My Everything Quilt

Woke up this morning to 9 degrees outside! Now that is cold, especially for the South! Thankfully, I can stay in the house all day and do not have to venture out for anything. Today would have been Elvis Presley's 80th birthday, so there are Elvis movies on TCM all day. So, guess what I will be doing today?! Good thing I had not planned to go anywhere!!

2015.  Last year was full of momentous events in my family's life: Moriah graduated from high school bringing our homeschooling days to a close; Hannah and Connor married in July, adding a new member to the family; Emma Kate Parker was born in September, adding yet another member to our family. This year has the potential for more momentous events. Leah and Blake are expecting their first child in July! And they are planning to build a house before then!

Just to think such Royalty would come the way He came, In a dusty little town. Born in such humility upon a bed of hay, Certainly He laid His glory down. Who would think this little Child w ould be the promised One? Would the Messiah really come this way? Certainly this was no birth place for the Son of God! Isn't it amazing how He came? Isn't it amazing the way He came? No crown, no throne, no big parade. There were no fanfares played, n o jubilant display. Isn't it amazing how He came? ~Mark Harris

Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!" Joyful, all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies; With the angelic host proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem!" Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!" Christ by highest heaven adored; Christ, the everlasting Lord! Late in time behold Him come, offspring of the virgin's womb. Veiled in flesh the God-head see; hail the Incarnate Deity, Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel. Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!" Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Son of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in His wings. Mild He lays His glory by, born that man no more may die, Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth. Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!" ~Charles W...

I am very fortunate to live only a short 30 minutes away from my grandchildren. Having my own parents and mother-in-law live 5 hours away, I do not take this lightly. I know my children's grandparents would love to see them more often, but when you live so far away, it just is not that easy. So, now that I have grandchildren of my own, I truly understand the longing to see grandbabies and now great-grandbabies! Deborah stopped by today for a short visit and I got to spend some time with the 3 most adorable little girls I know, all by myself without having to share!

A good night's sleep can truly be a blessing. We women go through sleep-phases; as least I have. I don't recall having sleep issues growing up, or in my teen years. As a newlywed I slept fine. Then pregnancy happened. What woman sleeps well when her belly is growing and changing daily for 9 months. The kicking, hiccups, stretching of your growing baby is a nightly sleep depriver. Not to mention the endless trips to the bathroom! Next the baby stage of sleeplessness. You have a new baby and they need to eat, often, and during the night. You can be up every 2-3 hours a night or even more often than that. Fortunately, I had good sleeping babies that slept through the night almost from the start. Once you reach the toddler stage, you hopefully are sleeping more than 3 hours at night without having to go check on something. But if you sleep with a monitor in your room, you hear every movement and that disturbs your peaceful night's rest. Little ones tend to come to Mommy a...

I am thankful for the beauty of the Creation. God chose to adorn the world is such glorious color and fall colors are, in my opinion, the most beautiful!