Happy New Year!

Well we made it home from the Holiday tournament in Amherst..(We won the tournament... tied with 6 seconds left on the clock and as the buzzer sounded Newphew Cody put it in to win the game. So proud of that young man and the whole team!) And now the partying has begun. You know how it is now that the kids are growing. No longer is it about you ringing in the new year it's about making sure your children make memories that will stay with them... So Ciara is out with Cody, Ellie and Schylar are watching the boys...Jayden, Jake, and Zack act a little crazy.

So the sparkling cider has been chilled (or as Jayden says the bubbly) and the mini burgers warmed and the party is on. Lance rode home on the bus with Harlin and so Zack came with us. We stopped at Walmart in Kearney and the boys found the mini burgers. Who knew mini burgers could make a party? Need to try making some of these from scratch.

So here is wishing all of you a wonderful 2009 and pray your 2008 was filled with memories to treasure forever!

Blessings

Roxanne

Joy to the World

Joy to world, the Lord is come
(Have you every stopped and thought this song through?)
Let earth receive her King.
(Is that not the prayer of all Christians?)
Let ev'ry heart prepare him room
( I have prayed this during this Christmas season that every heart could prepare room for Jesus)
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and heaven and nature sing.
(Would it not be a blessing for heaven and nature so celebrate this joyous day)
This past week was my monthly dinner date with the "girls". I made them all wreaths with some of my antique ornaments with the Lyrics of this song attached. We talked about how many times we sing it.. It was our "devotion for the night" so to speak... and speak to me it did. I love this song. About three weeks ago as I was spending my quiet time, this song came on the xm and I chose to make that my prayer for this Christmas season... so please join me in singing (and praying) the rest of this precious song.
Joy to the world, the saviour reigns
Let men their songs employ,
While fields and floods, rock, hills and plains,
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat repeat the sounding joy!
No more let sin and sorrow grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground.
He comes to make his blessings flow
Far as the curse is found
Far as the curse is found
Far as far as the curse is found.
He rules the world
with truth and grace,
And makes the nation prove
(People do you hear what this old Christmas carol is saying? )
The glories of his righteouness
And wonder of His love
And wonder of His love
And wonder and wonder of His Love!
Merry CHRISTmas!
Blessings
Roxanne

The Annual Community Christmas Pageant

Every year the Ainsworth womens club puts on a community Christmas pageant. It is held @ the school in the learning center. This year my girls were asked to sing. What a privelage and an honor. They sang "Not That Far From Bethlehem" and did a wonderful job if I do say so myself. Here are a few pics of the program.

Our church is located right across the street from the church and so our teens every year have a soup supper as a fundraiser. People come, eat soup and then go to the pageant. I sat down with a group of older ladies and they started telling me about the first program over 50 years ago. The first pageant was held outside downtown Ainsworth. They said that the fourth or fifth year it was a blizzard but they still had the pageant. They talked about layering their kids up so to stay warm through the pageant. I love stories and history like that.

Blessings and Merry Christmas to everyone!

Roxanne

Our Home away from home

I thought I would share a few pics from what we call our home away from home. When life seems to complicated, this is where we go. Wish we could go more but when I am here, I don't worry about the dirty house, money, laundry, work... etc. It used to be the country school that I went to until high school. My parents purchased it and it is now a cabin.. We love love love the serenity of this place.

This is Lances first deer he ever shot.
The old school sign... wow the memories

Lance and the babies with Lances other deer mount.

Blessings

Roxanne

People let me tell you about my best FRIEND

O.K. so I'm pretty sure my mom is going to shoot me when she realizes I posted a picture of her. She, like me, hates pictures but... this is important stuff people. The title of this post is that old song- you know it- People let me tell you about my best friend.... Well here she is.. Schylar had stolen the camera and was taking lots and lots of pics. I love this pic. I could not have asked for more in a mom. I remember when I first became pregnant. The first thought that came to my mind was how was I ever going to be the Mom that my Mom had been to me. She was my prayer warrior, my confidant, a gentle but stern discipliner (is that a word?) and always wanted the world for her children. I love it when people say you look just alike or you sound just like her but what would be even more of an honor is for them to say you act just like her. That my friends would be the biggest compliment anyone could ever pay me. Thank you Mom for all that you are to me. You truly are my best friend and I don't know what I would do without you.

GO BIG RED!!!!!!!

Jayden asked me to do this post. (Please don't tell him it's a month late in posting please:-)) Nebraska pulled through and on New Years day we will be seated around the t.v. watching the best team ever.

This is my baby boy all grown up sporting his Husker jersey and cap that is just like Larry The Cable Guys Husker cap. (We have great role models for our children, don't you think?) Just kidding.. Jayden saw him in an interview during a Husker game and had to have a cap like the famous guy.

Thanksgiving post...a month late

So I am about a month behind in posting family events and activities. So today we will try to catch up. Our thanksgiving was wonderful.. There were only 12 of us around the table but they were 11 of my favorite people so what more could you ask for? (Yes Cody you are one of my favorite people:-))

This is Ciara and Cody...
My spoiled rotten baby brother... and husband and son
The dinner table right before we sat down. My son convinced his G-ma to buy 7 bottles of "bubbly".. Apple cider... We drank all of them and the kids loved it...
This is my hubby and friend Brian preparing the turkeys the night before frying our yummy birds. We tried a different rub this year ( I added brown sugar... a deffinate must from here on out)
This is Jayden and one of our neighbor boys who spent part of the week of Thanksgiving with us. His mom was in Omaha with his G-ma who was fighting for her life. She came through... Lance calls Fay our come back kid. PTL!!! The boys are wrapping up our green been bundles.

I guess it would be too late to say happy thanksgiving... so Merry Christmas y'all.

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him."1 John 5:14-15 This is the verse I will choose to live by today tomorrow and forever.

God is good post 2

Ready for God is good #2? Lance and I have been praying for him a prayer partner and an accountability partner. About a month ago I mentioned a young man that I thought would be a great fit for Lance. He is taking courses online to become a pastor and I love his wife!! (No that's not pertinant to a good prayer partner but just thought I'd say?!:-)) Anyhoo Sunday night as we were working on some projects together the phone rang. Jay gave it to Lance and he went into our bedroom and was gone for about half an hour. When he came out he was a blessed man. He shared with me that this young man that we had thought about as his prayer partner had been working that afternoon and the Lord put Lances face in front of him... Coincidence? I think not!!! One of our former pastors called them Godsidences (not sure of the spelling there) and I agree. So Lance has a Godly man to hold him accountable, pray with, and grow with. God is good post 2

God is good!!!

I know I recently posted about a book that a dear friend gave me on the power of a praying parent. It is a small paperback with scripture, words of wisdom, a place to journal, and a prayer by the author. Well once a month I meet with what started out as three wonderful ladies that the Lord has placed in my life . There are now five of us. We have been meeting once a month for awesome salads at our local steakhouse and just encouragement. We now have decided to begin to go through the power of a praying parent together. I purchased the books and we will do one prayer/scripture a week and then come back together and share what God is doing in our childrens lives and how to pray for each other. One precious Mom sent an e-mail telling me how wonderful it is to have people want the best for her children and not be jealous. Isn't it sad that that is how our world is today but so true!! Just felt I wanted to share today all of my blessings and praises! Yes I know thanksgiving is gone... but I know God loves to hear our praises and I thank him for His faithfulness.

Girls trip

TOBY MAC BABY!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday I ran to Springview to catch up in my office and while I was there I was asked to go with a group to Toby Mac in concert the next day in Lincoln. After trying to talk myself out of why I shouldnt' or couldn't, I decided to go and am so glad I did! We left yesterday morning and were home by 4:00 a.m. today! Had the opportunity to get to know some great sisters in Christ as well.

Thank you Papa!!

Jayden's 1st Deer!!!!
Thank you Papa for taking Jayden on his 1st deer hunt! Lance is still in Kadoka working for the electrical company there and Jayden has been broken hearted that he couldn't go hunting... so we called upon Papa and look at the results. Only 5 minutes into the hunt and he got this nice 2x3 mully (sp?). Dad said he wished he would have had the camera to take a picture of Jayden right after he shot. Priceless.. Thank you Papa!! Thank you Mickey for the permit!! We are so blessed by the Godly men in my sons life.

Rapunzel...

Tonight was our school's play production and our Ciara played Rapunzel. She did a lovely job!

The 30 point buck for the 60 point lady :-)

Thought we better post the great accomplishment!

Love you Lois

Happy 60th Aunt Louise :-)

Today we celebrated my Aunt Loie's 60th birthday! She lives in Denver and so it isn't very often that we get to celebrate her special day. This year she decided to go deer hunting with her bro's and so we decided to throw her a surprise party..

In front of our house we posted a sign that my darling son made that said "We support Aunt Louis (yep not aunt lois, aunt louis:-)) turning 60!! Then by the poster were a few support bras although as you see, Lance used them for other purposes.. Also notice the precious gift that Lance gave our Lois.. preperation H, stool softener... you get the idea.

So happy birthday Aunt Louis... hope you enjoyed your black tiara, black wand, black rose... and the support your family always provides for you!!

Daddy leaves in 2 days :-(

(Sky and Daddy watching the huskers and eatin popcorn)

My husband is a utillity lineman and has been called to help in Kadoka (sp?) South Dakota this next week as they have been out of electricity now for almost 10 days. Our life isn't quite right without Daddy... He wakes us all in the morning. He makes us laugh lots. He is just right to snuggle with... He is our Daddy, and my husband.. We will miss him and pray he comes home safely in time for Thanksgiving....

It's Christmas Time @ the Philbens

Thought I would post a few pics of the beginning of the christmas decorating at the Philbens..

To Paint or not to paint?!?!

O.K.,,, so here's the thing. I"ve been looking for a tall lamp for quite some time now but just didn't have $100 to throw down for one. My mother in law came over today and so we went to an auction and low and behold... here is my lamp..$8.00 later and now the infamous question. To paint or not to paint? I purchased a black lamp shade and now... what to do? Anyone have any good ideas? The color in the wood is pretty but I know there are some ingenious junque bloggers out there that know exactly what I should do. I thought of painting it silver with a black stain over it and then put faux silver tiger spots on the lamp. What do you think?