Very Merry Christmas Cookies

To start of our Winter break, we made Christmas Cookies on Saturday!  Everyone got to help with the fun.  DH mixed and rolled out the dough.  The kids took turns with the cookie cutters making fun shapes.  (We even have an Easter bunny or two in there.)  Then when they cooled we frosted and decorated them.  There ended up being plenty to share with neighbors, employees, and the girls at the bank!  As for the rest...well, I'm sure we'll figure out something!

Happy Holidays

One more hour left until the kiddos officially hit winter break!  I can't believe Christmas is almost here.  It's certainly been a wild ride in 2011!  I look forward to seeing what 2012 will bring.  One thing that I know for sure.  This year has really brought our family, and extended family closer together.  Between moving and opening a new store, we've really bonded.  In all the chaos of change, we've hung on to what matters most...strong family ties. 



RL-10, LR-7, CD-5, BC-8, JS-9



May your homes be filled with Peace, Love and Joy this Holiday Season!

~Melissa & Family

Siesta Scripture Memory Verse 23

I can hardly believe that it is the first of December.  There has been so much change in our lives this year that the months have just flown by.  November was so full of excitement that I didn't even really have the chance to sit down and blog about it.  There were birthdays and concerts and vacations and Thanksgiving with both sides of our family.  Yes, there was a lot to be thankful for in November.  And now, the Advent season is upon us.  It is time to reflect on the one thing that will always be unchanging in my life...the everlasting love of God revealed to us in the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.  And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1-2, 14 NASB

Last month, I chose a memory verse from Luke to remind me that God always fulfills the promises of His Word.  I was listening to Beth Moore one morning and this verse really sank in, right to the core of my being.  It was "Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her." (Luke 1:45)  It is one thing to memorize scripture, but to believe that every promise in the Bible is true and still applies to me today, well now, that is something entirely different.  This year, God has really impressed upon my heart the relevance of His Word in my life on a day to day basis. 

He has upheld me when I felt I could no longer stand.  He has reminded me that I am never alone.  He has given direction where there was none before.  He has taught me to look to Him in the midst of storms.  He has given me courage to face uncertain change.  He is my strength, my motivation, and my reward. 

I could go on and on, but I think I will sum this post up with my second to last memory verse of 2011. 

 “For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name." -Luke 1:49

May you all be blessed by His Word,
~Melissa

Birthday Joy

Happy 7th Birthday to my sweet little LR! 

Your smile is contagious and your boundless joy brightens our lives!
We love you! 

Menu Plan

I didn't get around to posting yesterday.  Too much on my plate.  We finally had someone come out and take a look at our leaky pipes.  It appears that he was able to fix the leak, but he thinks maybe there is another one somewhere that we haven't found yet.  I guess we'll see what the winter brings.  That's what you get when you buy a house "as is."

Anyway, here's my menu for the rest of the week:
Tuesday:  Baked potato bar
Wednesday: Lasagna (I've been craving it...it's a super easy recipe, but not the cheapest.)
Thursday: Crock Pot Chicken Stroganoff
Friday: Ham and Hashbrown Casserole Bake (Shh!  If I call it a casserole my husband won't eat it.)
Saturday: Chicken Quesadillas (Per request of my 9yr old.)
Sunday: Leftovers

There it is folks!  I've done my weekly shopping and I'm fully prepared.  Love that feeling!  What's on your menu this week?

~Melissa

Wisdom Matters

We've hit a bit of a rough patch with rules, discipline, and obedience around here lately.  With five kids, we try to be very clear about what we expect, and as consistent as possible with consequences when there are infractions.  Lately though, limits have been tested, and buttons have been pushed.  What seemed to be working before is now broken.  You know that verse "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him?"  (James 1:5) Well, that's me.  I've been asking God to give us the wisdom that we need to make the right parenting choices.

If ever you're having a hard time as a parent, you should head straight to the book of James.  Talk about encouraging, and at the same time, very humbling.  I've been reading it, re-reading it, and now I plan to memorize one particular verse that I landed on today about wisdom. (Siesta Scripture Memory Verse 21)

"But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy." -James 3:17

I am a person that naturally loves lists.  So when a verse in the bible has a list in it, I sit up and take notes.  In this verse, the list is instructing about what wisdom from heaven looks like.  Let's take another look.

Wisdom from above is:
first pure
then peaceable
gentle
reasonable
full of mercy and good fruits
unwavering
without hypocrisy

Anyone else have some difficulties with that list?  Reasonable, unwavering, and without hypocrisy are probably my top three that I struggle with.  Hmm...I can't pray for wisdom without expecting opportunities to practice the things on this list.  The good news is that I don't have to develop these character traits on my own.  God is helping me to become more like His Son every day.  He has given me His Holy Spirit as my helper, His word to instruct me, and prayer as a means of communication with Him. 

Yes, I have all the tools I need to be a Godly parent.  And the good news is, you do too!

"And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." -2 Cor. 9:8


Seeking to Know Him More,
~Melissa

My Trunk or Treators

We took the kids trunk or treating last night in a safe, well lit, monitored parking lot.  It was at my in-law's ACE, put on by the Milton-Freewater PTA.  I am so glad my kids don't care that their costumes were mostly homemade, and they didn't complain that they didn't get enough candy.  (There were only a little over a dozen cars participating.)  It was fun enough for them that we were all out together having a good time and there were even a couple of games set up for them to play.  When we were done we went inside to store to say hi to their Papa.  I love being in town with family!

*Not pictured here: JS*

BC the Pirate

CD "Bones"

LR the Good Witch

RL the Cat