"...more than all my things!"

I think Christmas is a highlight of most peoples year, with the fellowship of friends and family, the extra food and festivities, music and merriment life just seems...more alive! It's also a time of extra work and running around, long days and short nights many things sometimes get forgotten with priority being placed on Christmas itself.

The giving and receiving of gifts is also one of the driving forces of the season! Finding that perfect gift for people can be so difficult. My perfect gift this year was the love of a child. On the night of Christmas day while tucking Jade (4) into bed and praying with her for the night I was giving her a hug when out of the blue she says "Daddy, I love you more than all my toys and things!" Nothing will make your heart skip a beat the way a child's love can. It's total and unconditional, a treasure to be cherished.

A few nights later while over at a relatives house I was checking my email while sitting on the floor, being that was the closest network hookup. Jade came running through the room and tripped and fell right onto my laptop screen breaking the LCD display which sent a million little colored lines across the once viewable area. Amazingly all I could do was laugh!

Everyone wanted to see what happened and as each person took a look at the damage comments like "Oh my that's going to be expensive to fix." "Too bad it's no longer under warranty!" and others were being said. When Jade realized what she had done she started crying and I picked her up and hugged her while whispering in her ear, "Don't worry Baby, I love you more then all my things! I am so thankful you didn't get hurt!" She stopped crying and a smile danced on her face...I think at that moment she also felt love as her perfect gift.

So no matter what happens to you this year, what things may come and go in your life, what you might or might not have, just remember that Jesus loves you more than anything. I love you too! Big Hug!

Thursday Thought – I Laugh

When someone slaps you upside the head just to see if it will bother you what do you do?
I laugh!!

When your looking for a home and you lose your right of mobility what do you do?
I laugh!!

When all you want to do is talk to a loved one and you can't get through to them cuz all internalional circuts are busy what do you do?
I laugh!!

When your heart and soul in the human form of a 4 yr old girl trips and lands on your laptop screen smashing it to where only a small corner still works, what do you do?
I laugh!!

You could say it wasn't my day...but you know what? I am laughing!!

No matter what life throws your way....you are bigger then life... So Laugh!

Vodka and Red Bull Christmas Cake

Vodka and Red Bull Christmas Cake

Ingredients:
1 cup water
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
4 large eggs
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 cups dried fruit
1 tsp lemon juice
4 oz. nuts
1 can Red Bull
1 bottle Vodka

METHOD
1. Sample the vodka to check the quality. (VERY IMPORTANT)
2. Take a large bowl, check the vodka again.
3. To be sure it is of the highest quality, pour one level cup of vodka and mix with a little Red Bull and drink.
4. Repeat
5. Turn on the electric mixer, beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl
6. Add one teaspoon of sugar. Beat again.
7. At this point it is best to make sure the vodka is still ok.
8. Flavour with Red Bull to taste.
9. Try another cup – just in case, turn the mixerer off.
10. Break two leggs and add to the bowl and chuck in a cup of dried fruit.
11. Pick fruit off the floor
12. Mix on the turner
13. If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaterers, pry loose with a drewscriver
14. Shample the vodka to check for tonsisticitiy, flavour with a little Bed Rull.
15. Next, ssifffft two cups of salt. Or something… Who giveshz a shniz*
16. Throw a pinch of Bed Rull over your shoulder
17. Pick up the can, mop the floor.
18. Check the vodka (shee steps 3 and 4)
19. Now shift the lemon and strain your nuts..
20. Add one table
21. Add a shpoon of shugar, or somefink. Whatever you can find.
22. Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over.
23. Don’t forget to beat off the turner
24. Finally, throw the bowl through the window, finish the vodka and kick the pinata.
25. Fall into bed.

Cherry Mistmas!

Thursday Thought – My Carpe Diem

Fear is temporary...Regret is eternal

4 BabyLove

Babylove, here's some food photos for you of my dinner tonight. Merry Christmas!

Champions Dream Team

5D + 5G = Zero Defeat.

Calvin, Cristina and Brian are the greatest F.R. partners anyone can ask for. We still have a week to go and then we all head back to our respective homes. Thanks guys for helping to make this Christmas a memorable one for me.

Thursday Thought - We are winners!

Excerpts from "Nothing is too hard for Jesus!"

The Enemy has been given permission to test and try your faith now, but only so that it can be made whiter, more pure and precious, and thus be more rewarded. What he's really doing is adding to your ever growing and grand reward. He can't take anything away from you. Even his attacks only bring you more glory, more honor, more strength, more love, more reward. What can he do to you?

Why do you fear his attacks, when you know that he can't touch you, that he will never win, that even the pain he causes you now will be swallowed up in My love for you, that all things work together for your good, that I am in control, that I will never fail you or leave you, that I will come through for you, that I've already conquered him through My death on the cross, that I will bear the burdens for you, that My spiritual weapons and warriors are all-powerful and know no defeat, that the end of the story is already written, and that there is a permanent happy ending for you and Me and pain and destruction for him?

Dinner 4 three.

Last night Cristina and I had dinner with my brother and I wanted to get some photos up for those of you who miss my food posts. ;) My bro, Eli made this whole dinner on a BBQ grill.

Lamb, with pepper and mushroom shish ka bobs, grilled squash, zucchini and asparagus along with Greek salad.

My beer of choice, Red Hooks Long Hammer IPA

Prayers Prayed

So often in our lives we pray for things and the Lord does a miracle or sends the answer almost before we finish praying. It's so easy to trust the Lord when we see those kinds of answers. Sometimes the answer is what we we hoping for and other times the answer is what He knows is best for us.

Some prayers are not answered right away, these are the ones that take the most faith to believe in. When prayed often over a period of many days, months or even years we get tempted and tired and at times feel like giving up or that our prayers aren't having an effect. Then the answer does come...and all the more it means to us.

This past week I have seen the prayers that I have been praying for 12 years for someone close to me answered. Seeing and hearing that answer was a feeling so powerful I have never experienced.

It was AWESOME!!!

So no matter how long it takes or how often you feel like your not making a difference or it may seem that things are only getting worse...keep praying the answer ALWAYS comes.

And for all you who have prayed for me, Thanks!!! They mean the world to me! I am praying for you!

Email from a Friend.

Friendship

None of that Sissy Crap

Are you tired of those sissy 'friendship' poems that always sound good, but never actually come close to reality?

Well, here is a series of promises that actually speak of true friendship.

You will see no cutesy little smiley faces on this card-

Just the stone cold truth of our great friendship.



1. When you are sad - I will help you get drunk and plot revenge against the sorry bastard who made you sad.


2. When you are blue -- I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.


3. When you smile -- I will know you are plotting something that I must be involved in.


4. When you are scared -- I will rag on you about it every chance I get.


5. When you are worried -- I will tell you horrible stories about how much worse it could be until you quit whining.

6. When you are confused -- I will use little words.


7. When you are sick -- stay the hell away from me until you are well again. I don't want whatever you have.


8. When you fall -- I will point and laugh at your clumsy ass.


9. This is my oath.... I pledge it to the end.
'Why?' you may ask;

'Because you are my friend.'


Friendship is like peeing in your pants; everyone can see it,

But only you can feel the true warmth.



Send this to 10 of your closest friends,
Then get depressed because you can only think of 4.

Thursday Thought – Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS...!!!!

Twas a month before Christmas

When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.

Why the PC Police
had taken away,
The reason for Christmas -
no one could say.

The children were told
by their schools not to sing,
About Shepherds and Wise Men
and Angels and things.

It might hurt people's feelings,
the teachers would say
December 25th
is just a 'Holiday'.

Yet the shoppers were ready
with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down
to the floor just to get it!

CDs from Madonna,
an X BOX, an I-pod
Something was changing,
something quite odd!

Retailers promoted
Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by
Franken & Fonda.

As Targets were hanging
their trees upside down
At Lowe's the word Christmas -
was no where to be found.

At K-Mart and Staples
and Penny's and Sears
You won't hear the word Christmas;
it won't touch your ears.

Inclusive, sensitive,
Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used
to intimidate me.

Now Daschle, Now Darden,
Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather,
on Kerry, on Clinton!

At the top of the Senate,
there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus,
in all public matter.

And we spoke not a word,
as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak
of salvation and grace.

The true Gift of Christmas
was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season,
stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate 'Winter Break'
under your 'Dream Tree'
Sipping your Starbucks,
listen to me.

Choose your words carefully,
choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS...!!!!
not Happy Holiday!

Agian...

Well I am on the road agian for a few weeks...fundraising. Please keep it in your prayers that all goes well. I am so thankful for all that the Lord is already doing...little miracles in my own life as well as supplying our every need.

HB2Y....

The beautiful Ambie had her baby today... No photos of the babe or the name on her blog yet so I will update that after she announces it. Praying for you Ambie, you are such a fighter. Congratulations on the little one.

HB2Y Jade

My dear baby Jade is turning 4 today, won't be able to call her my baby much longer. She already corrects me when I call her that stating that she's "a big girl!" She is my heart and soul, my reason for being who I am. I want to be the best person I can so that she will always be proud to call me her dad. Jade I love you! I hope you have a happy birthday and that the Lord does some amazing things for you. You are my Treasure!!

HB2Y Liz Luna

Happy Birthday Liz. You are a cool and fun person to have in the home...I am glad you choose our home over the many option you had. May your 17th year be better then the preceding ones. May you find happiness in following the Lord and continuing to put Him first in your life. I hope and pray that all your secret prayers are answered...or at least the ones that would be good for you.

Okay now I know you are not going to like this photo of you up but I thought it would be safer then the alternatives of you and Cris and the banana or the one from the dress up night where you were covered in leopard spots.... oh well maybe next year.