Continue To Pray For Mathenia Family

Please cotinue to uplift in prayer the Mathenia Family - Anthony, Ellie, and Isaac!

For updates from Anthony you can check out his blog at: http://cold-water-news.blogspot.com/

Pray

Yesterday I learned that a friend was killed in a car accident. Its been a long time since I’ve seen this friend. She is from my hometown, and we were sorority sisters in college. My friend went on to marry a godly husband and together they followed God’s call to Africa where they have served as missionaries for several years. They even adopted two African babies. I kept up with my friend through technology… blogs, facebook, etc. I regularly received prayer updates about their mission work and their growing family. I greatly admire and respect this family for their boldness and their passion for reaching their people group with the gospel message of Jesus Christ. Today as I absorb the shock of this news, that God’s soverignty allowed my friend’s life to end in something as senseless as a automobile accident, is almost impossible to begin to understand. All I can think of is her poor husband. He was out of the country when it happened. What will come of his ministry in Africa? How will he care for their two small children? Will he be forced to move home to the U.S. so the family can mourn and recover together? I know its not up to me, or any of us for that matter, to discover the answers to these questions. None of us are strangers to the implications of death, even the most tragic. I can only trust that her legacy of faithfulness and bold trust in our Lord Jesus Christ will resonate throughout the villages where they were ministering and that somehow God will be glorified as the story of her life in Christ is told and re-told for the days, months, and years to come.

WICKED-The Musical

Matt and I went to see Wicked-the Musical last Sunday night! It was AMAZING!!! I saw it last year in NYC with my best friend Rachel and absolutely fell in love with it! I knew when it came to Cincinnati I HAD to go see it! We were in the balcony on the side so not the best seats in the house but I still enjoyed it alot! If you ever get a chance to go, you better go b/c it's the best and my favorite musical of all time!

Happy New Year

Matt and I spent New Year's Eve with our friends Steve and Teresa (aka Matt's Uncle & Aunt)! We went to Montgomery Inn Boathouse in downtown Cincinnati! It was delicious and a great way to bring in the new year! We wish you and your family a wonderful and happy New Year! Matt and I

Steve and Teresa

"What are you doing Matt?"
Yum! Can't wait to dig in! =)

A Merry Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas holiday this year! My family was in town to celebrate with us and we enjoyed every minute with them! My family arrived the Saturday before Christmas! We spent Christmas Eve at my in-laws house! We had a lovely dinner and great fellowship! Then it was home to cook and open some presents. We hosted Christmas at our house this year! My mom and I cooked, cooked, and cooked some more (I went on strike after Christmas)! We had 14 people for Christmas and it couldn't have gone better! We had a blast eating, opening presents and playing the game Guesstures! Hope you enjoy some pics from the holidays!

Annabelle snuggling up with my Mom!
Gracie scared and barking at my new automatic duster!
She was HILARIOUS!

Gracie holding onto her bone with her toy attached!

Our Christmas Tree with all the lovely presents!

Our house lit up with luminaries on Christmas Eve!

Christmas all around!!!

I can't believe Christmas will be upon us in less than a week! I am done with my Christmas shopping and almost done wraping presents! Matt and I are both looking forward our vacation that begins Friday afternoon! We can't wait! We are both off work all next week! It will be nice to relax and do some things around the house!

My family is coming in town on Saturday!!! I am so excited to see them and host them here in our home! Hopefully, they will get here early Sat. afternoon! We will be praying for their safety as they travel! Well, as you can see I have been busy working on our stockings! Last weekend I finally finished my stocking and if I do say so myself it looks great! I am so proud of my accomplishment! Now it's on to Matt's stocking! It's a little more complicated! My stocking had 4 pages of directions! Matt's stocking has 12 pages of directions! I still want to finish by Christmas but more than likely it will be done by New Year's.

Enjoy the pics below of my finished stocking and some holiday decorations! We wish everyone a Very, Merry Christmas and a Blessed, Happy New Year!

Progress!
Our lovely Christmas Tree

Finished Product - Woohoo!!!

Our Gracie Girl!!

Decking the Halls

We have been so busy the last couple weeks since Thanksgiving! Last weekend we spent the whole weekend putting up Christmas decorations and getting ready for Christmas! It's been exhausting but very fun! I LOVE Christmastime and enjoying decking the halls! Finally, last night I finished decorating the Christmas tree! I still have a few more bows to put up outside then I will be done!

Now for my current project I'm working on...I'm making stockings for Matt and I. My Mom did this for both my brother and I when we were very little and I always loved my "mom-made" orginal stocking! I saw these kits at Hobby Lobby and thought "I can do that, what a fun project". So I picked out 2 stockings, got home and began sewing! Yeah, I don't really sew but I'm learning to by hand! haha I started with my stocking as you can see below b/c it looked like an easier pattern! I have really enjoyed making them and look forward to doing more when we have kids! I have done alot more on this stocking since this pic last week so I will post more soon! Hopefully I will get both stockings done before December 25 when Santa comes! Sewing my first stocking!

Here is my newest floral arrangement I got while at

Hobby Lobby that I just love! It's small grapes

on a vine with greenery! It ties in with my

kitchen theme so well!