Seasonal Anxiety?

Merry Christmas

from the Muries

The holidays are here. I haven't begun shopping, but I'm not worried about it. I told a friend that fact the other day and she began having an anxiety attack for me. It's fun to get things and to give things, but it's not the most important thing. We are trying to help our kids focus on Jesus and take care of each other - we'll shop eventually!

Joel Caleb is practicing piano and my other 3 children are taking turns sliding down the stairs. There is much laughter in our home right now. We have rooms filled with toys, but none are in sight. The stairs are taking their place tonight! Maybe I don't need to shop for Christmas...bah humbug. Just kidding.

Unfortunately, I will soon disrupt these joy-filled squeals announcing, "Bedtime!"

Today has been a quiet day - in that it hasn't involved us going anywhere. Inside we haven't had much quiet at all. But, we did accomplish one thing today. We took pictures. Well, I took pictures of the kids.

Merry Christmas!

Peer Pressure

I have succumb to the pressure from a "dear" friend to blog. So here goes...Since my ruminations are forced I'm not sure how pure they will be. I feel almost as if I am a studying for a midterm. Okay, maybe that's a little dramatic. Homework...yeah, that's it. Now I feel like Joel Caleb when I tell him, "it's time to write a 2-point paragraph." Ughh!

So, what is going on? The kids are doing great. Joel Caleb (2nd grade) is presently writing a 2-point paragraph on his "Favorite Games." Catherine is in Kindergarten. I'm amazed at how well she is doing at reading. She is picking up some concepts much more quickly than I anticipated. Haley, wants so badly to be involved, but her attention carries her between baby dolls and letter writing in 5-minute intervals. Thankfully, Brian has taken 22-month old Isaac with him to run errands this morning. Otherwise, I would have him in and out of my lap and most of these words misspelled.

Me? Glad you asked. It's not that I haven't been writing; I'm just not writing on the internet. In the past year God has been really growing me in the areas of Prayer and Worship. It's been incredible to see how God has used His word to awaken things in me I thought were dead or create things I never thought possible. I've been reading thorough the book of Isaiah. I love that book. The justice and holiness of God really becomes clear as Isaiah pronounces God's judgement on the people and then speaks God's mercy. Isaiah himself is overcome with his own unrighteousness (Chptr 6). Something I can relate to. I have so many favorite passages that I couldn't site them all, but one outstanding characteristic of Isaiah is "...that God will not share His glory." Everything that He does, every gift that He gives is so that He might be exalted and others might be drawn to Him. I've grown to know God like never and before, and I want to know him even better. I find myself really looking forward to spending time with God and even stealing it (which makes sense if you have kids)!

I suppose that's enough for my first time out in awhile. See you sometime.

JP

Snow Day

Catherine, Joel Caleb and Haley--decked out for their 1st snow day of the season. Later we went to our neighbors house and slid down their "tiny" hill (really their driveway). The girls only lasted 20 minutes and then went in for some hot chocolate. (Sounds kind of good right now!)


Mimi & Isaac

In January Mom came to help us celebrate Isaac's 1st birthday. We had such a great visit. We were sad to see her go. So was our kitchen.

We miss you Mimi! Come back soon.

This is the finished product!

We moved in September 5th and love our little taste of country.

We've already had quite a few guests in the Murie cabin. We welcome more!

We're all doing well. Brian's business is expanding and our family has stopped (expanding that is).

Here is a picture of Brian and our youngest Isaac
on Christmas day.

Isaac turns one tomorrow.