Deborah's photo-shoot

"O LORD, you are God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago."

(Isaiah 25:1)

We are so thankful for God's faithfulness as we celebrated Deborah's first birthday yesterday. Here are SOME of the MANY pictures taken by her Aunt Trish. Thanks, Trish!!

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

"I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness"

(Isaiah 61:10).

We give much thanks to God that today we could celebrate our baby girl's first birthday! What a blessing she has been to us and we are so thankful for God's faithfulness and that He has brought her into our lives. She is a delight, and I am so honoured and thankful to God to be her Mom!

with much gratitude to God...
#1306- #1323

-our baby girl turns one today

-the joy Deborah brings into our lives

-excited children to celebrate their sister's birthday first thing in the morning. "I think I heard Deborah" and everyone ran to her room!!

-loving grandparents

-celebrating Deborah's birthday

-patient children as we had to wait almost 2 hours (at Swiss Chalet on a Monday night-who would have thought??)

-more pond hockey (this is for my blog friend down south)!

-safety for all the children skating, and that Paul's injury was minor!

-opportunity to teach winter enrichments

-camera crazy sister-in-law

-loud crunchy snow

-Curtis loving his first swimming lesson

-Jesse excited about another guitar lesson

-Nicole excited about her backpack project

-sweet notes and stories about their little sister

-Jesse leading his class with devotions

-Paul's help around the house

-sledding!

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

"The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:5b-7).

Another funeral.
Another testimony of faith.
Another child of God going Home to meet his Creator and Father.


The pastor preached so beautifully from Philippians 4:5b-7 this morning at my uncle's funeral. My uncle was not anxious while living his life despite his various trials in life. He prayed faithfully and he definitely felt God's peace!

I am thankful for the peace that my uncle felt before going to his eternal home.

My list continues with #1292-1305

-my beautiful second cousins who spoke and sang so nicely
-being together with extended family
-baby steps towards relational healing and restoration
-wonderful pastors in our local community
-peace
-beautiful hymns

-jogging strollers

-plastic stroller covers

-getting together with other adoptive families

-celebrating Ethiopian Christmas with friends

-staying active in the winter

-Curtis eager to do his homework

-Jesse's enthusiasm after his first guitar lesson

-Nicole playing so nicely with her siblings

Make the Most of the New Year

http://http//www.christianbook.com/make-the-most-of-new-year/9781602608320/pd/608324?item_code=WW&netp_id=790011&event=ESRCN&view=detailsAlthough I am staying away from the traditional New Year's resolutions, it is my constant desire and goal to draw nearer to my heavenly Father. However, I fall so short of doing that so often. I am hoping with a little help from this book, that I will be able to do that a bit better (I also started the daily Bible reading plan suggested by our Pastor).

Today's challenge is: "I will be bold and stand up for my faith." Joshua 1:9 says, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Today I had the honour of attending a funeral of one of my mom's friends from our church. Her life was truly a testimony of her faith. She stood up for her faith and has left this legacy with her 34 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and 6 children.

It is my prayer that God will give me guidance and strength to be more bold in my walk with Him.

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

"I will sing of the LORD"s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself" (Psalm 89:1-2).

A new year...
ringing in so many blessings already!
My list of thanks continues...
#1278-1291

-cozy, warm electric blanket

-skating under the lights

-pond hockey


-a love for the game


-a willing helper

-playing games on New Year's Eve

-some very artistic children

-individual creativity

-buddies

-desire to match with her little sister

-ringing in the new year with my sister

-brother in laws that get a long so well

-our brave boy who lost his first tooth (although a little creeped out when he saw all the blood)

-2010 -a year to remember forever!!! God has blessed us in SO many ways and He has constantly shown His unfailing faithfulness.

"When It's All Been Said and Done"

"Walk in all the way that the LORD your God has comanded you..." (Deuteronomy 5:33a)

No New Year's resolutions.
No promises that I'm going to break.

Just a reflection on the past and a question for myself...Did I live my life for you?
As Don Moen writes in his song, "When It's All Been Said and Done", the Lord looks beyond our weaknesses, which I am so grateful for. I have many weaknesses, and I thank the Lord that His mercy is so great that He looks beyond my weaknesses and failures. Thank-you, Father.

When It's All Been Said and Done
by Don Moen

When it's all been said and done
There is just one thing that matters
Did I do my best to live for truth?
Did I live my life for you?

When it's all been said and done
All my treasures will mean nothing
Only what I have done
For love's rewards
Will stand the test of time

Lord, your mercy is so great
That you look beyond our weakness
That you found purest gold in miry clay
Turning sinners into saints

I will always sing your praise
Here on earth and in heaven after
For you've joined me at my true home
When it's all been said and done
You're my life when life is gone...


When It's All Been Said and Done - sung so beautifully by Robin Mark

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

"May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you" (2 Thessalonians 3:16).

That is my Christmas wish to all of you- to experience the peace that only God is able to provide. I am thankful that the busy time is over, but I am also thankful that aside from the busyness, I could feel God's peace. I am so thankful that He is with us all the time. What comfort!
Continuing my list of thanks...
#1250-#1276

-our first Christmas with Deborah

-goofy faces, even when we're trying to get a nice family picture!

-a very successful poinsettia season
-poinsettia shipping is over (until next year)!


-Deborah taking in all the hustle and bustle of family gatherings

-fun times playing games with cousins (that is what they recalled as one of their best parts about the Christmas gatherings)

-fun family gatherings

-of the 3 family gatherings, the farthest we had to drive was 3 minutes!

-special music in church

-my father- in- law contributing to the special music by playing his trumpet in church

-spending time talking with my son about his day as he helps me fold socks

-seeing nephews and our niece from afar as they came home for Christmas

-LOTS of skating time

-another family day (just the 6 of us) yesterday

-6 of us on the ice rink together

-the children choosing gifts from Compassion for those less fortunate then us

-another child being sponsored

-singing Christmas carols

-eating lots of yummy food

-warm jogging clothes (to run off all that yummy food)

-Paul being home a lot for the holidays

-little jobs around the house getting done

-watching Janette Oke movies with my daughter

-shedding tears together with my daughter during movie time

-another birthday for my mother-in-law

-my mother-in-law's health and healthy/active lifestyle (truly an inspiration)

-celebrating Christ's birth and that He was born so that we may have life! Thank-you, Jesus!