HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIC!

Eric, you are such a joy to us, and so many others! You inspire us as we watch you love & serve our Lord, Marie, Rachel, Ryan and Matthew! Whether you serve His people secretly...or publicly, there is passion with humility for the sake of the Gospel of the Cross. May next year unfold to reveal more of God's mercy and grace in and through your life! We love you so much! 

  Mom & Dad

PS I wish I had more pics...!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

DEAR FAMILY & FRIENDS

MERRY CHRISTMAS

WITH LOVE FROM TEXAS!

WE MISS YOU

ON THIS DAY....

BUT ARE REJOICING IN GOD OUR SAVIOR!

LOVE, BOB & SHARRON

Award Winning Gingerbread Houses!

These are photos of the Gingerbread House Competition at the Grove Park Inn, in Asheville North Carolina. It has been featured on the Food Channel, and I love watching it every year 

You truly need to see the details as well as possible...they will amaze and inspire you too!
Also...click on slide show, and the right arrow will take you from first place winner to fourth fourth place winner, and different views of each project up close.

http://peakdefinition.smugmug.com/photos/421723570_Cnomb-M.jpg


If your family does gingerbread houses, check out ALL the categories.

Better yet...enter the competition next November! All you have to do is bake, decorate, drive it to N.C. and up a mountain, enter it, fix the damages from the bumpy drive, and pray to win!!!!

Thanksgiving Trip Pics

Augie & Heather, and Eric & Marie;
Dad and I are so aware and thankful for God's on-going and unfailing mercy in our family whether we are scattered or all together!
We wanted to thank you so much for a wonderful time in Virginia Beach, and Maryland! All the kids were a joy as well, so sweet, cheerful, helpful, and fun! They are such a joy to our hearts. We are so proud of them as they grow and change. And thank you for letting them be (couch) bed-potatoes with me!
Brian, thank you for coming and hanging out! I love knowing the areas where you are in need of prayer...cuz that's what Moms & Dads do! Miss you already! ( And I love my Christmas ornament!)
It was a joy to see Scott briefly, but Rob, Scott, Katina, and kids you were missed!
Again, thank you couples for everything.
Aug & Heather; (A) For returning from a week-long business trip just the night before we arrived, and having Integ. responsibilities, (H) Preparing to co-chef and whip up a gourmet turkey dinner, then needing to be packed and ready to leave town 24 hours after we all left, plus for hanging out and making it all look so easy!
Eric & Marie; (E) For preparing to, and then speaking in Brooklyn on Sunday, (M) For making my fave appetizer & salad, (E/M)sleeping on Rachel's little bed, (M) doing my laundry, hanging out, and shopping for special nuts and juice, hosting a day-trip to DC, decorating for Christmas, and making all that seem easy as well!
Then you ALL covered my silly (dumb) quirks :) Dad & I love you all so much!
Honey, thank you for packing me (and all my things) up and driving me across our country...and taking it easy! (As you say- Not breaking any land-speed records)!
So Its good to be home, and back with the Fam we missed here!
But if the Lord's Willin' and the creek don't rise* I'll travel with Dad much more!

*A little urban-lingo spoken by our paternal and maternal grandparents...most of which Carrol, Dianne, Tom, and I did not get, nor appreciate...'til we moved to Texas!
Love Y'all!
P.S. Helping take pictures were: Claire, Sarah, Rachel, Elise, Ry, & Matthew! Thanks guys Luv U!
P. S. S. Cheryl & Laura, I didn't get pics but love you & thank you both for hanging as well!

SARAH MARIE IS TEN TODAY!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND GOD BLESS YOU SWEET GIRL!

Going to The Beach

  I am so excited to go back to see our Virginia Beach family& friends!  Bob prepared a cozy little spot in the back, and we hit the road. I told my sisters I would stick some pics on here, so here they are; as under-whelming as they can be! The water tower is in "Hope, Arkansas" but it's too far away to read ..oh well!. The nite time pic is the fast approaching Mississippi River Bridge, and the road was so bumpy...tail lights were dancing up and down....this was the result. (I know that tomorrow I'll laff at this weird silly blog!) 

   So we made it to Memphis, and called it a day. I know. I'm a wimp.    

Grace Be Upon Our President, The Man God Chose

  WOW! Congratulations Mr.Obama on a race run incredibly well...well...brilliantly!

What an amazing time in our history that the Obamas' are stepping into! How thrilling it must be, to be on the threshhold of such an unprecedented African American odyssey!   

  So I want to add my faith to all Christian believers from both parties who will be wishing our new President well, and covering our new First Family-elect with much prayer!  My prayer for Obama has the very things I would request prayer for If my husband had just been elected the leader of the free world. 

Because even if Bob had run a flawless political campaign in the world's eyes, God sees in light of eternity. The only race that ultimately matters anyway....continues. Hearing The Lord say, "Well Done...Well Run!" is the reason my husband breathes! Since we share this non-negotiable biblical motivation with those who live in the light and shadow of the cross, I have to believe this motivates President Obama as well.

So I pray;

  Holy Father in Heaven, thank you for our new president! We know Your purposes for his life and time in office will unfold for Your Glory and our good.Thank you for hearing our petitions on his behalf. 

• May God's irresistible grace and mercy bless President Obama! 
  
• May he be surrounded and counseled by bold and truthful men of God (THE LIVING GOD). 
• May they keep our President and his policies rooted and grounded in a  sense of accountability to our Lord Jesus, in whom he claims as his Savior. 
• May Our Leader enter a profoundly deeper dimension of humility, desperate prayer, and an unlimited personal revelation of The Cross.
• May God grant him irrisistible joy in His presence. 
• May God's presence cause Mr. Obama peace in chaos that passes understanding.
• May God keep the Bible (Christian, and none other) Holy to our President's heart & life. 
• May he regularly study God's Attributes and Ways, and be undone by His salvation.
• Grant our President the humility to pray for wisdom moment by moment.
• May he help return God's values and precepts to our foundations.
• God help our government to protect the unborn and those who are helpless.
• Protect him from lies, and deception.
• May Barak Obama keep his family close...with extra love, attention, prayer, and insight.
•  May God send Barak & Michelle divine protection for their wedding vows.
• May their souls find rest in God alone in the storms of duty. 
• God Bless and keep their daughters, and reveal Himself to their hearts.
• May God protect our President & his family from sickness or harm.
  
• May God protect our country under his watch.
• May the church experience awakening, and shine by reaching out to the needy with tangible, sacrificial help.
• May this grace be Irrisistible, and ignite the Gospel of The Lord  Jesus throughout our land. 
• To God be the Glory forever and ever!

  In Jesus Name, Amen

  

  If there be passions in my soul,

  (And passions Lord, there be);

  Let them be at Thy control,

  My Gracious Lord for Thee

                 William Jay 1849