OH The Joy

This time of year is my favorite. I love spending time with my family. I love shopping for my friends and family and I love the sweet way my husband looks at me while I wrap up the gifts under the glow of the tree and when he can't take how "cute" I look so we dance to the Christmas music. I love how cozy our cabin is right now.

Tonight: before I went to the gym I stopped by my inlaws house to visit and Grace-Marie tricked me into playing a card game with her.It was a lot of fun. We couldn't find the rules so I just made some up and soon her older brother Jesse wanted to play.

We had a good time.

I love babies-

I always have baby fever but I'm making a new kind of fever.

A kid fever.

After the card game we played "Sorry" (G-M won!)

We really enjoyed eachother and as a newlywed wife I get kind of lonely. Coming from a big family and then BAM there is just two of us

(which don't get me wrong it's nice having hubby all to myself)

But I miss the JOY that children have. How they can laugh at nothing and be silly because they are just kids.

Christmas future: Children gathered all around their Papa and Mama, fire crackling, hot cocoa, music in the background and a love for God the creator of life.

Snow Day!

We love snowboarding.

On this day, Ryan my 10 yr old brother was learning.

We found out he has no fear and after "racking his stack" fifty times he still hopped back up and yelled "ohhhhh baby!" while bombing down the hill.

I felt like an over protective parent wincing as I watch him go down the hill so fast just waiting for him to wreck. Ryan is actually really good for his first time. I caught him going off a few small jumps on our last run- crazy kid.

My friend Jeri came and skied- traitor!

My brother, Isaiahs' sister.

We had a fun safe trip- hoping for many more this winter season.

This World Is Not My Home.

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

I haven't thought about death very much but the past few weeks have forced it upon me.

At the hospital I did my first post mortem cares. It was strange taking care of a body with no soul in it and it got me thinking as I drove home that night. I took a look at my hands, my arms, and my legs and feet and it hit me. This is not who I really am. There is more to me than just this flesh. I've heard it over and over in church. This life is short, your body is temporal, your soul is eternal.

My body is just a vessel taking my soul through this life and when it comes to an end I will leave my vessel and enter Heaven.

All that day I looked at bodies and wondered how their souls was doing.

So many people worry about their vessel instead of the precious cargo it is carrying.

I'm not scared to die- I know where I'm going. I have believed on the name of Jesus Christ and I am saved from my sins and hell.

I have peace about death.

The past week my Grandpa has been dying. This morning they gave him 24 hrs to live. He is in no pain. My Dad told me he is sleeping. I'm not worried about him. I know my Dad has told him about Jesus and that my Grandpa has accepted Him into his heart. In a way I'm jealous- I wish I could go to Heaven now. As Paul said "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

There is a reason I'm on this earth and that is to glorify God and my job is not done and that is why I am alive.

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.