12/31/08

This being the last day of 2008, I thought I would reflect a bit... in picture and in words. :)


This year has been a good one, overall. We have been so blessed by the Lord and there is never any room for complaining.

With each passing year I find I learn so much but it is one of those things I don't fully realize until I look back. I thought I'd take some of the parts of my life and see how the Lord has worked in them this year.

1. My walk with the Lord.

Each year the Lord continually shows me new things to learn and I find that if I just keep looking to Him and taking my hands off of the controls then life is much easier. As I have said before, it doesn't mean life is easy that way. Sometimes it is SO hard for this control freak to loosen her grip on what SHE wants, but I can honestly say the Lord has worked hard on that one with me this past year. I have been taking a journey on leaning on Him for everything. Have I perfected that? By no means has that happened, but I'm better than I was last year at this time. The growing part is what matters.

2. My relationship with Steve.

We've had our ups and downs like any married couple. This year there have been struggles that I never thought we'd encounter. Hard times for us that I would compare to a butterfly breaking forth out of its chrysalis. I continued to learn one must go through those times of struggles and hardship to learn how to build on the love and trust for each other. I know I have said this before, but today I love Steve SO much more than I did the day we got married, but it isn't because every day was a bed of roses. In fact, that love has become stronger more so through the struggles we have shared. I thank the Lord for the man I have married and that we have come through another year even stronger than last year and blessed greatly by the Lord.

3. My role as a parent.

Wow... I just never realized how tough parenting became the older the kids are. I *knew* it was tougher, but when you walk in those shoes, you realize just how tough it is. Consistency and love are the biggest things as a parent and it is something I learn more and more every day. Then, you throw in different personalities and your desire to treat them both equally, consistently and fairly through love... well, it becomes a challenge some days.

I see how Mikayla is as strong-willed if not stronger-willed than I was at her age. We clash at times and I know it is only because she is so much like me. I am always praying that I will always show her what is expected in a loving way so that her strong-willed self will turn out to be a wonderful leader that is loving her Lord. She has a tender heart and wants to please, but that independent streak has to be channeled in the right direction.

Wesley continues to be a tenderhearted little guy that is reminding me a lot of his Daddy. He has his moments like any of us, but he is this little laid back guy that desires to please. He has had to continue to work hard on his focusing and following directions... in all areas, not just school related. We have seen him come far... but we know he still has far to go. I know the Lord will continue to give him what he needs to mature in those areas.

They both amaze us most days with what they know and can do. I am proud of and love them both and couldn't imagine my life without them.

4. The love of material things.

The Lord has continued to teach me this year that I may not always get what I want, but I have all I need. My house may look like a disaster a lot of days... mostly during the school year... and I may not have everything "perfect" but it is ours and I am thankful. We have so much more than other people in this world and I should be content. I truly am content with what I have. I do still want... and sometimes do get things.. but the wanting becomes less and less. Things do not make me happy... my joy comes from the Lord. I had wanted to get my new camera recently.... that Canon 40D. Well, the money I was going to save needed to be used for some updates to the house. Honestly, I was OK with that and I can remember a time I would have been quite upset. I know I'll get it one day... but it will be in the Lord's timing and not in mine.

Contentment.... there is true joy in that.

5. New Years Resolutions are not for me.

I used to make New Years Resolutions but they usually lasted for a week. lol The Lord has also taught me that I just need to take each day, each hour, each minute and do my best for Him. I can do nothing without Him, so why make all of these silly thoughts that usually don't happen? I am choosing to desire for 2009 as I have seen happen in 2008... a growing in my love for the Lord, my husband, my children, my family and friends. A continual learning of who I am and what the Lord wants out of me is the best thing I know to do.


I am thankful for all of you that have "stuck with me" and read my blog all of these days of 2008. I will do my best to continue the every day saga of our lives in 2009. I look forward to a new year with the Lord and my family by my side. If I have that.. then 2009 will be a blessed one.

Happy New Year to you all....

12/30/08

Been a wild and crazy day! :) I went antique shopping with my best friend looking for some things to "change up" this house. WOW... I have never gone antique shopping before and it was an adventure! I'll show pics later of before and after stuff.

We also went to where she grew up today and I took some pictures of her Dad's farm. I'll show those pics later as well. It was wonderful to be out there photographing.

Off to work on this house!

12/29/08

I can't remember the name of this bush that has these berries at the moment... Pretty, though.

We finally got to see Sal and Morgan today! We went to their new home (which I had been photographing for them through the building process) and saw it completed. The last time we went it had been locked up because the appliances had been added. It was WONDERFUL to see them back home. I look forward to spending more time with them soon.

We have taken down Christmas for the most part today and have begun the "changing around" process. You know I am a serious creature of habit, but I have recently felt the need to change things up a little.... I am re-doing where pictures are hung, changing around a few pieces of furniture, etc... This is so weird for me, but after Christmas while the house is more in shambles is when I find I like to do this. I am going to paint some things black that have been gold/cream and use them as if they are new. I am also going to go Thrift Store shopping, I believe, to save on some costs. We'll see what I can find... as you all know that is not my gift, either.

Off to spend some time with some friends. At least I got a little bit accomplished with taking down the tree/Christmas today. My house really does look like a tornado hit it with everything in disarray, but such is life when you are trying to re-decorate and all. Once I figure out everything I'll try to post some pictures. :)

12/27/08

Here is a pic of a beautiful old timey church in the mountains from last weekend. I would love to find more like this.

Christmas was wonderful and we were blessed in so many ways. I can't believe it has already come and gone so fast, though.

Off to another place tonight and another one tomorrow. I am tired of going to people's houses. ha! I'm just ready to be at home and have a normal schedule again. We have literally been gone for over a week and with me being a homebody.... that isn't great.

I have been able to accomplish a little bit of cleaning out in the past day. I still have SO much to do. I tackled the kitchen and part of the dining room so I feel a bit better. I cleaned out some cabinets and have gotten out some things to take to Goodwill.

I haven't taken down Christmas yet... partly because we haven't been home and partly because I haven't gotten to enjoy it this year. I do not like that.... I have missed sitting down at night and enjoying my Christmas. This busyness and going all of the time is just not for me. I'll probably take it down on Monday. I may start tomorrow evening when we get back home. It always makes me a bit sad, but I am also ready to have my house back.

I better get going to the next place.... Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. :)

12/25/08

What We Celebrate at Christmas

"And he [Joseph] knew her [Mary] not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus." - Matthew 1:25

The actual birthday of Jesus was sometime in the fall (September or October), rather than in December. The date is of lesser consequence, however, than the reason for the celebration. (Isaiah 1:18). Heaven itself celebrated the birth (Luke 2:8-14). And after the shepherds got over their fear, they couldn't stop telling the news.

Then there were the wise men from the east who came to worship the one "born king of the Jews" (Matthew 2:1-2). They got there well after the birth, having put their lives on hold, and willingly gave of their time and treasures to honor this great King while they rejoiced with "exceeding great joy" (Matthew 2:10). Surely all Christians should worship and rejoice as well as open our treasuries when we celebrate Christ's birth.

But if we just focus on the birth, we may miss the greatest reason for the commemoration. After all, there was nothing uncommon about the physical process. But the conception, now that was miraculous (Luke 1:35)! The eternal "Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us" (John 1:14). The great Creator and Son of God, "foreordained before the foundation of the world" (I Peter 1:20), submitted to the will of the Father and "made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men" (Philippians 2:7). That was why heaven celebrated.

Counting back nine months from around September puts us pretty close to the end of the previous December. Perhaps our sovereign God has orchestrated events so that we would celebrate the real miracle of conception: "God with us" (Matthew 1:23)

- Henry M. Morris III, D. Min.

12/24/08

JESUS.
He came not to a throne,
but to a manger.
He lived not as a king,
but as a servant.
He chose not an earthly kingdom,
but a cross.
He gave not just a little,
but everything.
-Holley Gerth

From the Fowler's to you.... Merry CHRISTmas!!!

We can't forget Isabelle and Sampson... took this with the kids before we started our Christmas "photo shoot."

12/23/08

I cannot believe tomorrow is Christmas Eve. Time has flown and I still have lots to do.

Here is another saying by Max Lucado for Christmas:

Jesus humbled Himself.
He went from commanding angels
To sleeping in the straw.
From holding stars
To clutching Mary's finger.
The palm that held the universe
Took the nail of a soldier.
WHY?
Because that's what love does.

The gift of God.... The birth of Christ. This is Christmas... This is love.

Here are some pics from Chimney Rock. That place was COLD! Constant wind... I learned very quickly I was not adequately dressed. I was glad our first time there was without the kids. I would have been a nervous wreck with them on top of that thing. Beautiful view of God's Creation.

Can you tell it was windy and I was COLD????

Steve and me standing in the "Opera Box".... the flash blew out the background, but you wouldn't have seen our faces if I didn't use it.

Devil's Head...
rightfully named, I believe!

12/22/08

Happy Birthday to my Daddy today. :)

I liked this from a Christmas card we received:

God's ways are good and bring you joy....
His ways are right and bring you wisdom...
His ways are true and bring you freedom....
His ways are pure and bring you refreshment...
His ways are sure and bring you strength...
His ways are best and bring you love.

Here are some more pics to show from our trip. I am still in denial that it is over. :)

Our Bed and Breakfast

View from the room... it was cloudy/rainy on Saturday... Sunday was beautiful but cold and windy.

This was the living room area... so pretty in here...

Main staircase... just beautiful. Steve wanted me to set up my tripod and take a pic of us walking down the stairs the night we went to the Candlelight Tour... I just didn't think that would happen - and it didn't. lol

Dining room where we ate breakfastKitchen
Sitting area by the kitchen
Beautiful front porch area

What you saw from the front porch area.... the following three pics.

Right before we left to go to dinner at Biltmore and then the Candlelight Tour of Biltmore. We ate at the Deerpark Restaurant on the Biltmore grounds.

Since I couldn't take pictures inside of Biltmore I had to settle for the outside. Kind of hard to do in pitch black for the most part and doing it all handheld. Not too bad, though....

I wish I could have taken pics inside... it was so beautiful in there. I continue to be in awe of this house!

12/21/08

Miss me?

I must admit... I didn't miss you all so much.

I was enjoying my wonderful weekend with my wonderful husband. I guess you can see I didn't try really hard to find an "internet cafe" or anything of the sort.

Can you tell from this first picture which way we headed?


My sweet husband surprised me with the most wonderful trip to the mountains of NC.... Asheville, to be exact. We stayed in the most glorious Bed and Breakfast near Asheville and then did the Candelight Tour last night at the Biltmore. WOW... beautiful and I couldn't even capture it with my camera. He took me out to one of the restaurants on the Biltmore Estate before we went on the tour. We also went to the Grovepark Inn earlier yesterday to see the Gingerbread Houses that are displayed there every year with the competition that is held. (We met a really nice couple at the B&B and we actually went with them!) Today, we went to Chimney Rock and back to Biltmore one last time before heading home. It all went too fast.

It was a truly romantic weekend with no TV, phone (except for our cell phones if we needed them), or computer. We've never stayed in such a place before.... here are a few photos of where we stayed. I'll share more photos later of this place and the places we went.


My Christmas present from Steve this year was magical. I'll never forget the precious time I spent with him - just the two of us.

Now... back to reality.

12/19/08

Gumdrops for your pleasure today. :)



Well... we're about to leave on our trip! I have had so many people tell me today I need a laptop. lol I'll TRY to find an internet access somewhere so you all can know where we are.... if not, you'll just have to be PATIENT as I have tried to be patient these past three weeks... hee hee

I'll be back soon.... but not TOO soon.... :)

12/18/08

Here is Wesley's and Mikayla's Christmas train Santa gave them last year. This is played with more by Wesley but Mikayla tags along sometimes. :) (In fact, instead of getting to bed right now he is messing with this train. ) It has brought a lot of joy and I am glad he is enjoying it. He uses his Lincoln Logs to create barns/buildings all around the track. It is quite neat to watch him play.

Today we did our annual half day ritual of going to a movie with the kids and then going around at night to see Christmas lights. We packed up some grilled pimiento cheese sandwiches, waters and some cookies and headed out. I must say, there were not a lot of "festive" houses this year. I only took a few shots of the one house near ours that goes all out every year. It was kind of depressing!

Well, only 1 more day!! We packed our stuff this afternoon. The kids have gotten out their things but we haven't officially packed them at the moment. They are as excited as we are that they get to spend the night with Mom and Dad for three nights. lol

My body is ready to crash.... been a long few weeks. Can't wait for tomorrow, though!!! :)

12/17/08

2 more days!

The play is OVER!! :) Whew...


It went beautifully today. I was able to "sit back" and enjoy it better than yesterday. This play is my most favorite and every time I have heard it, it touches my heart. I am going to show pics of Wesley and Mikayla in the play as well as parts of the play. I wish you all could have seen it. (Let's just say it is quite difficult trying to direct the play and take pictures of your children at the same time....)

Mikayla as a tree singing in the "I Have A Dream" song. Mikayla's group sang the special part for "Annabelle".... the tree that wanted to hold beautiful treasure. She ended up holding treasure.... the treasure of Jesus in the manger.



Wesley dressed as the tree "Gabriel."

Wesley's answer to what his dream is: "I have the grandest dream of all. I just want to stay here in the forest forever. What could be better than standing on this hillside and pointing people toward God?"

Wesley says to the other trees: "Shh... Shh.... The Woodcutters are coming the Woodcutters are coming!"

The Woodcutters chopping down the tree. Wesley's character didn't want to be cut down and so he bowed his head in disappointment.

The Narrator talking after the tree that became the fishing boat where Jesus preached: "Not long after that, Jesus faced another storm, one He chose not to silence. He was accused and called guilty. He was betrayed and beaten.

Then soldiers took His clothes and led him through the streets to a hill where they nailed Him...to a tree...a tree that dreamed of standing tall and pointing people to God."

The "Soldiers" took Wesley up the steps to the "Hill of Calvary" and put him up. He was so ashamed and hung his head. Then, one of the "Roman Soldiers" said "Truly this man was the Son of God!" and bowed before the cross. Wesley's character, "Gabriel", then raised his head because he knew his dream really had come true.

The last little guy in the play said this: "So what do we plant when we plant the tree? We plant a story for all to read, of the manger that grew from a tiny seed, the boat on the Sea of Galilee, the cross that was raised at Calvary. That’s what we plant when we plant the tree."

We then sang this song. First time we sung it was a small group, the second time was the entire "cast" of the play. The words are beautiful:

Let me live to serve You Lord

Trading all my dreams for Yours.

Help me each day, to trust You more.

Let me live to serve you Lord.

Looking back now its so easy to see

All of the blessings You've given to me.

You've shown me that You are the Lord above all,

So keep me from praying a prayer...

That's too small.

Let me live to serve You Lord

Trading all my dreams for Yours.

Help me each day, to trust You more.

Let me live to serve you Lord.

I have thought of this so much as we have practiced this play. So many times what WE plan is not what God plans. When we look back on those times we can truly see how God saw the bigger picture and His way was so much better... it was perfect.