Merry CHRISTmas Everyone!!!

"To give meaning to Christmas, give Christ first place."

"He who is mighty has done great things for me." Luke 1:49

"Jesus came---and came for me!
Simple words, and yet expressing
Depths of holy mystery,
Depths of wondrous love and blessing." ---Havergal

Immanuel, God with us in our nature, in our sorrow, in our lifework, in our punishment, in our grave, and now with us, or rather we with Him, in resurrection, ascension, triumph, and Second Advent splendour.


Gold amidst the glitter by John Fischer

In the little town of Bethlehem, the most important birth in all of human history took place on what we now consider the first Christmas. It was sparsely attended by some bleating farm animals and a handful of shepherds who wouldn't have been there had not the sky lit up with a multitude of heavenly hosts only minutes before, praising God and inviting the shepherds to the stable. What an invitation! With the exception of that outburst, however, no one else knew. Oh yes, there were some astrologers from the East who figured out what was going on by studying the stars and some ancient manuscripts, but they didn't make it to town until at least a year or two later when the baby was a child. Why such an uneventful welcome for such an auspicious event?
It's God's way. He's always been quiet about his work on earth. "How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift was given/So God imparts to human hearts, the blessings of his heaven." He's even pretty quiet about the way he works in our lives. Silently, he came into the world; silently, he comes into our hearts. No fanfare. No welcoming committee. God has never been into self-promotion. He lets his work speak for itself.
And that would be you and me. Believers are the result of Christ's coming. It is all about good news and glad tidings for all people. A Savior has been born and he has been born for us. Or as the angel announced it: "The Savior -- yes, the Messiah, the Lord -- has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David!" (Luke 2:11 NLT)

It occurs to me there are two ways to take all the fanfare and glitter of this season. We can see it as the over-commercialism of Christmas, or we can take all the lights, and gifts, and decorations, and parties, and bells, and carols, and Christmas specials on TV -- even Santa and reindeer in the front yard -- and bank them all as celebrations of the birth of Christ. We can even take the conversion of old Scrooge as the joy of new life and forgiveness of sins.

There's no law against sanctifying the secularization of Christmas in your own heart and mind. It's what we make of these things that count, anyway. Every single light can represent another soul secured in eternity as the result of what Christ has accomplished.

There was no room available for the Son of God when he came the first time. Let's make sure there's room in our hearts this Christmas, and don't let anyone take away what is good about the glad tidings of Christ's birth!

Christmas Letter

Now is the time of year I always write our families Christmas letter, and take a family picture. This year, I am seriously slacking in that department, I don't know if I am avoiding the family picture due to my oh-so-gourgeous hair (NOT), or what. I need to hurry up and get on the ball though, because I only have a few weeks until Christmas will be here!!
We are all doing fine, the children are getting bigger and smarter everyday, actually my oldest, Katie is at a Jr. High event right now, I can't believe my little girl is in Jr. High!!!!
Not much to say, nothing specifically exciting is going on in our lives right now, God is taking GREAT care of us though, and I know his blessings won't stop to keep us going :) :)>
Thanks for reading, have a blessed day!! Love, in CHRIST, Shanda

Computer Broke Down!!

My home computer decided to break down over the weekend, so you won't be seeing any new pictures or not many blog entries. I just wanted to let you know, that we are doing well, I have some test's scheduled the first 2 weeks of Jan. to make sure there is NO cancer in my body, I'll update on that, until my computer gets fixed.. blessings to you and everyone this CHRISTmas Season!!
LOVE, :) Shanda :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCdZwitrNoY

You have to listen to this, our Pastor shared it with our church this last Sunday, it's how he closed the service, it's amazing, and heartwarming!! I hope it blesses you as much as it blessed me. This past Sunday, Pastor Jim preached on Unity within the church body, and it hit me that first we must be united within our own families first, before we can unite with anyone outside in the world, so I got my 4 children together, and we talked about being united as a family together, we prayed and talked some more. The next day, the children decided that they wanted to clean the house, and my oldest daughter says to me when her brother was not listening to her "Are we united mom, because it sure does not feel like it"!! It was funny.. at least she totally understands the concept of unity is working together!!! Like so many of you who read this have been lifting me up in your prayers, we are all UNIFIED in the prayer for God's healing hand, and for him to bless me with a long, healthy life!!! I thank you today for your love, and your prayers, may God Bless YOU today!!

The picture is Thanksgiving Day, my best friend Laura and her husband Keith had us over, we have spent every single family holiday with them in the last year and a half or so!!! Our children are somewhat the same ages, and play well together, she (Laura) is going to start home schooling her oldest son, who will be in Jr. High next year, so she'll add to our home schooler ranks!! We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and finished the day off with the movie "The Incrediables" We got home late, after a great day!! I am so blessed to have friends like Laura to have as "family"!!

Love to you today :) Shanda :)

Bye-bye Sunshine, Hello S N O W!!!!

I took this picture last month at a trip to the park, one of the last 70 degree days before MI winter hit!! Now the heater is turned on, the winter clothes are in the drawers and snow has fallen, although none has stuck, we have seen snow flurries!!!

My completly LEAST favorite time of year, for years at a time we were able to go to FL in Feb. for at least 1 month to give us a break from the winter bla's. Financially, we won't be able to go this winter, hopefully next year!!!! Until then, keep warm out there

Love ya, :) Shanda :)

Running the Race

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1

Have you ever stopped to think that life is a RACE?? That is what the Bible teaches us in Hebrews Ch. 12. I love the quote "LIFE IS NOT A DESTINATION, ITS A JOURNEY" I think that life is a crazy thing sometimes, I am blessed to have had a life full of 34 years of my journey, I hope to have 34 more at least!!! I cannot dream of living older to a ripe old lady in my 90's anymore, the cancer changed my focus... all I can see is today, and tommorow.

I found out that a friend of my sister's 27 year old brother died of a heart attack this past week.. 27!!! So totally young, we ask why when crazy things like this happen. Why Lord? As far as I know he was a Christian, so he will be in Heaven with Jesus!!! That is our final destination in life, is to lead a life pleasing to the Lord, and end up in eternity with him Forever!!! Forever is a pretty deep concept if you think about it!!

And what amazing promises the Lord has for those who believe in his name!! I am thankful today for eternity, hopefully I won't be seeing it for a long, long time because I want to grow old on earth, and do the things that the LORD will have me do, until my time has come. But I am thankful that Christ died so I can be FREE and live life in eternity with Jesus!!!

Praze B 2 God!! :) Shanda :)

The Joy's of Childhood

The simple joys of childhood, no house payments, no bills hovering over your head, no work to be done (maybe a few chores to help out around the house). Simple living!!! I have been given the task to raise 4 amazing, beautiful children, each with their own gifts and talents, given to them by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!!! What an overwhelming task at times!!! Especially in the face of a cancer diganosis. As far as I know, I am "cancer-free", hoping and praying that the nasty little bug will never return again in my life!!! But I am aware of the risk of recourance, a fact that will follow me the rest of my life. One Dr. said to me, once you reach 5 years, your good, 10 years and your golden!!! I am hoping and praying for ten years and beyond, so I can see my children grow into the adults that I am training them up to be.

Raising children is definatley undervaulued in our society, for sure!!! Being a homeschooling, single parent, I am completley hands on every day, all day!!! I consider this a blessing, and a huge undertaking, one I hope and pray that I am succedding at each and every day!!

This picture, I simply entail "The Joy of Childhood" Simple, yet overwhelming at the same time.

I love my children with all my heart, I am blessed to have such amazing young people in my life everyday!!

Blessings to you today :) Shanda :)