Defiance

Just in case any of you have NOT seen the movie Defiance, and plan to, I'm going talk a little about it...just to give you heads up!

I saw this movie at my parents' house last night. I was a little nervous to watch it, because you see, I get wrapped up in movies...REALLY wrapped up. Emotional movies like Defiance usually end with me huddled up on the couch balling...almost hysterically...haha. No seriously.

Believe it or not I didn't cry at all this go around (well, ok, just a little after it was over ...in the privacy of another room..sniff...)

It was such a good movie (except for some choice words..grrr..). I don't know why, but I've always been interested in the history of the Holocaust, as depressing as it was. I hate that so many Jews were slaughtered. God's chosen people. But it's history and I love history. It's intriguing.

And so is the true story behind the film, Defiance.



The story starts with a group of brothers seeking revenge for the deaths of their family members. They figured killing any and all Germans they came across would be the best revenge. But they soon realized that LIVING would be their revenge. And that they did. They lived.

There were definitely casualties along the way...

But by the end of the war, the brothers had helped save around 1200 Jews!! How? They hid in the forests of Belarus. Throughout the war they kept migrating around in different wooded areas trying to stay alive and dodge attacks. They ended up building a school, nursery and hospital! It's an incredible story.

I often wonder why God allowed the Holocaust to happen--do you? Maybe we'll all find out one day. I'm just thankful that there were still lives saved.

We, as Christians, need to be praying for Israel. For all the Jews. There are evil people who would love nothing more than to see the total destruction of Israel and her people--God's people.

As the Word says, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee." Psalm 122:6

Go Pokes!

My Mom and Dad got Ethan the cutest OSU outfit for the upcoming cold weather!

I gotta be honest, before I married my husband (an OSU Alumnus--and his Mom an Alumnu) I was more of an OU fan..haha. (I still root for them every once in awhile, especially during basketball season..shhhh...)

BUT I do like the OSU Cowboys! And even more when my little cutie pie is lookin' so adorable in their colors!

Helping him stand so that we could get the Logo

He chews on everything!

"Are we done yet?"
Not even close, buddy!

He got into a really silly mood and was smiling big time!
It was hilarious!

Our little Jack O' Lantern face, as Nana puts it! haha

Ethan has 4 teeth, and is getting two more!

Sitting up like a big boy!

His serious/model-like pose.

He's such a happy boy!

..and so very handsome, too!

All done!

GO POKES!!

Is It Really Funny?

Is it really funny when a comedian jokes about God? Like seriously. When you can hear the mockery in his voice?

I like watching Tim Hawkins, a Christian comedian...and sometimes he makes jokes about fellow Christians and different things we're "known" for or whatever..and that's funny. But he doesn't make fun of Jesus Christ. He doesn't go there. Or I wouldn't watch him, nor would I call him a Christian Comedian.


I have a SERIOUS issue with people who mock God and call it comedy.

I was watching this guy named Jim Gaffigan the other night. He was really funny at first, and surprisingly not vulgar...until about the last 15 minutes he started throwing in a few things here and there (I should've turned him off then).



Suddenly, out of nowhere he started talking about religion...and then Catholicism (he says he's a Catholic) and then ugh, I sensed it coming....Jesus, my Redeemer.

NO WAY BUDDY. You're not funny anymore.

Surprisingly (which is sad in itself), I prayed for the guy right then and there that he would somehow come to know the Lord as his Savior--b/c otherwise, he's gonna see that his jokes weren't so funny after all and that there IS a heaven and hell and there IS...JESUS CHRIST, SAVIOR OF THE WORLD.

Ok. I think I'm done. whew...I think I need to go check my blood pressure.

No one talks about my Heavenly Father that way.

7 Months

Ethan is 7 months old today!



He has 4 teeth, two more on the way
He sits up like such a big boy!
He giggles all the time--he thinks his daddy is so funny!
He has such a big appetite
He likes to watch mommy work in the kitchen.
He is a very patient little guy
He likes to read books with mommy
But soon gets very sleepy and goes right down for his nap!
He loves sleeping on his side, with his thumb in his mouth
He kicks his chubby legs a mile a minute! It's one of his favorites
He thinks it's funny when he splashes water everywhere during bathtime
He likes to watch Baby Einstein and gets excited when the little green dragon appears on the screen!
He loves learning new things...
Except for crawling; he gets upset that he can't quite get the hang of it--but he will soon!
I think he's going to be a very competitive person
I hope he likes to play sports
He enjoys going on walks with mommy and daddy!
He loves music! Maybe he'll be a musician like his daddy
He also enjoys going to church--but likes to "talk" while the preacher speaks, so mommy or daddy takes him out to walk around.
Maybe he's saying, "Amen!" ..??
But above all else, He is fearfully and wonderfully made


We love you Ethan!

NCC '09

What is NCC '09, you might ask?

It's something my family and I are doing this year. We're calling it, "No Cash Christmas".

My sister, Bro-in-law, Bob and I are taking Dave Ramsey's, Financial Peace University, at our church. We're so pumped up to start saving and spending wisely! We want to be good stewards of God's money for His glory and so that we can teach our children how to spend and save according to the principles found in God's Word.

So, this class got us thinking; maybe we should make our Christmas gifts this year, instead of spending lots of money that we really shouldn't be spending. It kinda sounds like something we kiddos would've done back in the day when we had no way of making money and ended up giving gifts like a previously-burned candle we found in my parents room or an old basketball jersey that we grew out of--haha (those were real gifts exchanged on Christmases past!)

But, my parents totally agreed that they would rather receive handmade gifts, knowing that we are saving money and getting out of debt. Aren't parents wonderful!?

All that said, I'm not exactly a crafty person. I don't know how to sew, except for maybe a button here and there. I don't scrapbook (although my mom requested one of Ethan--so I'll have to get in the mood), and I don't quilt, or draw, or paint.

Have you ever given handmade gifts for Christmas? If so, what did you do?! This un-crafty gal needs to know!

The Beauty of Fall

By now, you've probably caught on that I LOVE FALL!! It's definitely my favorite time of year. I've started decorating my house for the season.
I'll share a few of the pics later.

But check out these pictures of Fall! God is the Master Artist!!

Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it,
and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth
seeking the successive autumns.
-- George Eliot

The earth is the LORD'S, and the fullness thereof;
the world, and they that dwell therein.
Psalm 24:1

Winter is an etching,
Spring a watercolor,
Summer an oil painting and
Autumn a mosaic of them all.
-- Stanley Horowitz

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power:
for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure
they are and were created.
Revelation 4:11

~~~~~~~~~~Here are some Fall decorations I've put up so far~~~~~~~~~~

A friendly scarecrow meets each guest at the door

And a good ol' countrified saying reminds us of
Fall's imminent arrival! (3 more days!)

The sign hanging under the mantle says,
"There is always, always, always something to be thankful for."
So true!

"God's People Give Thanks"


I wish I had more Fall decor, but I know that will take time. I just need to do my best to make our house feel homey, comfy, cozy!

Oh, how I love decorating for the seasons!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Every house where love abides
And friendship is a guest,
Is surely home, and home sweet home
For there the heart can rest.
~Henry Van Dyke

Fall is in the Air!!

The yummy smells of Fall have been tickling my nose lately here at home.

Growing up, when Fall came around, my mom would always set a pot on the stove and start simmering some of the most comforting and homey smells around!

Here's what she did, and what I do now, to make our home feel cozy and Fall-like!

Get a pot (small-medium) that you don't mind getting messed up a little bit. I usualy fill the pot with water about 1/3 or 1/2 full. Then I cover the surface of water with cinnamon. I then sprinkle in some allspice, toss in a palm full or so of whole cloves, and throw in some orange peel if I have any on hand.
Let it come to a boil (and don't forget about it like I have before! Messy, messy, messy!) and then turn the heat down to a simmer. Let it simmer as long as you'd like! Just make sure you keep adding water periodically or it will scorch.

You won't believe how delightfully yummy your entire home will smell!! If you love Fall, you've GOT to try this!

Enjoy!

What We've Done...

Check out this prayer that was said by Minister Joe Wright at the opening of a session in the Kansas Senate. It's powerful.

"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance.

We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,'
but that is exactly what we have done.

We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.

We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.

We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.

We have killed our unborn and called it choice.

We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.

We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem.

We have abused power and called it politics.

We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.

We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.

We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.
Amen!"

What My Deal Is

...I honestly dont know.
I have been so "blah" in the blogger world lately. We've had a lot going on the last couple of weeks so it's been hard to find time to sit down and figure out something to blog about!

Bob and I just hosted a housewarming party for some friends of ours, helped my best friend and her family move, read 3 novels, did a little Christmas shopping with my sister and mom, visited my Nanny in Texas, as well as my aunt, uncle and cousins and I've been cooking and baking up a storm! *I also have a house that's begging for me to clean it!*

So, I hope I can get my groove back and start posting again! Because y'all know I've got a cutie pie that I love to brag about ;)

Hope to see ya soon!

Ethan's First Photoshoot (07/26/09)

If you want, you can just click on THIS link to view them, too.

She Needs Her Freedom

Have you heard anything about Fathima Rifqa Bary? I hadn't until I ran across a video of her on Tangle.com. She's a 17 year old girl, raised in a Muslim family, who became a Christian. And she's scared for her life.

Because Islam doesn't foster religious freedom.

But according to two lectures I agonized sat through in college, it is a peaceful, tolerant religion. Hmm...things aren't adding up.

I'm posting the video of the girl--what a soldier for our Lord Jesus Christ!! Plus, here is a site that has been keeping up with her story in the news. Since we don't have cable anymore, I guess I could've missed her story in the national news....but, I'm guessing it wasn't broadcast because it's not really "important" ...plus I fully believe our Presi--ok--I'll stop there..before I say something I shouldn't.




Why do other religions seem to get special treatment?? Why isn't this story being plastered all over the place?? It upsets me. Can you tell?