How to Brand a Baby

Necessities:
One sweet baby (older children may be branded as well)
Lipstick of a happy color (no black, please)
Mama Lips (Daddy lips don't make as great an impression)
An Eager-to-Dispense-Some-Sugah-Heart (that's sugar...an expression for kisses, normally heard in the Southern part of our country)

Instructions:
Sweetly embrace dear baby and plant a big dose of sugah on face. Any location will do.


Disclosure: This branding session was not staged and no baby wrangling was necessary. Rather it is the impulse of every mother to kiss, kiss, kiss her babies, and it is the instinct of every baby to delight in being kissed, kissed, kissed. Grandmothers are allowed to brand babies, too. Credit for the term of baby "branding" goes to this Mama's brilliant son, Ink, who was branded many times in his younger years, but now runs when he sees me pull out the pink lipstick.

The Winner of Counting the Stars

is Amy @ The View from Hidden Valley! Congratulations!

Thank you to everyone who entered!

The Best Gifts You Can Give Your Children This Christmas

Busyness is a prime enemy of time in the Word and time in prayer. There's so much to do this time of year, lists of our own making, and I can tell you two things that are true about it all.

1) We can't do everything.

2) Our children will remember most this time of year (and every day) not what we gave them from our wallets, but what we gave them from our hearts. They'll remember the tones we used, the smiles we gave, the tight embraces, the cheerful disposition, forgiving and gracious spirits, our lives radiating the love of Christ.

But there's nothing to give if we're empty ourselves. When we trade in our time with Him to get more done on our list, we soon find ourselves resentful and anxious and short-tempered.

SO, remember,

"The living water in our own hearts is the fountain from which we shower Christ on our family. Our time with God and His preparation of us is a necessary foundation."
~Noel Piper


This isn't limited to a set time in His Word and in prayer. Meditate on His truths throughout the day and pray without ceasing. Communion with Him overflows to our families.

Our children might remember the books or the games they've received over the years, but one gift that will never leave their hearts and minds is the truth that Jesus made their Mommy glad.

With love,
Trisha

What She Wants for Christmas

Isn't it beautiful how God created boys and girls to be DIFFERENT? While Cap'n would be most happy to receive this, Little Bit (Elisabeth, 4), when asked what she would like for Christmas, answers most confidently:

"High heels and my own box of chocolates."


Alrighty, then. That's something we can actually make happen. :)

Name That Country Music Video and a Giveaway

I don't like country music. Now before you ditch me, hear me out. As a child, I was forced to listen to those twangy lyrics while riding in the back seat of my parents' car. I was a sheltered child, but I still wondered about "Sleeping single in a double bed, thinking over things I'd wish I'd said," and "If lovin' you is wrong, I don't wanna be right."

That said, when I captured these picture of my two Dearies a few months ago, my first thought was, "They've made a country music video and didn't even know it." 

Two girls.
Cowgirl boots.
On top of a vehicle.
Hair blowing in the wind.
Drama.
Pouty looks.
Singing.

There you go.

Ah....a happy ending. :)

Have fun with me! What would you, my very creative bloggy friends, name this  sequence of sweetness?  

You know. Something classic country, like, "My Sister Stomped On My Truck and Then On My Heart" or "How Can I Forgive Her For Eating the Last Twizzler?"

The good news is I'm not giving away a country music cd, but instead Andrew Peterson's Counting Stars album. This is WONDERFULLY ENCOURAGING and God-honoring music, and I know you'll be blessed by it! To enter, just leave a comment. A music video title would be fun, too, but it's not required. :) US only, please.

And if you do love country music, I hope we're still friends. :)

I'll draw a name on Friday, December 9th.

With love,

Trisha

What He Wants for Christmas

This version would probably be better.

Morning Snow

And this is why I can't help but think winter is already here...

This is my favorite.

 Even old farm equipment looks lovely when set in snow.

 See shy Mrs. Bunny?

Savior

"The word Jesus means simply 'Savior.' It is the same word as 'Joshua' in the Old Testament. Very striking and instructive is the selection of this name. The Son of God came down from heaven to be not only the Savior, but the King, the Lawgiver, the Prophet, the Priest, the Judge of fallen man. Had He chosen any one of these titles, He would only have chosen that which was His own. But He passed by them all. He selects a name which speaks of mercy, grace, help, and deliverance for a lost world. It is as a deliverer and Redeemer that He desires principally to be known"
~J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, Luke


(My friend, Becky, is hosting a series focusing on the Excellencies of His Name. You can read the posts here.)

A Lovely Way to Start the Month

"There are few interruptions on a snow day so you can give yourself over to a long book and not be jumping up every few minutes when someone comes to the door."

~Gladys Taber

In today's language that would be, "responding to your phone every time someone texts you or tweets something. " And I say that Mrs. Taber didn't have little children at home who can't wait to play in the snow, who spend 20 minutes getting dressed for it and sometimes only spend 2 minutes outside. 

 I bet, too, she didn't have lots of sighs of awe, the kind only Littles can offer as they are freshly in wonder of God's gift of snow. :) How glad I am that all of us like to cozy up with a good book every day and especially on days like this.

***This is our 800th post! :)