The Christmas update

Well, Christmas has come and gone...and it was so much fun for us. My dad came to visit, and the kids were just as excited about his visiting them, as they were about Santa coming! We made cookies, and played games, and went for a nice bike ride in the freezing cold! It was very refreshing! We had lunch/dinner with some friends of ours, and we were all so stuffed! Then we went to the stable and rode the horse, and it was just such an enjoyable weekend! Scott gave me a beautiful card for Christmas, and the kids were so blessed to get so many amazing things from everyone. There were lots of smiles, and laughs. Ryan walked out on Christmas morning, and asked, "Where is Santa?" He thought he should be here to watch them open their presents! How cute!
I heard something today that really ministered to me... I was driving back from the grocery store, and Max Lucado was on for a few minutes on the the radio, and he was talking about when a child is throwing a fit in the store, and it is embarassing, it is like us sinning. God wants us to do what he desires for us, and sin, is like us throwing a fit, like that child in the store. Godliness has no room for sin. No room for fits, just like I don't want to deal with a fit in the middle of the grocery store, because I am trying to fulfill a "mission." The children of God can bless Him so much more if they would allow him to use them, and sometimes, we could bless him, just by being patient. It really made me rethink some things, because I have a tendency to get in a hurry, and throw fits at God, like a two year old, instead of a 25 year old. :)

Kids playing in the snow! 

Grace on Christmas morning! 

Mandy on Christmas day. She is such a pleasure, and doing so well! 

Bailey enjoying her new stable.  

Kids and dad getting ready for prayer wtih Shay standing by... 

the finished product 

Kids decorating the tree 

Scott's 30th b-day 

Birthday candles and Christmas trees

We celebrated Scott's 30th birthday on Saturday, the 11th. Our good friends came over and we celebrated with homemade pizza, Key lime pie, with the number 30 made out of candles on top, gifts and movies! It was fun! The kids and I spent an entire day shopping for the perfect gift for daddy while he went hunting. We shopped and shopped, and came home with a wallet, a nice one, but I guess we need to wait until Scott is ready to part with his old raggedy wallet, before we will see the fruits of our efforts! He is like Ryan with his whooby blanket. Just not ready to give it up. It has gone "around the world with him" and it's like his good friend.:)

We also set up our Christamas Tree and it looks wonderful! We awoke on Sunday and went to church, and then to the stable, and then to purchase our christmas tree. We came home and set it up and had hot cocoa and peppermint sticks, and music and silly kids doing silly dancing, and it was quite enjoyable! The next morning, however, I awoke to Scott saying quite loudly for 4:3o in the morning, "I know a dog who is getting ready to die!" Well I thought Shay might be sick from all the candy canes she ate the night before, but come to find out, there was nothing wrong with her, except for the fact that she knocked the beloved Christmas tree down! So at 5 am, I got to put the whole tree back together, with the exception of all the broken balls! Let me just say, the first time is so much fun, the second...not so fun.

The kids are getting so excited for Christmas morning, and it just adds so much to the season when you have three little ones. They bring so much life to everything! They are such blessings! Scott also brings so much fun to the season, because he still enjoys it as much as he did when he was a little boy! So our house is looking forward to snow, and laughter and each other for Christmas!

Jess & her horse, Mandy 

Shay dog at 1 year old 

Jess & the Kids @ Leonardtown Square 

Jess & Scott Thanksgiving Day @ Leonardtown Square 

Our First Entry

We are kind of a mystery to some of you. Some of you are still wondering what happened to us in our move to Louisiana. It is actually quite a long story, but in short terms, the night before we were due to move, we prayed for God to open the door or shut the door. The next morning the door to move had been closed, and with heavy, very confused hearts, we began looking for a place to live. We had the opportunity to stay in our old home, that was packed in boxes, and incredibly expensive, but in the end we chose to move to a smaller home in a nice area, that was very comfortable for our budget. So here we are. We live in Hollywood, MD. We are enjoying it.
We had no TV, Internet, or phone for several weeks, and to be honest, I didn't miss it a bit. We spent real time as a family, and I was enjoying the closeness we had with the Lord and one another. So apologies to all of those who didn't know what was happening, but we are back online now, and our phone has changed, if you want the number please email me, and I will send it along.
Some amazing things have happened in the past few weeks... I now have a horse. She isn't technically mine, but the owner has basically given her to me to play with and teach, and I am very happy and excited to have that part of my life again. She is 4 years old, her name is Mandy, and I am training her, because she has never been taught how to do dressage, or work under saddle very much. She is a beautiful chestnut with kind eyes, and a beautiful white stripe down her face.
Scott has spent this week hunting, and is now, as we speak. He is really enjoying himself, and wow! What a flashy smile he has when he is as happy as he is now. I am very proud of him. He is doing well in general, he is growing close to the Lord, and that is enjoyable as a wife, to witness, because he is just glowing with the love of Jesus at times, and man, how he shines...
Ryan is sick with strep throat, but that doesn't slow him down a bit! He is still hillarious, and full of excitement. God is working on healing him, only problem is, he has to do it while Ryan continues to go at warp speed through the house! He would be good for one of those tylenol commercials where they show the kids feeling better after the medicine! There is one thing that slows him down...cars, fishing or hunting on TV. But also, he loves to watch the food network. He loves to watch Rachel Ray's 30 minute meals! How cute is that!
Bailey is incredible. She is starting an art club. All on her own accord. The first meeting is this Saturday. She made her own flyers, and found her own ideas, and they are putting together Christmas presents for the parents, friends, and family starting this weekend. She is also teaching her mother, yes me, to play the piano and read music. We are having fun learning together.
Grace...oh sweet Grace...she is learning how to keep up with her brother. She is also good at finding quiet time for herself amongst the myrid of craziness in our house. She likes to take her babies in her room, and lay down with them, and sing, "Jesus Loves Me." It is very cute. She rocks them, and tells them how good they are. She has grown into an animal lover. I think at times, she cares more for them, than she does people. She and I were in a pasture the other day with a herd of beautiful Arabian horses, all of which were well trained, and gentle, but they followed us everywhere! I was carrying Grace, and they were intriqued by her. And she with them. She also loves to play with our Golden, Shay. I am interested to see how she grows in her love. She also tells me she is going to ride High and Dry, a horse at our stable. She keeps telling me that she wants to ride her when she gets older.
We pray blessings upon all of you. Enjoy each other this holiday season. Make cookies, crafts, and sing songs with your kids. Remember the real reason for the season...and hold Him dear and close...