Ready to Ring!

Oh my!  I really need to introduce you to someone
who is very near and dear to my heart!!

MEET JUNIPER!!

Is Juniper just melting your heart already???
He sure has mine!!

This is a delightful creation of my friend and amazing artist
Michelle Palmer!  I purchased this little guy last year because
it was love at first sight!! 

He brings me such joy all year
through...I just can't put him in with all the other Christmas
stuff. 

He's my buddy and always makes me smile no matter
what!! 

Just look at that adorable little grin!

He is here to announce that we are ready to ring in the
fantastic new year full of hope and promise~~~2011!!!

Being that he is a snowman he does it with Silver Bells!!  HA!

Juniper, my new little Christmas birdy, and I, all wish
you a new year filled with the JOY OF THE LORD!!

May He be your strength and your delight as you commit
your year to Him and seek to walk in His ways!!

BIG, CHILLY, {Brrrr} sunny Florida  hugs and love!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Warmth of the Season

You all amaze me so!  Thank you so much for
your love, encouragement, prayers, and support! 
Your sweet comments always touch my heart!

We all love a fire's glow, and how it warms
us through and through...

And we love candlelight that gives a room warmth,
and makes everything it casts it's glow on look so lovely...

But oh the warmth of the love of family at Christmas time!

Here is Sam and her family!  We took this photo
out in the woods of north Florida where we stopped
on our way home to tend to the hunting area.

I can't tell you how wonderful it is to have them back here!
We have had lots of time together already, and I am so
looking forward to Christmas with all of our girls on Saturday!

I'll be posting a photo our four girls as soon as I can get it
from Birdy.  It was taken on her I- phone.  Can't wait to show
you all!

Here Emily just had to get up into the Cozy Condo
and do some sweeping!  Too cute!

And coming out...























May will be here before you know it, and little
Miss Em' will become a big sister! 

We are all so excited!  Everyone thinks it's a boy!
That would be a first in the Stewart family
and Grandpa will be beside himself if God blesses us
with a little grandy boy!! Of course, he will be
delighted with a sweet, cuddly girl, too!!




God is continually teaching me about the significance of family.

The family is one of only two ordained by God institutions...
the other being the church.

So, from that alone we can know that family is of the utmost
importance to Him!

As our family gathers to celebrate the glory of the birth
of our Lord,

we gather as a bunch of imperfect people, that sometimes
take each other for granted, hurt one another's feelings,
make mistakes we're sorry for, are at different places
in our walks with God, but as a FAMILY...

a family ordained by God, for His purposes, that love
each other through it all, and that hopefully, hopefully...
will make God smile sometimes,
and fulfill at least some of the purposes He has put us here for!

The love and warmth of family...
sometimes
the hardest hurts,
most often
the deepest love,
the greatest blessings.

May you feel the wonderful joy and
warmth of family this Christmas...
and know the everlasting JOY
of being part of the
FAMILY OF GOD.

Merry Christmas to you all!

I praise You, Lord, for my friends, and thank You
for loving us so much that you sent your Son, Jesus,
at just the right time, to save us each from our sin!


Sending love and snuggly hugs!!

HOLLA TO MY SISTAS!!!

WOW...SO HOW ARE ALL MY SISTAS OUT THERE DOING???

I have been missing each of you so very much!!

Sending you all...

((((((((((BIG SQUISHY HUGS))))))))))

AND SMILES!!!!  ;o)

 

{photos from Country Living}

Thank you for sharing in the joy of having my girl Sam

and her family back home!  It was a beautiful, safe trip
and they are beginning to get nestled in to enjoy this

MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!!!

I get a bit melancholy at this time of the year ever since my
parents passed away, but at the same time, I get so filled
up with JOY for the blessing of knowing the wonderful,
mighty Christ whose birth we celebrate at every year's end.

What an amazing gift God gave to us!  Pondering what this

season is really all about always gives me renewed joy,
renewed sense of purpose, and a vision that will carry me

into the new year ready to impact the world for HIM.

I read a quote the other day that said this:

Be careful what you do today...

Because you will be spending a
day of your life doing it!

Such wisdom!  I can't remember where I read it, but
I love it, and I want to make my days count for something
that will last!!!  You know...

to infinity eternity and beyond!!!
{couldn't resist!}

I am more determined than I ever have been to further

deepen my walk with my Lord, and to let His love flow
freely through me to all I come in contact with.

"Stuff" is continually diminishing in importance to me, and
I am finding  unbelieveable contentment in abiding in His
presence, and focusing on things that really matter to Him.

I still have so very much to learn about this amazing
God and His plan for my life.  So as I enjoy the fun
and festivities of this 2010 Christmas season,

deep inside

I am feeling a calling...
a compelling....

to be intentional and fill the days of
2011 with thanksgiving, praise, prayer,
and worship to my Lord,
and to walk joyfully, and confidently, by faith
wherever He may lead.  Amen and amen.


Sending love across the miles to you!!!
Know that you are always close in thought
even if I can't get around to visit with you!

Please click on that darling little
picture at the top of my sidebar! 
There is still time to help CLIFF!!

Friday is The Day!!

Friday is the day our Sam and her family will be back in Florida!!

Just in time to celebrate the joy of Christmas with us!!!

YIPPEE!!

My mother's heart is soooo full!
Can't wait to give them all big, huge hugs!!

Emily I'm sure has grown like a weed in the last 6 months!
She sounds so much more grown up on the phone!

What a wonderful Christmas present!

{photo from Country Living}

All you grammies out there know what I'm talking about!

Grandchildren add this dimension to your life that brings
unspeakable joy!  And the fact that Sam is also bringing our second
grandy home in the "cooker"  just delights my soul even more!

Next May we will be blessed by his/her arrival!  Great birthday present
for me, huh? Happy Birthday to me!! {smile}

Just had to share my joy with you this morning!
Please pray for safe travel for everyone!!

Have a wonderful day, and know how very much
I appreciate each of you!!