The Morning After an Ice storm

This is what we woke up to this morning. An ice storm went over New England last night. Half of NH is without power.

This is the same storm that brought snow to the southern states.

Lots of trees in our neighborhood are bent over and some of them are breaking at this point. We are expecting strong winds this afternoon so we might see more branches in our yard. At this point we have power and we are very grateful for that. Some of our friends from church don't (we might have a big sleepover at our house tonight).

School got canceled however you all know I homeschool so we are now just finishing our work at home. ( Hey we do not have to make up a day at the end of the school year and the kids cannot play on ice anyway). Fil is working from home to stay away from the roads.

Hope everybody is doing well.

Fil's Grandmother

Today we got sad news from Europe. Fil's grandmother passed away last night.

Please remember Fil's family (especially Fil's mom) in your prayers.

Last time we were able to see her was when we were in Europe in 2006. She was very excited about our children (her great grandchildren).

We have many memories from that trip. However, some are painful as well. Without knowing we said our final good-byes to three of our close family members.
Shortly after our visit my dad passed away unexpectedly and several weeks later my grandfather passed away as well. We were hoping to see Fil's grandmother one more time next year however God has different plans.

Nate turning 7

My baby Nate turned 7 this Sunday. I can still see him as a little baby (well he was a big baby but you get the picture) . He is growing into a fine young man. He has a very passionate heart towards others and he loves his brother and sisters.

He had the opportunity to be an acolyte on his birthday. He was excited about the opportunity ever since he learned of it several weeks ago. Both Nate and Sam got to light two candles on Sunday morning.

I love them in their acolyte robes. The girls were very interested in what was going on.

Nate helped me make his birthday cake. He watched a cooking show with me a few months back and he told me he wanted the cake they were making on TV. We printed the recipe and on Saturday he helped me bake it. It turned out great.

On another note it is freezing here in New England. We got our first 'snowstorm' (and I am greatly exaggerating the word storm) on Nate's birthday. As you can see it did not even cover the lawn. It did not stop the kids from enjoy a few snowflakes outside.

I did not want to go outside. It was so cold. With the windchill factor it was 1 F. And that is way too cold for me.

Anyway

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NATE

Sunday Reflections

We see now what it meant for the Son of God to empty Himself and become poor. It meant a laying aside of glory; a voluntary restraint of power; an acceptance of hardship, isolation, ill treatment, malice, and misunderstanding; finally, a death that involved such agony-spiritual, even more than physical- that His mind nearly broke under the prospect of it. It meant love to the uttermost for unlovely men, who 'through his poverty, might become rich'. The Christmas message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity - hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory - because at the Father's will Jesus Christ became poor, and was born in a stable so that thirty years later He might hang on a cross. It is the most wonderful message that the world has ever heard, or will hear.

-J. I. Packer, Knowing God For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he become poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

2 Corinthians 8:9

Tooth Fairy buisness and visit from Joda

You'd think that second time around I would know better.

Nate's bottom teeth have been wiggly for sometime. I caught Nate wiggling them often so I thought he was just making them loose since he saw his older brother. I did not think any new teeth were coming in. Yesterday during Nate's reading I saw a second row of teeth. I called the dentist right a way and today he pulled the baby teeth out. I guess you never know.

Anyway got to run.

The tooth fairy has to make an ATM run.

We got a visit from Joda.

(She is only missing a staff)

Boy's Book Club

We inherited a 'few' comic books from my brother many years ago. Since then the boys learned to read and appreciate good literature.

Let me tell you there is nothing like Asterix and Obelix (it is a boys world). I know there are more people out there with good taste.

Nothing like good french literature.

December is HERE

Can you believe December is here?

We started Advent yesterday (Sunday) and the house is almost completely decorated for Christmas.

I am always looking for some fun crafts for me and the kids. I came across the Taylor Design blog a few weeks back and I saved the link for these trees. Don't they look great?

Jo woke up early this morning and she fell asleep in my arms by 10:30am. After I put her down for a quick nap Emma had to bring her dolly as well and she 'sat' watch over her sister.

(Yes Emma is wearing goggles and a tutu over the sweat pants. Please do not ask me why. It is a girls world if you do not understand).

As you can see I did make a Christmas theme blog template. If you visited my blog today it was under construction and I apologize as I was experimenting with different templates and blog headers. It did look crazy at times.