2/52 ~ Made with Love

Bryn's birthday card for Case--the aewsomest Bother! in the world!

A question for you

Am I the only one who still has her Christmas tree up? I actually haven't been lazy; we just enjoy it so much that I don't want to take it down! Maybe this weekend. Or not.

1/52 ~ Resolution ~ Project 52

Warm and full

We haven't had to turn on the heat yet this winter--until this week. Only in Florida can you go from temperatures in the 80's one day to below freezing the next. Yesterday morning the thermometer read 28 degrees; this morning it was 32. Steven got the fireplace going for us to enjoy. There's just something wonderful about snuggling up in front of a fire.

Yes, Christmas stockings are still hanging from the mantle.

Tonight I made something new for supper that The Pioneer Woman shared the recipe for earlier this week: cheeseburger salad. So simple and delicious! I can't believe I've never come up with something like this on my own before considering I've made taco salad about a million times. The kids loved it, and I'm thrilled to have a new, easy recipe to add to the rotation. If you try it, make sure you use the crunchy deli-style pickles and quality sharp cheese; you'll appreciate the good stuff. And, if you're lucky, you'll have diced pickles left over to much on while you do the dishes.

My word for 2012

Wisdom

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." James 1:5

Faithful all through the year

It's December 31st. Tonight we'll be ringing in 2012 at our church's annual Watch Night service. There will be great singing, a message from our pastor, food, fellowship, and testimonies shared as we praise God for His goodness.

As I was thinking today about how fast this year has flown by, one of my favorite hymns came to mind. It sums up how I feel about 2011.
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Great is Thy Faithfulness
by Thomas Chisholm

Refrain:
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Refrain

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Refrain

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Refrain
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No matter what may happen in the coming year, I know I can continue to count on my Saviour's faithfulness! Happy New Year!

"I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations." Psalm 89:1

The Return

It's been a quiet year here at Riverbend Ramblings, but I'm ready to get back to blogging again and have decided to jump in now rather than wait until January 1st. I hope you'll join me on a journey into another year.
Christmas 2011

A Quick Update

Just a quick post to let you know that all is well at our house. We've been staying busy with school, church, and various activities.

Bookworm is captain of the J.V. cheerleading squad, and Mickey plays guard on his Pop Warner football team. Curly Girl and Bookworm both take piano lessons, and Lil Nut will be joining them soon. I think we're going to need another piano in the house to accommodate the many hours they each spend practicing each week.

We've had a number of visitors at our church recently. It's always encouraging to see new faces! Yesterday morning a visiting family filled the pew in front of me. I was able to spend a few minutes talking to the lady after the service. It turns out that her two teenaged girls who ride one of our buses to church each week recently trusted Christ as their Saviour and were both baptized yesterday. The whole family came to church to see them get baptized! Hopefully the parents will come back again next Sunday.

Now that we're a month into the school year things are more manageable for me, but the month of August was just absolutely insane! There were some nights right before school started that I was in my office until 10:00! Thankfully, I have a very understanding husband who honestly never complains. I don't know what I would do without him! Hopefully I'll never have to find out.

Well, that's my update for now. Happy fall, y'all! Maybe I'll get around to posting again next month. You never know; one day at a time.

I Am Blessed

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Psalm 32:1

First Day of School 2011

Shay ~ 8th grade

Case ~ 6th grade

Hope ~ 4th grade

Bryn ~ 2nd grade