Playgroup Christmas Party!

This past week we had our playgroup Christmas party. It was lots of fun! Bryon was able to sneak out of work and come, much to Molly's surprise and pleasure. She made a cute Christmas craft which you will see below, had story and snack time and sang lots of Christmas carols. We had lots of fun and made lots of great memories.

thankful, part two

I am thankful for...

-Bryon, my husband, my best friend forever and the love of my life, I love you so crazy much!
-Molly, my sweet baby girl, the pride and joy of my life
-Our new baby, I can't wait to meet you little one! I love you so much already!
-My parents, the two people I know can count on for anything and everything
-My sisters, my confidants and best friends.
-Bryon's mom, will drop everything at anytime to come help us if we need it.
-Bryon's dad, never misses an event in our lives.. went out of his way to make it to our wedding, Molly's birthday, saying goodbye before we came to the UK and so much more.
-Bryon's sister, one of Bryon's best friends and confidants. It helps that she's a riot.
(and the families of the above mentioned of course)

-Diet Mountain Dew, lasagna, Old Spice on Bryon, Molly's feet, elmo, hot bubble baths, a good book, crackling fires, fresh Christmas trees, hot apple cider, celtic music, computers, facebook, down comforters, video monitor, Reece's peanut butter cups, fall leaves, my nephews (all FIVE!),
freedom, good health, fertility, Sam, the army, hand sanitizer, a good movie, Molly's wet kisses, my blog, Clorox wipes, sleeping in on Saturdays, my church, Bryon's job, the ability to travel, Tony and Holly, Yankee candles, rainbow sandals, my gardener, my Bible, Glenn Walker, a warm car on a cold day, my education, missionaries around the world, eHarmony, the mountains, riding the golf cart around the pond in Shelby, Hoke Enterprises, when Collin says 'ahhhh ooooo (love you)'

there are so many more but there's my list today.. I'd love to hear something you are thankful for too..

Thankful, part one

Because we spent Thanksgiving this year in Paris, I haven't stopped to really thank God for the many blessings He has given me this year. I am starting with the most important today and will complete the list tomorrow. So, here is my list..

I am thankful for...

1) My salvation.. Being here in the UK, I have seen firsthand the difference in a nation filled with the Spirit of the Lord verses one that is drifting far away from Him. As the days draw closer to an end and as the Lord's return comes closer, I have such a burden for people to come to know Christ, not church or religion but the person of Christ. There is no greater friend, no one who loves you more and no way to heaven except through faith in Him. If you don't know Him today, open your Bible to the New Testament. Start with Romans and learn about Jesus. Even if your skeptical you can still read and see what all the hype is about.

below are some verses to guide you as you read...

Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

We all have sin in our hearts. We all were born with sin.

We were born under the power of sin's control.

- Admit that you are a sinner.

Romans 6:23a "...The wages of sin is death..."

Sin has an ending. It results in death. We all face physical death, which is a result of sin. But a worse death is spiritual death that alienates us from God, and will last for all eternity. The Bible teaches that there is a place called the Lake of Fire where lost people will be in torment forever. It is the place where people who are spiritually dead will remain.

- Understand that you deserve death for your sin.

Romans 6:23b "...But the gift of God is eternal

life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Salvation is a free gift from God to you! You can't

earn this gift, but you must reach out and receive it.

- Ask God to forgive you and save you.

Romans 5:8, " God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were yet

sinners Christ died for us!"

When Jesus died on the cross He paid sin's penalty. He paid the price for all sin, and when He took all the sins of the world on Himself on the cross, He bought us out of slavery to sin and death! The only condition is that we believe in Him and what He has done for us, understanding that we are now joined with Him, and that He is our life. He did all this because He loved us and gave Himself for us!

- Give your life to God... His love poured out in Jesus on the cross is your only hope to have forgiveness and change. His love bought you out of being a slave to sin. His love is what saves you -- not religion, or church membership. God loves you!

Romans 10:13 "Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved!"

- Call out to God in the name of Jesus!

Romans 10:9,10 "...If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."

- If you know that God is knocking on your heart's door,

ask Him to come into your heart.

Jesus said,

Revelation 3:20a "Behold I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him..."

- Is Jesus knocking on your heart's door?

Believe in Him.

Ask Him to come in to your heart by faith,

and ask Him to reveal Himself to you.

Open the Bible to the Gospel of John and read what God says about Jesus,

about you, and about being born again.

Funny Paris moments

We are back safely from Paris. I will post pictures soon but I thought I'd give you a few highlights from the trip...

1) Within 1-2 hours of leaving the base, Molly soiled TWO sets of clothes.. pooped on one and vomited on the other...

2) One night after her bath, she promptly ran away from us naked as a jay bird and pooped in the middle of the hotel floor.

3) On Friday we spent the evening at a nice French restaurant and then went up to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Bryon had to use the bathroom for most of the afternoon but wanted to hold it to 'leave his mark' on the Eiffel Tower. So with much joy he can now say he went to the bathroom in the Eiffel Tower.. I'll never understand men..

4) Traveling with Molly is always exciting. Apparently, the French think Molly is the most adorable thing ever. Left and right people would stop us to take pictures of her or just to look at her and smile and stare. I felt like the bodyguard of a superstar.

Pictures to come!

My FANTASTIC husband!!!

Check out where my sweet husband is taking me and Molly for one last hoorah before the new baby comes! AHHHHHHHH!!!! I'm SOOOOOOOOOOO excited! I've been dying to go here since I heard about it and we are going in March! Granted I will be 7 months pregnant but who cares!
This place is so neat! It is reserved for active duty and their families and DOD civilians stationed overseas. So for all of you March visitors, the last weekend is now TAKEN!

Welcome to the world Dominic!

Congrats to Chris and Diane, well especially Diane for bringing little Dominic into the world yesterday. He was born 11/12/08 at 7:37pm. He weighed 8ib 6oz and was 21 inches long! Bryon and I couldn't be more excited to have a new nephew! Bryon actually sat up until 1am our time calling his mom until Dominic was born. He wouldn't go to sleep until he knew Diane and Dominic were ok. We are so happy for you guys and can't wait to do lots of snuggling when we visit in January!

Stylin

My new sweater that Gram made me matches my pink shoes!! Check me out!

Happy Birthday Bryon!!

Happy Birthday Bryon!!!

The dining room on our river cruise boat. Molly and I took Bryon on a Sunday Roast Dinner Cruise in Huntingdon, UK. It was really neat! There was a great meal and a 2 hour cruise down the river.

The cruise started out wet and rainy but after we finished lunch, the sun came out and it was beautiful!!! So we were able to spend the last half of the trip outside seeing everything.


This isn't a view you would ever see in the US- buildings this old don't exist in our country.

Molly getting a lesson on all of the animals we passed along the cruise route: swans, ducks, cows, horses, birds, dogs, etc.

Bryon's Penn State birthday cake. You can't see it here, but it is strawberry flavoured inside.. get it?? Bleeding Penn State :) Gross I know.

One year older and wiser! Glad I'm not the one turning 31 :)

Every year on his birthday, my sweet husband buys ME flowers! Blush Blush..

Best part of the day, cuddling with his sleepy baby girl

Trick or treating!

This was Molly's first year trick or treating and we went on base to the military housing area. I've decided there is no safer place to trick or treat. We were all govt id holders, passed the security checkpoint when entering the base and were rechecked and our cars searched with flashlights on our way out! Not to mention military police patrolled the streets where the kids were going from out to house. We had a great time. I think Bryon had the most fun of us all. I think there is something special for a daddy taking his little girl trick or treating for the first time and seeing how excited she gets at the costumes and lights and brightly colored candy wrappers.

Plus, she was a lion and since he missed the Penn State game because of the trick or treating, somehow the costume made up for it :)

Pregnant stories

Bryon says I'm officially pregnant and that I have to share these two true stories with you all

Story One:
I made yummy chili for dinner last night but when I sat down to eat it, somehow it just didn't settle. So, I got a bowl of pickles and ranch dressing which hit the spot. Unfortunately, I ran out of pickles wayyy too soon, so I got a brilliant idea! I poured the pickle juice and ranch dressing into the chili and it was PERFECT!!!

Only after Bryon looked at me with his jaw hitting the floor and after I stopped to think about what I was doing, did I realize how gross it really was. Who cares, it was yummy!


Story two:
A couple of nights ago, Molly was asleep and Bryon and I were about to go to bed. I realized that I had forgotton to shower that day. I have this thing where I can't go to sleep unless I'm clean, so I told Bryon I was going to hop in the shower before bed.

The rest is kinda fuzzy, but somehow I went into the bathroom, turned on the water, picked up the shampoo and started lathering my hair while standing BESIDE the shower and with my clothes still ON! I walked out to say something to Bryon and again, his draw dropped and I realized that I had truly lost it.