~We are having the Merriest of Christmases!~

Well, here I am, blogging just 10 days before Christmas!  We have been having a wonderful Christmas season.  Running our heads off, but taking time to remember the REASON FOR THE SEASON!!! And things should slow down some now, to where we can sip our own hot chocolate by our own Christmas tree. :-)  I Love traveling for Jesus, but I also Love to be HOME!!

I want to say that we had a glorious Gospel Center Camp in Phoenix, AZ.  I hope to blog those pics in January.

As that Camp ended, I got a text from a random number, asking for a 

"FAMILY PHOTO FOR THE FLYER!!"  I couldn't imagine who it was, and WHERE we were supposed to go now!!  Here, it was a pastor in NC, who had asked us around 2 years ago to come to his church for a missionary service in the morning, and a sacred music Christmas service on Sunday night!  I HAD IT ON MY CALENDAR, just hadn't looked at Dec, 3rd yet, and didn't think to give myself a 2 week ahead reminder.  Eeeeek!!

So, we got home at 3:00 AM on Thanksgiving morning, slept in, got up and made a double batch of rolls, grabbed the ingredients for Sweet Potato casserole, 3 pumpkin custard pies, other fun snacks, and cappuccino punch, unloaded the car, packed, reloaded the Car, and headed to my in-laws for Thanksgiving on Black Friday!  We had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend, which maybe I will post some pics from that later.

Got home late on Monday night, after spending a wonderful day with my Daddy and Moma, and got up early the next morning to head to Cinci for the kid's music lessons. 

(My Daddy got very sick while we were in AZ, and we could have lost him!  :-(  Thank God, he is still with us!  He is a PRAYING MAN, and how we need Him, his wisdom, and his prayers for years to come!)

That next Saturday morning found us heading to NC for those services.  I was QUITE EXHAUSTED, but we begged Jesus to help us, and HE DID!

We've been on the run since, but things are slowing down now, 

and I am so HAPPY TO BE HOME!!

Here's some pics of my Christmasy Decor, and a few of our activities recently.

I TRUST THAT JESUS IS REAL IN YOUR LIFE AND IN THIS SEASON! 

~The Lord helped us at our Sacred Music Christmas Service in NC.  It was so fun to see some friends we knew, meet some new people, and to have some young people from the Spivey's church come as well.~

~The boy's playing their classical guitars.~

~It was so nice to meet Jamie.~

~It was so sweet that my dear friend Rhonda and her husband drove all the way to see us.~

~With the Pastor and his wife, Dear Bro. and Sis. Ledford.~

~With our Dear friends the Sowers.~

~The Church packed us such a yummy snack to eat in the hotel that they provided for us both Saturday and Sunday nights.~

~Saying goodbye to our dear friends the Arenders, 

as they are moving back to MO.~

~OUR LIVING ROOM~

We went with a boho style tree this year.

~We met the Spivey's at a Christmas program.~

~This pic is a little dark and blurry, but it is L to R:

Cayden, Noah, Phillip, David Spivey, Keegan, and Andrew Smith.~

~Bro. Brock, A Saint of God, has gone home.~

I have known Bro. and Sis. Brock since I was a little girl! In Fact, my parents went to GBS with Bob and Barb Brock.  And Sis. Brock was one of the only babysitters my Moma ever used for my brothers.

Then I renewed my admiration for them when I attended GBS and they worked there at the same time.  We were so SADDENED to hear of Bro. Brock's accident and passing!  How we loved him and love his sweet wife and whole family!  We were privileged to get to attend his funeral service, and it was a very special one!!

~Daddy and Phillip visiting before the funeral.~

~Moma talking to adorable little Natalie.~

~Sweet Sis. Brock talking to Phillip.  It was so precious.~

~It was so nice to get to visit with Regina, a childhood friend.~

~We were so glad that Dad D. got to come as well.  Dad and Mom D. also worked at GBS during the same time that the Brocks worked there, and they became great friends.~

~After the funeral Daddy and Moma took Phillip and I out to Arby's.  We had the nicest visit and stayed there chatting and laughing and sharing and loving for at least a couple hours.~

~Our Bedroom~

~Mistletoe.~

~Our Church, CNC Christmas Dinner~

(I got Elijah's pants for like $2.50 at a thrift store. :-)

~Kimberly holding adorable Elize.~

~We were so Sad that Pastor and Grammy couldn't be with us this year, 

BUT VERY GRATEFUL FOR GOD PROTECTING PASTOR WHEN HE HAD A HEART ATTACK, and then had to have a 5 blockage open heart surgery!!!!  

It was nice to get to call them during the dinner and get to express our appreciation for them!  

How we love them both!!!

~The four-some!  These girls have been great friends for years.

L to R: Mary, Rebekah, Eva, and Jessica.~

~Josh and Sarah got to come to our Christmas program at our church and spend the night with us Sunday  night and hang out some on Monday.  

So, on Monday morning, we girls mixed up these yummy apple crumble muffins. 

~Outside of our house.~  

Dear Noah wanted to do the lights on the outside of our house this year.  

He paid for the lights, and hung them.

He has done a great job!!~

~Dad D. restored this tractor and then gave it to Phillip.~  :-)

John Deere LA made from 1941-1946

~On Tuesday morning I got to have a rare treat, and go out for coffee, with one of my sweet friends.  This coffee shop is newer, and is in our old neighborhood.~

~Martha and I had a fun visit.~

~ZOO~

~Dear Bro. Hyatt loaned us his zoo passes, so I got to take our 3 and Levi Pilmore to the zoo to see the lights, and some animals.~

~Riding the train.~

~Our Local Community Prayer Meeting.~

~A few months ago, the Lord laid it on Phillip's heart to start a prayer meeting in our community to pray for our communities, our families, our Nation, and our Country.  He had thought of doing an early morning prayer meeting, but then was asked if he could move it to an evening prayer meeting. 

The Lord has opened up some neat doors and has been answering our prayers!

About 9 months before we found our house to buy, Phillip had left our men's early morning prayer meeting at our Church, and had driven out this way to look for a house to buy.  As he came down 

Route 41, he came to our road and saw the neatest old Country Church, and then he saw a sign that Said, "House for Sale."  

He started driving down the road and then he thought, "Who am I kidding, this is probably too far to drive to church," so he turned around and drove back to our home in Cinci.  (The FOR-SALE SIGN WAS OUR HOUSE, But at that time it was a higher price, and we wouldn't have been able to afford it then.) 

Later, after we bought our house, Phillip went down to the end of our road, and saw that adorable Country Church, and realized that we had purchased that house that he didn't go and see.  God works in mysterious ways!

When wanting to start the Community Prayer Meeting, Phillip wanted to find a place where no one would have to clean their house, or feel under pressure, but one that was a central location for all prayers.

Phillip met Mr. Fields who is the last living member of that old white Country Church.  Mr. Fields agreed to have prayer meetings in the church, and then recommended to do them in the evenings, instead of in the mornings.  

So, Each week has us attending our own CNC Prayer Meeting on Wednesday nights, and attending this Prayer Meeting to pray for our Communities, Country, Family, and Revival on Thursdays. 

The Lord has been meeting with us, and we have seen Him answering some of our prayers!!  

Last night we got to go to the Field's house for a wonderful snack.   

And this Sunday night they are coming to our house for a Christmas Snack.~

~Our Dinning Room Tree.~

~May you have a Wonderful Christmas Season filled with 

JESUS, His love, family, and friends!!!

Love to each of you!

~Heather~