In His Hands...

As this year comes to a close I have a prayer on my heart. I have a desire to truly serve God and to leave *self* behind! (This is my continual prayer always, to be honest!) Words of others have truly summed up my hopes and I want to share them with you. Maybe they are singing the song of your hearts as well? 
"We should all endeavor and labor for a calmer spirit, that we may the better serve God in praying to Him and praising Him; and serve one another in love, that we may be fitted to do and receive good; that we may make our passage to heaven more easy and cheerful, without drooping and hanging the wing. So much as we are quiet and cheerful upon good ground, so much we live, and are, as it were, in heaven."  ~ R. Sibbes
"Be patient. Wait on the Lord for whatever He appoints, wait quietly, wait trustingly. He holds every minute of every hour of every day of every week of every month of every year in His hands. Thank Him in advance for what the future holds, for He is already there." ~Elisabeth Elliot, Keep a Quiet Heart pg. 51
"If I am willing to be still in my Master's hand, can I not then be still in everything? He's got the whole world in His hands! Never mind whether things come from God Himself or from people - everything comes by His ordination and permission. If I mean to be obedient and submissive to the Lord because He is my Lord, I must not forget that whatever He allows to happen becomes, for me, His will at that moment. Perhaps it is someone else's sinful action, but if God allows it to affect me, He wills it for my learning. The need to wait is, for me, a form of chastening. God has to calm me down, make me shut up and look to Him for the outcome." ~ Elisabeth Elliot, Keep a Quiet Heart pg. 135
Isn't there such beauty in all those words shared from the heart of faithful followers of Jesus? I could quote so many more people with so many beautiful words...there is so much I have soaked in and wish to share with *everyone*...however, a post full of quotes can be a bit tedious to read....so I will just continue sharing this wisdom that I find every once in a while. May the words find you just when you need them! :) 

We were invited to friends' house tonight for games and fellowship but we took a rain check. We have been going, going, going lately...we were busy all this past weekend and are busy both days this coming weekend so we decided to just spend New Year's Eve quietly together as a family. I get tuckered out quite early (since I wake so early in the morning). So hopefully I can get a bit of a nap in today so I can stay up as late as possible...hopefully playing games or watching movies together! I hope your time celebrating the bringing in of 2014 is enjoyable...wherever you are. *Remember to keep in prayer those who are imprisoned for their faith and cannot be with their loved ones at this time!*
Thank-you for continually visiting me here. Your comments and emails are truly a joy! If you have ever commented or emailed me and not received a reply, please forgive me as it was not intentional! I read every email and comment and try to always remember to reply! :)
 I *do* treasure your friendships-across-the-miles! 
Wishing you a beautiful New Year!  In Christ, Katy

It's all about Jesus Christ being first.... and second and third and fourth and fifth.   What I'm saying is, don't put Jesus first.  Jesus is everything.   He's not just first in the rank,  He is everything.  ~Paul Washer

**Christmas Time*

At my sister's house on Christmas Eve...

Time for Eloise to open a gift...

Madelyn made Dinah a headband...

Dinah loved playing with Aunt Jo's cane...

Look who got a baby!

I was up early (as usual) on Christmas morning. I lit some candles, turned on some music (softly), did some laundry and showered...everyone else started rousing around seven.

Madelyn worked on grinding Daddy some coffee...

Beautiful piano music played on Pandora on the television while we joined together in prayer and then opened some gifts...

Xavier got Jaxson his own "Sting" sword...

He was quite grateful...

Later in the morning, we traveled to my parent's house (who only live on the other side of town from us). We enjoyed time together, brunch and gifts....

Our own Bilbo Baggins got a keychain mini-me...

Nickel (my parents' dog) loves X...

Chris's parents stopped by for a visit too! On the couch is my dad (sporting his new safety sunglasses we bought him...for tow calls in the summer), Madelyn and Chris's dad. :) We like to call this a *rose between two thorns*! ;)

I hope your Christmas celebration was blessed. We still have some get-togethers to attend this weekend. Today we are trying to get the house back in order and things put away...although not much is happening as I sit on this computer! So...off I go! Thanks for sharing in our photo-memories with us! 
Warmly, Katy

It's all about Jesus Christ being first.... and second and third and fourth and fifth.   What I'm saying is, don't put Jesus first.  Jesus is everything.   He's not just first in the rank,  He is everything.  ~Paul Washer

A Few *More* of My Favorite Things....

...Continuing from THIS post...

Can you believe how much children grow in a year? I can't quite fathom how it happens so quickly...but just look at the difference...

The top photos are from last year's homeschool co-op. The bottom row are from this year's co-op photos. I feel incredibly blessed to be the mother of these young people...and at the same time, so unworthy of the task of raising them. Teaching, correcting, training...my continual prayer is that I do it in a way that pleases the Lord.

We were blessed to spend some time with my sister and nieces this past week. Here are just a few photos of our time together...

That smile...

Those eyes...

Dinah loves PopPop's jingle bells at his shop...

Back to Aunt TiTi she runs (can you believe this girl is soon to be one!? Where has the year gone? I'm telling you, the years go by quicker and quicker the older I get!)....

Xavier takes Dinah for a ride (while Eloise pushes from the back)...

Madelyn (that smile lights up a room, doesn't it?)...

Jaxson giving El a ride...

Playing...

And now...with the busy-ness of deer season *finally* behind us...it's back to wonderful family suppers around the table (with our new-to-us dishes....these are the dishes I grew up using at home!)...

Working on knitting projects/gifts...

The boys doing some science experiments...

Our church had a Christmas program last night. Xavier played his banjo...

And Madelyn played the piano...

There was much singing, worship, praise and fellowship last night too! It was a glorious time with brothers and sisters in Christ. I was brought to tears as I pondered, over and over again, the realization of *God with us*. 
His name will be called Emmanuel....God with us. If you let that sink in deep and process it a while, you can't do much more than fall flat on your face in utter gratitude, praise and joy to the One Who came to save us. It truly was the most beautiful gift *ever* given. What can top God with us? It's all packaged and offered to us...God's Son, His perfect life, His death in our place, His resurrection where He stands as King over *all*. Nothing ever has or will be a better gift, wholly undeserved and unmerited. Such a wonderful, beautiful Lord we serve!

I think we’re going to have an exceptionally good

Christmas. The very fact that outward circumstance

precludes our making provision for it will show whether

we can be content with what is truly essential. I used to

be very fond of thinking up and buying presents, but

now that we have nothing to give, the gift God gave

us in the birth of Christ will seem all the more glorious …

The poorer our quarters, the more clearly we perceive that

our hearts should be Christ’s home on earth.

(written to his fiancee from his prison cell, arrested for

defying the Nazi regime)

Dietrich Bonhoeffer 

Merry Christmas Friends.  Lovingly, Katy

It's all about Jesus Christ being first.... and second and third and fourth and fifth.   What I'm saying is, don't put Jesus first.  Jesus is everything.   He's not just first in the rank,  He is everything.  ~Paul Washer

Brown Paper Packages tied up with String...

...These are a few of my favorite things! 

Playing games with my girl...

My boys ready for church one morning (and yes, I love to dress them similar whenever I can. It's a good thing I don't have twins or triplets as I would dress them the same *all* the time. I love that they match!)...

Madelyn making cookies...

Beautiful, natural curls....

Candlelight in the evening...

Reading the Hobbit to my children....

When it's cold outside, there is nothing better than cozy-ing up under a fleece blanket and drifting off to sleep for a bit...

Drawing pictures after breakfast...

What are some of your favorite things you are enjoying this time of year?
In loving kindness, Katy

It's all about Jesus Christ being first.... and second and third and fourth and fifth.   What I'm saying is, don't put Jesus first.  Jesus is everything.   He's not just first in the rank,  He is everything.  ~Paul Washer