The Fight starts!

My superhero hubby started the first step in a long journey... his fight with cancer.   His first round of chemo - a very long day.

I wore this to remind everyone (including myself) that GOD HEALS!  I am approaching my 5 year - cancer-free anniversary. 

I'd love for you to join me in praying for his complete healing!

Invitation to Excellence

Warning - More shameless bragging....

Luke was invited to Baylor University's "Invitation to Excellence" weekend!  This was a special weekend for students with excellent ACT scores to come and experience Baylor and have the chance to write essays for scholarships.

To look the part, he had to let me take him shopping!  He cleans up pretty nice...don't you think!

We both had a great time being away together in Waco.  Of course, the college is impressive - but, time with this one alone is priceless!

Words

Isn't God just amazing?   He speaks in the most unexpected places.... for instance - Target checkout!

Yes, Target checkout.  My cashier shared these verses with me as I was checking out.  And, she shared her gift of prophecy too.  

Some of her words - "3 years ago - you felt like you stood alone, but pressed into God",  "You are called to ministry - especially ministry to women",  "Your children are musical, and one is going to write a song",  "The daughter you're worried about is going to be just fine",  "2018 is going to be a year of healing".

Not only all that - but, she shared these verses - took my number and texted them to me several days later!

Just like God - to send his WORD, right in Target checkout, exactly when I needed it most!

I just love him...

NYE - 2018

I'm a tad behind... here's our New Year's Eve 2018!

We celebrated with dear friends - chili, games, and the much requested "NYE Bags!"

The bags are filled with small treats - candy, glow sticks, beads, noisemakers (note to self... make those later in the evening!), and sparklers.

They are each labeled with a time - and they get to open them throughout the night.  We did every 1/2 hour this year.

 Gotta save these glasses... these are our 2018 Seniors!

UFO - 2017

My sweet daughter has inspired me to finally complete those UFO's (unfinished objects!)  that have been in my quilting stash... 

Last year - I finished a quilt for our bed - a Irish colorwash, which we have LOVED!  And, we did a "home quilt makeover" for my hubby's quilt.

This year - the Double wedding ring table runner is done! 

And, I even completed a Christmas table runner too :-)  But, I forgot to snap a picture before it got put away. 


I love that girl's ideas...

A New Year

Happy New Year

2018

This is actually our Christmas Eve picture.  I love this one!  It captures us perfectly.  It's our last picture before we started the cancer journey...again.  Matt's Dr. discovered a tumor the Friday before Christmas.  This picture was during the "waiting" to find out what we were facing...  

I love these people.  God is good, all the time!

Christmas Memories - 2017

One of my favorite family traditions is our Christmas gift name exchange.

We draw names on the first day of Advent.  However, instead of just buying a gift, all the gifts have to be hand made, and under $10.   My girls love it, my boys get a bit stretched :-)

Everyone loves their gifts - and they are blessed in the process of making them too!


Here's a recap of this year:

Chloe to Lydia - Succulents in Goodwill teacups, so adorable for our resident botanist.

Essie to Selah - an adorable painted animal and a pretty new headband.

Luke to Sam - A canvas with his favorite missionary quotes in a collage.

Sam to Essie - a BIG E - she loves it!

Matt to Chloe - he made a  mini covered wagon,  I sorta was in the moment and missed the pic ;-)

Selah to Noah - a jar of "Elf Snot" slime with a candy surprise inside.

Josh to Matt - floss wrapped pens in all the MN team colors and Soduku book. 

Noah to Luke - the "tradition" continued with a candy-scavenger hunt.  The clues all had a rhyming broadway theme.  So fun!!

Since I'm the camera girl - no one took a picture of mine.

Selah to Mom - a quilted "correcting" kit - complete with red pens, supplies and my favorite candies!  I love it!!