He was wounded so that we might live!

How precious...

 

 

Many blessings to you all as you prepare to celebrate the greatest birthday ever...

the birthday that has changed so many lives!

 

"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."

~John 3:17

{by: Maggie}

Happy Mothers Day!

Please join me in wishing the most beautiful, Godly, sweet, spunky, kind, generous, virtuous, joyful,  woman a happy mothers day....
yes folks, I am talking about our mother!!!!

Mom, you have been the example of true love...you are such a wonderful encouragement to all of us to follow God and seek His will for our lives....and we are {SO BLESSED} to call you our mom!
Thank you for always giving us a safe place to share our hearts....thank you for teaching us girls to love HIM and wait on God's best for our future...thank you for reaching out to those that the world considers 'the least of these'.....thank you for encouraging us to be all that God wants us to be...thank you for all of the fun times that we have together when we are shopping (or doing anything for that matter!!).....and most importantly....
thank you for loving God and serving Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength!!!
Dad most definitely found a virtuous, priceless,  woman when you found MOM!
(someday...when I'm a mommy, I want to be one just like you!)

(one heart from each child!!!)

Mom...we love you and are so grateful that God placed us all on earth here together...

to walk this journey of life...

TOGETHER!!

 

"She is more precious than rubies and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her." ~Proverbs 3:15

"Hold Me Up" a journey with the ....Lord

A Jeremiah journey  


Jeremiah 29:11-13

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me,

and I will hearken unto you.

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye

shall search for me  {with all your heart}."

Jeremiah 29:11-13

            

Blessings...Lori

~HE IS RISEN~

 

"Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them,
Why seek ye the living among the dead?
{He is not here, but is risen.}"
Luke 24:1-6a

May you all have a blessed resurrection Sunday celebrating the Lord of life and love!
Praise Him...
He Lives!
Blessings...

 

Something that I love ♥

Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;  Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;  Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 

Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 

Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.  Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.  Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.  If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.  Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.  Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

~Romans 12:9-21

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 

 

My mothers homemade is THE best ever...but the true
"bread of life"...comes from my daily time with God every morning before the day gets going and busy...I love to sit and just read the Bible and write in my journal (s),  and this passage really means a lot to me right now!

It sort of describes what our lives as believers s h o u l d look like. ♥
Above the passage in my Bible it says "Christian Conduct".

 

 

I hope that you are blessed, my dear friends...and that you as well love to spend time with His Majesty  each day!

Love~

Maggie

   ♥  

Missing you...

 

 My Jackie'O ,

sister,

friend

 1951-2010

                                                                   5 years have passed

 Sestor's forever, we 3 will always be...

A daughter, 
 A Mother

 Silly sis-n-law
Aunt

Today along with everyday we think of you, miss you,

Yes, yes, yes

I am thankful for the time we had Jackie'O

Not the time we didn't'!

I thank God for that~

I love you~

Lori

the source of LOVE

We are still reading lots of scripture on "love" around our home....

this one being the most recent!

I hope that it blesses you as much as it did me!

 

1 John 4:7-21

^" Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
 We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also."

1 John 4:7-21

On more of a 'random' note...
What is new with you?
Not to much is 'new' with us....just the everyday busyness of:
school, piano lessons, laundry, cooking, and cleaning! =D
One of these days I am hoping to share with you a recipe for a yummy homemade lip balm...along with pictures of some "everyday randomness"!
So...stay tuned!!
Have a lovely rest of your day!
Love~
Maggie
 

Happy Valentines (a day late)

Happy valentines to the BEST parents in the world who have truly shown the example of what true love looks like! WE LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK!!!!

 

Love~ Your blessings x's 8

Happy Sunday!

Romans 8:38-39

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from

the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

 

 

Blessings to all today~

Have a lovely day...

Maggie

|| l o v e ||

 

// 1 Corinthians 13 //

 "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three;

{but the greatest of these is charity.}"

 // 1 Corinthians 13 //

 

 

 Blessings to y'all today!

Love~ Maggie

---3:41pm---

             ^"We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;

 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;"

1 Thessalonians 1:2-3

 

 

God bless you all on this lovely Wednesday evening!

How can we pray for you?

Shine~

Maggie

 

Happy birthday, Happy New Year!

Today we have the blessing of celebrating a New Year and our Daddy!

 

 

Dad, you show the example of being a Godly husband and loving Mom

"like Christ loved the church"...thank you.

 You invest so much into our lives and you give us a safe place to share our hearts...thank you.

You take time to be a blessing to others every day...thank you.

You show us the example of being quick to forgive and forget....thank you.

Dad, thank you for not giving up when we were in the valley walking on our own two feet without the Lord and thank you for seeking HIM and turning our lives around so that we can be where we are today! Thank you for having faith and that vision of seeing beyond the 'dark days' and trusting in God to get you through when the days were tough! Honestly, if it were not for God teaching you SO much in the valley...we would not be at the place where we are today in our lives!

Dad, thank you for wanting to leave us children a legacy of faith and a Godly heritage to pass on to our children someday....you mean so much to all of us and you have helped us see what really matters in this life:
Loving God and loving people!

{WE. LOVE. YOU.}

 

Some of Dad's favorites things are....going on dates with Mom, ministering to young guys, southern gospel music, Culvers (only when enjoyed with his 'soul mate', a.k.a. Mom), his favorite Bible verse is Matthew 6:33 "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.", spending time with us children, and all around just spending time with family!

 

 

On the menu tonight is:

Ham

Mashed potatoes

Vegetable bake

Sweet potatoes

Stuffing

Salad
 Sliced peaches
 

and for dessert....*Dad's favorite* Yellow cake with chocolate frosting!

 

 

Blessings from your family~

 

::Merry Christmas::

 

^" For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor,

The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The  Prince of Peace."

~Isaiah 9:6

 

 

 

 

May we take time to remember the awe and wonder of this glorious day!

 

 

Merry Christmas and Gods blessings from our family to yours!

Blessings~

Happy :)

We are so happy that our picture issue is fixed! Thanks to our personal IT person....whom we are blessed to call daughter/sister, Jessica! Thank you!!

 

 ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

 

A couple weeks ago, we were blessed by this sweet package that came from our dear friend, Mrs.Stephanie!

There was lovelies inside...and it was a sweet blessing (and surprise!) to receive!

Thank you so much...we are enjoying using all the goodies! :)

In fact....we made them our table topper for this season!

 

 

As we come into this season....may we take time to reflect on the true meaning and reason for this wonderful celebration!

 



 

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

What is your favorite Christmas song?
Enjoy this wonderful season~

Maggie

Let me tell you somethin'...

Bob...

  We miss you & think of you so much

So many things have happened in the last two years that we would love to tell you...

 



I know that your passing has taught all of us so much,

not to put off things,

enjoy the camping trips (no matter) smile,

enjoy the fishing & stories,

Enjoy having Lo agree with me on NO "bate in the coolers", Hum

I know you'd laugh,

do not pet dogs running around the camp areas (ha),

enjoy the hunting,

hug some one even if "you will see them later",

enjoy the zoo differently,

listen to the story again,

hug a lil-tighter,

look at the fish again,

eat the 'catch'....

finish quilts,

make fried tater's,

We are so enjoying and laughing at Jo in her "Bob ways",

enjoy Dad, Grandpa every time we can...

enjoy Rob singing Elvis a lil-more -smile,

and laugh at the many times we hear Rog 'tell it again'!

You know ever time we hear him say "let me tell you something"

Bob, we think of you and just days ago he got his first deer in years and we know how you & he would re-live that story time-n-time again at the June camp out!

We love & miss you and are thankful for the hugs, stories, love & memories!

To me you are always "Big Bob"!

Thank you for the memories.....

For the time we "had"..... we are thankful!

 

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God

in Christ Jesus for you.

~ 1Thessalonians 5:18