Thursday, December 30, 2010

On My Heart


I took this photo yesterday.  
This is 57.  
Our home of almost 2 years and our home for the next 2 years until Uncle Sam's moving truck arrives again.  
Our home.  
Our temporary home.  
Temporary not just because we are military, but I've been reminded the past week of how it is temporary also in the sense that our true home is not on this earth.  
I know an amazing blogger who is my sister in Christ and also my friend.  I don't know her on a day to day basis, and I've only known her a little over a year.  I've never met her in person, but from the emails she sends me one would never guess that.  I can call her my friend because I know she'd call me hers.  She is just like that.  Her name is Edie and if you are not familiar with her blog, Life in Grace, you should be.  Edie has a heart for the Lord and His light shines through everything that she does.  

If you don't know Edie, or follow her blog, you might be wondering about the connection.  Well, above is my home.  If you click this link here, you can see what is left of hers.  Edie lost her home and everything inside to a fire last week.  The story is best told through her own words.  Click the link, go to her blog, read and pray for this family.  They have been so much on my heart all week.  I am so thankful that they are all safe ... even the dogs:).  But my heart aches for them.  I know they will be "okay," but I know that the same heart that makes Edie strong is the same heart that makes her ache for the life she's lost.  Yes, the "things" of this world are so temporary, and they are not living and breathing, but it's not the things in and of themselves that make them so special, but the investment of our life that makes them a record of who we are and have been.  Edie will rebuild and her family will make a home again.  And when that day comes we will all rejoice with them!  But for now, please join me in lifting them up in prayer.  May the God of all strength bless them and keep them.  May this time of trial draw them nearer to the cross and may they see blessings and hope like they never have before.  And may their testimony continue to show God's unfailing love in their life and draw others nearer to Him. 

Blessings to you Edie!  
I am so thankful you are all safe.
God's ways are not our ways, but His word tells us that His plans are perfect.  I look forward to seeing the blessings He has planned for you and your family.  And I continue to pray for you all daily.

"The Lord is good to those whose hope in in Him..."
Lamentations 3:25



Strength, Grace, Endurance and Hope be yours in Him.
Much love, 
mk


Monday, December 27, 2010

"Firsts"

(Drew and Rebecca Christmas Eve ... Drew was preparing chicken and salmon for the grill ... YUMMMMM!!!)

I'm not really sure "firsts" is a word.  I thought it was, but once I typed it and read it, it just doesn't look quite right.  All the same, this Christmas was a Christmas of "firsts."  We went to Birmingham Christmas Eve to spend Christmas with my Brother and his wife (above) and their two super cute boys.  It was the first time we have celebrated the Hanson side of Christmas at a place other than in Tuscaloosa or at Momma and Daddy's.  It just seemed like a good time to have it at my brother's and it was so much fun!  I love my brother and my SIL has over the years become one of my closest friends.  She is HILARIOUS and always brings a smile to everyone's faces.  My girls absolutely adore her and I could just sneak her boys home in my luggage, so our visits are always very special.  
Christmas was really low key, but with 7 little people under one roof and snow steadily falling for two days, it was about as magical as it could have gotten.  

(and a side note ... My 3 year old nephew said the snow tasted like peppermint.  I thought that was very interesting ... Kate said the exact same thing to me several weeks ago when we got a little snow here in GA.  Interesting they both thought this ...)




Olivia kept herself busy shutting the numerous doors in Drew's house ... why she has this fascination, I'm not sure, but it kept her busy!



 



my aunt Peggy and Olivia


My sweet nephew and Kate!


I could absolutely take this little man home with me!! 


Hanson Ellis and my Daddy:).


It's gonna be a while until I get the Indiana Jones theme song out of my mind.  The boys got these hats and whips for Christmas ... the whips have a button you press that plays the song ... if only I had a dollar for how many times those buttons were pressed!!




Hanson Ellis got her skates!











snow falling outside:)




Parker and her new AG Inner Star U doll:)




Patterson could have used an Indiana Jones set, too!














Momma and Kate!





 


















All the cousins!! 
Merry Christmas 2010!