Saturday, January 31, 2009

Friends for life!

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.”

I agree!

Terra, Elke and I in 1993

Terra Elke and I in 2009

I love these women more than they will ever know! Our families all had a blast celebrating Bryce and Elke's January birthdays. Check out the pictures! :)

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

New Year Traditions

It seems that we are establishing traditions in our family without even knowing it. The girls informed us that we "always" go ice skating to celebrate the New Year. Come to think of it, we have been doing that the last few years! Another tradition they are claiming is that we eat French Dip for dinner on New Year's Day.
So... here are some photos of our family brining in 2009! We hope you all enjoyed a Happy New Year with your own family traditions!



Sunday, December 28, 2008

How Many Books?

I was talking with a friend recently who said they were going to set a goal to read a book a month in the new year. It made me start thinking about how much I read. Curious to see if I read a least one book a month, I decided to make a list of the books I'd read in 2008. I would have to rely on my memory, since I hadn't been keeping track. Here is what I came up with (not necessarily in any particular order)...


  • The Bible (yep, I read through the entire book in 2008 using a reading plan from our church)
  • Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller
  • The Barbarian Way by Erwin McManus
  • Vintage Jesus by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears
  • Prince Caspian by C.S.Lewis (this was a re-read for me - I am a huge fan of all The Chronicles of Narnia books)
  • Inside Out by Larry Crabb
  • Surrender by Nancy Leigh DeMoss (also a re-read)
  • Time Travelers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
  • Radical Gratitude by Ellen Vaughn
  • Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge (this was another re-read)
  • Reviving Ophelia by Mary Pipher
  • The Shack by William P. Young
  • Three by Ted Dekker
  • Showdown by Ted Dekker
  • Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell
  • Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
  • Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott
  • Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning (this is what I am currently reading)
On my nightstand waiting are...
  • Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
  • Life of Pi by Yann Martel
  • The Reason for God by Tim Keller
  • Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
  • Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis
There are so many more that I still want to read, too, so I will need to pace myself.

I guess I did read at least a book a month this year, in fact more. In the end it looks like I read sixteen and a half books (six of which were novels), plus the Bible. That averages out to 1.38 books per month. In 2009 I will aim higher - I'll shoot for one and a half or maybe even 2 full books per month! :)

*** UPDATE***
I guess I forgot one. A friend reminded me of another book I read while on a camping trip with her. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. How could I have forgotten? I couldn't put it down and it was a GREAT book!

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Icy Hot

Ashley and Lauren had some friends over for a sleep over and they all thought it would be fun to go hot tubbing in the snowy weather we've been having. It totally took me by surprize when they decided to hop out of the tub and run through the snow and then back in to thaw out.
What a bunch of nuts! :) As one friend said, "Oh, to be young!"

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Winter Wonderland

We got so much snow! It's pretty - like Narnia in winter! :)

Monday, December 8, 2008

Natvity Collection

Every year my mom sends us at least one new Nativity Set. Over the years the collection has really grown. These pictures aren't the best, but they show our full collection so far. Thanks, Mom! :)

Friday, December 5, 2008

Deck the Halls

Our annual tree trimming as a family had to be done on a week night this year. With our lives as busy as they are I am happy to have an artificial tree - even though I must admit I miss having a live tree.

Lauren got us started off with Disco Santa - he always has to be the first ornament on the tree. Call it silly, but it's our tradition.

The girls always enjoying finding all their special ornaments - this is one of Ashley's "Baby's First Christmas" ones.

It always looks so pretty when it's all done.

Dad takes care of the topper and all the ormaments at the top of the tree. No ladder needed here! ;)

Merry Christmas 2008!