Merry Christmas!

 

This year’s Christmas letter…

 

December 2013

Thou art worthy, O Lord,

to receive glory and honor and power:

for thou has created all things,

and for thy pleasure they are and were created 

Revelation 4:11

While we strive to live in a way that glorifies and pleases the great God who made us, we are thankful for the many blessings He allows us to enjoy even now.  It has been another busy year as our children grow older and take on new adventures. 

In March the youth group members filled each role in an evening service: Daniel & Thomas were part of the preaching team, Abby & Elisabeth played piano, and all of them sang.

Kate finished her first year at Baptist College of Ministry near Milwaukee, where she will likely continue with a 4-year degree program in music instead of just a 2-year associate degree.  Both Abby & Daniel finished their studies at home, and we celebrated with them in May.  So began our busy summer! 

Kate, Abby & Thomas worked at the Berry Patch near Nevada (Molly tagged along for a couple days) while Daniel & Elisabeth were busy with driver's education in Ames.  June 26-July 6 Kate, Abby, Daniel, Elisabeth & Thomas all traveled with our church's youth group to Boston to work with a church planter there. 

In August Kate traveled with a team from BCM to the Philippines for two weeks of ministry.  Before she returned, Tim & I were off with Daniel to North Carolina where he is currently a student at Ambassador Baptist College.  Kate & Abby moved into their dorm at BCM in Wisconsin at the end of August....

And the rest of us settled back into the usual routines at home: farm work, school, and church activities.  We are all eager to have the college ‘kids’ at home again for Christmas -- soon!

 

May each of you have a blessed Christmas season,

rejoicing in God's gift of our Savior – who was born to die –

and to live again triumphant over sin and death.

 

With love,

Tim & Melanie, Kate (20 in Sept), Abby (19 this month), Daniel (17 in Aug), Elisabeth (15 in June), Thomas & Molly (13 & 11 in March) w/ Luci, C-A-T & the cattle too :-)

2013 Graduates ~ Abigail & Daniel

K-A-D-E-T traveled to Boston with a brief stop at Niagara Falls on the way home

Kate traveled to the Philippines with Cola War Outreach team from BCM

Molly has enjoyed Nerf gun battles, sewing, and building a deck off of our garage

golden birthday

 

Our Abby was born Monday morning, December 19, 1994

1999      2004 

2009     2012 

 

Today is her Golden Birthday ~ 19 years old on the 19th!

    

Happy Birthday, Abby!

why I did not post a daybook this week

 

As I explained to a friend  late Wednesday night:

1. The Cowgirl made her 3rd photo book, which took a weeeee bit longer than the others {kept the desktop computer occupied for several days}

2. Then she made a calendar too. {surprise for me! ha ha}

2b.  And they have been searching craigslist for a puppy :o

3. I wrote The Christmas Letter.  {coming soon to a mailbox near you}

4. And found enough photos to satisfy me.

5. Got them printed in town. And bought cheap envelopes.

6. Addressed them. {some with updated addresses...}

7. And folded the letters just so. And stuffed. And stamped...

8. I made raisin cinnamon bread for a couple Christmas gifts. {and tomorrow's bfast}

9. And my brother's monthly batch of bread.  {Delivered.}

10. And cookie dough. nom nom {not a very healthy lunch}

11. I did a little treasurer work. I also cleaned off that laptop's internet history mostly... readying it for the next treasurer  :-)

12. I just played my first game of spider solitaire in how many days?

13. It's after 11 AGAIN.

14. I still have another Amazon order to make!  oh and vitamins too.

15. Did I tell you I have an active facebook account again? :p  Not much longer methinks...

16. Laundry and Wives & Daughters too.  But no ironing…

17. Stayed up TOO late Thursday night with ‘last’ Amazon orders and researching homemade stuff ~ after a loooong afternoon running and shopping in Ames, and an evening meeting.

18. Stayed up TOO late again Friday night after a day of  cooking and final gift-making and wrapping and finishing this project…

 

Soooo, it’s bedtime!  it’s bedtime! 

It’s bedtime at our house! 

There’s been singing and laughing…

Now we’re quiet as a mouse.  {shhhhh}

Update on Kim :-)

 

 

Day 21, December 10, 2013

Posted 8 hours ago

PROGRESS!!!

Physical therapy worked with Kim this morning and she did very well. With support, she was able to sit on the edge of the bed for a short period of time. She was able to hand a stuffed toy or ball to the therapist when asked. Her special uncle, who has put everything aside to be with her every day, was able to participate in the therapy. She made him very happy when she threw her therapy ball to him - many times. Randy and I also were able to be a part of this progress this afternoon when she threw her ball to each of us several times.

When she is more alert because the heavy pain medications are wearing off, she seems to want to communicate with us and her nurses. Because her jaw is wired shut, she can't speak to us. We try to ask yes/no questions and have her point to yes/no on the word card she has. Her uncle tried having her write what she wanted on a white board. She could hold the marker and did "write" something, but I could not decipher anything. For now, it's mainly a guessing game to figure out what she wants, but the fact that she is trying is progress.

The ophthalmologist took out the suture in her left eye. The swelling has come down a lot. She will be given ointments and antibiotics to help with the healing. There was some reaction to light in her left eye, but it is too early to determine its condition. Her right eye still is continuously dilated, but she has at least some vision in it.

Over all, a very positive day! It's been three weeks since the accident-she has come a long way. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for what you are doing for our precious Kim!

daybook 12/6/2013

 

{the Popper & Tim at the Kate Shelly Farm, 2004}

 

For today, Friday, December 6, 2013

{Happy Birthday to Mary! Tim’s sister}

Outside my window... bare, brown grass and a mass of frigid air!   AccuWeather says +1F with a RealFeel of –14F.    But I am thankful to be out of the ice storm’s path.

Hearing... children stirring {time for breakfast!}

Pondering... how fast I can write this post!  and can you believe it’s December?!

Praying... for Tim’s 18yo niece Kim who is still in ICU but showing MUCH more progress since Thanksgiving Eve – how timely is that?!  She had her first surgery Wednesday, and her second is scheduled for today!

… for our own college kids.  Girls have started final 2-week block, and Daniel has final tests next week.  {not sure about 9-week leftovers for the girls… but I know Kate has semester-long class projects to finish up}

… for Taylor undergoing a 4th round of testing today, hoping for better results

… for Denise, undergoing both physical and relationship stress

Thankful.... for Kim’s recent progress in healing.  Still a long, long road to travel.

… for our faithful Suburban getting us where we needed to go yesterday in the cold, and dry roads to get there and back.  Again today, Lord willing.

… for answered prayer for the A Family finding a new, more ideal job – near extended family! {Should get visas to remain in that huge country on the other side of the world}

Creating... lists.  Secrets.

Meanwhile, ingredients for finishing the pillow and garland are here.    As well as a bag of large marshmallows for a favorite easy treat ;-)

{Conny, Mimi could help you make these!}

{marshmallow puffs ~ Taste of Home}

Going... out with Tim.   It will be worth braving the cold, right?

Reading... Revelation

Looking forward to... more good news about Kim, Christmas, a new year {yep, same list!}

In the kitchen... I intended to cook a turkey this week {today} – however it is still in the freezer.  Next week perhaps.  Meanwhile in the fridge we still have leftovers of turkey from our friends.  And a couple baked sweet potatoes from Sunday {lunch?}  Last night’s leftover taco soup should serve us well on Sunday, especially if I add more broth, tomatoes and meat to stretch the overabundance of corn in it.  The kids will have pizza tonight of course.  I hope to have a chicken chimichanga!

Chocolate products are accumulating… waiting…

In the learning rooms... the Popper worked hard over Thanksgiving’s grace week to catch up on the rest of her subjects!  Yay!  She even finished her research paper early.  :-)

Around the house... we are tidied up {and the Cowgirl has even been dusting!} in preparation of both Christmas tree and the piano tuner who is coming this morning!

The Mother Load...mop floors while they are still ‘vacuumed,’ the usual ironing, Christmas prep {including letter/cards?!}, November reports, finishing gifts…

Noticing that... Tim is both an awesome husband and father <3

Something fun to share... later!  Secrets now…

A encouraging quote for today...

The greatest freedom is found in slavery to Jesus Christ…. We’re all slaves.  The question is to what and to whom.

~Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Revive Our Hearts radio

One of my favorite things... delphiniums

A few plans for the rest of the week... running errands in town today, dinner and shopping with Tim, seeing how big of a tree Tim and the kids bring home tomorrow, enjoying the choirs’ cantata on Sunday.  Continuing the countdown until the college kids start arriving home!

A peek into my world... November 27, a mere 21 years ago.

 

~.~.~.~.~

Giving credit where credit is due:

While I am not linking up with anyone, you could read more weekly news posts at other blogs by following any of these links:

• Peggy at the Simple Woman’s Daybook

• Julie for adapting this daybook version as her own ‘Grasshopper Days’ ~ Perhaps I could call it the GHV Daybook. :)

• You can also find a similar weekly meme in Happy Homemaker Monday at Sandra’s

~.~.~.~.~

Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord,

that thou fulfil it. Colossians 4:17