In case you didn't know...

...Christmas is in less than 3 Weeks!!!



excuse me.

Luke's Point of View, 2

I like it because my neck is up

I look like a shark

I like that one because my tongue is out.

I like that one because my teeth are clasped together.

fish-face!

I like that I look silly.

I like the way the sun looks on my face.

I took this because I like Mom's smile

I took it because I like him and he's so special.

I just like GG because she gives hugs.

I took this picture because there were so many cars.

Yesterday

Luke: Its sunny outside, is winter over?

Ahh, yes. His first winter in the South-70 degrees today! We'll miss the snow of Illinois, but not it's duration.

"Thanksmas"?

Grandparents, siblings, children, Thanksgiving, Chanukah, Christmas, turkeys, football, presents, movies, fishing, concrete, dogs, toys, rain, cold, cooking, playing, Phase 10...yep! Holidays.

Dad, Amanda and myself fishing

Aaron and the boys all playing football

Watching Olivia put her hands in the concrete

success!

Dad and Amanda getting everything ready for Mark's turkey

Thankgiving grown-up table

Kid Table-praying, so cute

Boy cousins

sharing

Grandma with her grandkids

Girl cousins

Post-Thanksgiving football

Christmas!

opening presents

Movie Night-Grandpa and Grandma with all the kiddos

Hope you enjoyed the pictures from our visit to Texas!

Photography session

Thanks to Emmi at Bee's Knees Photography! 

Boys laughing

cute family

Joel

Joel

Luke

Luke

Walking

couple pic!

so great

fun

makes me smile

another couple pic!

my men

another! couple pic

my kiddos

love

P.S.-we live in this lovely place.

Luke's Point of View

Luke received a digital camera for Christmas from his Grandpa and Grandma, he has loved taking pictures for a while now and is so very excited to have his very own way to capture what he sees.

Hopefully, regularly, I will be able to feature some of his photos here, he will also share something about each photo (why he took it or why he likes it, etc). 

Enjoy Luke's point of view:

I really like it because it has trees in the front yard. 

I really like new cars.

I told Dad to hold still so I could take a picture of him.  I took a picture of him because he is so special to me.

A page from my journal

Am I ready to date?
How do I know?
I've been asked this question more than a few times and here is one version of my answer:

My worldview translates that questions into: Are you ready for a relationship with someone that you hope will lead to marriage?
My question to you is: Are you at a place in your life where you need to be investing in a human relationship?

Love is hard.  Love is a choice.

Are you prepared to love?  Love that suffers, patiently enduring under provocation (1 Cor. 13:4), not seeking your own benefit (1 Cor. 13:5), to forgive any wrong (1 Cor. 13:5);  are you prepared to love in such a way that covers all things, in a way that endures all things (1 Cor. 13:7)?

Did you think about your love needing to "endure"? Not the "romantic" endurance of time, but the endurance of life: pressure, pain, persecution or ill-treatment (which is what that word actually means). Or do you focus on the enjoyment you hope it will bring to you?

I say look to your spiritual maturity before you look to marriage! For He is love, and you cannot know love if you do not know Him.

Look to your life-do you see God's love being displayed through you?

Are you ready for a relationship with someone that you hope will lead to marriage?

You can only answer that after honest evaluation of your personal walk with the Lord and how you see that actively being displayed in your life specifically as an outpouring of God's love toward others.

So, my question to you is: Are you at a place in your life where you need to be investing in a human relationship?


Note: As with most life, you can prepare only so far without being within your role.  But I believe we are called to preparedness; also, I do not encourage deepening your walk with Christ for the sole purpose that He will then provide you with spouse. 

Yay for New Friends

Joel, Luke, Lily

Football with Aunt Em

Before Emily left this summer she had a football game with her nieces and nephews:

Em with the kiddos

Joel has the ball!

Pile on

Loving this

Are we done yet?

Hannah sacrifices so Madison can score

Hannah with the ball

Joel tackling

Cutie football Joel

the sisters have turned on each other

Luke getting in on the fun

the boys running the ball

Luke with the ball

 So much fun! We miss you Aunt Em!