Something to ponder...

"One of the great uses of Twitter and Facebook will be to prove at the Last Day that prayerlessness was not from lack of time."
— John Piper

I heard this on a podcast that I listen to and let that statement fall heavy on me. I don't have either of those...but trust me there are things like email and blogs that I could place in there as well. What a sobering comment...do we spend as much time in prayer as we do on those other "connection" sites? Do we place as much energy, interest, and time into connecting with our Father?

Virginia's Dance Christmas Party

Virginia had her dance Christmas party and it was a real treat because we ALL were able to attend. They had invited us all to come because she was going to do a beautiful dance for us that day! We were so excited to see what she has learned! Virginia has taken dance since she was 2...so this makes her 7th year! She LOVES it...and informed me that in 2 more years she would get to do pointe. She is determined to get pointe shoes! But, there were also lots of other fun things we did while we were there too! Virginia got to do a cute nativity bracelet...but unfortunately her baby Jesus and Mary fell off before we got home. She was really distressed by that because she said, "You can't have Christmas without Mary because she HAD baby Jesus and Jesus kind of SAVED the world!!!" Love it!

She has the cutest group of friends and they all worked so hard to make their bracelets just right.

Then there was the YUMMY food! It was only 11am and she was munching on brownies, cookies, and all kinds of treats!

Then, the got lined up for the dance...it was beautiful!

Virgina and her dance teacher!

Virginia and Hannah are great friends and had several classes together during Timothy Ministry.

We were so glad that daddy was able to come that day!

To end the party the girls got to watch the Nutcracker movie and Virginia was so inspired to work hard to become a ballerina! She's well on her way...great job baby!

Stone Mountain Christmas

The next morning we woke up and headed to meet more college buddies at Stone Mountain for their Christmas celebration. We have gone for several years and love it! So, this year we all decided to go together and it was SUCH fun!

College buddies!

We saw the Polar Express in 4D and Andrew was looking pretty cool in his scarf and glasses! That boy cracks me up!!!

All the kids (and parents!) had a great time playing in the Great Barn. We got to shoot lots of balls and run all over the place having a great time! It is 3 stories tall and we covered every inch of it!

There was a huge maze and also had lots of places to hide and explore. The kiddos had a great time!

Then, after that we headed into the town and all the lights were coming to life! The forecast was calling for terrible weather...but it only drizzled a little bit and it wasn't nearly as cold as it had been the night before. So, there were hardly any people there at ALL. We couldn't believe that since it was a Saturday and only 2 weeks until Christmas!!! But, we sure were glad!!!

We had all bought passes that gave us unlimited hot chocolates and the kiddos really got their money's worth. We went to several shows and the kids totally loved every one of them. You can see that our kids along took up the whole row!

One of the things that we love about Stone Mountain is that every SINGLE show tells the story of Christ's birth in some way. They are VERY open and totally share the Gospel at every turn! We feel so great about giving our money to support a place that share the true meaning of CHRISTmas.

There were some really cool shows with puppets, black lights, singing, dancing, and LOTS more!

The Coca Cola tree is always amazing! Look how little our kiddos look next to it...and it's even cooler when it's lit at night.

Once the sun set...this place really began to take on the look of a wonderland!

At last we headed to the train ride and this was one of our most favorite parts. We got to sip our hot chocolate, sit with great friends, sing Christmas carols as loudly as we could...and hear the Christmas story!

The adults sat on one side while the kids were on the other! We love our college buddies so much...we have walked so many years together. What a true blessing these friends are to our lives!

Then...is the part we all love the best...the Christmas story! It's the real deal...and we LOVE it!

We really loved this show about Christmas around the world! Since we have been studying all about geography and also Christmas around the world...it was a great show filled with lots of great singing and music!!

The finale was the Snow Angel and she was great!! It was so fun to see her fly and then the snow comes to Main Street. It was a winter wonderland and at the end...

FIREWORKS!!

We had the most wonderful day and were so glad to share it with great friends and our family!!!

A-sledding we will go!

The snow is still here and sledding has been the favorite so far! The
neighbors have been out playing with us and it's been a BLAST! The sun
is melting much of it today...just in time for us head home in the
morning!!!

Thrive!
Frances
www.desertflowerministries.com

Back to Bethlehem 2

We got to go to another Back to Bethlehem walk with our friends the Thompsons from Alabama. This one is the largest that we have ever been to and it was so much fun! We had a great time and though it was SUPER cold...it was SUPER fun!
We walked through the town and the kids (and adults) really enjoyed every place we went. We especially loved the end when we found baby Jesus!!!

We got the chance to feed a HUGE camel! The kids enjoyed that...until he started to "talk" to us! Look at Anli's face...it was kind of a strange sound. We laughed so much!!!

Look how cute these girlies are! They are loving to feed that camel!! We had a wonderful time and love the chance to focus our kiddos on the CHRIST of Christmas!

A little taste of Japan...

...eating yummy food and enjoying a cool show Japanese style!! On to
the light show...good times!

Thrive!
Frances
www.desertflowerministries.com

In the meadow...

...we built an AUBURN snowman!

Thrive!
Frances
www.desertflowerministries.com

Fun in the snow!

After a wonderful Christmas day with family, we are up and out in the
snow making snowballs and snowmen this morning!

Thrive!
Frances
www.desertflowerministries.com

White Christmas!

We're seeing a WHITE Christmas here in North Carolina!! It snowed this
week and we got to make some snowballs and enjoy a little snow that is
left:) I don't know if I have ever had a white Christmas!!! Fun!!!

Thrive!
Frances
www.desertflowerministries.com

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

Thrive!
Frances
www.desertflowerministries.com

Merry Christmas Eve!!

We are celebrating with presents this morning!!! We are having so much
fun and are just TOO blessed for words this Christmas! Tomorrow we
have our Happy Birthday Jesus party and then fun with family!!! Merry
Christmas Eve!!!

Thrive!
Frances
www.desertflowerministries.com

Lights of Life!!

We are enjoying some AMAZING lights at Life College in Marietta for
only $5 per car!! It is so fun!! Love the nativity for sure...sipping
on our Starbucks and munching fresh cookies with my sweet family! What
a night...

**new adoption update below!!!**

Thrive!
Frances
www.desertflowerministries.com

The Golden Christmas Gift!!!!!!!

You may not be able to read this letter...but this is adopting
parents' "golden ticket." We have officially been approved by the US
government to adopt!! Our paperwork is now headed to the National Visa
Center waiting for our little one to come home!!

So we didn't get our match before Christmas...but our sweet Father
made sure He sent a confirming present to our family that we are WELL
on our way!

What a wonderful present from our Wonderful Counselor! Now all that is
left is on the Uganda side...we are all ready on ours!

Thrive!
Frances
www.desertflowerministries.com

Reindeer!!

We are having some fun with Santa and his reindeer before they head
back to the North Pole:) They decided to stop by Harry's Farmer's
Market to get some fresh organic carrots and apples before their
trip...Santa is so green!

Thrive!
Frances
www.desertflowerministries.com

Blog Book 2009!

I started my 2009 blog book a week ago and thought it would take me FOREVER to get it finished. I took time each night (after the kids went to sleep) to work hard on it and yesterday...I FINISHED it...well up to date since 2009 is not finished yet!

I still have to do some work on a few more photos that didn't upload right and add a few more for some events. Then, I'll go back and edit the writing and the page layouts in time to order it the first week in January!

I had not wanted to work with Blurb because I had done my blogging with lots of captions and I just didn't think it would be like I wanted it. I had been printing out my blog and was really happy with the layout...but not the quality. Since this is ALL I am doing now...I talked with my friend Mary (thanks a million friend!) and she ordered a Blurb blog book and it was awesome!

That day I took another hard look into Blurb and still wasn't sure but with a little encouragement from Mary I decided to try it! And I am SO glad that I did! I know it will be beautiful and a wonderful 12x12 book for the year. I can't wait to get it back in January!!!

I may also go back and finish up my 2008 blog book with Blurb too and that will have me completely up to date and I SO love that! I am one of those that can't stand to be behind in my scrap/blog books. So, I am so thrilled to be up to date and ready to finish the year!

One of my favorite things...

One of the things I love most about Christmas...is the cards!!! I love
to see how my friends and their families are growing and changing! I
always put my cards up around a door so I can see them all the time. I
think I'm going to have to do TWO doors this year!

I sent out an e-card this year which Fox News says is the WORST way to
send a card:) Oh well...I know those cuties in Uganda won't mind:)

But, secretly I am glad that many of my friends still sent out
cards...I just love them so!!!!!

Only a few more days until our Jesse Tree is full!

Thrive!
Frances
www.desertflowerministries.com

Coolest gift!

My parents gave Jay and the girls the coolest gift...

Christmas at the farm!

This morning we are in full Christmas swing here on the farm with my
family!!!

***new post below***

Thrive!
Frances
www.desertflowerministries.com

Family Focused Friday - Worship

Well, today I just want to share some precious worship time we had with our church family. We had a 2 hour Night of Worship and it was absolutely amazing!!! I cried, I worshiped, and I was totally breathless in the presence of God in worship at the price of sending His Son Jesus into this world to be born, to live a perfect life, to die and shed His blood for my sins, and then to be raised from the dead where He ascended to take His place in Heaven. All of that was brought before us this night and I can truly say that it filled my heart with awe and worship.

Though it all was awe inspiring...there was one part that had my eyes flowing with tears and my heart flowing with worship. The young children's group (Anli is in the tween ministry now) shared this song and it is absolutely precious...