We enjoyed another nice Christmas with both of our families. After every gathering we realize how blessed we are to have two great families. We celebrated a week early with the Landis side and had a delicious lunch followed by good conversation and gift giving. Sadly I don't have any pictures of that day. Christmas Eve we went to see our church's live nativity with my parents, sister and brother & law and their two girls. We have a farm across the street from our church where they set up the scenes to reenact the stories following up to Christ's birth. It always feels so real and rustic to me. The girls loooved it! Especially Grace. She thought the Inn keeper was so funny. And she really like the calf at the manger scene. The Vitto Christmas followed the next day, with my grandma & aunt and uncle visiting. There was more gift giving, many games played and plenty of food devoured.
Portraying the role of snow white well. Miss Gracy hamming it up!
Our cute little elf
Me & Grandma time. Crocheting with the master.
Not bad huh? My intentions were good, but the final product was bad. This was before I made it lop-sided...
I was reading psalm 139 the other day. It's a powerful passage. It always reminds me that God knows everything about me. When I'm standing at a place where I don't really know what's going to happen in my life, it's so comforting to know that all of my days and all of my moments are laid out before God from the beginning. It helps me to focus on the bigger picture... and that God is the one who searches my heart. Be encouraged today by Psalm 139!
Here are just a couple of photos on my recent trip to Virginia. My sister and I went down to meet our parents in celebration of my dad's birthday. It was a nice couple of days off. My job: helping to take care of the kiddos so that my sister could keep her sanity on our 5 hour drive. :)
On our way with our trusty driver
Williamsburg, Virginia
The finest of Williamsburg.
Little Naked Taylorcoming to wake me up :)
Having a conversation with Grace, while making pancakes.
No long hairs were found in the pancakes that we know of...
This past weekend we went away with our sunday school class for our annual retreat. There's nothing I love more than laughing my head off and growing closer to the most amazing friends that I know. The place we stayed was surrounded by beautiful woods and filled with many deer....very tame deer. We must have seen a couple dozen everyday. Good times were had by all and personally, it was a renewed time for Dustin and I.
(missing a couple of faces in this photo)
Sunday evening, we came home to find two roses in full bloom amongst all my plants that were dead. This is the same rose bush that did nothing all spring and summer. Arriving fashionably late in this cool October month, it has now decided to spring to life!What a gift!
"Hope blooms like a beautiful rose amidst the thorns of life."
I love getting away to the mountains. We have plans to do so this fall and I can't wait. The smells, the colors, the quietness... I can't get enough.
When Jesus appointed the twelve apostles, He called them unto the hills and they came to Him (Mark 3:13). The Lord retreated to the hills or mountains for moments of solitude when crowds became too great. However, He teaches we were not made for mountaintop experiences alone. We were made for the valleys of life. God allows us a view from the hills, but only so that we might be refreshed enough to return to the valleys. Where the action is. I'm learning mountaintops are for views and inspiration, but fruit is grown in the valleys. God has called us into the valley of life where lost people are. To spend all of our time in the hills, we would not effectively serve God.So I encourage you, when you find yourself in the different valleys of life, know you're right where you're supposed to be... where the action is... where God is.He has not forgotten you. And through Him we have the hope that those valleys will lead us to rivers of joy!!!
You might have already seen this but I had to share it.
Besides the fact that they're an older couple trying to work a web-cam, I think the thing that makes me laugh the most is this mans inner kid coming out. I hope I can still find my inner kid when I'm older. :) Enjoy!
Last week my family had the privilege of going down to Cape May, N.J. as we try to do every year.
On our way down the weather reports were only calling for rainy, cloudy skies that week so we were prepared with many games to pass the time being cooped up inside. Well, turns out Cape May had other plans...
Beautiful blue skies all week! This was our sanctuary.
BEACH TIME
We spent many days on the beach soaking up the day and enjoying the sunsets at night.
Playing with a very excited niece. She looved the waves... and destroying newly built sand castles.
FOOD We had our fair share of outings.
Here we are having tea at the Carriage House.
Girls lunch at the Island Grill.
Family Breakfast at the Mad Batter. You haven't had a Belgian Waffle until you've been to the Mad Batter.
Sister love!
GAMES
You'll always find a puzzle sitting out during our vacation.
Every year we usually tackle 3 or more.
And no Vitto gathering is complete without a competitive card game. My grandma, the queen of competitive has met her match... James & Dustin.
NIECE TIME
Spending time with my nieces was a highlight for me. They are growing so fast and it's so much fun for me to see their personality blossoming. Here is sweet little Taylor. Always has a smile for you.
THE SHOPS
Two blocks from the house is Cape May's quaint little strip of shops..
Full of people, art, unique souvenirs and of course ice cream.
Celebrating 4 years with my guy today. We've been through a lot in the
few years we've been together and I'm so glad he's been with me the whole way.
Happy Anniversary Babe. :)
Something brought you to my mind today I thought about the funny ways You make me laugh And yet I feel like it's ok to cry with you Something about just being with you that When I leave I feel like I've been with God And that's the way it ought to be, yeah
Cause you've been more than a friend to me You fight off my enemies Cause you have spoken the truth over my life And you'll never know what it means to me Just to know you've been on your knees for me Oh, you have blessed my life More than you'll ever know More than you'll ever know
You had faith When I had none You prayed God would bring me a brand new song When I didn't think I could find the strength to sing And all the while I've been hoping that I'll Do the kind of praying for you that you've done for me And that's the way it outght to be, yeah
You have carried me You have taken on a burden That wasn't your own, yeah May that blessing return to you A hundredfold A hundredfold
Congratulations Dayne & Lisa! What a beautiful wedding we attended last Friday for our cousin and his new bride. It was HOT! But that didn't seem to get in the way of the beautiful, heartfelt ceremony we watched. We are very excited to have Lisa join our family. She is a sweet, fun loving girl that loves her God. The first time I met her, happen to be at another family wedding and we hit it off from the start. I felt so comfortable with her, that I remember being waaay too forward and asking her about marrying Dayne. What was I thinking? I just met the girl! But she didn't skip a beat over her response. "I hope so!" Since then, we've had some very fun double dates. You can expect to walk away with your cheeks hurting so much from laughing, after a night out with them. They compliment each other well, and we are excited to see what God has in store for their lives.
Every month, our sunday school class takes turns hosting a dinner at each others home. This past month was our turn to host, which worked out great since construction at our home has come to a close for now. I enjoy hosting and giving people a good time, and for the longest time I wasn't able to do that without telling people to "watch out for that hole!" or "you may want to keep your shoes on!" Anyway, we were blessed to be able to have all but one couple from our class come. A very rare thing in the middle of July! Our class started with an idea, four couples, and a prayer. And it continues to grow with people and a love for each other. I am so grateful for all of them.
Well, it's official. I can't believe I'm saying this but the renovations inside the house are finished!!
Tearing down and rebuilding 10 old rooms in 2 1/2 years...and still happily married. Not too shabby! Enjoy the past couple of years below in a matter of minutes. :)
~ "..He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6
Amen! *Note: if you click on the photo, the picture should get larger for a better view.
"If Jesus gives us a task or assigns us to a difficult season, every ounce of our experience is meant for our instruction and completion if only we'll let Him finish the work. I fear, however, that we are so attention-deficit that we settle for bearable when beauty is just around the corner."
-Beth Moore
By Wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge it's room are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.
