A new year shall soon begin!
At the end of each year, Merisha and I have a tradition of looking back over the past year, seeing that it was rather uneventful and saying to each other "Well, I wonder what this year will hold?" The coming year remains much the same as the last and we repeat the saga again and again.
This year, though, has been eventful. From January to December, there have been many changes. I shan't bore you with them all...most of you are already familiar with my year and are by now bored of hearing it all :)
I have had new challenges and struggles that come with new circumstances but it is with gratefulness I say that through my weakness, I can see God's manifold and great mercy at work. His strength is made perfect in my weakness and I take heart in the promise that He who began a good work in me will carry that work on to completion until the day of Christ.
The love and grace of God never cease to amaze me. Though as I look back over the year and see the many times that I have failed Him, I am able to breathe a prayer of thanksgiving because I know that He continues to forgive and sanctify me.
Psalm 103 has always amazed me. When I reach verses 8-13, I always stop and marvel at it, trying to grasp the full implications. I can't fathom this kind of unconditional love:
"8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. 9 He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. 10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; 12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him."
Looking back, I remember many good times. Some of the highlights have been the visits with family, sweet fellowship with old friends, moving to Katy, joining our new church and making new friends here.
At the beginning of the year I began memorizing 1 Peter and there is a light at the end of the tunnel! I've just finished the first couple of verses of chapter four. It has been a wonderful experience, and I have been challenged and convicted by studying this incredible book.
In light of the fact that we are spending so much time interacting with people as waitresses at the tea room, Mom and I have adopted 1 Peter 4:11 as our goal: Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Happy New Year!
~Robin <><
martedì, dicembre 27, 2005
sabato, dicembre 24, 2005
Christmas Eve
Today is Christmas eve, though we are celebrating it as Christmas day. As I sit here typing, I hear Tiffany practicing carols for church tomorrow, smell bacon frying and sticky buns baking, and see a huge amount of gifts piled not only under the tree, but also on the counter, behind the sofa and on the piano. With fifteen of us, you can imagine that there are a lot of gifts to exchange on this day.
Unlike most households, the children do not wake up and run down the stairs to tear open gift after gift. It is 10 o'clock and the gifts remain relatively untouched.
There is a simple reason for this. Though they are a welcome addition to the day, Christmas isn't about the gifts.
First we have a huge Christmas breakfast, which every female in the house has been contributing to while singing carol after carol.
After this, we will all sit around and listen to Mr. McDonald read Luke's account of the birth of the Savior.
Finally, we will each open our gifts.
Since Christmas falls on a Sunday this year, we are also having Christmas with the with the extended family today. This evening we will be going to Mrs. McDonald's parents' house and celebrating with them.
THEN tomorrow, of course, we will go to church. After church, instead of having our fellowship meal at the church building as we usually do, the whole church is going to the home of one family to have Christmas dinner.
So, in short, we have a very busy couple of days ahead of us. On top of all of this, I am trying to overcome sickness. Usually the only way for me to get better is to spend 2 days or so doing absolutely nothing. Doesn't sound like an option this time! Oh well, I'll just play it as safe as I can.
I shall let you go now...I anticipate having lots of pictures to share in a few days.
Everyone have a wonderful Christmas!
~Robin <><
Unlike most households, the children do not wake up and run down the stairs to tear open gift after gift. It is 10 o'clock and the gifts remain relatively untouched.
There is a simple reason for this. Though they are a welcome addition to the day, Christmas isn't about the gifts.
First we have a huge Christmas breakfast, which every female in the house has been contributing to while singing carol after carol.
After this, we will all sit around and listen to Mr. McDonald read Luke's account of the birth of the Savior.
Finally, we will each open our gifts.
Since Christmas falls on a Sunday this year, we are also having Christmas with the with the extended family today. This evening we will be going to Mrs. McDonald's parents' house and celebrating with them.
THEN tomorrow, of course, we will go to church. After church, instead of having our fellowship meal at the church building as we usually do, the whole church is going to the home of one family to have Christmas dinner.
So, in short, we have a very busy couple of days ahead of us. On top of all of this, I am trying to overcome sickness. Usually the only way for me to get better is to spend 2 days or so doing absolutely nothing. Doesn't sound like an option this time! Oh well, I'll just play it as safe as I can.
I shall let you go now...I anticipate having lots of pictures to share in a few days.
Everyone have a wonderful Christmas!
~Robin <><
sabato, dicembre 17, 2005
Thanksmas 2005
Our Thanksmas (Thanksgiving/Christmas combination) celebration this year was held at my Grandparents house in McComb, MS. Here are a few highlights.
Our Thanksmas tree.
One of the best parts of Thanksmas...FUDGE!! Emmy enjoying a bit.
Us Girlies...Emily, Merisha, Robin and Jane. These are all of the girls in our generation except one.
Our Thanksmas tree.
One of the best parts of Thanksmas...FUDGE!! Emmy enjoying a bit.
Us Girlies...Emily, Merisha, Robin and Jane. These are all of the girls in our generation except one.
Grandpa and Me
A grandkid's tradition in our family: 5,000 games of clue!
venerdì, dicembre 16, 2005
Random Pictures 2
Posting pictures is much less time consuming than posting real posts. Since I am short on both time and inspiration, this works for now.
Hopefully soon I'll be able to go back to writing real posts again.
Until then:
Merisha and her new harp. Yeah, I know this picture needs to be rotated, but you know!
Oh well...
Grace and Larry :)
William is loving Christmastime! This will be his first Christmas!
Mom with Emma and Grace on Merisha's birthday
Hopefully soon I'll be able to go back to writing real posts again.
Until then:
Merisha and her new harp. Yeah, I know this picture needs to be rotated, but you know!
Oh well...
Grace and Larry :)
William is loving Christmastime! This will be his first Christmas!
Mom with Emma and Grace on Merisha's birthday
venerdì, dicembre 09, 2005
Random Pictures
More pictures!!
The sunset on the way home from Thanksgiving. Ahh! I love sunsets almost as much as I love sunrises!
The sunset on the way home from Thanksgiving. Ahh! I love sunsets almost as much as I love sunrises!
Me in my new winter garb.
Abby and Me modeling our new hats.
Second Peter, the adorable of son of Peter Allison, one of the elders in our church.
Sometimes after church, the young people will gather for a Psalm singing. At the time of this picture, Mr. Allison was joining us (far right)
Mom's Birthday Pictures
giovedì, dicembre 01, 2005
The Completion of Merisha's Ninteenth Year
Today is the ninteenth birthday of my sister, Merisha.
To celebrate, she has started her own blog! The address is everinjoyfulsong.blogspot.com.
Isn't that lovely? She just posted her first post.
I will let you read her blog to inform you as to the special gift she received from my mother and me this birthday.
Anyway, today has been an interesting one. It ended with a bang when Merisha's birthday cake totally flopped. It looked awful and tasted even worse.
In retrospect, it was actually quite funny. Most of us were in the living room when Jessica came in offering cake. I was curious to see the different reactions of the family, so I observed from my comfy spot on the sofa. Everyone tried to be gracious, but James' reaction was quite humerous.
He took one bite, tried to keep a straight face then stood up and carried his plate into the kitchen. Now, I don't claim to be the brightest person on the planet, but I'm not that stupid. He ate another bite or two then dumped it in the trash.
Christa's reaction wasn't much different. Jessica came up with some strange description of it, which I have blocked out. The little kids licked the frosting off, but left the cake.
After all of this, what else was there to do but dump the thing in the trash? Nothing! So that is exactly what I did.
Several minutes later, Merisha goes in to get a piece of cake. Uh-oh. I had forgotten to give someone a piece. "Um, oops...you didn't get any yet?". "No, I was too full after dinner" came the reply. "Oh. Well, um, I sorta ditched it. It was gross, didn't you see it? Look, I'll make you another one tomorrow, okay?"
Merisha didn't care (and believe me, if she had tasted the thing she would have been on her knees thanking me), and was satisfied by my promise to try again tomorrow.
Everyone else gave me a horrible time about throwing it away, though. Ah well, such is life!
So at the end of this fiasco of a day, I had two choices: Cry or Laugh. I chose the latter.
The way I see it, Merisha is the best sister I could ever ask for. She is always ready to serve and sacrifice, strong in her convictions, kind, loving, and continuously striving towards Christ-likeness. With that kind of sister, how could any day be a flop?
So Merisha, I hope you enjoyed your birthday, despite your sister.
I pray God's blessing for you today and always. I wonder what this next year will hold? ;)
Ti volio bene!
~Robin <><
To celebrate, she has started her own blog! The address is everinjoyfulsong.blogspot.com.
Isn't that lovely? She just posted her first post.
I will let you read her blog to inform you as to the special gift she received from my mother and me this birthday.
Anyway, today has been an interesting one. It ended with a bang when Merisha's birthday cake totally flopped. It looked awful and tasted even worse.
In retrospect, it was actually quite funny. Most of us were in the living room when Jessica came in offering cake. I was curious to see the different reactions of the family, so I observed from my comfy spot on the sofa. Everyone tried to be gracious, but James' reaction was quite humerous.
He took one bite, tried to keep a straight face then stood up and carried his plate into the kitchen. Now, I don't claim to be the brightest person on the planet, but I'm not that stupid. He ate another bite or two then dumped it in the trash.
Christa's reaction wasn't much different. Jessica came up with some strange description of it, which I have blocked out. The little kids licked the frosting off, but left the cake.
After all of this, what else was there to do but dump the thing in the trash? Nothing! So that is exactly what I did.
Several minutes later, Merisha goes in to get a piece of cake. Uh-oh. I had forgotten to give someone a piece. "Um, oops...you didn't get any yet?". "No, I was too full after dinner" came the reply. "Oh. Well, um, I sorta ditched it. It was gross, didn't you see it? Look, I'll make you another one tomorrow, okay?"
Merisha didn't care (and believe me, if she had tasted the thing she would have been on her knees thanking me), and was satisfied by my promise to try again tomorrow.
Everyone else gave me a horrible time about throwing it away, though. Ah well, such is life!
So at the end of this fiasco of a day, I had two choices: Cry or Laugh. I chose the latter.
The way I see it, Merisha is the best sister I could ever ask for. She is always ready to serve and sacrifice, strong in her convictions, kind, loving, and continuously striving towards Christ-likeness. With that kind of sister, how could any day be a flop?
So Merisha, I hope you enjoyed your birthday, despite your sister.
I pray God's blessing for you today and always. I wonder what this next year will hold? ;)
Ti volio bene!
~Robin <><
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