A little sunshine

The weather forecast for Thursday is 72 degrees

Praise the Lord!!!

Eureka!

On Monday, we took advantage of the holiday and made a trip to the Capitol. Madison is putting together a State Notebook for history and wanted to go take pictures. The pictures were taken by her :)

The rotunda is just beautiful. About half way up there are garlands with the cornucopias. These represent the many crops that are grown here. Our state grows more crops than any other state!

This is the Senate chamber.

The Assembly Chamber

The wooden desks in the Assembly and the stained glass seal are original and date back to 1869. Mia thought it was really cool that the Assembly members raise their microphones, not their hands, to speak. I am so thankful that the building has been so beautifully preserved. Our tour guide told us that there was a proposal during the 1970's to modernize the building. She showed us an artist rendition of the project. It was horrible. Something out of a bad Sci-Fi movie. There were two high rise buildings on either end of a flat series of office buildings. The staircase banister was just refinished two weeks ago by family members of the original craftsmen who built the staircase!

I learned a new noun

Words can be cool, ordinary, strange and funny. In high school, my friends and I would make up really funny words that would mean exactly what we needed them to mean. I came across a new word today that really is fun to say: Harf. I had the help of a picture to know exactly what a harf is. Do you know? Sounds a bit like a preschooler pretending to be a puppy or maybe an adjective used when one has the flu. Nope, that's not it. It's not in the dictionary. Have you ever heard this word before? Me neither.
Until I saw it here. I think its cute!

For Leah and Michelle

The front including Allyson

Now with Mia's eyes open

Gotta love those bows

Cousin Jennifer had a beautiful wedding this past weekend. As we were on our way to the ceremony, she called and asked if Madison could fill in for Mikaela as a flower girl. Poor Mikaela had a temperature of 102. Madison's answer would explain the very fancy white dress that she is wearing. I couldn't resist taking the picture of Madison, Mia, and their cousin, Anika as they wrote a message for the bride and groom.

1st John 4:7-8

I wish I could share these wonderful, from scratch, cupcakes with everyone! We could celebrate -Happy Birthday to Leah! I hope everyone has a wonderful day because our greatest gift is God's love...................

Double digits

Happy Birthday Peanut Butter!

Shells

I love to collect shells. When we go to Bodega, Cayucos or San Diego, my favorite activity is seeking out a new shell. I did not find any of the pictured shells. A retired school teacher gave me a very large and beautiful collection.

My sil posted a picture on her blog that gave me the idea to take pictures of my treasured shells. Little did I know that I would receive my most valued shell just last night. Pastor returned from Israel last Saturday. Last nights' service was dedicated to him sharing the details of the trip with artifacts and photos. He was so thoughtful of his church family while being at the most amazing places. He said while he was on the shore of the Mediterranean sea, he scooped up as many shells as he could to bring back. The shells are from a spot just an eye-shot from Joppa (now called Jaffa). You may recall that Joppa is where Jonah fled from the Lord while trying to go to Tarshish. Pastor let us each take a shell. My new, beautiful shell will always remind me to praise God for his patience and grace. He stays with us even when we don't heed His will. The most perfect place to be is in the will of God.

My new treasure

As much sense as a goose

We see a lot of critters where we live. This guy was just out cruising around behind our back fence last March. I love to watch the geese fly in their perfect V- formation. They honk back and forth to one another. I always feel calm and happy when I hear or see them.

I was listening to a sermon on the radio today while driving home. I'm sorry I don't recall the pastor's name. The title was "If we had as much sense as a goose." I thought that sounded kind of funny. It didn't take long to understand where he was going with his point.

The pastor gave a few facts about geese and the connection to us helping each other. First, geese fly in the V formation to aid one another in flying. The pastor said a goose has 75% more flying power in a group than if flying on its own. They help lift one another with air from the wing flapping. A goose gets the power from the goose directly in front of it. If we work together for the good of God, we are more useful than working alone.
Second, when the lead goose gets tired, all the geese in the group rotate. We can help each other by taking on a bit more so someone else can re energize.
Third, the geese honk at each other to encourage. We can use our 'honking' to uplift and not discourage.
Finally, when one goose gets sick, two others stay with it until it is better or until it dies. We should care for one another at all times.
Our theme at church this year is Strengthen thy Brethren. I am thankful for the reminder God gave me today in that radio broadcast. I think the geese have a good thing going :)

But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. - Luke 22:32

My perfect day

Three together now

A beautiful crisp outing

Swings and slides beware

Welcome 2008

A few days late with my New Years welcome! We lost power last Friday during the very windy rain storm. Our electricity was out for 29 hours. We have a gas fireplace and cook top so it wasn't bad. The gas hot water heater provided for relaxing bath times and we were all cozy inside. When it got dark, we found use for this gadget that Keith won at a golf tournament last summer. I didn't think we would ever have a use for it! I appreciated the radio coverage and the hand crank mechanism. Keith actually watched the news and a TV show in black and white. It was a very clear picture but very small. We were glad for the 'adventure' to end. My Internet service was just restored this morning. That is the first time that has ever happened. I took advantage of the down time from the computer to work on some projects .

We celebrated the 20Th anniversary of WVBC on Sunday. It was wonderful. There was a video of some of the early services and of the building of the church. It was strange to see the bare five acres of land. I am so thankful for the ministry of the Stonestreet family. Pastor's mom, grandmother, and two sisters came for membership as they are moving here next month. I am so excited. The girls will be attending the school too! I think they are in grades 7 and 11. Pastor left last night for Israel. What an exciting trip God has called him on. I will be in prayer for Mrs. Evertson as I know she is concerned.

Keith has been sick for a week now and has lovingly shared it with me. Madison had major tummy trouble tonight. Not sure if she will go to school tomorrow. Mia says her nose is stuffed on one side. I know what that means!!

The picture is of the last sunset we had here in 2007. God is so amazing!

All she wanted was her two ears pierced

Imagine the screams we heard from a girl, who has been asking for five years to get her ears pierced, as she opens her gift card from Clairs on Christmas morning. Madison looked at her dad and asked if she could do anything she wanted with the card, he gave an affirmative nod and then we all had an ear piercing of a deafening kind. Mia has been wanting to get her ears pierced too, she's just been more apprehensive about the pain. Of course we went the very next day. I was very happy to have my brother with me. I think it made it easier for Mia to be brave. Madison hopped right up on the chair and it was done. She smiled even though hers ears were stinging. Mia said, "No way, I'm not doing it" so we left. We went to Davis to run some more errands and the entire time Madison was admiring her sparkly earrings. Mia was trying to reason the reward she would get by enduring the pain. Madison never even told Mia that it hurt, she told her it wasn't bad at all. On the drive home Mia asked if she could give it another try. We drove to the mall and she went through with it. She was a little upset after the two ladies simultaneously punctured her little ears. She cried while she was looking at her pretty earrings. Madison then announced, "Finally I can say how much that hurt!"

Very good and very bad

You can see by the picture what the very good part is. Yum! You can get the recipe here and find out the very bad part. We are talking butter and lots of it. I just love this blog. Her photography is AMAZING. I made these last night to give as gifts.

A fun Christmas game

We played this game last year at our church Christmas party. I thought I would pass it along as it is lots of fun. Leah, you probably remember this one.

Match the alternate titles with the correct well-known Christmas songs! Have fun
The answers can be found here

1.Quadruped with Crimson Proboscis a. Oh holy night

2.Eight pm to six am without noise b. I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

3.Minuscule Hamlet in the near East c. Silver Bells

4.Ancient Benevolent Despot d. Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer

5.Exuberance Directed to the planet e. Deck the halls

6.Listen, Aerial Spirits Announcing f. Silent Night

7.Trio of Monarchs g. I saw Mommy kissing Santa Clause

8.Yonder in the hay stack h. Frosty the snowman

9.Cherubim Audited from Aloft i. The twelve days of Christmas

10.Assemble, Everyone who believes j. Oh little town of Bethlehem

11.Hollowed Post Meridian k. Joy to the world

12.Fantasia of a Colorless Dec. 25Th l. Good King Wenceslas

13.A dozen twenty four hour yule periods m. Hark the herald angels sing

14.Befell during the transparent bewitching
hour n. All I want for Christmas is my
two front teeth
15.Homo Sapien of Crystallized Vapor o. It came upon a midnight clear

16.Desire a Pair of Incisors on Dec. 25Th p.Walking in a winter wonderland

17.I spied my maternal parent osculating q.Oh come all ye faithful

18.Perambulating through a December
Solstice Fantasy r. Away in a manger

19.Adorn the vestibule s. Angels we have heard on high

20.Tin tintinnabulums t. We three kings.

Busy like elves

Only 15 days and counting!

We are wrapping it up, literally. I only have a few little things left to get and I am DONE. Still waiting for the Internet ordered items to show up in the mail. I love to get fun mail. Madison is doing very well with her sewing project. She really is making the entire thing. I hope her friends like them.

The girls also started wrapping their cousin's gifts. I love how serious they are.

I am glad to have the shopping out of the way. Last week was busy getting ready for the town's Christmas parade. It was freezing out but very fun. Madison was a singing angel and Mia was the angel watching over Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus. WVBC won third place for the float in the christian division. We

have two parties to attend this weekend and I have two more ladies' parties to go to next week. The girls will also be out of school starting next week. I love having them home when it is cold out. We are planning to do our baking and delivering next week. Baking is one of my favorite things to do during the holidays. The girls wait to do sugar cookies and the gingerbread house until my mom gets to town. That is their special thing to do together.

I thought I would share a great gift idea for the family to do together. We have participated in Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child in the past. We would fill up a shoe box full of things that we take for granted. Toothpaste, candy, small toys and hair clips. The boxes were all shipped together and given to the precious children. I received a catalog from Samaritan's Purse this year that enables the giver to 'order' food, medicine and supplies for the people of poverty stricken nations. Check it out here. Click on the Christmas Catalog. Thirty-five dollars helps to transport enough food to feed a family for about two weeks. Just $15 to help teach a child to read and write.

I hope everyone enjoys the coming weeks as we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Savior.