Observing Advent 2011

This year, we'll be doing these readings through the Jesse Tree symbols at breakfast or dinner each day.  Until a few years ago I didn't know of the Jesse Tree Advent symbols; but I wanted a simple advent wreath we could use annually and found the one above online.  I hope to pick up a round glass centerpiece mirror to go under it this year.  We've never done any readings to go with it, so I guess we're starting a new tradition!

For personal reading, I cannot recommend this book enough and look forward to reading it every year:

Adding to my collection, I've picked up a used copy of this (by one of my favorite authors/commentators James Montgomery Boice) to read this year, thanks to AbeBooks, the best place to find used books online!

There's nothing magical about Advent and observing it, no sin if you don't, it's simply a time of building up expectation to the celebration of Jesus' birth at Christmas - a great opportunity for extra focus and heart preparation, similar to Lent.  Boice reminded me yesterday that the Christmas story is far from sentimental and cuddly - it's raw, rough, and intense.  The Angel told Joseph to give the baby the name Jesus, because He would save His people from their sins.

To do that, He knew He was coming to die, and did so willingly and joyfully, that God's people might be restored unto Him.  The wonder of Christmas points to the toil of the crucifixion and the glory of the resurrection.  Christmas turns our hearts and minds to the God our Emmanuel, who came to be with us, and who will one day make His dwelling with men, forever and ever.

Amen!

May God bless you in the Advent season

as you prepare your homes for the holiday

and your hearts for the celebration!

Since You Can Already Buy Christmas Decorations ...

*I posted this last year about this time; I want you to have time to get the book before advent (which begins on November 27.  I've read it over the last couple of Decembers; excellent for Christmas heart-preparation!

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!

Advent begins in just a few Sundays, Nov 27. Advent: the season where we remember the waiting for the long-expected Messiah, the many promises of God, the cries of the hearts of His people.

Then, Christmas Eve we celebrate the arrival of that promised Savior, THE King of kings, and Lord of lords!

Okay, now I am getting excited about Christmas and will henceforth quit my complaining when I hear the carols in the stores. Here's my book recommendation to prepare your hearts through the Advent season: Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus ed. Nancy Guthrie, a collection of readings by a collection of well-known Christian theologians, preachers, teachers & speakers.

My pastor recommended this when I was seeking some Advent "enrichment" last year. You will not be disappointed if you get your hands on this book! (There's plenty of time to order before November 27th.)

How the people of God waited for their Messiah! How he challenged their expectations!! How he changed so many lives!!!

May the Scriptures and these reflections do the same for us as we approach Christmas Eve. Jesus is the reason for the season, let's not lose Him in the lights, the gifts, the festivities, or even the religious traditions.

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.

Isaiah 9:6-7

Day 21: Love and Marriage

Marriage is a beautiful institution created by God.  I highly recommend it to those considering making the commitment.  However, you must know that when you get married you are marrying a person - not an idea, not a fantasy, not a robot - a real, live person.

So when Colin and I tied the knot, we not only got the joys and pleasures of till-death-does-us-part companionship and one-fleshedness.  We also brought our own sin and baggage into the marriage.  Take two people who love each other, but also each love themselves quite a bit, put them under the same roof and ask them to make life work and you're bound to hear (if the couple is honest) of arguments, grumbling & complaining, judgmental thoughts, etc., even in the midst of the delights of establishing a home, family, traditions, and routines that are unique to that couple that God has brought together.

Since this is my blog, I'll not go into Colin's "issues" and how God has used being married to such a wonderful woman like me to show him errors in his ways and change him ... ha!  If anything, being married to me has only grown him in patience and loving-kindness.  Dear man; if you only knew what he has to put up with!

More seriously, though, two things have come to mind that I want to share with you.  The first, is how God used the husband He had for me to address the pattern of guilt-tripping manipulation in my life.  The second, is how God uses my husband to teach me how much He really loves me.

God Uses Our Spouses to Reveal Our Sin

Like I mentioned earlier, we come into marriage with our history.  We can't leave it at the door; it's part of who we are.  I brought with me my people-pleasing and tendency to try to manipulate people into doing what I wanted them to do.  God, in his mercy, gave me a husband who will not be manipulated.  How convenient for addressing one of my major character flaws - that's God's sovereignty for you!  Because I could not make Colin do what I wanted him to do, I had to learn how to communicate better - talking about things that were difficult or uncomfortable - rather than reverting to passive aggressive behaviors, giving the cold shoulder, or just. plain. pouting.

It is hard to let go of ingrained patterns in our lives.  God uses our spouses and the wow-we're-together-every-day nature of the relationship, within the context of vows made, to reveal patterns of sin that will crumble the relationship if not addressed.  I'm so thankful that Colin is a strong enough man not to bow to a pouting wife.  It's been good for me!


God Uses Our Spouses to Reveal Himself to Us

We'll wrap up a decade of marriage next summer, and honestly, I'm in awe that Colin is still loving me, still likes hanging out with me, still listens to all my jabbering, still tells me I'm beautiful - all in such an affirming and edifying way.  Through his loving commitment to me and my good, I'm reminded that God calls me His beloved.  At moments, Colin is the very voice of God speaking into my life: you are loved; you are cherished; you are precious ... and yes, I do know ALL about you.

That's the most amazing thing to me!  I often find myself so unlovable, yet here is this husband who sticks around through the fun parts of life and through my moods, complaining, and sin.  Praise God for what commitment in marriage teaches us about the great forgiveness of our Lord, the depth of His mercy and compassion, the beauty of belonging to another.

*      *     *

If you are married, Satan would love to undermine your commitment to one another.  We must beware when we are proudly digging in our heels, rather than submitting to our spouse or putting their needs ahead of our own.  Bitterness, judgement, and unforgiveness can creep in so subtly, can't they?  In the book The Power of the Praying Wife, Stormie Omartian tells her readers they must begin with this 3-word prayer:  Lord, change ME.  That has always stuck with me.  When the going gets tough, we look for something or someone to blame (Genesis 3 style.)  In marriage, then, we're tempted to pray things like Lord, change HIM.  Or, Lord, change HER.  Omartain cautions that we must look at our own hearts first, so we can pray for our spouse for his or her good ... not our own!


Let's close today with some action points/questions:

1. In what ways can you let go of your own agenda to better serve your spouse?  Try something new this weekend!
2. How has God used your spouse to conform you more to His image?  Praise God for His work in you and let your spouse know how thankful you are God put him/her in your life.
3. Read I Corinthians 13:4-7.  Ask the Spirit to be working this kind of love toward your spouse into the fabric of your being - it's no lovey-dovey passage ... it's tough stuff not to keep records of wrongs, to be patient, not rude, and so on!

Remember that the point in loving our husband or wife better is to bring God glory.  Look to Him for the strength and energy you need to love and serve your husband or wife sacrificially.  May God bless your marriages as you look back to how He's been at work and ahead to loving one another better.  And feel free to share your own "real life" marriage stories in the comments!

This is Part 21 of a month-long series you can learn more about by starting with Day 1 here.  There are many others doing super cool series this month as well, perhaps you'd like to see the list?

A Wedding Weekend

We traveled to Illinois - my birth state and my mamma's homeland -

to attend my cousin's wedding last weekend.

Here's an overview in photos.

Snacking and stretching and pumping gas at a rest area mid-drive

The Pittsburgh cousins on the sofa in my Aunt Nelda's house in Kankakee.

She fed us a great dinner!

Saturday's sunrise over Wal-Mart; Brian wanted a picture.

Later Saturday morning we headed to Pontiac and Saunemin,

where my Gramma used to live.

Things have changed a bit since I was last there!

lunch at Wendy's

on the front porch of Gramma's apartment building

The field behind the apartment - sadly it was not corn this year.
I'd hoped the kids would be able to run through the rows.

A new quickie-mart/gas station.  This took me by surprise!

Saturday afternoon, Nate and Holli were wed.  I didn't take pictures of the ceremony (because they never turn out very nicely) but it was a beautiful service.  Christian marriages are so special and sacred.  What made this event particularly profound is that Holli is deaf and the entire ceremony was signed.  The most touching time was when silent vows were taken, as they signed to one another what the pastor directed them what to "say" to each other.

 My husband likes to photo bomb me; he is not funny.

The picture there on the left is so hilarious to me ... should we have a caption contest? 

My beautiful sister and her handsome husband.

 Yum, dinner!

It was one serious wedding party!  This is their table, followed by pictures of the gorgeous bride and groom.

Brian participated in the throwing of the garter;

he stood like that the entire time.

The children at the wedding (and there were many) had a great time dancing.

Brian has some moves, people.  If I get my act together, I'll post a video.

Sunday morning we breakfast-ed with the family and then hit the road for home.

Brian was a bit wiped out by the end of the drive.

Congratulations Nate and Holli!

May God bless you with many years together, as you navigate the ups and downs of life as a team.

We wish you much happiness and were so glad to be with you!

Book Review: Mere Christianity

Since it's "back to school" month, I got to finish up some books of this summer, and there's a giveaway going on, I'll share some book reviews in the next couple of posts.  I will begin with

Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis.

I must confess, first, how much I love old British writers, particularly theologians.  Lewis was not a theologian by trade, but he was a master of the English language and of analogy.  He became a Christian quite late in life, after years of atheism.  Mere Christianity was given as a series of radio talks during the Second World War, when many were asking questions about faith, right, and wrong, as their sons, fathers, husbands, and friends were sent off to war ... and many did not return home.  Later the talks were converted into book format.

This book is a treasure for a Christian.  In addition to introducing me to new idea or challenging my understanding, Lewis put together some things for me that were previously either confusing or just not quite sorted out in my brain.  For example, as I grow in the faith and am a person who is interested in learning more about doctrine and theology, I've thought to myself, "Oh there's just so much, how can I present the gospel to someone when there's so much to explain and understand all at once?!"  In one of the chapters (and I can't find it now, so you'll have to read for yourself!), he draws the analogy of early faith being like man - long before he knew anything about the workings of vitamins, minerals, and calories - knowing that when he was hungry or feeling faint, a good meal made him feel better.  When we begin to see our problem is sin and that Jesus is the Savior, we believe - all without an in-depth understanding of all of Christian Theology.  Learning that Theology (as learning how it is that food makes a hungry you feel better) as you grow in your faith enhances it, deepens and enriches it, but it doesn't change the basic fact that then you look to Jesus, repent and believe, your sins are forgiven.  That meal still satisfies.  I can certainly share that truth quite simply.

For my little brain, Lewis' simple analogies aided my understanding and, in that case, helped me to breathe a sigh of relief!  God gifted this man with the ability to take the profound and make it such that even little children, like this 32-year-old one, might comprehend.

There are not many Scripture references in this book, which could be considered an asset or a defect, depending upon where you're coming from.  For the 'Christianity investigator,' I believe it is an asset - because he would not be distracted by too many references.  For me, as a "slightly further on" believer, it caused me to open my Bible and look for things now and then, a good practice. But if you're looking for lots of references, you'll be disappointed.  If you have a friend who's looking for a lays-it-all-out kind of book about Christianity, this would be perfect.  Though, I'm not sure it is a great book for someone who's clearly not interested, no matter how much you want them to be.  Keep praying!  And read this yourself so you know if and when you should hand it to someone.

I can imagine reading this book regularly for three reasons:

1. the edification of my own faith,
2. to keep simple apologetics fresh in my mind, and
3. there's too much to "get" in just one read.

We're off for a weekend with family at at wedding in Illinois, my mom's homeland and my birth state.  I hope you all have weekends that restore and refresh!

Lewis, on Love & Christian Marriage

But, of course, ceasing to be 'in love' need not mean ceasing to love.  Love in this second sense - love as distinct from 'being in love' - is not merely a feeling. It is a deep unity, maintained by the will and deliberately strengthened by habit; reinforced by (in Christian marriages) the grace witch both partners ask, and receive, from God.  They can have this love for each other even at those moments when they do not like each other; as you love yourself even when you do not like yourself.  They can retain this love even when each would easily, if they allowed themselves, be 'in love' with someone else.  'Being in love' first moved them to promise fidelity: this quieter love enables them to keep the promise.  It is on this love that the engine of marriage is run: being in love was the explosion that started it.

Mere Christianity, p . 109

Becoming a Reader, as an Adult

When I was young, I read.

And read.

And read.

What a delight it was to complete the Anne of Green Gables series as a twelve year old!

Shortly after that, school got more intense and required large chunks of study and reading time. Reading for pleasure fell by the wayside as athletics, homework, and friends took over.

In college I read a little more, but my studies demanded so much reading, I was rarely interested in MORE reading in my free time.  But post-college I was able to rediscover the fun in reading!  Reading opens doors into new worlds and ideas to which we don't have access without literacy.  On our honeymoon (which was not long after graduation) I started Tolstoy's Anna Karenina; nothing like starting small, eh?  I've been reading ever since.  I even completed some books by reading while nursing Elizabeth in the dark hours of the night.

This morning as I chatted with some friends, I thought perhaps it would be helpful to share on the blog how it is I keep reading.  Life is not less busy with a husband and children.  How can we continue to read when life already seems so full?

Several years ago, I made a new year's resolution to read a chapter of a book every day.  If you're reading books with thirty chapters (give or take), that's twelve books a year.  That's quite a few books.  I have not kept up with this intentionally, but by the end of that year, the reading habit was ingrained!

This afternoon I began a book that is 252 pages.  The chapters are really long, so I can't do a chapter a day.  But if I commit to 10 pages a day, I'll wrap that book up before May is out.

See how easy it is to start a regular reading habit?

The other thing you have to do to develop your reading addiction habit, is decide that it's worth it to take that time to read, rather than something else.  You can easily read a chapter of a book in the time it takes to watch a sitcom in the evening.  Or you'd be amazed at how recharged you feel after reading a bit with a tasty beverage - I take mine caffeinated - in the middle of the afternoon; make the kids rest and you sit for a spell too!  You'll all be better for it.  The mornings might work better for you, so perhaps getting up 15 minutes ahead of schedule will allow you the indulgence of a good book.

In summary, to read more you need to do two things:

1. Decide how much you'd like to be reading
2. Choose a regular time for reading

I'm a non-fiction junkie, particularly Christian living or Bible teaching books.  You can see some of my recommendations in the Deepen Your Roots tab at the top or click on book/review tabs over in the column on the right.

Picture Book Authors We Love

I'm always looking for good books for the kids, good stories with creative and/or beautiful illustrations.  (I'll be sad when our shelves and library bag are no longer stuffed with picture books!)

Here's a small selection of authors we've grown to love over the last several years:

Paul Collicutt has a series about vehicles called This (insert name of vehicle). (This Train, This Car, This Rocket, etc.)  The illustrations are beautiful and the text is brief but full of information for little toddler/preschool minds.

Kevin Henkes is a prolific writer with a range of books for kids of all ages on a variety of topics from relationships to nature.  I'm never disappointed by anything I pick up from that section of the library shelf!

Leo Lionni writes sweet little stories with creative illustrations.

Byron Barton's illustrations are bold and colorful and he gets right to the heart of my little boy with lots of trucks, trains, and planes - though he does have some other stories, like the Three Little Bears.

Gail Gibbons is AMAZING!  She has written so many books about such a variety of science (and other, but lots of science) topics, all at the perfect level for early elementary students.  For almost anything we're "studying" in school we're able to find a book by Ms. Gibbons to read.  Her illustrations and text keep us all interested!

Saxton Freymann's photography of fruits and vegetables captivates the kids and amazes me.  His creativity knows no bounds!  He has some board books in addition to regular books.

Who are some of your favorites?

For Wives

Proverbs has a few things to say about wives, vivid descriptions of how we can be a terror for our husbands or bring them great blessing.  I want to do the latter, but it does not come naturally.  

Remembering these words of Scripture, however, can guide us in our interactions with our husbands.  (After all, who wants to be described as decay in her husband's bones, a constant dripping, quarrelsome, ill-tempered?  And we certainly don't want our husbands to feel like they'd rather live up on the roof or in a desert!)

A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown,

but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.

12:4

A foolish son is a father's ruin

and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping.

19:13

Better to live on a corner of the roof

than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

21:9

Better to live in a dessert

than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife.

21:19

Better to live on a corner of the roof

than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

25:24

A quarrelsome wife is like

a constant dripping on a rainy day;

restraining her is like restraining the wind

or grasping oil with the hand.

27:15

The point, however, is not having a good reputation or even being able to check "be good wife" off our to do list.  It's about loving God and loving our husbands.  Proverbs also says these things:

He who finds a wife finds what is good

and receives favor from the Lord.

18:22

Houses and wealth are inherited from parents

but a prudent wife is from the Lord.

19:14

A wife of noble character who can find?

She is worth far more than rubies.

Her husband has full confidence in her

and lacks nothing of value.

she brings him good, not harm,

all the days of her life.

31:10

We are in relationship with our husbands; we've been given to them by the Lord!  How, then, can we honor God in that relationship?  As we spend time in the Word and prayer, as the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin against our husbands, as we draw nearer to them in intimacy, we will bring more good and less harm to our husbands.  As I said above, it's not about us, it's about God.  Are you honoring God in your marriage?

I don't always.

But God is a redeemer and a life-changer.  As we cling to Him, pray for our own hearts to change, pray for the good of our husbands (not that they would be changed, but that God would bless them*), and choose to do good to them, whether or not it is returned.  Things WILL happen; God will do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine.

Go, then.  Put yourself aside and be a blessing to your husband today!  Do something for him, just because you love the Lord and want to obey Him in this role He's given you.

Some suggestions to get your mind churning:

• a surprise love note in his lunch or briefcase/backpack
• making a favorite dinner
• getting a sitter and planning an unexpected date
• visiting him at work with a coffee or other favorite drink
• doing the taxes or some other task you know he hates
• give him some "time off" to hang with the guys or rest
• refuse to nag him today about "that thing" he's not done yet
• pray for his day at work, that God would prosper and defend him

I'd love to hear about what you decide to do!

*Stormie Omartian in the first chapter of Power of the Praying Wife says our prayer needs to be these three words:  Lord, change me.  Not, Lord, change him.  Good book, by the way, if you're wondering how to pray for your man.

The Call: Motherhood

I was going to quote parts of this on Facebook or in a post, but then realized I just need to link you to this post by Sally Clarkson.

Please read the whole post HERE, but I'll give you this little teaser:

When I studied scripture and found that the stewardship of a child’s life, his training, education, character, emotional health, spiritual vigor, well-being, mind heart was entrusted to me, I realized that I needed to give my whole self to it. I had to work through selfishness, giving up my rights to my own time, my body, my sleep, and I had to learn what a servant heart was, as I had not been trained to be mature or to give up myself.

But, as I learned to embrace my call to intentional motherhood as God’s will and design for me, I began to fall more in love with my children. I had this grid in my mind through which I saw all of life. I love God. God has shown me what He wants of me. I need to give myself fully to this design.

I second her motion to get one (or more!) of her books.  Begin with Mission of Motherhood and Ministry of Motherhood.  You will never be the same.  And neither will your family.

I'm so thankful for how God "accidentally" brought me into contact with WholeHeart and MomHeart ministires.

Praise!  The!  Lord!

Dr. Mary Poplin and Finding YOUR Calcutta (part 2)

As promised, here are other thoughts Mary shared that have stuck with me:

• We're all slaves to something. Paul often referred to himself as a bondservant of Christ - Christians are slaves to Jesus!  Mother Teresa lived this out.  Based upon Matthew 25:31-46, she cared for the poor, but her primary service was to Jesus.  So when she was looking into the face of an untouchable - feeding, bathing, or hugging - it was as if she were feeding, bathing, or hugging her Lord.

• Her advice to a young speaker and writer:
• study people who are doing what you'd ultimately like to do, for me Beth Moore and Joyce Meyer types.
• think about who you can help - this is likely "your" best target audience
• think about what grieves you most - that's likely your Calcutta

• On abortion:  In her book, Mary shares about her own abortion experience and the process of accepting God's forgiveness.  I mentioned how I really appreciated that she included that.  Then, she shared a story of a woman who came to her after a talk distraught because, while Mary was not a Christian when she aborted, this girl was and "should have known better."  Mary said the Lord immediately brought King David to mind - the man after God's own heart, God's anointed king of Isreal - who committed adultery and had the woman's husband murdered in battle.  He knew God; God forgave Him.  Profound.  Is our God not full of mercy?

I loved being with Mary.  Her heart is so warm, her mind so keen.  I most appreciate her understanding that all of us Christians need each other, the Presbyterian needs the Pentecostal, the Catholic needs the Baptist, the Eastern needs the Western, and vice-versa on all of those!  Her heart is open to learning more and God has used this to shape her life/ministry (I have to write it that way, for they are one, as per Ephesians 4.)  In her book, on a chapter about the Church she says, Isn't it a magnificent thing to be a molecule in the body of Christ.  No mater where we live in the world, we are instantly joined to a larger body. p. 138

I'll leave you with this final teaser if you want to get to know more about Mary and her experiences with Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity, from her book Finding Calcutta: What Mother Teresa Taught Me About Meaningful Work and Service.

At night, [after her time in Calcutta] I would lie wake and reflect on the various stories of miracles among the Missionaries, the healing of Babloo, his love for the picture of Jesus, the bottle nipple that arrived just in time, the Indian money, the special help to the Delhi Plane, the entry into the cloistered monastery, the voice from the icon ... So many experiences rolled around in me with nowhere to put them.  I hardly had any categories that could accommodate my experiences.  My old categories of coincidence and serendipity crumbled under the weight of new experiences and understandings.The Lord was resurrecting something that had long laid dormant in me, and I was beginning to come more alive.  I felt like a child allowed into my Father's study for the first time to experience certain secrets.  I was seeing things t I had never noticed before.  Like a child, I was pointing to them and waiting for him to give me the word.  p. 146

God's Faithfulness: Meeting Dr. Mary Poplin

Who is like our God?

Here's the back story:

In college, I was involved with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF).  Sidenote: Met Colin there, yup!  The first two years, Tom Grosh was our staff worker.  He trained us well in Bible study and alway encouraged us to seek the Lord, get to know the Word, step out in faith.  I learned a lot from Tom.

We've maintained a connection over the years through prayer/support emails for him and his family and seeing each other a few times.  This past summer, now that we're back in Pittsburgh, we were able to visit with the Groshes at a small bbq with other supporters and old IVCF friends.  I mentioned to Tom my desire to grow as a speaker and writer.  And, God bless him, he's taken my comment to heart and is offering me opportunities to develop through reading good literature and (maybe - it's in the prayer phase) doing some writing for the Emerging Scholar's Network blog.

With the retreat coming up in April, I asked Tom if I could borrow a book.  As God would have it, Tom was coming to town the following weekend, was able to stay a night with us, and

brought me FOUR books.

I started by reading one that I had not requested, but seemed to fit well with the retreat topic: service.  The book?  Finding Calcutta: What Mother Teresa Taught Me About Meaningful Work and Service by Mary Poplin.

I was so taken with the writing, Mother Teresa, and the challenging questions Mary posited throughout the book.  I was half way through before the middle of the following week.

And Mary Poplin was going to be in Pittsburgh that Friday!

Unfortunately, I was not going to be able to attend her talk at the CMU Veritas Forum.  But, Tom knew Mary's schedule, and arranged for her to come to our home for a brief interview.  If you're my friend on Facebook, you know I was just a little excited!

Wow, an author and scholar in my kitchen!  And what a lovely Christian woman.  You can read the story of her conversion (in her forties!) here.

I planned to share some of that interview with you here, but it will have to wait for the next post.  For now, I'll leave you with these thoughts:

• Praise God for the body of Christ, the Chruch, and how He uses us to sharpen, encourage, and spur one another on!  Meeting Mary would not have happened if Tom had not taken in interest in this young lady's heart's desire.  And, of course, there was Mary willingness to come to a strange girl's house for a chat.  I'm so grateful!

• It's been less than two years since I decided to try pursuing a dream, and God has been SO FAITHFUL in giving me experiences and speaking through His word into my life.  What do you dream about, how can you step out and develop and use your gifts starting TODAY, trusting that God will prove Himself faithful?

Stay tuned for a post about my conversation with Mary.  Until then:

The LORD bless you and keep you;

the LORD make his face shine upong you and be gracious to you;

the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

Drum Roll, Please!

I'm excited to announce the winners in my first blog giveaway!

CONGRATULATIONS TO:

CHRISSIE KOERBER

JENNIFER KYES

and JENNY VICKERS

I'll be in touch to get your details if I don't already know them!

Thank you SO MUCH for participating in this very first giveaway.  I'm trying to figure out where this blog is going and it's been exciting to get some feedback and have friends get into the giveaway!

Here are some photos of the lovely Frankie, my friend's daughter, helping with the drawing.