Goings On

Here is the wondrous tree Phoebe picked out! She did a great job, didn't she!

I have been craving my mama's fudge for about 3-4 years, since we moved away! So finally, I feel inspired to cook, bake, and make since it the season for goodies! My mama's fudge is my fav and my first attempt at the recipe was a success! Nate helped! Yay! Thanks, Mom!

Not so easy to get a good pic of the magic of a decorated, lit up Christmas tree. I personally, like the fuzzy pic better. Don't you?

See below if you are a detail person. :) haha

Happy Birthday, Natey! (*updated 12/17/09)

More to come...

I need to scan a few. But just look at him!

In lieu of 14 regular stick candles, I used a little creativity (certainly not b/c upon getting ready to light and sing, I dig through entire cupboard and drawer to find I have no little box of stick candles!) and used the "Its the Big 1" candle from when Nate turned One! Plus a "3" candle and one little stick candle!! What?! It was fine! Besides the cake was yummy, and we sang and he blew out some fire! OK?! :)

Touches my heart

The following is an excerpt from the very beautiful end of my Esther Bible study by Beth Moore. I did this study on my own this summer and I loved it. I have been very in love with Esther's story since my dear friend, Bethany, gave me a novelized version of the story to read called Hadassah, One Night with The King, by Tommy Tenney. This ending in my workbook absolutely chokes me up every time I read it. I want to live my life so that the telling of my story is honoring to my Storyteller. Lord, help me...

 One day on the hillside of the new Jerusalem, surrounded by a crowd of glad hearers, the divine Narrator will tell the story of one young woman’s life. It will not be Esther’s. It will not be your teacher’s. It will be yours.

The story will begin something like this: “Once upon a time, in the days of the great and glorious Jesus, King of the vast empire of heaven and earth, there was a little girl who thought she was forgotten. Her name was Adrian but the King called her Beloved. This is the story of how she won His favor.” And with all the drama and emotion a great storyteller can muster, the Rabbi will read the congregation your whole Megillah. The listeners will groan. Bite their nails with suspense. It will be a raucous affair. With every mention of the villain’s name, the crowd will heckle and jeer. Then at the height of the story, when hope seems lost and her life and loves most threatened, He will say these words to the crowd:

“But if only she’d known, she had come to royal position for such a time as this!” By faith alone, to her face she will fall… then to her feet she will rise, ready to do what deliverance demands. Then the Rabbi will quote her resolve: “And if I perish, I perish” and the crowds will stand and cheer! For what if she does perish? Is that the worst this world’s wicked Haman can threaten? On the day that she does, this is what will happen: She will put on her royal robes and stand in the inner court of the palace, in front of the King’s hall. The King will be sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. When he sees his queen standing in the court, he will be pleased with her and hold out to her the gold scepter that is in his hand (Esth 5:1-2).

And she will approach.

And cast her crown at His feet.

“God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes. (Ps 18:24, The Message)