Thursday, December 30, 2010

My Brother Mark....



We went to California the day after Christmas for a few days  to see my brother Mark.....(will post trip in a few days...) The girls and i were very happy we went to spend a few days with him...it made his heart  happy as well...


Blessed is the servant who loves his brother as much when he is sick  as when he is well and an be of service to him..... And blessed is he who loves his brother as well when he is afar off as when he is by his side..., and who would say nothing behind his back.... he might not..., in love..., say before his face. ~St Francis of Assisi











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Saturday, December 25, 2010

Where are You Christmas...

Cookies , Christmas and the Homeless....

Understanding Christmas.....:

When Your Heart Grows Three Sizes
This devotional was written by Jim Liebelt ..

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.—Ezekiel 36:26

In Dr. Seuss’ classic Christmas tale, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the Grinch suffers from having a small heart. The source of his heart problem is his lack of understanding the meaning of Christmas. As the story goes, the Grinch tries to put a stop to Christmas, but in the end, he comes to understand what Christmas is all about and his heart grows three sizes! This heart change makes a big difference in his life.

I’m not sure what Dr. Seuss’ intentions were when he wrote the story back in 1957, but it certainly comes across as a Christian parable to me that parallels the change that takes place in a person’s life when he or she comes to understand the true meaning of Christmas. I mean the birth of Jesus, God’s Son, who was born to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). When the light of the Good News of Jesus dawns upon the heart of a person, God replaces the old heart of stone, with a new, fleshy heart – and a new person emerges. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

I have to chuckle a bit at this notion: Right there on television every year at Christmastime, in the disguise of a children’s cartoon, is this strikingly Christian parable, about what a true encounter with God does to a person’s life! Ha!
But, it is also an important reminder to Christ-followers that what may be plain to us, is not necessarily plain to others. In the story, the Grinch “endured” Christmas for 53 years, before finally coming to the true understanding of the celebration. Most of us have family and friends who “know” what Christmas is all about, but don’t really understand in their hearts. Year-in and year-out we hope and pray that God will open their hearts to understanding.
Interestingly, Dr. Seuss allows the Grinch to come to his own realization about the meaning of Christmas. He paints a picture of the Whos standing together to celebrate Christmas even when the trappings of Christmas have been taken away. It’s not what the Whos say that opens the door to the Grinch’s understanding of the meaning of Christmas, it’s what the Whos do that makes the difference.

Maybe, that’s the same approach we need to take this Christmastime with those we know and love, but who really don’t “get” Christmas. This year, let everyone see us “Welcome Christmas – While we stand – Heart to heart – And hand in hand.”1 It might just make all the difference in the world. ..............










We brought 200 plain sugar cookies (trees, snowman and ginger boy) to the homeless shelter .....We brought a huge tub of white frosting, candies, sprinkles, and  marshmellows, for all to decorate .. the children had so much fun and so did the adults in the shelter.. The ones that did not want to decorate their own cookie , my girls decorated and passed them out.....Something so simple as frosting and decorating cookies made Christmas Eve special at the over flow shelter.... One mother almost cried as she watched her 2 boys decorate and said that she did that as a young child with her parents every Christmas ,, and she expressed how sad it was that she did not have a home for her children to carry on that tradition at the moment and was so grateful we did......the gift of decorating cookies made a difference this Christmas Eve...

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Adopt a Family....

Elizabeth , Fransico, Hayley, Daniel and baby girl on the way ..was our "adopt a family" through the church...

We brought food and presents to put under the the tree..It was heart breaking driving through the trailer home neighborhood, it was heart breaking to see the wheelchair ramp , and it was heartbreaking to see the wheelchair for 7 year old hayley.who will forever be in that wheelchair...my problems and issues in my life  don't seem so bad as the girls and i walked away...we will not just adopt this family this Christmas ..we will forever adopt them... ..May God bless this  family, and may their Christmas be merry and bright.......

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Sleding in Az....

fun in the Arizona snow...




Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Thank You Rita...





















Thank you Rita .... for the fabulous meal you created.... Every dish  was amazing.. ... but most important thank you  so much for sharing with us  your  family celebration for your son's college graduation (congrats Michael) and making us feel like family .... love you and your friendship ...

Friday, December 17, 2010

Karens visit...

Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. "Pooh!" he whispered. "Yes, Piglet?" "Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw. "I just wanted to be sure of you....." ~A.A. Milne


Hold a true friend with both your hands...... ~Nigerian Proverb




Love you karen...and i treasure and thank you for your friendship..the girls and i had a great time with you this past weekend, lots of fun.. and celebrating your birthday....X O

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Happy Birthday Mom...

There are times when only a Mother's love...

Can understand our tears,
And soothe our disappointments
And calm away our fears.....


There are times when only a Mother's love.....

Can share the joy we feel
When something we have dreamed about
Suddenly is real.

There are times when only a Mother's love.....

Can help us on life's way
And inspire in us, the confidence
We need from day to day.


Mother, thank you for your heart, faith and hope
And all your steadfast love
You were fashioned by the Angels
And sent from God above...

Happy Birthday Mom (Ga)





Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Christmas Play....
















Gabriela, Anabella , Matteya and Neyvada were in a Christmas play at church.. They all played little angels who searched where  the best place to celebrate Christmas and traveled to different parts of the world ..They discovered how Africa , Germany, Mexico, California and other places celebrated Christmas...The little angels and teen angles discovered the best place to celebrate Christmas is in your heart.....All the children did a great job and they all learned their lines and had a great time doing it....We were very proud of them...