Advent

Our Advent Wreath

O Lord, stir up your power and come!  Rescue us from sin and all evil by your holy protection.  Help us to prepare our hearts for your Son's new coming in grace this Christmas.  We ask this through Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.  Amen.

7 trees up with 6 decorated.  4 trees still in boxes.

Let The Fun Begin!

Last year, we had nine Christmas trees placed throughout the house.  Since then, we've acquired a few more!  We'll be busy this weekend unpacking all our Christmas decor.  Nothing like hanging ornaments while listening to Christmas music and sipping on Chocolate Mint milk! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

More Pumpkins!

I'm not done with the craft pumpkins yet! Inspired by Thrify Decor Chick, I transformed some orange craft pumpkins I picked up on clearance at the grocery store into a beautiful bronze (Rust-Oleum Burnished Copper to be exact).

I created tags by printing mongram labels onto cardstock.

Now these pumpkins are ready for our Thanksgiving table!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Christmas Tree Lighting


Ashleigh & Reed in front of the Christmas tree



Ice skating

Decorating for the Season - White Craft Pumpkins

Monogrammed & polka dot pumpkins for the dining room table

I've been expressing my creative side lately with those adorable white craft pumpkins from Michael's. Check out my latest creations at The Working Home Keeper blog.

Results

Dave and I met yesterday with the specialist to discuss the results of the pathology done on the lymph nodes removed during his surgery. The results were good! No signs of lymphoma or carcinoma - praise the Lord! The test revealed a reactive lymph node but not what the lymph node was reacting to. According to the specialist, Dave's deviated septum could have resulted in the polyps that were in his right sinus. Which led to a chronic infection, enlarging the lymph nodes. So thankful we're not dealing with cancer, that the surgery is over and we can move on. Dave is healing remarkably well and got the go ahead to resume his running. Praise be to God.

Surgery

UPDATE -

Thank you all for the thoughts and prayers. The surgery went well. The doctor removed the two enlarged lymph nodes and some polyps from one of Dave's sinus cavities. She said nothing looked malignant, but it's being sent to pathology for further testing. Dave is resting right now. He's tired, sore and a bit nauseous.

Dave's surgery is tomorrow morning. We have to be at the hospital bright and early. If all goes well, he should be able to come home tomorrow late morning/midday. Dave's Mom is coming up tomorrow morning to take Ashleigh to school. And of course my Mom will be home with the boys. So the little ones will be looked after. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers tomorrow. I'll update when I have a chance.

That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

Matthew 6:25-34