HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008!!!!

In prelude to this day, we had a wonderful New Year's Eve with dear friends. We invited Jerry and Peggy to accompany us to Bellingrath Gardens. The holiday season would not be complete without a visit there. In addition to Magic Christmas in Lights, the Gardens were set ablaze with poinsettias in shades of red, pink, white, yellow, green and marbled effects. The Gardens also featured snapdragons, ornamental cabbage and kale, pansies and amaryllis. It was simply gorgeous and a neat way to end the year with friends. We got home from there and spent the next 3-1/2 hours leading up to midnight and the dawn of thenew year by fellowshipping, snacking, talking, laughing, and then prayed in the new year together. Truly our hearts were further knit together in friendship during our 10 hours spent with Jerry and Peggy on Saturday.If you've never been to Bellingrath and would like to see some pictures we made, you can view them here:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=nhewoo3.9e27a1v3&x=0&y=-g77dt7

Otherwise, here is a picture made of the four of us at Bellingrath on New Years's Eve:

NEW YEARS DAY.....

It is cold here (52 but with a stiff wind) with temps in the 20's just around the corner. BRRRR... Our crew next door is all doing fine. Brian and the kids had lunch with us while Amy was doing some things at school to get ready for tomorrow's return for teachers and students at the Academy. Chip and his teens are traveling today on their way to West Virginia to snow ski. In spite of the nice day we are experiencing, I am mindful that today isn't a joyous day for everyone as there are at least three families in our church who are grieving the passing of a loved one during or since the weekend. I have been busy on the phone today lining up sympathy cards as well as meals for our fellow church members. One dear friend's 91-year-0ld mother took off for Heaven on Saturday. Another friend lost her dear Dad, and another young woman in our church lost her cherished grandmother. All of this is yet another reminder that we don't know what the new year holds, but we know who holds the new year! Nothing happens in our lives that is a surprise to God. As Christians, He supplies the grace to see us through the most difficult days of life.

I am claiming God's Promise as my hope for this year: Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. ~~Jeremiah 29:11

I am beginning the new year by meditating on some verses that will inspire me in a fresh new walk with God and give me a deeper commitment to living the Christian life. In addition, it is thefirst day of the new year which gives me the new beginning of reading God's Word consistently this year. Reading, meditating, praying, loving, sharing, witnessing..... oh how my heart longs to draw closer to the Savior. May we all be found faithfully learning and growing in Him this year.

MAY YOU AND YOURS HAVE A BLESSED 2008!!

New Year's Eve Eve

It's hard to believe that we have one more day in this year of 2007. I've always heard that the older one gets, the faster the years go by. I am believing it!! Like everyone, we experienced some trials this year but found God to be so very faithful in the midst of each situation. It is truly in those times that we draw closer to the Lord and grow in our Christian lives. As well, we have experienced so many blessings. Truly it is amazing to live the abundant Christian life. We fail Him far too often but find that His forgiveness is swift and His love is never-ending. Thank You, JESUS!!

We were challenged by our Co-Pastor today to make some earnest decisions to go forward in our Christian walk in the coming year. I knew immediately some areas that I need to re-commit to my Lord and thank Him for pricking my heart about those matters.

Tomorrow we are going over to South Alabama to visit Bellingrath Home and Gardens for our year-end fellowship with Jerry and Peggy. We look forward to that special time with friends who were new into our fellowship this year. Relationships are so special gifts.

I'll be back later......

Susan

Christmas Night ~~ URL for Christmas Eve Pics

If you can't see the pictures in this email, click here to see it in a web browser: http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=nhewoo3.3gt1gaa7&x=0&y=-s0lz2a

I won't post our Christmas pics here but have provided the URL to access them on the kodakgallery.com website for anyone who might be interested.

Just 36 more minutes left in this Christmas Day 2007. What a wonderful day of celebrating the love of God and the special gift of His Son, Jesus Christ!

Good night!

Christmas Blessings

Luke 2:11-14 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

We had a most wonderful Christmas Eve with the family here for dinner, the giving and receiving of gifts, and sweet fellowship with our crew. How interesting to think that we get so many thoughtful and loving gifts today, and that JESUS CHRIST is the best gift of all. His free gift of salvation is truly amazing. We had such a sweet time with Chip and with Amy and her family last night. I made a couple of videos that were kind of cute. I am mostly posting them here for Amy and Brian to see, but perhaps someone else might enjoy them as well. I was just in the bathtub soaking while listening to the wonderful Christmas music on our Christian radio station and praying for our family and friends everywhere~~ that you are having a peaceful, loving, and meaningful Christmas Day.

Merry Christmas with Love,
Susan




(SIDE NOTE: If you happen to notice Jaden's change of clothes, here is the scoop on that. Grandpa and I gave him "cammo" pants, sweatshirt, t-shirt, shorts, hat, socks and shoes. That little kid LOVED the clothes (I thought it would be his "worst" gift) and had to put the two different sets during the evening. That was a pleasant suprise. Ha!)

Christmas Eve's Conclusion...

Luke 2:6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

It was a wonderful time with the family. Chip is here with us from North Alabama, and Amy and her family walked over at 5:00 to begin our annual traditions. Those traditions grow richer and dearer with time. We had a wonderful dinner and had a real sweet time opening gifts one by one and sharing in exclaiming over each gift opened and thanking the giver. Afterwards, we had our desserts and enjoyed watching the GRANDkids enjoy their new things. Brian, Amy, and the kids just left at 10:00 to go home. They have their big Christmas Day doings with their personal Christmas gift openings in the morning and then going to Pappy and Grandma Y's house tomorrow at noon. They plan to come back over here tomorrow night to play games, eat again, etc. We'll keep it going for as long as we can! Grandma is tired and is retiring for the night. Dear Jesus, thank you for a wonderful time with our children and Grandchildren as we celebrated your coming to earth to redeem us.

Merry Christmas Eve~~ Susan's Thoughts Today

Luke 2:4-6 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

I realize that our Savior was probably not born on December 25, but it is such a blessing that we have this particular day set aside to remember and celebrate His birth. Just think, on "this day" so many years ago, Mary was HUGE with CHILD and close to delivering her baby boy. Our Lord was getting ready for His exit from Mary's womb to be laid in a humble manger bed. I was looking at the full moon last night as we were coming home from church and thought how that our Lord had walked on this green earth for 33 years ~~ fully human~~ and had gazed upon the same moon as he grew up from babyhood into boyhood and then into adulthood. And then I thought, not only had He gazed upon that moon, but that He CREATED the moon~~ fully God. What an awesome Savior we serve and what an honor it is to celebrate His birth during this very special time of year.

Chip arrived home from North Alabama last night. With him here, we are family-ready!! Our Christmas Eve dinner (filet mignon, baked potatoes, Caesar salad, cranberry nut mold salad, green bean and corn casserole, cakes and goodies) ~~ is in the works. Granddaughter Isabella is coming over here in a bit to lend her aid to Grandma in the kitchen, setting tables, etc. We will have FUN together. Brian, Amy, Jarrett, Josh, and Jaden will all come over at about 5:00 and we'll share in a wonderful Christmas Eve celebration together.

So it is with a joyful heart that I bid a Merry Christmas to anyone who might visit here. My greatest hope is that if there is someone reading this who doesn't know JESUS as their Personal Savior that they might accept God's GREAT gift of Salvation~~~ a personal faith in Jesus Christ.

Happy Birthday, Lord Jesus!

Susan

Merry Christmas from Jaden ~~ See Video Below

Psalm 146:2 While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.

What a joy it is to watch our Grandchildren grow in the Lord. Jarrett, Isabella, and Joshua have all made professions of faith, and we pray that Jaden will be saved at an early age. Of course, the kids are all excited that it is almost Christmas. As a recently turned 3-year-old, Jaden is really enjoying this Christmas season. He loves the trees, lights, decorations, manger scenes, presents, and he even loves to shop! I have a huge floor puzzle of the Nativity that he enjoys putting together whenever he comes over. Sometimes he gets mixed up and calls the child in the manger "Baby Moses" instead of "Baby Jesus" but that seems to be mainly a slip of the tongue. One thing Jaden has enjoyed this Christmas is learning to sing Christmas Carols. He loves to sing and has really enjoyed the carols this season. He was in "big church" last Sunday night and again on Wednesday night for special Christmas programs and loved singing with the congregation. This video is of him singing SILENT NIGHT at our house. This video was made two weeks ago so I imagine he probably has "perfected" it by now. I post it as Jaden's "Merry Christmas" to everyone!!! (NOTE: At the end of the song, he is pointing at the Baby Jesus in a Nativity Scene that is a wall hanging and is on the wall in front of him. ­ He wanted you to see it, too.­ :)

Christmas Luncheon With Dear Friends

Titus 2:3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
Tit 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

That's a tall order for an aged woman to fulfill, BUT the Lord has sent those kind of ladies into my life to mentor me in the faith, in this business of aging, and in those things that might lie ahead of me....

Oh My.... the Lord is so good to have sent some lovely older women into my heart and life. I am so privileged to have friendships with some older ladies in our church. Today, I had 5 of them over for a Christmas Luncheon. These ladies have all gone through the sorrow of separation in that they have all lost their husbands. One of the ladies lost her husband just this year. I have stood amazed at how she consistently turns to the Lord and depends upon Him for her every need. Another of the ladies lost her 60-year-old daughter just a year ago. They say that to lose a child (of any age) is life's hardest heartache. I can only imagine how deep the pain still is, but she has kept on keeping on. One of the ladies served on the mission field in Haiti alongside her husband for many years. What a treasure trove of stories she has to tell. Yes, these ladies are my friends and my mentors. I truly look up to them, and they bless me beyond measure. I would like to salute my friends here and wish Joyce, Myrna, Ruth, Margie, and Wilma each a truly Blessed Christmas! (Click on any picture to enlarge!)

I pray that I will be found faithful to live the life of a Godly aged woman and be an example for the young women coming up behind me.

Dan and Rhonda and Family ~~ Christmas Pic

Proverbs 28:20 ¶ A faithful man shall abound with blessings:

There are bosses and there are friends.... and then there are bosses who are friends. And to have a boss that is a faithful man in the Lord, what a blessing! Such is the case of Dan L. I worked for him at TCS for eight years, and it was the best job I ever had. Dan "principaled" our kids in school, coached our son in basketball, was a mentor to our Amy in the education field, and remains faithful in the Lord's work to this day. Richard and I enjoyed our friendship with Dan and Rhonda-- raising our kids together, working in the ministry of the church and school, and living the Christian life. We especially enjoyed our once-in-a-while double-dates to Outback. Those were always good times. I still think of them whenever we go to Outback!

Today I received some Christmas pics from Rhonda. They are so good! With Rhonda's permission, I post one here as a tribute to our dear friends, and to thank God for this good family. (Click on pic to enlarge it for a good view!)

Sitting: Pam holding her 3-month-old Ellie, Rhonda, Dawn holding 2-year-old Luke and expecting a baby girl, and Rhonda's mom, Jean. Standing are the menfolk: first the two sons-in-law: Casey (married to Pam) and Josh (married to Dawn), Dan, and then Danny, Dan's and Rhonda's son. What a great family~~ with a faithful man at the helm!

Christmas Party Blessings

Matthew 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.


The tables are set and we await our guests as we come together to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.... (Click on any pic to enlarge for a better view)



Richard and I always enjoy hosting our annual "Couples Christmas Party" which this year included inviting 8 couples to our home. This year we were privileged to have our new pastor and co-pastor and their wives attend as our very special guests. We have grown to love Dr. Neal and Tracy and Dr. Lloyd and Karen. (I don't use last names on my blog.) In addition, the following couples came: John and Jeanette, Jeff and Sandra, Ed and Arda, James and Ann, Jerry and Peggy, and Larry and Margie. With Richard and me, there were 9 couples so we had 3 tables set to accommodate 3 couples at each. The ladies helped with the meal so we had delicious food and precious fellowship. Richard and I can only hope that our friends enjoyed it half as much as we did. Here are some pics from our party which was held on Sunday night, December 9.

Ed and Arda are the first to arrive. Here comes Arda with her tray of veggies and dip.


Jeanette and Karen visiting.


Fellowshipping during dinner...


We played a Christmas Carol game and then shared around the circle...




Our friends graciously posed for pics...



Merry Christmas from Richard and Susan!