Ilex. Is. 16 !

How did that happen?

{ Is it only me? }

Wasn't it only yesterday she was little?

And she's stepping out in style.

Easter Blessings

Inspiring church service---
Family gathering at our house--
Wonderful food contributed by everyone---
All in their Easter best outfits---
Beautiful, sunny day---
Kids table set up outside---

And why did I only manage to come up with two pictures? I don't know!


However the Karsten family was so beautifully dressed and matching {and came early} that we had to snap some of them as soon as they arrived.

Leif helped me with this fun cake a couple days earlier so it was fitting he have his picture with it before we cut into it. {Idea gleaned from the back of the Easter M&M bag.} He was very excited about it and trying to keep it a surprise. "I'll tell them we didn't work on anything like a cake!"

It's good to have my blog back. I've been having 'Issues' with it for a few months so I've totally gotten out of the habit of posting and probably have absolutely no readers left. {Except Mom and Dad who, of course, keep waiting for more pictures from here}Thanks, Russ, for fixing things! Seems we just can't manage around here without you! This will be a good note to start back up on.

Books

Source: blessedwildapplegirl.tumblr.com via Cheri on Pinterest

2011 was a book year for me.

I don't know if I just had more time to read or just more desire to investigate issues in an in-depth way . Sometimes one book on a particular subject leads to an increased interest in that subject and even more reading about it as a result.

I may try reviewing some of my favorites as I get a chance. It will be fun for me to revisit some of these marvelous books as I try to remember (!) all that struck me and what I gained from their pages.

Books enjoyed in 2011: (in no particular order)


"The Island of the World" Michael D. O'brien

"Father Elijah" Michael D. O'Brien

"One Thousand Gifts" Ann Voskamp

"The Secret Knowledge": on the Dismantling of American Culture - David Mamet

"Unbroken" Laura Hillenbrand

"Jihad in the West: Muslim conquests from the 7th to the 21st Centuries" Paul Fregosi

"Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy" Eric Metaxas

"The Road to Serfdom" F.A.Hayak

"Out of the Silent Planet" C.S. Lewis

"Perelandra" C.S.Lewis

"That Hideous Strength" C.S.Lewis

"Sharia-The Threat to America" Center For Security Policy

"Portrait of a Spy" Daniel Silva

"The Twelfth Imam" Rosenberg

"7 Tipping Points that Saved the World" - Stewart

"In The Garden of Beasts" - Larson

"Villette" Charlotte Bronte

"The Three Brontes" May Sinclair

"Armadale" Wilkie Collins

"Basil" Wilkie Collins

Christmas- The Birth of Christ

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over
their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of
the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel,
praising God and saying,

Luke 2: 8-14

After a Long Pause

To any readers I may have left after this long pause, forgive my lack of attention to this blog.
I have had a husband recovering from heart surgery and my time has been otherwise directed. [ understatement ]
He is doing well and things are getting back to normal.
We look forward to Christmas with the family together and celebrating so many blessings we often take for granted.

Thanks, Dad, for the suggestion and shove I needed to get a new post up !
Wish you and Mom could be here too.
Unfortunately your own heart surgery is keeping you close to home as well.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday! to my wonderful husband, the father of our three girls

and 'Poppy' to our 7 grandchildren!

Out-Takes

Mine was the back up camera in the photo shoot of our family this past weekend so I will post some out-takes, silly or otherwise less than perfect pictures that nevertheless tell part of the story of our family.

You can probably tell who the life of the party around here is.

{Probably due to the fact that they don't have to try to get 4 children to at least look pleasant at the same moment.}

To become a grandparent is tho enjoy one of the few pleasures for which the consequences have already been paid.

~ Robert Brault~