Glory!

The sunsets and sunrises this past week were just glorious!!

It boggles the mind that the Creator of the universe chose to come to earth.
He was given existence by a mother whom He brought into existence;
He was carried in hands which He formed. (Augustine)

On Thursday night, we went with our friends, Gary and Debbe to "The Story" tour in Wichita.

It was a musical journey from Genesis to Revelation featuring Steven Curtis Chapman, Newsboys, Francesca Battistelli, Natalie Grant, my favorite Selah!, and others too along with another of my favorites - Max Lucado. The songs touched my soul.

The song about Adam and Eve - "If I could, I would rewrite history. I'd choose differently if I could, I would. I'd leave out the part where I broke Your heart in the garden's shade. Fix the mess I made if I could.

Daniel - "Feed me to the lions. Throw away the key. How will they deny Who delivers me? How could I love another? My knees bow only to One Name!

Esther - There's a time to hold your tongue, time to keep your head down, There's a time but it's not now. Sometimes you gotta go, uninvited, sometimes you gotta speak when you don't have the floor.

Job - If one more person takes my hand and tries to say they understand, tells me there's a bigger plan....But who am I to make demands of the God of Abraham?.. Will You hold me? Will You stay? So I can raise this broken praise?

We are getting ready to celebrate a birthday party for the Saviour!!

This was the set that we had growing up. Mom let us play with it and the ears of the cow and donkey are broken off. I treasure it!

We have too many stockings to hang at the fireplace so we have them all around the banister.



These little angels and choir children are from the little Christian bookstore in Miyazaki, Japan.

We had one of these too. The little angels make a tinkling sound as they go around and around. I got this at the Christian bookstore here in Newton.
My mom found this Bible for me. Printed in 1883! In German.



My Dad made one of these yule logs when we lived in Japan. We light a candle each week in anticipation of that birth date. He made this yule log for me since I wanted to keep up the tradition.

We met pain in a garden where we lived a lie
We met hope in a manger and a baby's cry
Rescued by hand's bleeding grace
Are we ready to see His face?
On the great day He will come to claim us with a rushing wind
One day Love will wear the crown
One day Love will set us free

He will be King
He will be King!

Pizza

While the family was here, I made this pizza. Josh helped me figure out what to put on it.

Spinach-artichoke chicken pizza

Pizza dough - if you are the Martha Stewart type, you can make a home-made one. I just used one that you pop from a refrigerated can. I had never done that before but it really tasted good and it was so easy!

Spray a pizza pan or jelly roll pan with non-stick spray and spread pizza dough out.

Spread jar of pesto on top of dough. (YUM!)

Top with mozarella and parmesan cheeses.

In skillet, heat in a little oil:
sliced onion
garlic
diced chicken (I recently discovered a bag of frozen grilled diced chicken and I used that)
can of artichoke diced
fresh spinach
Heat through then add on top of cheeses. Add more parmesan.
Bake 15 minutes at 350 degrees.
Add more mozarella cheese and bake another 5 minutes until melted.
Delicious!!!!

I know, I didn't say how much of stuff. It doesn't matter. Whatever looks good to you. For example, you can add 1 cup of cheese or 3. What you like.

The girls helped me start doing some Christmas decorating.
It will be December tomorrow so I think it may be time to get those pumpkins off the porch! What must the neighbors be thinking. If they get too crabby about it, I guess I can play Santa and deliver them some pizza!

Thanksgiving over

People have moved on to decorating for Christmas, but I am not ready just yet. I have enjoyed Thanksgiving so much! It is one of my favorite holidays! A time to reflect on His many blessings. To thank God. A time to get together with family.
What fun to have our Arkansas babies here - to squeeze and love on them! The grandchildren love to play with their Papa!


We had the Voran Thanksgiving on Thanksgiving Day.

Aunt Millie and Sophia

Water or Raspberry/Mango tea?

Mom makes the most beautiful presentation with a turkey!

When I was growing up in Japan, Dad always carved the turkey at the table. We have kept up that tradition.
Eli DID NOT like the sound of the electric knife!

On Saturday, we had the Graber Thanksgiving.

With the Graber family, we just serve turkey already cut up, along with some ham. Too large a family to all sit together at the table so it doesn't make sense to cut the turkey at the table.

More, mommy, more! (looks just like a baby birdie!)

Cousins!

The teens ate downstairs. Another thing to be thankful for - a finished basement!! After living 6 years at this house. Allen did such a great job!!! And I am so grateful for him!!
After dinner, we played Imaginiff and Sardines. What fun family times!

So, now Thanksgiving is over. I guess I need to think about getting out those Christmas decorations. Better get in the mood! I do LOVE to celebrate Christ's birth - but I just love fall and am not so fond of winter and cold weather. Oh well, those Salvation Army bells are ringing and there is no getting around all those decorations in the stores. 28 more days to Christmas!