Monday, December 17, 2007

Our annual end of the year church celebration, where we get together and watch a slide presentation of the events of the past year . The pastor's yearly awards are also presented at this time. It is a very enjoyable time and one that we look forward to each year.



Our wonderful pastor's wife( I guess I missed Pastor King) and my own wonderful son (who is hiding behind the sticks)and daughter in law. (Sorry Jolene, but you look beautiful and I have to show you off a little!)

Some of the decor.




Some of the wonderful people of our church.
































another one of my sons in the green





Merrily, who calls herself the old leather boot, but is actually one of the winners of the pastor's award. She was awarded the best "pastor's family helper" or something like that.






















Sorry Lila, I did get you!



















































Saturday, December 15, 2007


Here is another cute picture! Check out the dog's expression! Thanks Paula. I got a good smile out of this.
The dog kinda looks like the same one as in the picture below in the relationships post. He must be a dog with many talents!LOL

This was so touching and neat! I got it from another blog.


http://clipsyndicate.com/publish/video/470560?wpid=0

RELATIONSHIPS (sometimes the most unlikely and unexpected are the sweetest)

I have been thinking lately about relationships as it relates to the people that cause problems. I have been thinking about the backbiting, gossipy, negative behaviors of people. Now I know that these are all works of the flesh, and we all need to, and have had to, and will likely have to again, fight these things at some time in our lives, but I just got to thinking about the causes. We often point the finger and accuse them of having bad attitudes that need to change and that is very true, but what if we looked at the 3 fingers pointing back at us and say "what about me, are my actions or lack thereof having a negative affect on this person? Is there something that I could do to alleviate the bad feelings? ( You could say you don't really care if they like you or not,that that is their problem not yours, but just remember that if there are feelings then there is a hurting person. If you then don't care, then maybe you need to take a closer look at your love level) I think there is fine line between animosity and loyalty. I'm thinking that people want to be accepted, to be a part of the inner circle. The more a person loves, respects, or admires someone, the more sensitive they become to the acceptance of that individual. If they then feel rejected by that person, bitterness sets in and gossip and backstabbing ensue. Is the probem with that individual? Yes I believe it is and they do need to work on some things, but I also believe that a little love could cover a multitude of sins. I know that there are all kinds of personalities and that we click with some people easier than others, but it would be an interesting experiment to take someone who seems to be dislike you, that gossips about you, that seems to hold some animosity against you and allow them into your life. Open yourself up to them, invite them to help you do things, not just a quick hello as you walk by, but to really make an effort to make a friend of them, share yourself with them, to really let them into the inner circle of your life. I wonder if it would turn the individual from your worst enemy to your staunchest defender. I propose that 90% of the gossipy, negative behavior stems from jeolousy and feelings of rejection from people they wanted to be accepted by.. How much would it really cost us and how great the rewards could be to both our life and to the lives of countless others if we could just open up and let more people in? I dare you try it. Next time someone seems to really dislike you, spreads rumors about you etc., with a heart full of love, include them in your life in a very personal way and see if you don't find a treasure trove of loyal friends that enrich your life and because of your love they are able to enrich the lives of many others as well.

Ps Just a little note to the resentful, bitter person, reach out to some one who needs you and let go of the ugliness. Pray for the ones who don't allow you in and don't give in to gossip. That will ust complicate yourlife and make you less acceptable to people and God. Make your own party. Oh, and if you find yourself being accepted and feelin "in" don't get on a high horse and become a snob, but make sure that you reach to include someone else.
Whatever side of the spectrum we find ourselves on, we must strive to let the love of God be spread abroud in our hearts.

That is my ramblings for today and I don't really have the patience to put this all into a nice disertation, so you get it raw from my mind
Blessings to all and remember when someone is being mean or ugly, chances are they are really saying ,"Let me in! I want to love you and I want you to love me!!!"

Saturday, December 08, 2007

Last night I hosted the Christmas party for our care group. I think everyone had a great time. I know I enjoyed having them all in my home. I hope each and every one has a great year!























































Some pics of our house with a christmas flair for Sheena and anyone else who cares to look! I am new to this seasonal decorating stuff.

























































































































































Friday, November 30, 2007

John with his new Toyota Tundra! I am so happy for him. Congratulations, son, you work very hard and you deserve it!!

Drive Safe!!!








Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other. This statement was written by John F. Kennedy (1917 - 1963), in a speech prepared for delivery in Dallas the day of his assassination, November 22, 1963

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Our new Artesian spa. We are loving it!!






Tuesday, November 20, 2007


Those Born 1930-1979 READ TO THE BOTTOM FOR QUOTE OF THE MONTH BY JAY LENO. IF YOU DON'T READ ANYTHING ELSE---VERY WELL STATED TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED the 1930's, 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's!!
First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant. They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.
Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-based paints.
We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking.
As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, booster seats, seat belts or air bags.
Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat.
We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.
We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.
We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank Kool-aid made with sugar, but we weren't overweight because,
WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.
No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.
We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes.
After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.
We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet or chat rooms.......
WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!
We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.
We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever. We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them!
Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!
The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of.
They actually sided with the law!
These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!
The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.
We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL!
If YOU are one of them.CONGRATULATIONS!
You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good.
While you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave (and lucky) their parents were.
Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it?!

The quote of the month is by Jay Leno:
"With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"

Monday, November 19, 2007


The Holmes's wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season!! (A little early, but this was something I just couldn't resist! Sorry Fin {David, for those who don't know}) Check out the link below!!



http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9551652317

Here is a old sunday school that has been going over in my mind since Darlene and I were singing songs with Morgan and Carter while driving in the car a week or so ago. It is a good song for all of us and it has stuck with me.
My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing that He cannot do.
My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing that He cannot do.
The mountains are His, the rivers are His, the stars are His handywork too.
My God is so big, so strong, and so mighty, there's nothing that He cannot do.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007


Here is an awesome message about protecting our children. Let's stand for the things we have had handed down to us by those before us!! We need the pure spirit of God amongst us. We have to keep our homes, our churches and our minds clean if we want that to happen. We need to protect our children from the things that corrupt. Hollywood and it's offerings are directly opposite from the way we are trying to live.. Let's keep it out of our lives and homes and have something pure to hand down to future generations! Listen to the message entitled "protecting the bean patch" by Larry Booker
http://inlandlighthouse.com/new/page.php?ID=239

Monday, November 12, 2007

Check out Angel's response to Merrily's post titled "Tidbit"
http://merrilywalker.blogspot.com
It was quite an insight!

Another quote to ponder:
M. Scott Peck:

The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers

Thursday, November 08, 2007

This is a quote I picked up from Deanna's facebook site. Isn't it great?


Thomas Edison: Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work

THE INTERVIEW WITH GOD

I read this on another blog and thought it so beautiful that I wanted everyone else to see it.
What a wonderful heavenly Father we have! I am so thankful for His love, His mercy and His grace. His ways are so beautiful and bring life, if we live in them.

http://www.theinterviewwithgod.com/popup-frame.html

Monday, November 05, 2007



Some things that the guest at our tThanksgiving dinner were thankful for. Notice it is usually the relationships inn life that really matter and make life worthwhile.

Friday, November 02, 2007

Last night (or rather this morning pre waking)I had a dream that Nathan Ashby was back in church. He was sitting at the front with his uncle Bob just after an alter service. It was so beautiful! If you read this and feel like it, mention Nathan's name to God in prayer. Prayer does change situations and hearts!!