Snow, Snow, and more Snow for Christmas in Idaho

This Christmas year was so beautiful in Idaho with Todd's parents and family. We got dumped on with snow, rode the 4 wheelers, made snow angels, shoveled, snow blowed, and sat outside in the snow in the hot tub watching the pretty snow flakes fall. Brendan and Madisan truly had missed the snow! They were out every day in it; even in 10 degree weather. I'm always amazed at their diligence when out there playing in the snow! We had a very relaxing time with good food, good fellowship and God's peace!
Some updates on us: we are still waiting to see if our offer on the house has gone through with the bank. We thought maybe we would here something while we were gone, but not yet, so we hurry up and wait. It's good for us to wait on God's best for us. We would love to have this house, but we know that this is a huge decision!
Our 10 hour trip to Idaho from Medford was uneventful, but very fun. The kids were great and had plenty to do in the car while we drove.....definitely pretty countryside that we went through. The weather wasn't too bad, but we took our time through the snow and the traffic was scarce! It was great. Now the trip back was a little different, especially when you just want to "get home." The roads in Boise were really icy, but as soon as we hit Ontario, OR, they got better and then even better as we went on. About 30 min. past Burns we were on snow packed roads and hardly any traffic was on the road, but on our right side Todd and I could see a Doe shoot out from up on the hill and she bounded into a snow bank. As we started to try and slow down, she continued to dart out in front of us and we hit her square on....we didn't run over her, but hit her going about 45 mph. Every one is fine, but uh, little bambi didn't make it. It's frustrating......they have to have such good timing in order for you to hit them with your grill square on! They are like magnets! Todd and I were thankful it wasn't elk or a Moose, because we couldn't slow down anymore for fear of sliding and making it worse. So we are thankful to be home and now we'll pay out some $ to get our grill fixed on the Tahoe, but we are all safe!

God, as you speak, i want to listen.....

Last night at choir practice at church we ended our time together with prayer........as our worship pastor began to end his prayer, he was referring to our worship songs and no matter how small, or trivial, or "traditional" they may sound, they are nothing if God is not present. "Little is Much When God is in it" popped into my head. I haven't heard that song in a long long while. I remember singing it, possibly in a trio or ensemble of some sort, but i've always loved that song. At that moment it came into my head, all I could remember was the chorus and I started asking around in the choir if people remembered that song. Only a select few remembered it or had heard it, so I was on a mission to remember the verses. All I could recall was labor not....there is a crown and you can win it? Anyway, I was so blessed as I started my google search for the words and youtube search for any really good renditions of it. Wow! I wanted to share the words with you and invite you to let God quench your soul as He has mine today:

Little Is Much When God Is In It

In the Harvest field now ripened, there is work for all to do.
Hark, the Master's voice is calling, to the harvest, calling you

And does the place you're called to labor seem so small and little known?
It is great if our God is in it, for He will not forsake his own.

Little is much when God is in it, labor not for wealth or fame.
There's a crown and you can win it, if you go in Jesus' name!

And when the conflict here has ended, and our race on earth is run.
He will say if you've been faithful, WELCOME HOME, MY CHILD WELL DONE!



As our economy seems so crazy right now and this month seems to be one of the hardest months of the year for people, I am reminded that LITTLE is MUCH when God is in it. In this time where people are "losing" many things from money, to homes, to pensions, it's an encouragement to me that when the conflict here has ended and our race on earth is run, if you and I have been faithful, He will say, "Welcome Home, my child well done."
Does the place where you are at seem so small and little known by those around you?...it is Great if God is in it, for He will not forsake his own!
Thankful for God's Peace, as I know "I need thee every hour,"
Traci

p.s.....from my daughters mouth today, I wanted to share with you her words; "Mom, my heart is like Heaven, it looks like Heaven because that is where God lives!"......oh amen, my precious Joy!...very well said.

Morning morning snow delays school 2 hours.....

This is what we saw this morning at 6:30 am. Schools were delayed for 2 hours so Brendan got to sleep in and the kids played out in the snow a little before school at 10am! ha! It's pretty, but i wish there was more. Oh well, we'll see more in Idaho and get some sledding in and riding on the 4-wheelers, not to mention, getting in Nana and Papa's hot tub outside! (Mommy here, can't wait for that!!!!) As the kids get older and are able to do more things are their own, it's going to be more exciting to be able to watch them in the snow, play with their cousins, and be on their
own more! That way i don't have to be following behind, putting gloves on, or pulling up snow pants, i can actually play too and take pictures! yahoooo! I pray those of you here in Medford are safe on the roads and those of you in Alaska, try not to laugh too hard! If you are else where in the United States, I pray you are happy, healthy, safe, and feeling God's Peace and Joy this month!

Gingerbread house making! frosting couldn't keep it together though......

So this is our Gingerbread house we did. Took a lot of frosting to keep it together, :) and it did stay together for all of 10 minutes and then gave way! The kids and i weren't impressed with this houses candy decor, but it made for good eating.....just ask the kids!!!!!!!

So, today was a great Saturday. Wish I had taken pictures, but I am so not the huge "picture taker" type. We went to a birthday party for a 1 year old that we know from church and then we went to our Worship Pastor's house for a Christmas Party with Charades, and singing! Very fun to get to know more people. My Christmas cards are all sent and we did just a little Christmas decorating to the house this year as we won't be in Medford for Christmas. So, to MY disappointment, we didn't get a tree of any kind this year.....Todd of course doesn't mind because it's less work for him......this will be my very first Christmas ever without a tree, but i have to say it saves on a lot of extra work! ha! We are looking forward to seeing Christmas decorations at Nana and Papa's house next week! No baking this year either, just an attempt at doing a Gingerbread house with the kids which i failed at.......the frosting was too soft and of course i'm not patient enough to grab the powdered sugar and thicken it up!!!!! So, it was fun while it lasted, our little "mommy-kids" craft project....... Now, this week as Brendan is at school and Todd at work, Maddie and I have our work cut out for us to pack and make the house spic and span before we leave. We will have the car locked and loaded on Friday night so we can leave at O' dark 30 on Saturday morning the 20th. Then onto the New Year in 2009! I can't believe it.....older and older I get....time is marching on. wow! So, i'm off for now to get kids ready for bed.

Rain, Hail, and possibly snow coming to Medford tonight...

Well, today is one of the gloomiest days i've seen. Totally grey outside and right when we went to pick up Brendan from school, the wind started picking up, the rains came, and then a little hail mixed in.....very cold...and oh not so fun. So we whipped out our trusty Oregon umbrella to keep us semi dry.
Today is a stay inside, get out the blankets, and warm up with hot chocolate type of day......so....
that is what we are doing! :) Enjoying the indoors today. My daughter is napping and having a much needed rest and Brendan is unwinding from school with his beloved legos. I'm getting caught up on emails and facebook stuff. Happy December to everyone!

December in Medford......it's different

So, hello blog readers. I'm new to this, so this may take awhile....bear with me. This will be our 2nd December in Medford, Oregon and it's definitely different than what we are used to in Anchorage, AK......such as, we have no snow. However, i believe our temps are very similar at the moment. (Warm for Anchorage peeps, but cold for us Medfordities.
We are looking forward to Christmas and celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus. We just finished up our church's Kids' Choir program with a Christmas musical that turned out fantastic. It was fun to be involved in helping the cast in acting, the choir with motions, and words to the songs. I had a lot of fun.
This month also brings Madisan's 4th birthday, which is hard for me to fathom right now. Every year seems to go quicker and quicker and i feel older and older! She can't wait and we will be celebrating Christmas and her birthday in Boise, Idaho this year with Todd's family. Our 8-9 hour drive on Saturday the 20th of December will be our longest car ride yet, as a family! ha! Pray for us!!!!!!! :) It should be very pretty though and the snow should be on the ground as we head East of Medford. We are looking forward to seeing the snow and driving in it.....it's everyone else on the road that we are worried about!
I'll post pictures soon.........