07 Ornaments

Minda is really into Elephants this year. She put some as decoration in her room when she redesigned it and has decided they are the most wonderful creatures on the planet.

We had a bear in our neighborhood this year and in our front yard several times. James and I also got to take a weekend and get away for the first time in YEARS, so this seemed appropriate as a memento of 2007.

Cassia loves to sit and watch the snow fall. She thrills when she wakes up to it freshly fallen. I got her a snowglobe ornament so she can watch it whenever!

Tof is our guitarist. He also began drums this year, but I couldn't find a drummer ornament. Again, with our yearling bear, our move to Montana and the instrument, this seemed the perfect memento.

Christmas Day Begins

Tof wrapped in last year's present from Grama and Grampa,

Cassia snuggled in my afagan crocheted by my Grama Orr when I was a little girl...

Minda -still waking up...

James bringing our hearts into focus...

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more below...

Christmas 2007 continues

Grama's traditional Christmas breakfast! Casserole, pears and cinnamon bread with OJ and coffee!

The girls recieved cashmere scarves from Scotland from Grama and Grampa! Tof got a heater for his room. We'll all be warmer this winter!

Cassia took shots of Cricket in her holiday finery ~ America's Next Top Model material I think!!

Children Tucked, All Snug...

Children Tucked All Snug..., originally uploaded by efiw.

The girls decided to sleep under the Christmas tree last night. Just goes to show you that the magic of Christmas never fades!

While I Was Away

I thought I'd catch you up on some of the goings-on from the "death of the modem" time.

Cassia turned 18! ...

We made special treats for Nimablo...

Decorated our Old Faithful tree....

The girls had "Sister Day".

Hope all your Christmas preparations are coming to a close and that you all are able to relax and enjoy your families!

Home on the Range

Home on the Range, originally uploaded by efiw.

Much has happened in the last 3 weeks. The main thing being that our modem decided it had worked long enough and was ready for the trash heap. That also meant that we were without internet for weeks.
When we were back up and running I had so much to catch up on that I couldn't sit down to blog.
Now, however, all the Christmas letters (150 this year - wowza!) have been written, copied, folded, stamped and mailed and there is a lull in the activity around here.
Saturday James asked me to run away with him for a few days. :o)
He took me to a wonderful B&B in Livingston where we not only got some much needed connection time with eachother, but also made some new friends!
We spent 2 days lounging, wandering, eating and a few other things we won't go into on this blog :o)
I must thank Pastor Mark for imparting the suggestion to James. And thanks, Babe, for whisking me away and making me feel so cherished. I love you.

Once Upon a Time

Once Upon a Time, originally uploaded by efiw.

21 years ago I met a breathtakingly beautiful voice attached to a dangerously handsome man. He was the most Godly, passionate person I had ever met. His voice attracted me, his heart captured me. I was his even before we became more than friends. 19.25 years ago he asked me to marry him. I was 18, he was 21. No one thought we'd make it even one year, but here we are 19 years, 3 kids and several wrinkles later - still enamoured, still married, still hopelessly devoted.

Father

Father, originally uploaded by efiw.

Today marks 1 year since my Daddy passed away. Tomorrow is my 19th wedding anniversary.
I miss him, much more than I thought I would, a year later. Time heals, but it is a slow healer.

Dearly Beloved...

2 of our favorite people made it legal for them to practice PDA last night. :o) Robin and Nathan are officially one flesh. Man & Wife. Leavin' and Cleavin'.

I was privilaged to be asked to shoot their ceremony. (which I was all calm and cool about while it was happening but am freaking out internally about now.)

I'll post more shots later, but here is one from the rehersal. (I haven't even loaded the 300 wedding shots.)

Pray for them as they fly to the Dominican Rep. for their honeymoon. Pray for the photos to have turned out well and that they'll love what I was able to do. AND - As I have to run Song Show at our worship service in the morn, you can pray for me too!

Blessed Scenes from a Day of Blessings

Our traditional spread of cheeseball and crackers - to tide everyone over until dinner! (Aunt Susan's cheeseball recipe that Cassia makes every year!)

Turkey - one plate of light and one of dark! so moist!! I don't know why I didn't get the rest of the spread.

Sledding!! One of our neighbor girls joined us and couldn't believe ADULTS were sledding too! We had 7 others added to our family and it was a great day! Of course there was cocoa, coffee, and wassail when everyone trudged in half-frozen! Highlight of the day was watching our little 3yr. old Mo sled down -all the way to the bottom - BACKWARDS- with the biggest smile plastered on his face!

Making a gingerbread house with River, Mo and Jen, while the guys watched football.

James rented a movie entitled - A Man Called Peter. I would highly recommend it! It's the story of Peter Marshall senior. It's funny, convicting, and poignant.

Ryan and Don challenged Minda and Tof to a cribbage match - Not a good idea. R&D lost. James and River teamed up against Cassia and Mo in Yatzee.

We built a fire in the stove, ate 4 kinds of pie with homemade whipcream, got dishpan hands, talked, laughed, tickled Mo, and laughed some more.

How was your day of Thanks?

Blessings

I'm about to put the bird in the oven, friends are arriving around 1. Have a blessed thanksgiving everyone!

Cozy Grog

One of our favorite family traditions during the winter ~

Wassail!

Mulling spices

Usually I use a lemon, but I didn't have any, so a Lime it is!

Half of each; sliced thinly...

Pop it all into the Cranberry and Orange juice. Drizzle with honey and cook on low for hours and hours!
SO YUMMY!

The World in Quiet Stillness Lay...

I live in heaven on earth. Isn't it sumptuous?

Bring It On!

Began snowing tonight!! Supposed to snow all night, can't wait to wake up in the morning! Have I ever said how much I LOVE SNOW!?!?!?!

God Fights...

...For those who join Him in the active conquest of His enemies!

James preached today! Last night as he began to make the slides for his sermon on Song Show, everything disappeared! EVERYTHING! He had to make new slides, put them in order, get the backgrounds, and reload them. He finally came to bed around 5:25 AM.

God is so good though. 2 hours of sleep later, James was in the shower and excited to be bringing The Word to the Body! He did an amazing job - I wouldn't have been able to think straight on that much sleep, let alone speak coherently! He has improved since the last time (not that I thought he did anything less than marvelous last time!) ~ and I know as opportunity continues to present itself, he'll continue to improve.

We are going through the book of Joshua as a church and this week was chapter 10. James centered it on the theme indicated by the title of this post. If you'd like to hear it, it should be posted by Tuesday. Scroll clear down to the bottom and click on today's date (Nov. 18, 07) or the sermon titled God Fights!

The path of the just is like the Shining Sun that burns ever brighter unto the Perfect day. Prov.4:18 One more step was taken toward a vision fulfilled today. What an amazing God we serve!

Do I Hear $20? How about $25?!!

Bake Party!!

We had such a fun day! We made 3 cinnamon~maple punkin pies, a pecan, a lemon meringue, 2 pumpkin cheesecakes, a huckleberry, a banana cream, and something else that I can't remember!

Joni pretty much packed her entire kitchen!

Montana huckleberries in a shell ~ soon to be baked to perfection!

Anthony showed up and made his 1st pie ever! He even separated eggs! Here he demonstrates his wicked-sick banana slicing skills!

Tomorrow is the spaghetti feed and pie auction. Pray for them. :o)
My husband is preachin' in the morning and my stomach is in knots. Pray for him (& me!) .
*yawn* I'm so sleepy! Sweet dreams.

Pralinkanot Pie

First one down, only ?? to go...

Although all my pie baking for Thanksgiving is done, we are spending the day with our college girls group making pies to auction off tomorrow after church. Several of them are going to Quito, Ecuador in February and today's pies will be to help them raise the funds for this trip. More Later!

Prep - Work!

We Spent the day making pies!

Hope they taste as good as they look! We'll freeze them until Thanksgiving, but there'll be more tomorrow! We always have apple (Grama Orr's recipe), and My Mom's Pecan (but I make it with Hazelnuts because I'm alergic to Pecans), and someone usually makes a pumpkin.

What kinds of pies do you have at Thanksgiving?

I'm trying a new one this year. Pear-Praline Cranicot is the name on the recipe, but after hearing my little friend's rendition of that name, I may just keep it if we like the pie and it becomes tradition! Enoch called it "Pralinkanot"!