Christmas day

Christmas Day, 2010

Dad & Mom Nieuwenhuis'

Special guest: Tamisha

 i love this picture!  ash has such a way with these disabled kids

and here you can see her really enjoying tamisha.

 this was so funny because one by one tamisha had everyone sit on the floor...then the game was done and we all just sat there.  she loves being in charge!

new buddies

Since the Lewis' came (our new pastor and his family), Ben and one of their sons, Jacob, have been buds.  Actually, it's kinda scary...they're SO similar, they even kind of look alike!  Catherine and I have already apologized to each other for whatever trouble these boys will drag the other into. 

I was so fortunate to get a picture of them bonding ;)

whoops, i did it again...

gross!  beautiful cookies burnt to a crisp.  i was very aware of this possibility because of a previous, undisclosed event.  however, when you set a timer, remind them, and consider the fact that they're 12, don'tcha think that maybe they should take a teensy bit of responsibility? 

uh, no.  after all, i'm the mom and i can ultimately be blamed for anything. 

 and hey, they were busy being crazy kids.

funny thing was, they couldn't have cared less!  whatever.

 at least the plates, cups and napkins were cute ;)

caution: crazy kids

 

If I Lost the Saviour poem

My friend, Nic, had this on her blog this week.  It's exactly what I needed to hear during this Christmas season...exactly what I needed today!

If I Gained the World

If I gained the world but lost the Saviour,

Were my life worth living for a day?

Could my yearning heart find rest and comfort

In the things that soon must pass away?

If I gained the world, but lost the Saviour,

Would my gain be worth the life-long strife?

Are all earthly pleasures worth comparing

For a moment with a Christ-filled life?

Had I wealth and love in fullest measure,

And a name revered both far and near,

Yet no hope beyond, no harbour waiting

Where my storm-tossed vessel I could steer-

If I gained the world, but lost the Saviour,

Who endured the cross and died for me,

Could then all the world afford a refuge,

Whither in my anguish I might flee?

O what emptiness without the Saviour,

Mid the sins and sorrows here below!

And eternity, how dark without Him-

Only night and tears and endless woe!

What though I might live without the Saviour,

When I come to die, how would it be?

O to face the valley's gloom without Him!

And without Him all eternity!

O the joy of having all in Jesus!

What a balm the broken heart to heal!

Ne're a sin so great but He'll forgive it

Nor a sorrow that He does not feel!

If I have but Jesus, only Jesus,

Nothing else in all the world beside

O then everything is mine in Jesus-

For my needs and more He will provide.

-Anna Olander

my place...

First of all i just want to say that I was here first and they're making me look bad.  Ed and I were the first to be married so there was no competition. 

Then came Dot...whose garden would make Martha Stewart hyperventilate, and who can even make brussel sprouts 'fun'!!  She cans, bakes, cooks...and goes to the gym~it's amazing I still like her!  But then again I have to~she does my dishes.

Then Rob...his nachos are a.m.a.z.i.n.g!!!  And he does stuff like this:

Seriously delish!  Fresh from the garden-no sugar or additives.  So that's how I can justify having it twice a day~fruit!  He's up for trying pretty much any new food item...our kids love to go there just so they can eat Uncle Rob's food~somehow he can get them to eat things they wouldn't touch here!  But I guess you do work up an appetite working next to him on his current project~whether it be building furniture, a fireplace, an ice-skating rink (seriously, this list goes on...AND ON!!)

And finally, Fleur, who doesn't have a garden....whew.  but she does bake.  from scratch. like actually grates carrots for carrot cake cupcakes FOR KIDS.  She always has the right ingredients for just what you need her to make: bake or cook~and always shows up with something extra.  And a warning: don't go there around dinnertime...one smell and your will-power takes a hike!  Good thing Ed doesn't go there at that time-I'd be out of a job.  Hmmm...

And, well, there you have it.  The truth.

They're talented, and I'm (to quote my mother-in-law) 'a breath of fresh air'. 

(interpretation: loud and crazy) 

Really, I could start to learn how to be domesticated; but why would I when I have them?  Ah, life is good...thanks to my amazing out-laws!

thought for the week of december 6, 2010

live today to the fullest~you never know when you're making a memory...

"i'm forever blowing bubbles"

kayt took this of mady blowing a bubble. 

i love it.  mady hates it.  it's on the blog.  i win.

thought for the week of november 29, 2010

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

a blessed thanksgiving

we have so much to be thankful for~the Lord has again blessed us beyond what we could imagine.

the day began at church where we heard a wonderful message~convicting and encouraging.

we then spent the day with family...one of my absolute favorite things!

i think this is the one thing i'm most thankful for this year~a christian family. 

and especially a sister-in-law who i can laugh with, cry with, and talk about the Lord and the wonder of His grace...and really, what else is there?

i caved...

it was a zippidee-doo-dah day...

no, really, it was!

we got a new car.

for those of you who know me well, you know that spontanaity works for me.  ok, chaos does too but that's a whole other post.

BUT, i do get a little attached to the comfort level of some things staying the same.

like my car.

the menu changes every day.

my emotions change...sometimes hourly.

the kids are changing by the MINUTE.

but my car? 

always the same.

until now...

liv went outside and took these pics...quite the photographer ;)

i had a really sick feeling in my stomach when we went to pick it up and leave my other car there.

(which, by the way, NOBODY understood)!

below is a shameless plug for the most amazing dealership...family owned and operated.

i'm sure it's important that you see the tires...

 notice her reflection~pretty creative, Liv!

 and a picture of my favorite feature...heated seats!!!!! 

(i even used them on my other car in the summer)

so, the verdict is...

i like it.  a lot.