Funnest Game Ever

It's wonderful to have someone in the family who researches things. My Aunt Beth did the research, then bought us this new game for Christmas. It's called Quelf and its slogan is "Random has a New Name". We've played it twice now, and it is easily the best game I've ever played. Now for me, a good game is pretty silly with a lot of interaction. ("Risk" and games like that just bring out my ugly side.)

Here's how it works. You are trying to get your pawn ( "Super Ninja Monkey", "Queen Spatula", and "Biscuit Farmer" to name a few) around the board by rolling a die and moving ahead, while avoiding penalties, which move you back. In order to avoid penalties you may have to follow a "Roolz" card (ex: say everything twice, or make a flushing sound every time someone gets a penalty) or a "Stuntz" card (ex: play leapfrog, or keep one hand on the floor until your next turn). Other card categories had you answer a very untraditional trivia question, sing a song, deliver a eulogy for a deceased pet who loved coleslaw, etc. It's just really fun, and gets more ridiculous the longer you play!

This gets my top game recommendation ever! Go out and grab one. You won't be sorry (unless, of course, you're the "Risk" type...in which case, I'm afraid we can't be game friends.)

Truth Tuesday #2

"...Your Word is truth." John 17:17

"Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth,
Does not become weary or tired.
His understanding is inscrutable,
He gives strength to the weary,
And to him who lacks might He increases power.
Though youths grow weary and tired,
And vigorous young men stumble badly,
Yet those who wait for the Lord
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary."

Isaiah 40: 28-31

Counting Our Blessings

My friend and former VA roommate, Cheryl, has just launched her blog called "Counting Our Blessings". (Her husband, John, was also Matt's rommate for a year...no wonder they feel so blessed! Ha!) You can read about their beautiful family at http://www.letscountblessings.blogspot.com/ .

Family Christmas Pictures

Here's a photo recap of our family Christmas get-togethers. I always think I have way too many pictures, but then I go back through them and I see that I haven't captured many dear faces and special moments that I wish I had. We truly felt God's abundant blessings in our time spent with family for the holidays!

Flashback Friday #2

(Posted a day early.)

The blogger's first Christmas.

With my maternal grandparents, Dec. 1971

Thankful Thursday #1

(Coloring by Erin)

Well, it's easy to have something to be thankful for today.

Lately, I've been listening to this song by Point of Grace. It's not a Christmas song, per se, but I think the message is perfect, especially here in the first couple verses.

Infinite Deity, humbly enframed
In a mortal and breakable body You came
To rescue our souls from the depths they were in
Because, in spite of, to cover my sin.

Master and servant together in one
Come to redeem what our hearts had undone
Savior of all come to gather His kin
Because of, in spite of, to cover my sin.

Holy, unbreakable, infinite God,
Ever unchanging in all that you are
Light of the world and the sun and the stars
You are I Am and I am because You are.

(Scott Phillips, Because You Are)

Christmas To Us

Today may only be the 24th, but we had Christmas morning here. It was such a fun morning! A nice breakfast....

some fun stocking stuffers...

and my favorite part, The Blessings Box.

Through the past few weeks we've been filling this box with slips of paper on which we've written the blessings or gifts that God has given us this year. We've never had it be so full! By the time we got done reading all the slips, my only thought was, "Well, who needs presents after that?!"

Of course, there were a few more presents, and here are a couple highlights. Erin's little Heffalump finally got a mother. (He'd been asking for one.)

Matt got a set of remote-control bumper cars. Total family fun!

Now we're hitting the road to do two more Christmas celebrations over the next couple days. The fun is just beginning!

Truth Tuesday #1

"...Your Word is Truth." John 17:17

"There was the true Light, which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh not of the will of man, but of God." John 1:9-13

House of Mourning

It is better to go to a house of mourning
Than to go to a house of feasting,
Because that is the end of every man,
And the living takes it to heart.

Ecclesiastes 7:2

Last night at church we received word that a friend to many in our church body was being taken off life support following injuries sustained during a farming accident. She was a wife and mother, and had just become a grandmother for the second time last week. We rejoice for her. She had trusted Christ to cover her sins,and we know she is with Him now. We ache for the family, however, and have only found peace in lifting them to their Father in prayer, knowing that He will give comfort and strength.

One thing I remember about this lady is a testimony she gave at church several years ago during our Thanksgiving service. They had been dealing with a heart condition in their daughter, which had made their days uncertain and, I'm sure, frightening. I don't remember the scripture she shared, but I remember being so encouraged by the fact that God had proven Himself faithful to them during their time of anxiety and trial. She spoke of His goodness and care... the same thing He will, no doubt, show to their family again.

Anyway, today life just seemed a little sweeter, and the busy-ness of all the holiday preparations didn't seem like such a distraction. We are given precious time to do the work God has prepared for us. There's nothing like a visit to the house of mourning to remind us.

Nothing Without Love

That's my new title for the blog. I've been wanting to change the name for a while, and this one says what I wanted to say. In a less fallen world, "Nothing Without Love" would possibly describe everything that happens here in our home. The truth of the matter is we are six sinful sinners all under the same roof, and, while God is graciously refining us to pure gold, our dross won't be completely gone until we appear in glory.

The reason I like this title is that it describes who we are ("but God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ..." Eph. 2:4), and the ultimate outcome of all we do ("If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I ahve the gift of prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the pooor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing." I Cor. 13:1-3).

We are nothing without love, and we do nothing without love. And that' something I need to remember every minute.

The Mailing

This morning my clerical staff and I got our Christmas cards ready to mail. If you get a card that has a return address label stuck on upside down, or a stamp slightly askew, please understand. I did my best at quality control, but we were having fun, too.

Flashback Friday #1

"Flashback Friday" is an idea from my cousin Julia ("Jewels of the Kingdom" on sidebar). I think I'll have some fun with it. We'll start out with one of my favorite Christmas shots...

Christmas, 2004 - Joe with his T-Rex, Ellie with her ballerina doll, and Erin with her great big smile!

Do ya need some cute?

My friend Karen just had twins last month and has a blog that's just about them. Now I'm not sure how someone with newborn twins manages to blog, but I'm really proud of her for trying. And if I know Karen, her blog will be quite a fun place to be. She just posted their pictures this week, so you can stop by and encourage her at http://balmertwins.blogspot.com/ .

Peanuts!

Tonight Erin made a styrofoam peanut chain. God really knew what He was doing when He created static electricity. That's fun every time!

Birthday Snow Day!

We got a surprise snow day for my 37th birthday! (If Matt's school has a snow day, our homeschool does, too.) A day's worth of bonus time is the perfect gift, and it gives me some time to catch up on the blog. The first few months of homeschooling were good months, but I don't think I'd care to repeat them. Things are starting to be back on more of an even keel with the curriculum and schedule and all. Homeschooling is becoming just another thing we do, rather than this THING we do. Praise the Lord for that!

The following posts are in random order and are just some of my favorite pictures and highlights from the fall.

Smiles!

So often people tell me that Daniel "has his own look", or that he doesn't look at all like my other kids. Then I see a picture like this one, and I think, "Oh yeah, he's ours."

The Tribe

The biggest blessing about homeschooling, so far, has been the way the kids have really gelled as a group. I find myself thinking of them as a "tribe" all the time. Different ages, different personalities, different interests, but that's the group you're in...and it can still work very well!

Young Teacher

This is one of my favorite take-my-breath-away moments from the fall. Erin is starting to read, and Joe loves teaching her. (He may have a little bit of his dad in him!)

You Must Be A Homeschooler If...

...your toddler's favorite toy is Base-10 blocks!

Cleaning Party!!

My sanity saver this fall has been the invention of the "cleaning party". With our busy school days, the bigger cleaning chores weren't getting done. Cleaning parties now happen about every other Friday evening, and they are always followed by a movie and popcorn. I threw the movie and popcorn in there to sweeten the deal for the kids, but I don't even know if it was necessary. They love to work together to clean! Of course, their chores have to be chosen with care and there's been a lot of teaching involved, but the house hasn't looked so good since before Daniel was born. I'm so thankful!

Toddlerhood

Daniel is at that delightful walking and just starting to talk stage. He's such a joy! He really brings out the best in all of us, and is quite the popular guy around here. (And, yes, balls, cars, and his hat are some of his favorite things!)

Photography

This is one of my favorite pictures from the past few months. Joe's learning to use the camera.

Canal Boating

We took a field trip to a historical farm where we rode on an actual mule-drawn canal boat.

The house and farm buildings were really neat, too. Outdoors, there were some old-time games to play with. The one that Matt is demonstrating is where you try to catch the wooden ball on top of the stick which has a little peg that fits into a notch on the ball. Well, the lady who was overseeing that day said that she had only seen it done twice in the 18 years she'd worked there, and then...you guessed it...Matt got it! I'm so proud of my man!

Trick or Treat!

Trick or treat was more fun than usual this year. We're finally old enough to actually walk farther than two blocks. They still aren't really into the candy, but did manage to eat most of it before Christmas this year. (They may have had a little help from an adult in our house on that!) Joe was a fly (again), Ellie was an Indian (again - but this time, it's a different costume), Erin and Daniel were skunks (costumes were originally made for Joe and Ellie).

Pumpkin

Soccer

We had a blast cheering for the silver, red, and yellow teams in soccer this fall. All three kids were new to soccer and learned a lot from some really special coaches. I'm sure they'll all be back for more next year. Joe, especially, loved it and is now constantly pestering Matt to play soccer with him in the backyard (and it's never too cold or too dark!).