Christmas Morn 2012

Middle of January, and this is the last of our CHRISTmas morning.  We did things a bit different than in previous years, but you can just enjoy the smiles, and joys of our morning.  This is just our fun part of Christmas!!!

This is just too funny, but if you have read much of my posts, you will know that the kids always, always end up standing in their birth order, and yes, here they are again...'cept from left to right...Sarah, Jenny, (oldest twin by 6 minutes), Julia, and Jamin. 

Gettin' ready to come downstairs...our traditions.

This was kinda funny when we realized it, but Julia received real, useful, serious gifts, and Sarah is our fun, cute-loving things, so she had a Ct. America bobblehead, and Jenny opened the Ice Age movie with a stuffed Scrat.  Julia had the collectable Pilgrim's Progress from Answers in Genesis, The Genius of Ancient Man, and a very nice leather bag, the others received a nice gift instead of lots of little things, which we normally do.  Sarah had been saving for a Kindle Fire HD, so she had a nice surprise, Julia had been saving for her leather bag, Jenny has a tablet for a computer so she got the computer for her to do her own work and Jamin got a workout station, for their big gifts this year.  They had worked very hard helping their dad wire a house so part of their payment went to Christmas gifts.  They were quite surprised, excited, and very happy, that's what matters to me...I love, love, love to see the smiles on their faces.

The dad received a pistol safe, and Nala thought it was her home for a bit.

Jamin and dad had all the parts organized so neatly as they were putting the workout station together.  Jamin likes neat, neat, neat, makes me so very happy!  

Had a very blessed, wonderful Christmas! 

Thanks for sharing with us!

Always Experiencing Him,
Jody

Eggs, Arrows and Violins

Eggs, arrows and violins, what kind of title is that?

Well, I wanted to show you our first double yoked egg, this egg was huge!  I could not find my pic of a regular egg and this one side by side, but it was at least double the size!  Poor, poor chicken!  It had a perfect seam around the center, then when Sarah broke it open, it broke right around that middle, at the seam.  We thought this was really cool.  I know people who have had chickens for awhile have these every now and then, but this was our 1st.  We were excited!

Next, arrows, Julia isn't here at the present time, so I thought I would share some pics of her.  She is practicing with a long bow, which was hand-made by a cousin of ours for Jenny and Julia on their 16th birthday.  Julia enjoys target practicing with it.  Actually, she does very well.

Nice form...

Julia has been practicing with Sarah's violin, and she can play just about anything she picks up.  She's a "jack-of-all-trades, but master of none," well, I think she masters them all. :)  She really enjoys trying new instruments, but the guitar and piano are the only ones she plays, with her siblings or our church band.  When she was playing the violin, our cat, Nala, didn't like it too well.  She would walk around, meow, and go to whoever is playing, sniffs, and tries to get them to stop.  Here are some of her reactions to Julia's playing...Ohhh, pleeeeeeeeeze stop...see if you don't see this as well...

She was simply too cute, we couldn't resist.

Hope you enjoyed a glimpse into our simple lives.

I recently updated my blog and I would like some honest opinions, (unless they are really ugly words); what do you think?  Can you read the words and colors ok?  I want it to be easy to see, so let me know what you think...

Always Experiencing Him,
Jody

Wildlife?

Looking out my kitchen window, just above where we park the van, is this deer near the woods.  They certainly are getting braver and braver.  The only problem is when hunting season comes...they tend to know.  They are never around at the appointed time, well, at least not this close.  

My pictures may be a bit blurry, I am taking all through the window and screen, and I'm not one who claims to be a photographer.  I simply want the pics, no biggy for me.

They are beautiful creatures indeed.  The Master created them for our enjoyment and for our food.  He is so good in providing for our every need.  Another "Thank You," for my Eucharisteo journal. 

These lovely deer were in our backyard, as you can see, at our trampoline, IN my raised beds, which we were finished with at that moment, and almost walked right up to the back of the garage! They are so lovely.  If clothes had been on the line that might have scared them away, but nothing seemed to bother them here...

The post you see is our back porch!  That is how close they were!  Needs painted, doesn't it???  Sorry, that's what MY eye caught...

She tried to go UNDER the trampoline!  They were an enjoyment to watch.

Our greens I let get too big...she didn't eat much.

Just yesterday, we had turkeys in our front yard.  They have been in the back and side as well, but this day they meandered around, and through the driveway and yard near the creek.  Just below the walnut tree you see is our creek.  They got very close to the front porch, so wonderful.  God knows how much I love to watch His creation, He knows.

They were young Toms, you can see how short his beard is, but they were quite large turkeys.

"God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, 
with which the waters swarmed after their kind, 
and ever winged bird after its kind; 
and God saw that it was good."
Genesis 1:21

"Worthy are You, our Lord and our God,
to receive glory and honor and power; 
for You created all things,
and because of Your will they existed,
and were created."
Rev. 4:11

What wildlife is around your home?  I'd love to hear!

Are you still giving thanks?  Do you have your journal yet?  The simple act of Eucharisteo, of giving thanks in all things, can change how you view your circumstances.  Go to the link at the top, or here get a journal, and simply write, just a word...here.

Always counting... #2158 - #2184

chili

kids earning extra work & money

clean kitchen

laundry - almost caught up

glass for fireplace door

Jamin's 17th birthday

birthday lunch with grandparents

birthday texts from family

birthday skype to AZ

new shotgun for birthday

boy-child, son, man

learning to let go - just a bit

trying to exercise.again

ice-cold-water

dad & Jamin putting wheels on chicken coop

daughters exercising

learning about Truth

The Truth Project

rain, rain & more rain

the SUN has appeared -thank You, Lord

Jenny & kitty - Nala - playing

warm fire

smoked up house - the wind blew down

open doors - oosh, cold

clear air - beautiful fire

bringing wood in

father & son - wiring for friend

books

His Word - near - in heart

Count with me...it is so.very.good.

What about you?  Wildlife?  Thanks - Eucharisteo?  Let me know...

Always Experiencing Him,

Jody