Christmas Eve 2008

Tonight we celebrated with getting to go to our first Christmas Eve Church Service as a family at Living Faith Outreach in Dickinson TX. What a wonderful and blessed time. This was our very first time for all four of us to take communion together as a family. What a special time. Pastor Jeana shared a story and related that God and others will find their way to God by the light reflected in us and through us. Pastor John challenged us to open ourselves up and to allow God to do things in us and through us as He takes us in to new territories and new capacities in our lives.

We then came home after church and the boys opened the gifts they had to help celebrate and gave their Dad his gifts. It was enjoyable but we missed being back in Kansas celebrating with Grandma and Grandpa Brown like we had planned. God’s plans are far better than ours and this was definitely much more relaxed and allowed us to focus on Christ more.

We are all excited as we focus on Jesus birthday this year and await to have His birthday cake tomorrow.

Praying blessings and Merry Christmas to all of you!

Some days ...

I feel like I'm wrestling trying to figure out God's plan like Malachi is wrestling Santa ... except mine's not feeling quite so fun at times. It's such an oddity to be struggling with why we are where we are and going through all that we are but be at TOTAL peace that we are where He wants us to be. Sunday Pastor John challenged us to live a "normal" Christian life. Normal is a life full of Jesus' miracles, answered prayers, constant contact with the Father, claiming the promises, accepting and using the Spiritual gift(s) that He has created in you. He even gave us permission and challenged us to open an early Christmas gift and open the Spiritual gift that God created in each one of us then use it. Have you opened, accepted and used the gift(s) God has created in you? Tis the Season! Merry Christmas!!

We Believe

Our family still believes in Santa. We know that Santa is Jesus Christ in a form that most all can accept in to their lives in some way or another. It was with great joy that my sons told me that the League City Fire Department chose today to be the day they took Santa on the fire engine through the housing area that cousins Mike, Corynn, Reilly & Benny live in. The boys got to see Santa riding on the fire engine (He doesn't always have to use reindeer!). It was an even greater joy for me when I found out that they were having meet Santa at the fire station on Bay Area Boulevard and I was able to take my precious sons. (Got to have the photo opp ... but have you ever tried taking pictures with all the reflective stuff on the fire equipment!) With finances being as they are we haven't been out in the stores much (PTL!) or even out and about much except for church so we haven't been exposed to all the Christmas festivities. Amazingly enough both of my sons asked for dirt bikes (Thanks to the Myers family influence!) but Santa told him he wasn't sure he could get them in his sleigh. We enjoyed hot cocoa and cookies and got to climb on one of the big engines. The boys enjoyed talking to the fire fighters and petting the firehouse dog. They were excited when one of the firemen told the boys to stop in any time as long as they were there, they'd love to have the company. Guess we'll have to take them up on that occasionally, you never know who needs God's influence & prayers in their lives.

Friends

The boys’ friend, Dakota, got to spend the night last night and cousin Reilly had early out at her school to get ready for the celebration of Christ’s birthday. So we headed to the League City skate park then over to a creek area over by Corynn & Mike’s home. What fun to hear the laughter as the kids played. Fellowship with friends and family is such a blessing!

Skate/BMX Dudes

It is always a pleasure and blessing to get together with our friends, the Myers. The boys enjoyed exchanging gifts, playing and having a blast at the League City Skatepark ... as the pictures tell. I enjoyed the laughs with my wonderful friend, Kim. God has truly blessed our lives with these friends. Amazing what can happen when you pull in and park next to someone at a campground in Georgia! Thank you God!

Christmas Delight

After being on the road it's so much fun to have family near by, especially family with little ones. We were given the honor of watching Owen, Tyrel's son, open a couple small gifts. What joy and wonder.

Brodie's 3rd Grade Christmas Program

What a blessing to be able to be near enough to get to go to one of our Great Neice's Christmas program. We had lots of fun playing at their home before and after the program. Such a joy to be able to be near enough to get to be involved in their lives!