Wordless Wednesday...well sort of

Abby modeling in the American Girl Fashion Show

"Ivy"
Abby with "Emily" in PJ's


Will, Abby & Ella in Asbury's Christmas Program

Proud Mimi & Aunt Cindy

Abby holding Mia in her new Christmas Outfit

Cutie Patooties

Will playing "Hilton Railey" in his class play

Oma with two of her favorite boys

Ella helping Mommy cook

Jenks East Singers performing for the PTA

Will after my good friend Tiffini showed me how to use my new thinning shears

Ella at Lauren's Pink Poodle Party

The kids begging to put Owen in the Manger and me saying "No!"

1st Day of being Iced In...anyone interested in coming over to clean up this mess?!!

Big Pot of Matzah Ball Soup for my sick, sick hubby

Owen's newest trick...he turns into SUPERMAN on my tub!

Ark (Sunday School) Christmas Party

Sweet Girls

More to come later....

Would Love to Know...

Hey all you beautiful people out there!

I just saw on my dear friend Kim's blog that you can now add a "Follower of this Blog" link.

So...I am adding one myself!

My curiousity is peaked when I see that 350 some odd people are reading my blog each week, but yet only 1-5 ever comment. (Speaking of...would love some more Christmas Tradition ideas from the last post...don't be shy!)

If you wouldn't mind, pretty please click on the link below and to the left and add yourself if you enjoy reading my blog. You can do it anonymously if you would like.

It would be fantabulous to know who you are. :)

MERCI BEAUCOUPS!!

Favorite *CHRISTmas Tradition

The Birth of Jesus Foretold (from Luke 1)
In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God." "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

Now that you have read the foretelling of THE GREATEST CHRISTMAS of all time...I'd love to hear from you guys about what your favorite CHRISTmas tradition is with your own family.

Amidst the secular craziness of decorating tree's, buying the kids matching pajamas, taking that "perfect" Christmas photo for your card, there's gotta be something more. How do you bring out the FAITH aspect of Christmas in your home? How do you keep this potentially wonderful holiday focused on what it was intended for??

I was just telling my hubby the other day that I bet the average family spends at least three-five full days between Thanksgiving and Christmas decorating, shopping, stressing out, working on Christmas cards, hanging lights, etc. Think of what we could do with that time?! (Ooh, and should I dare say all that $$$!) And, all for a 4-5 week period in one little ol' month called December. Speaking of, did you know that Jesus was probably born in September? Seriously. Just a little sidenote. http://www.khouse.org/enews_article/2005/1008/print/

Okay, so here are Two of our Family's Favorite CHRISTmas Traditions:

#1 As you receive all those beautiful Christmas Cards...collect them in a box, or on a tray. Then, after the first of the year, let one of your children pick out a card each night at dinner. Whoever says the dinner prayer (for us, usually Daddio) prays specifically over that family. This has been such an incredible tradition for us! And, with the number of cards we receive, it lasts for months! I absolutely love teaching my kids about praying for others...and it gives special meaning to each card. I can't imagine just throwing them out when Christmas was over! (This idea was shared with us by our very first Sunday School Teachers 12 years ago...thanks Randy & Chris Bunn!)



#2 Momma (that would be me) sits with candlelight in the front living room where our Christmas Tree resides. We then read the Story of Christmas out of the Bible together on the couch all snuggled up in our jammies. After reading, I turn out any lights and only keep one candle burning. Then, one by one, I take each of my children and look them right in the eye and tell them:
"You, _____ (Will, Abby, Ella, Owen), are the Light of the World"
and Greg and I walk them up to their bed, kiss them, and tuck them in for the night. I dare you to try this without getting chills up your spine. It is an AMAZING experience!
(This idea comes from one of the most faithful Mothers I have ever known... her name is Susan Ekhoff ~ she is the Mother of Seven!)

#3 I had to come back and add one more...God reminded me this morning of this oh so special tradition. Years ago, my good friend Amy Barnes did a wonderful presentation on how to have faith-filled traditions with your family during the Holidays. She brought up the idea of some type of manger in your front yard. It is kept empty until the morning of Christmas. At that time, a baby wrapped in white cloth (an old sheet cut up will do) is laid in the manger. As our children come downstairs, the first thing we do is check to see if Baby Jesus is in the Manger. It is SO precious!! Even Will gets excited to see Him! Then, one of my girls ends up cuddling on Baby Jesus all day long! (*Special note of thanks to my dear friends Russ & Debbie Knight...Russ handbuilt our family's wooden manger. It is a priceless gift that we have cherished for years.)

Okay, now it's YOUR turn! Please take the time to post a comment so we can make our Holidays even more meaningful this year...and bring CHRIST back to Christmas. +*+*+

(P.S. - just saw Rick Warren (author of Purpose Driven Life) on the Today Show...he has a new book out. Looks like a Must Have! http://www.saddlebackresources.com/en-US/PurposeDrivenLife/ThePurposeofChristmas/ThePurposeofChristmas.htm)

Two little words

Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don't unravel.
~Author Unknown

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
~ Colossians 3:15

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.
~Thornton Wilder

If we only knew how absolutely, unbelievably blessed we all are. My prayer is that we are truly conscious of our treasures this Thanksgiving...and throughout the year.

If you say only one prayer during your life, all you need are two little words:
THANK YOU

MDFMH

In case you're wondering why this is entitled "MDFMH"...that is what I had engraved on my hubby's wedding ring. It stands for "My Dearest Friend, My Husband." He had MDFMW engraved in mine. Awwww.

What is your husbands name?
Gregory Morris Ruley…a.k.a. Greg. Cutest boy there ever was!! (Can't you see my Abby Lou in that sweet sweet face?!)

And, well, also known as “Nacho” (his favorite character to do an impression of! I have DVD’s as proof!!)

How long have you guys been married?
12 and half amazingly delightful, fun, wild & wacky, awesome years.

How long did you date?
Known each other 20, and been together 18. WHEW! Yes, that’s over half our lives! I have to add, my level of joy and happiness in life skyrocketed the day we got married. After a roller coaster 6 year courtship, marriage truly was a dream come true.

How old is he?
34 going on 50. We’ve always said that Greg was mature beyond his years…he’s actually starting to digress a little now (which is a good thing). You know all you mid-thirty people…you start dressing a little younger, saying “Dude”, thinking you’re hip even though you’re driving a bus with four kids in it.

Who is taller?
LOL! That’s an easy one! He’s right on the money 6 feet and well…I’m little ol’ 5.2” (where my 6.5 and 6.3 brothers came from, we’ll never know!) I’m the runt of five.

Who can sing best?
This cracks me up! We have had many a discussion about this…we did a 1 to 10 rating scale a few years back (when we were attending lots of Karaoke parties)…and we rated Greg a 6 and me a 4. Does that answer the question??

Who is smarter?
On paper and in any matter of actual schooling, me hands down. In common sense and the investment world, my hubs. The boy has a little trouble in the grammatical and spelling venue (you may have had the joy of reading one of his e-mails that he forgot to have me edit before sending), but in any other area, he excels. I was the Spelling Bee Champion, Summa Cum Laude, cry if I got a B kind of girl…by the way, where did all that intelligence go? I think with each baby, I lost ¼ of it…uh oh, do the math…that leaves me with…NOTTA.

Who does laundry?
When we were first married, I think he may have done a little…he used to be the folding extraordinaire after working at Renbergs. Now, it’s me, myself and I. I have a little trick though…I buy everyone TONS of socks and undies…that way, we can go a week ½ - 2 weeks between laundry days. It works!! (Now, laundry day turns into a little bit of an overwhelming experience when it hits…but oh, it’s so nice to go several days w/o touching the stuff!)

Who pays the bills?
Greg from day one. He loves it. It brings him Joy.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed?
If you are facing the bed, Greg. I’ve tried to win this side back. I was forced to the left so I could get to infant babies during the nursing days…he refuses to relinquish the spot. I only get it now when he’s on a business trip

Who mows the lawn?
Greggor. He kind of likes it. Not to mention our lawn is the size of a sandbox…takes all of 30 minutes to do both the front and the back. I’ve never touched a lawn mower…wanted to as a kid to earn the Big $$, but my Dad wouldn’t let me. Only my brothers got to earn the Big $$ while I earned the little $ raking leaves, cleaning out the garage, etc. Isn’t that the way it still is girls??

Who cooks dinner?
Momma Mia! The kitchen is not Greg’s forte…well, except for his 10:00 p.m. bagel and cheese snack that he toasts up every night. (A Jewish boy loves his bagels!!)

Who is the first to admit when they are wrong?
Hmmm…tough one. Definitely Greg before me…but, in general, we both have a hard time with it. That’s where e-mail has been such a cool blessing…we do a lot of therapeutic e-mailing if we’re having a disagreement…by the time he gets home from work, we’re all good.

Who kissed who first?
Completely out of the blue, Greg. I was shocked and exhilarated! He had told another guy that very same night to kiss me when asked if he should…and he did. Then, about an hour later, after that guy had gone home, Greg grabbed and kissed me. It is a night I will NEVER forget. I couldn’t stop thinking about him from that day on…

Who wears the pants?
We have one of those magically blessed unions that could only be explained as a “God thing”. Greg allows me to be the independent, strong woman that I was born to be…and, at the same time, I allow Greg to be the Spiritual Head of our Household. As Greg described us just the other day, we are “YING and YANG Baby!” We compliment each other like peanut butter and jelly.

My Mom always taught me that if I will do as the Word of God calls me to do…”and the wife must respect her husband” (Eph 5:33)….then it will be much easier for Greg to adhere to, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her” (Eph 5:28). Again, it is a divine process. You naturally want to be the spouse God calls you to be…especially when the other one is fulfilling their role.

I have to add one more tidbit my wise Momma also taught me…To have a successful marriage, the wife needs to always provide three things: *Respect, *Meals & *Eros (bedroom kind of love). These are the way to a Man’s Heart.

Seven Prayers a Day

One of my all time favorite blog writers, Angie, has beautifully come up with 7 Prayers to pray over our children each and every day.

http://audreycaroline.blogspot.com/

If you haven't read Angie's story, it is a must read. God has taken her immense test in life and created an incredible testimony. He has anointed her writing in a way that has magnetized readers. She has blog entries with over 1,000 comments...really!

Anyway, a sweet friend of Angie's has developed a blog "Button" that I will be adding to my sidebar as a reminder for all...to never cease praying for children ~ your children, other's children, grandchildren, foster children, doesn't matter...every child needs to be covered in prayer.

So, as your children arise, get dressed, eat, bathe, sleep...take time to PRAY.

Some thoughts from the Big Man

I feel compelled to share a few words from our Mighty God concerning tomorrow's Big Event, the Presidential Election. He is the one who is ultimately in control...so often we forget. Silly us.

Proverbs 16:12
...for a throne is established through righteousness

Proverbs 29:2
When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan

Matthew 5:37
Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one

Oh how I long for the truth. I hear one thing...and then another. The only One who I know that I know I can count on is the One who said "I Am The Way, The Truth and The Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me". That One is JESUS. (Jn 14:6)

I also wanted to share a blog entry from one of my favorite bloggers..."Light Your World" (see my sidebar for the link to his blog). He is a precious Man of God who lost his infant son Luke just a few months ago to SIDS. His wife Nicol is one of the amazing singers in the Christian group, Selah. They have a 3 yr old daughter, Summer, whom they cherish.

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From "Light Your World" Blog:
Earlier this morning I watched several newsclips on foxnews.com... footage related to the presidential election. I've been following this process with great interest for several months now. I'm sure many of you have as well... incidentally, even though my intention is not to see this morph into a political forum, I would love to know your thoughts on this year's presidential race. Anyway, I've tried to keep up with things consistently and intentionally, beginning with the primary races and, most recently, by watching as much of both conventions as time has allowed.While I have my preferences politically-speaking, and while I do know the ticket I will "punch" in November, I am intrigued with several Scriptures that the Spirit seemed to bring to mind this morning as I watched clips on everything from Elisabeth Hasselbeck's thoughts on Sarah Palin to Newt Gingrich defending his side to Alan Colmes defending his to parts of Rudy Giuliani's speech at the RNC to Sean Hannity and Al Sharpton in a verbal fist fight to Bill O'Reilly offering his "no spin" assessments of the candidates to Sarah "Barracuda" Palin wowing her audience to parts of Barack Obama's acceptance speech to representatives from both sides defending their candidates to commentators and analysts who offered their insights and opinions to... you get the idea. It was a political highlight reel if you will, the presidential version of SportsCenter... which I need to go catch up on shortly. It's football Saturday!The Scriptures? I'll list them below. No commentary. I'll spare you that. Just some interesting words to ponder... words that are neither "Red" nor "Blue"... words that seemed to be saying Hey Republicans, hey Democrats... you're both right... and you're both wrong... listen to Me, seek My face.

--The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One. ... The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. ... Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned you rulers of the earth. (Psalm 2:2, 4, 10)

--My kingdom is not of this world... my kingdom is from another place. (John 18:36)

--Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. (Romans 13:1)

--Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king. (1 Peter 2:13-17)

--The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions' den. ... Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. (Daniel 6:7, 10)

--Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people. (Proverbs 14:34)

--Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the LORD your God is giving you. (Deuteronomy 16:20)

--Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly. (Leviticus 19:15)

--Do not deprive the alien or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge. (Deuteronomy 24:17)

--May all the kings of the earth praise you, O Lord, when they hear the words of your mouth. (Psalm 138:4)

--By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just; by me princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth. (Proverbs 8:15-16)

--The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases. (Proverbs 21:1)
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My Prayer for tomorrow is summed up with:
Not our will be done, but THY WILL BE DONE.

It is in your hands O Lord...may we honor you with our vote and with our chosen leaders.