Monday, December 27, 2010

Pondering on Mary

I have been thinking about Mary, the mother of our LORD Jesus, for the last couple of days.  What must it have been like to be a young teenager and have an angel come to you, call you by your name and tell you (not 'ask you if'  you were willing) that you would be giving birth to a child.  That the child would be the Son of God.  And the angel so graciously added......"do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God...."  WoW!  Favor....really....what about the gossip?  .... what about the shame.... what about Joseph???  Those would have been my thoughts.....but Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the LORD; let it be to me according to your word."  (The word Mary used for servant is actually "bondservant" . Indeed Mary had given herself up to her God's will.)

Mark Lowry has written a song I think about as I ponder on Mary.....I especially like the words "this child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you."  And, "did you know your baby boy is heaven's perfect lamb"

We do not worship Mary, she was simply a humble, God fearing teenager, who was willing to bow her will to the will of her Master. But what a challenge and encouragement Mary can be to each of us!

Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.

The blind will see, the deaf will hear and the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb.

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding is the great I am.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Christmas Baking

Our Christmas Baking was lots of fun.  Jeshanah counted the cookies. There were about 1,070!  Thats a lot of cookies.  Good thing there were 6 of us to share the calories!

Here are some of the kiddos.....working


hard on their baking skills...


and ready to taste anything thats ready to eat!!


Jill with her Red Velvet Cake


Katie with her Swedish Butter Strips


Lois & Lydia


Julia & Isaac



Jeshanah working on her lovely frosting


My mom spent the day with us....rocking Selah & Nolan











Jeshanah helping Isaac decorate





No one burned anything this year....or blew up any glass bowls...but we did have one little mishap.


Jill & Lois wore matching shoes.  Aren't they cute??
I'm pretty sure they got a good deal on them at Land's End.




JoAnna made these cute "Snowmen Cookies" with the kiddos.






And here is JoAnna trying to decide which ONE of the cookies she should try!
(She is on a low fat diet)




I think Jill's recipes are on her blog.

If anything else looks appealing to you leave me a note and I can direct you to the recipe.

We had a great time and have freezers full of stuff to share.

Thanks girls, for the memories!!





Friday, December 10, 2010

A Chance in Pharaoh's Court

How do YOU make decisions?  

Like Moses:


"By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.  By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible."
  




Like Keith Fitzhugh? 


Read Keith's story.  It will challenge your heart today.



NFL SALARIES

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Making my list....

Tomorrow.....(and if I don't hurry .... later today) we will do our annual Christmas Baking!  I'm sure all the girls have made their choices, prepared their doughs, and are sound asleep.....so they can get up EARLY on Friday and get busy on the baking.

My choices:  These Melting Moment Crescent Cookies which I plan to dip 1/2 of the cookie in high quality chocolate.

I am into making REAL Fudge...the kind where you choose a base, choose a helper, make a slurry, boil the evaporated milk & sugar to soft ball stage (234*), add the butter and then cast in into a pan!! No more 5 minute frosting fudge for me!! . You can learn all about making REAL Fudge here.  If you follow the directions closely your fudge will turn out mouth wateringly PERFECT.  Creamy....chocolately......smooth......


I will also be making Chocolate Covered Potato Chips.  These are best when you use the Wavy Lays and also good quality chocolate like Ghiradeli.  They dry very shiny & look and taste beautiful.  

Jill is making her list too.  I will decide what other goodies to make in the morning.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Today ....

This lovely lady, Samantha, and I made tons of "Ritz Dipped Cookies" this morning.  Each year the ladies at our chapel prepare some 'survival bags for students' for our college kids to have during finals week and Christmas platters for our singles, and our lovely golden age folks.  When the day comes to
prepare these bags/platters I know a family tradition is soon approaching.


On Friday, we Martinson, Rockhold,  Jacque girls

will be working out our annual 

Christmas Baking Day. 

When we first started this we went all out.  We gathered together early in the morning donning our Christmas earrings,
Christmas socks, Christmas music......the works.  
We had only a few 'little children' to entertain.  But as the years have gone by our families have grown.
We now have 14 'little children' to entertain.  We start later in the morning. We get tired
earlier and earlier.  But we still make memories and we still have fun.

Can't wait to see what everybody makes (and wears!) this year. I will post some pictures.

SURPRISE

  

A couple weeks ago, Jeshanah told me that she had NEVER had a surprise birthday party.  Wrong thing for the sixth born to say to her momma!


SO on Sunday....




All of these little people and their parents

SURPRISED MISS JESHANAH
SURPRISE !
Chloe & Carl
Alyssa, Lindsey & Briann
Nolan
Eddy
Her birthday is not until December 20th....but there would be no chance of surprising her close to that date.
She is W A Y to smart for that ! !


May your heart's desire always be
to love, serve & obey the 
ONE
who died for you!!


Welcome to the world



Selah Lexus Rockhold    12-2-2010
....and welcome into our hearts
and in case you have not seen enough......heres one more ! !

Elly

Upon arriving home, Selah was welcomed by 

and Anna  

Saturday, December 4, 2010

P L I O N E X I A - - - do you have it??

This posting was a good "heart check" for me today. Read it and see what you think.  It is so easy to 'want' and think we 'need' so much this time of year.

So what is it you are coveting?  I have to admit.....I want an Ipad.  I think I have earned one (I have a little business which makes a little money). I think I deserve one (I work hard & don't buy too much for myself).  To this my husband replied ... "you don't NEED that."  I can hardly believe (it was a reminder to me of what my heart really is) what came out of my mouth.  I said "but I WANT it."  And I said it in front of other people.  I have plionexia, which doesn't sound too bad because nobody knows what it is.  But I coveted!  And that is sin!

"Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be  any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting."

Psalm 139:23