A Giveaway and a Tag

I just wanted to be sure and let everyone know that Kayla is having her first giveaway over at her blog. If you're interested in finding out more.... you can get there by clicking HERE. :)

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Also, I saw this short tag on Chloe's blog so I thought I would do it. It looks like fun!

1) Why do you have a blog? Just read the "Welcome to my Blog" paragraph on my sidebar! ;)

2) Do you have more close online friends or offline? I'd say it's about the same, but most of my "offline" friends I communicate with online as well.

3) Do you correspond? With my friends? Yes! (Same as Chloe!)

4) Do you have a best friend? Not really. I have a few close friends, though.

5) Do you play April Fools Day pranks? No. I usually don't even realize when it's April Fools! lol

6) Have you watched a movie and then regretted it? I'm sure I have.

7) Do you generally prefer books or their movie adaptions? That really depends on what it is, but usually I would say I enjoy the movies most.

8) How many siblings do you have? 3 sisters

9) Do you want more? Ummm... sure! :D

10) Do you have any married siblings? Nope (I'm the oldest!!!) (Same as Chloe!)

11) What is your favorite branch of the military? I don't really have a favorite... but if I have to choose I guess it's between the Army and the Air Force.

12) What do you hate most in books/movies? Anything dishonoring to God.

13) If you had to name just one book (other than the Bible) to call your favorite, what would it be? That's really hard! My favorites include "Peace Child", "The Cross and the Switchblade", "Bruchko", and the "Love Comes Softly" series. I also like some books by Francine Rivers. So I guess that doesn't really answer the question, lol!

14) What book/series/movie have you been the most wrapped up in? Can't think of anything in particular at the moment. I know there's something, though!

15) What music are you listening to right now? Nothing at this very moment, but lately we've been listening to Christmas music on the radio!

16) What are you having for dinner? I don't know! Tonight is a church night so we'll probably just "fend for ourselves". :)

That's it! I tag anyone who sees this and wants to do it. Let me know if you do... I'd love to see your answers!

Start at the Manger

I'm so excited now that Christmastime is here. I can't believe how quickly it has come! The whole month of December has always been my most favorite time of year! I just love the feeling it brings! But the greatest significance is definitely the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. I am so thankful that God saw fit to send His son to the earth to save mankind from sin. We have great reason to celebrate all month (and year!) long. I thought I would share a song that came to mind. We sing it at church, but when I searched for it online I couldn't find anything about it at all. Hmmm.... therefore, I have no idea who wrote this song! Oh, well. I'll have to type the words from memory! :)

Start at the Manger

Start at the manger on a cold winter night

Look for the star in the sky and follow its light

It leads to a Savior for a world that is lost

Start at the manger, then go to the cross

Start at the manger at the child in the hay

The gift from our Father in heaven, the price he would pay

To save all his children no matter the cost

Start at the manger, then go to the cross

Imagine that you owned the wealth of the world

All of its silver and gold

But what will you do if tomorrow arrives

And your heart is empty and cold?

Start at the manger where redemption began

When Jesus stepped down from his throne to die as a lamb

All of our riches, we will count them as lost

If we start at the manger, then go to the cross

I hope you all enjoy the month ahead, as you celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ! Praise the Lord all the earth! :)

"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." 1 John 4:9-10

*And the Winners Are*

After much anticipation, the day is finally here! And the winners are...

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~ PRIZE #1 ~

* Buttercup*

at Soaring on Wings Like Eagles

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~ PRIZE #2 ~

*Hannah*

at Hannah of Marilla Heights

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~ PRIZE #3 ~

*Tessa*

at Chase Your Dreams

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Congratulations to the winners!

I will need you to leave me your mailing address in a comment (which I will not be publishing!) and I'll get your prizes mailed off as soon as possible.

Thank you to everyone who entered! I had a lot of fun with this giveaway and I hope you did, too!

~ GOD BLESS YOU! ~

Thanksgiving Pictures

Our family had a very nice Thanksgiving.

We first celebrated last Saturday (a week ago) with my Mom's side of the family. It was held at a community center nearby and there were around 50-60 people there--with tons of food and dessert! It was delicious! :)

Yes, this is me... and that's my Dad's arm in the background! lol

Swinging on the swing outside... it was a beautiful day!

Sister #2 sitting on the bench watching the kids play ball.

The bright blue sky!

We had a chance of rain, but thankfully we didn't get any!

The children playing "20 Questions" together. It was so cute!

My beautiful Mommy & Daddy :)

When we got home that evening, we enjoyed ourselves by sitting around the fireplace. It had gotten a little chilly outside!

Apparently, Ty was enjoying it, too! :)

(Sorry about the spots in the picture. The camera just does that sometimes.)

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~ Thanksgiving Day ~

We spent Thanksgiving Day with my Dad's side of the family. The gathering was held in a family's airplane hangar... how interesting! :)

It was actually quite neat. Behind all of the neighborhood houses there was a runway for the planes taking off and landing. We decided to take a few fun pictures...

This is Sister #1 jumping high in the air!

And here, Sisters #2 & #3.

I thought Sis #3 looked so cute here! lol

Now, I'm sure you're wondering if "big sis" gave it a try. Yes, I did in fact. But there is no way I'd ever let anyone set eyes on the picture! Let's just say I'm not quite as talented when it comes to jumping... I guess.

Another BRIGHT blue sky!

L to R:

Sis #2 - Me - Sis #3 - Sis #1

I hope you all had a very blessed Thanksgiving! I'd love to hear how you spent your day!

"PRAISE THE LORD. GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD, FOR HE IS GOOD; HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER." Psalm 106:1

*Giveaway Reminder*

Just 3 more days until I will be announcing the winners for my special 100th post giveaway. If you would like to enter and haven't, please do so by clicking on the giveaway button on my sidebar. I can't wait to see who the winners are!

Thank You, Lord, for Your Blessings on Me :)

I thought I would go ahead and post the video of this song for those of you who don't know it already. The first minute is Jeff Easter explaining how his dad wrote this song... so be patient!! :) May the Lord bless you and keep you always!

Thanksgiving Blessings

Thank You, Lord, for Your Blessings on Me

As the world looks upon me as I struggle along

They say I have nothing, but they are so wrong

In my heart I'm rejoicing, how I wish they could see

Thank You, Lord, for Your blessings on me

CHORUS:
There's a roof up above me

I've a good place to sleep

There's food on my table

and shoes on my feet

You gave me Your love, Lord

and a fine family

Thank you, Lord, for Your blessings on me

I know I'm not wealthy and these clothes are not new

I don't have much money, but Lord, I have You
And to me You're all that matters tho' the world may not see

Thank you, Lord, for Your blessings on me

Let us remember to glorify our mighty God with thanksgiving as we celebrate this special holiday tomorrow. I pray you have a very blessed day with family and friends, everyone! God bless you!

"I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving." Psalm 69:30

Song by: Steve Easter

Something to Be Thankful For

"If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in." Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either."

Romans 11:17-21

What a wonderful blessing that we have been grafted in with God's chosen people, the nation of Israel. That is something that we--as Gentile Christians--can take for granted sometimes... without even realizing it. The part about God grafting us in with His chosen people that amazes me most is that we were undeserving sinners, yet He saw fit to bring us together as one. It wasn't a result of our own good works or something we had done, but quite the opposite. -Now that is grace! :)

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved." Ephesians 2:1-5

"Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)— remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." Ephesians 2:11-22

Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in... PRAISE THE LORD ALL THE EARTH! :)

Picture: Spring Farm Work--Grafting from Wikipedia