Christmas Checklist

Tree up and decorated. 
Nativities set up
Lights on the house
Field trip to tree farm with Andrews class, since we use a fake one.
Chtristmas cards sent out
The Nutcracker seen and enjoyed with girls
A Christmas Carol  seen and enjoyed with Aaron's class
Winter parties at school done and gifts for all the teachers and bus drivers
Christmas dinners with friends
Baked goodies passed out for all of our neighbors(17)
More baking than I care to count up!
Gingerbread house made
Advent calendar opened every day
Ornaments made and given
Gifts bought and wrapped
More basketball games gone to than I care to count
Sledding in our front yard
Work Christmas parties gone to
Reaker Family Christmas done
Bennett family Christmas done

All that is left is Christmas with my family on Christmas eve, here.  Christmas eve eve service on the 23rd due to the aforementioned.

And most of all Rejoicing in the Promises kept so many years ago to John the Baptist, Joseph, Mary and for all people.

We are so very grateful to be doing life with so many wonderful people.  Thanking God every day for our abundance of blessings.
tia
May God richly bless you this Christms season

Health Care Reform

Is anyone interested in this health care reform vote which happened this morning at 1am?

here is an article which, in my estimation, does a good job of explaining the current status.

not exactly the most exciting stuff yet very relevant.

jb

Benefit #2

Here we go again:

1 Praise the LORD, O my soul;


all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

2 Praise the LORD, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits-

Benefit #2:
4 who redeems your life from the pit



and crowns you with love and compassion,
 
I am not certain that the "pit" alluded to here specifically means "hell". 
 
However...
 
I am absolutely certain that we all have fallen into "pits" in our lifetimes and have needed  a Redeemer.
 
So....
 
Not only are we dragged up from a pit....which is amazing enough... we are then crowned (like a King) with love and compassion.  I am not sure what this means exactly. To be crowned with love and compassion?  As I think about its impact on me in 2009 I feel comforted and buoyed to be more than I have been.
 
jb

You're Beautiful

If you haven't had the opportunity to enjoy the song by Phil Wickham, "You're Beautiful" then you should.

Please press here to enjoy the song and see an excellent video.

jb

Mercy Again

PSALM 103
1 Praise the LORD, O my soul;



all my inmost being, praise his holy name.


2 Praise the LORD, O my soul,


and forget not all his benefits-

Guess what the first benefit listed is?

3 who forgives all your sins



and heals all your diseases,
 
I, as well like David the Psalmist, would like to remind us all of His benefits:
 
Chiefly.... mercy.  Its free. Its freeing. And Its Amazingly Wonderful. (is that redundant?)
 
David continues to describe more benefits.... but I will talk about those in another post....
 
jb

Oh Christmas Tree...

Funny thing is the star is too heavy so it is sitting on the mantel and there is a paper angel on the top now!Aaron is showing us his "Zumba" moves from PE class.  I laughed until I cried.

Pre lit trees are nice, this one is 2 years old and all the lights still work.  The tree has all the kids ornaments on it and all of my meaningful ones.  They get tired of my stories behind each one.  One day they will appreciate it!

    The reason we have a fake tree is many fold.  Joe and I both grew up in homes with artificial trees, we have a dog, allergies etc.
     They first few years we were married we did have a real tree.  Our first one looked like Charlie Browns Tree, after Joe had a fit at the cost of a tree.  "Its dead, why do I have to pay $15 for a dead tree."  Granted that was cheap, but it started our first Christmas together on a sour note.
     The next year we went to a big box store and bought a real tree from the parking lot the week before Christmas. Meaning, I got a bigger tree at a cheaper price.  We got the tree home and the trunk was crooked.  We didn't know you had to cut the trunk down to size sometimes.  He calls his friend Curt and gets a saw of some sort and after 4 trips in and out of the house with the tree, its up.  Joe vows to never get a real tree again- Merry Christmas.  We also had a big dog and a small house.  The dogs tail knocked it over a few times, broke ornaments etc.

      Needless to say we had no tree for the next 2 years until my parents bought a new one.  Now the one they passed down to us was bought in 1982.  So it was quality!  I think they felt bad, since Amy had no tree for her first Christmas.  I am pretty sure she won't need counseling for it.
     After the ornaments had been in storage for a few years, we pull them out and they are all moldy!  I am devastated, some were irreplaceable.  I cry and cry and then realize they are things and we will make new memories.
     Christmas's trees have been pretty uneventful since then.  Oh yeah, except for the year Aaron(2) pulled the tree down and cut himself on a broken ornament.  We still have a bloody precious moment ornament on the tree as a reminder(I cleaned it off as best I could).
     The last few years of our last tree it was tied with dental floss to a nail in the wall, so no one could knock it down.

This year will be different. Only time will tell.

Tooth Fairy Visits

Andrew noticed a few days ago that it felt funny behind is bottom teeth.  His new teeth were coming in before he lost his baby teeth.  We visited the dentist yesterday and they decided to remove 2 of his bottom teeth.  He did great and was very brave.  They gave him laughing gas and numbed it up and pulled the 2 out.  He didn't like his chin being numb.  "It feels like my chin is a big bubbble."

 He got to put 2 teeth under his pillow last night.  $2.  was waiting for him this morning. 

He also gets to announce to his class that he lost the teeth, and he is calendar helper this week.
 "No one has ever lost a tooth while being calendar helper." 

St. Louis Wrap up

I know this has taken me forever to finish.  I am cleaning out the office today while Joe is out of town, so I had 3 hours to download the pictures(only a slight exaggeration!). 
Joe's Brother and SIL took s to the Colts game while in St. Louis.  It ws a lot of fun and since it was so close, there were a lot of colts fans there. Seats were great, and the company was too!  It was a beautiful fall day.  I love the Arch, I think it looks majestic.
We had to pry the kids off of the trampoline to leave- they love playing with their cousins!

In conclusion;  If you want a family friendly, pocket book friendly, close by vacation, head to St. Louis.

Free: St. Louis science museum-very nice!, Purina Farms, St. Louis Zoo, St Louis Art Museum. There is beautiful scenery and parks everywhere. 

For a fee: Looking at the Arch and the museum is free, but riding up in it costs a little.
The City Musseum was pricey, but worth it.  One of a kind and so much to do and see. Kids loved it.
The Magic House- childrens museum- very hands on and fun.
Grants farm- we had a beautiful day, a lot of history there.  Minimal cost.  Looking at the Clydesdales is free and they are beautiful.

We are looking forward to the Reeds moving back next summer, but we have loved visiting too.  Of course, they are our main attraction!

Suffering Well

I found this devotional on a friends web page and thought that it was so good.  I know it is the Chrismas season and the True season of Joy, but I can't not think that Mary and Joseph had to suffer greatly in their journey( the donkey ride alone would have done me in!).

Today is also World AIDS day.  I used to be so judgmental about AIDS.  God has definitely softened my heart to the millions of INNOCENT people and children who suffer and die due to this cruel disease all over the world. 

Suffering Well


1 Peter 2:4-25



"WHAT GOOD IS SUFFERING?"

Have you ever asked that question? If so, you're not alone. The problem of pain and suffering in the world has turned many people away from faith in God and has inspired countless books and articles. Scholars and laypeople have tried for centuries to unravel the mystery of how God's plan can include evil in any form.

We live in a corrupt, fallen world in which illness occurs, violence happens and evil, for the time being, is allowed to run its course. Suffering is inevitable... our passage today even tells us we were "called" to suffer. It's not a matter of if we will suffer but when we will suffer. As believers in Jesus Christ, however, suffering offers the opportunity to display Christ's character and grace. For Christians, rather than asking, "Why does God allow suffering?" or even, "Why am I suffering?" we should ask, "How can I suffer well?"

Most of the early church leaders suffered violent deaths because of their outspoken and radical faith in Jesus. But every time one of them was martyred, the number of Christians grew. Why? Because people long to give themselves fully to a cause worth dying for. We all long for purpose and peace- and Jesus Christ offers both.

In his book Velvet Elvis, Bible teacher Rob Bell writes, "Ultimately our gift to the world around us is hope. Not blind hope that pretends everything is fine and refuses to acknowledge how things are. But the kind of hope that comes from staring pain and suffering right in the eyes and refusing to believe that this is all there is. It is what we all need- hope that comes not from going around suffering but from going through it."

Let's pray that God will allow us the privilege and strength of suffering well... for our sake, for his sake and for the sake of those who don't yet know him.

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."- 1 Peter 2:9

Mercy

" as far as the east is from the west,


so far has he removed our transgressions from us. "

Psalm 103:12

God doesnt just barely forgive us.....

Our transgressions are NOT held NEAR...they are REMOVED...

I praise my Savior today for this truth.

jb

Sightseeing Bennett style...

Aaron pouting about someting!

Te beautiful park behind the art museam.  Note the kids rolling down the hill.

We thoroughly exhausted the kids.  As you can see they were enraptured by the art museum.

After starting our day off at Grants Farm, we headed to the St. Louis Zoo.  I love this Zoo, its free and it has bears and lots of diffeent kinds of monkeys.  We loved watching the bears get fed, they are huge.
The kids were troopers, we walked a lot.
Across the street from te Zoo is the St. Louis Museum of Art. Also free.  The kids were thrilled to get to go!(sarcasm noted)  They did end up thinking it was cool.  Lots of old(B.C.) pottery, beautiful and interesting paintings too.
We then went out the back door and right intoa gorgeous park(I cant remember the name).  We walked, and rolled, around the park.  It was so beautiful out. 
We spent the day with just the Bennetts, the Reeds didn't dare try and keep up wth us! hee hee

Grant's Farm

We decided to take a trip to see Grants Farm while in St. Louis.  It was a beautiful fall day. We took a tram ride through the grounds and farm, visited the petting zoo, saw the infamous Clydsdales, Grants original cabin and then headed to our next adventure.

St. Louis Trip

Our Fall break happened to fall on our niece Tori's 20th birthday.  We headed to St. Louis for a visit, and a celebration.
We ate at a restaurant that makes "Huge" pizzas.  This picture doesn't do it justice.  It took up a whole table, so they sat it on the warmer for us.  I guess you could compare it to 4 large pizzas!
Happy Birthday Tori!

Halloween

Here are a few Halloween pictures.  Amy was a "80's aerobic instuctor" , Aaron was a fisherman, Ann was an ice cream cone, and Andrew was Batman.

Pumpkin Patch

I told you, I have needed to post for awhile!
We had a lot of fun and picked apples too.  This is the first year Joe has went with us, on a saturday even.  we went to Stuckey Farms, an hour before closing.  This was really a great time to go, since most people were leaving and it put our kids on a time limit.  They stayed open a little later, since it was so busy though.
This may end up being our Christmas card picture, I think it turned out really well.  They're so cute.

The Thankful Chart

The other nght, whil the rest of the kids were at various practices.  Annie and I were home alone and decided to try a craft.  We made The Thankful Chart.  It was inspired by the one on "We are that family" blog on the side bar(you know me and the linky thingy).  We try and write things down every evening at dinner, that we are thankful for.  They remember when I forget!
Here are some pictures.

Day of Service

Last month our church closed their doors for a weekend and set out to serve the greater Indianpolis area.  4000 people descended on the city to do all sorts of projects for those in need.
Our small group, kids and all, worked at the Agape House.  It is a house for foster children and a ministry for those sometimes forgotten children.  We did yard work, and home maintenance work.  Joe even got to use a chainsaw, he still has all of his fingers even!  It wasn't too glamorous, but Gods work isn't always.
We all met at the church parking lot to be "commissioned" and to get last minute instructions.  My favorite quote from our pastor that morning was:  " Repeat after me.  Today is not about ME."  He also reminded us to "look" for Jesus in the little things and the people we saw.
There were many projects, some in dangerous areas, some ran a marathon to raise money and awareness for an agency!  There was something for everyone, and it was done over 2 days one weekend.  Enjoy the few pictures I have.

Moday Menus

Monday
Tacos
fruit

Tuesday
Pork barbeque in the crock pot
fruit
green beans

Wednesday
Chicken Breasts on the grill
caesar salad
fruit

Thursday
Beef stew in crock pot

Friday
leftovers or eat out due to work and basketball games

I have so much to blog about and no time to do it.  Hopefully soon!

40/40

10.  weekends.
9.  Sundays in the fall (football primarily)
8.  grace
7.  hope
6.  contentment
5.  neighbors who mow my yard without being asked
4.  tomatos (or is it tomatoes?)
3.  love
2.  mercy
1.  a job that provides for our needs by God's grace.

well that is 40 things for which I am thankful.

that was an easy list to make....anybody else wanna try?

jb

30/40

10.  My friends
9.  Sports to coach
8.  Sports to play
7.  watching my kiddos enjoy sports.
6.  any book by John Grisham
5.  any book by C.S. Lewis (which reminds me to find those science fiction books he wrote... anyone help with those?? )
4.  any book by Clive Cussler (Dirk Pitt series)
3.  the change of seasons in Indiana
2.  Christmas traditions (especially cookies)
1.  My brother and family moving back to Indy next summer.

40 cntd

10.  the colts
9. the cubs (even when they are frustrating)
8. the Irish
7.  music by Chris Tomlin
6.  music by Bebo Norman
5.  basketball
4.  my brother
3.  my sisters
2.  my in-laws (I am not joking either... :)
1.  Halloween candy

half-way there.

jb

40

In honor of my 40th bday yesterday I am going list 40 things of which I am thankful.

10 per day ummm for 4 days.....I believe that will get me to 40.....:)

Hope your Autumn is going nicely....We have been extremely busy ( I know, shocking) yet God has continued to grace us abundantly.

1. Family.  Wonderful wife, healthy kids.
2. Health. 
3.  Our chuch.
4.  Our small-group.
5.  My mens group.
6.  My siblings.
7.  My Mom.
8.  My 1998 honda civic. :)
9.  My XM radio.
10.  Kelsey, our chocolate lab.  (although she is naughty!)


In no particular order by the way.... in case  you were wondering.

jb

10 weeks until Christmas!

I always start my shopping early.  This year is no different, I have a lot bought already.  I still have a lot to do though. 

Our kids each receive 3 gifts from us on Christmas Day.  This is to symbolize the 3 gifts Jesus received, but also to set a limit.  We don't set dollar amount limits.  Some years one will get a big gift and other years another will get one.  Honestly, some of their favorite gifts aren't ones that cost the most. 

A craft box filled with crafting supplies was a big hit for Ann one year and Andrew asked for it the next year.
Amy always likes a big box of books.
Aaron can be hard to buy for.  There are only so many jerseys he can wear! 
Annie asked for a chapstick of her own one year.

We do stockings too.  We put little gifts and candy, gum, (chapstick) etc. in them.  They each get a new pair of pajamas on christmas eve, with slippers sometimes too.

Not having cable or being able to watch TV during the week, helps too.  No commercials definitely helps the "I wants"

I love Christmas and I love buying gifts.  Joe seldom buys too many, but he always knows what they are getting.  Family Christmas's are a different story.  I give him the low down on the way to the gathering.

Our goal is to make Christmas about Christ and not about the gifts.  The World makes it hard, but we fight it all the way.
I will share some of our favorite traditions in the coming weeks.

Monday Menus

Monday- Amy's Day
Chicken strips
Mac and cheese
applesauce

Tuesday
Ham steaks
green beans
mashed potatoes

Wednesday
Chicken and wild rice soup
bread
salad

Thursday through sunday
In St. Louis visiting the Reeds for Fall break.
Happy 20th Birthday Tori!

I think I'm going crazy....

This past week:

I forgot Annie's snack for her soccer game( no one wants rice krispie treats at 8am anyway right?)

I burned Andrews homework.  Yes, you heard it right.  I put Andrews homework in the the tree stump we now call a bonfire.  Fun email to teacher, who has to think I am a lunatic.  She says it was a first in her teaching career. I thought it was a an old one.

I was a no call no show for Ann's eye appt. we have been waiting for to try and explain her nightly headaches.

I wore blue today for blue friday.  We have the bye this week.

I did not know of Boss's day until the night before and had to run to the grocery store to buy him M&M's (premium mint ones, of course, he deserves only the best) and a card.

I thought I had missed a fund raiser pick up due to working late and went to the school the next day to apologize.  The pick up is next month. 
I think the office staff thinks I may have Alzheimers, I'm beginning to wonder myself!

Cross Country Champ

Our boys have their Dads internal clock that wakes them up at 7am EVERY day.   As they get older they can usually fall back to sleep.  Joe is a pro at it now!  Anyway, Andrew came into our room sunday morning at 7 and said he couldn't fall back to sleep, so he crawled up in bed.  Now I can't go back to sleep.  So I go into Andrew's room to get in his bed- (don't ask why.... Im delerious in the early am.)

 Aaron hears me and then asks what I am doing?
He says, "just come snuggle with me".
 "O.K.  but why aren't you sleeping?' I ask.
"I can't stop thinking about the race"!

Well after playing in a soccer match in the morning....

He ends up winning the Indiana Middle School State Cross Country Race for 3, 4, and 5th graders Saturday.  Needless to say he is still pumped.  It was a 3k at Northview Church in Carmel.  He ran it in 11:47.0, he beat the other boy by only .1!  They sprinted 80 yards to the end, shoulder to shoulder.(insert chariots of fire video)

Go to here for a picture of the final sprint. He is the one on the right wearing the white shirt in case you werent sure.

Go here to see the plain-text official results.

We are very proud of him.

Small group

Small group was fun today.  Chilly and windy, but fun.

The girls weren't supposed to be in the water fountain, but they were so cute I had to take their picture.Porter with the football!

Joe was playing football with the kids.  He is teaching the kids a route.

Porter is a new walker and Ann and Sydney were happy to help him.

Another water fountain shot, before she got her coat soaked and had to take it off.

God has blessed us with great friends and a fun small group.  We discussed the book "The Attentive Life".  We haven't been too impressed with the book, but we had a good informal discussion anyway and we all hope it gets better :)

Monday Menus

Monday- Amy's night
Steaks(we went out with Joes boss to Carrabas last week and nixed the steaks)
Amy said "but I don't know how to make steaks"  I told her Daddy would help.
Green beans
Rolls

Tuesday
Routisserie Chicken(heading to Costco today!)
salad
Applesauce

Wednesday
Fresh Linguine with sausage and spinach(Weight watcher recipe)
fruit

Thursday
Beef stew in crock pot

Friday
Chili in the crock pot

Monday menus

I know its tuesday.... it was a long day yesterday!

Monday:
Amy's night
Taco's
salad

Tuesday
Sesame chicken with rice(this got bumped last week with Andrews birthday dinner of chicken nuggets and mac and cheese)
homemade applesauce(our neighbor gave us some!)

Wednesday:
Chicken tortilla soup
bread
fruit

Thursday:
Steaks
green beans
potatoes

Friday:
We are every which way tonight.
Catch what you can!

Joe and I are trying the (modified)Adkins diet once again this week.  I really, reallly , reallly like sugar.  I miss it so! 
We have lost w

Prayer request...

I just read about a former student of Joes from Northwood.  Her name is Sarah(Moneyheffer) Damaska.  She was one of our babysitters for Amy when she was a mere babe.
 So sweet, we were so not surprised when she married someone in full time ministry.  Her wedding was beautiful, she has since had 3 beautiful children.
Her youngest Annie Jane died tuesday of a brain tumor.  I don't know the details, they don't matter really.  She was 7 months old and had brain tumor that they just recently found out about.
My heart aches for them.  Like I said last week, God knows their pain and He weeps with them.

Please join me in praying for them.
psdamaska.blogspot.com
mjmoyer2.blogspot.com

Happy Birthday Baby Boy

My baby is 7 today.  It can't be.  Amy, our oldest was only 6 when he was born.  We have lived in the same house his whole life.  Seems so odd to me.

He had a long birthday list.  I think he may be disappointed when he opens his gifts.  No 4 wheeler, no ipod touch.  Only the youngest child thinks of these things.
  He will just have to make do with 2 new pairs of shoes, new lunchbox, (I know it sounds lame, but they were on his list too!), westfield rocks sweat shirt and pants, and The Star Wars prequel movies.  Grandma and Grandpa got him a bike and video game and uncle Buddy and aunt Leann got him a flag football set, so all the fun stuff was taken.
  I am taking in cookie cake for his class this afternoon and I drove him to school this morning.

 He is having a friends party on friday night- Football Themed.
Happy Birthday Baby boy!  He was born at 1158 pm, so he informed me he really isnt 7 yet.
I love you dearly, you have brought our family much joy!

These are of our little quarterback in action last weekend.