Redeeming Grace Coat Distribution

We had the privilege of distributing coats to the homeless/poor Saturday.  It was more than distributing coats, blankets, bags, and bibles. It was pouring out the love of Jesus in every way possible. It was to listen to the life stories, to care, and to look in the eyes of hurting people and share the hope of Jesus Christ.  We were able to grip a hand and pray for that person by name for Almighty God to draw their hearts and to thank God for meeting needs today.   No matter the story, Jesus loves them and the Lord allowed our paths to cross with each person.  The Lord knows their pain, their past, their needs, He forgives, He redeems and He restores.

So as tears streamed down a few faces and welded up in our own eyes, the Lord was present in that dirty, breezy alleyway.  It was not neat and tidy, it was real.  My heart aches for the faces I flip through in my mind and the stories we heard.  I pray each person will feel the Lord's comfort every time they put on their coat or cover up with a new blanket. I pray it's not our faces they remember, but they remember words spoken about Jesus and perhaps even an encounter with the Lord in the alley. An alley that some call their home tucked under the stairwell that appeared so dark, scary, and dirty was bright with smiles, laughter & tears of happiness.

Thank you to Blanket America Ministries & Appalachian Outreach for your resources to love on the people of Harrisburg, PA. Thank you to all the wonderful folks that came to help serve and brought their time and resources to love on people in the name of Jesus. We are overwhelmed seeing pieces of the puzzle come together that God continues to assemble for the work in Harrisburg.  May God receive ALL the Glory for ALL He is doing in His church.

119  people served

Over 200 coats and blankets

Nearly 20 Bibles

80 gift bags

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5

In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:16

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Logan turns 8 years old PA style!

We had a fun time celebrating Logan's Birthday. God has certainly blessed our family with a "wild at heart" boy.  Logan has a gift of compassion that sharpens my walk with the Lord.  He is curious, adventurous, caring, passionate, protective and fun spirited.  Yes, today is a huge reminder of the person the Lord created and all those qualities can drive a momma nutty at times!   I am thankful and pray the Lord will guide Logan to use all of those qualities in his character to bring the Lord Glory.

“A man needs a battle to fight; he needs a place for the warrior in him to come alive and be honored, trained, seasoned. If we can reawaken that fierce quality in a man, hook it up to a higher purpose, release the warrior within, then the boy can grow up and become truly masculine.”
John Eldredge, Wild at Heart

Logan has been talking about what type of cake he wanted for weeks. Cakes are a big deal here for Birthdays. The kids wait in anticipation and are thrilled to watch the progress as it all comes together. We typically only have actual birthday parties every couple of years. This year was non-party year for Logan so he had a few friends pop in for a few minutes to eat cake with him & sing Happy Birthday. It was fun and it was very special for Logan to have them here to celebrate. 

I have no idea what I am going to do when my side kick goes to school next year....okay, okay I am not talking about that right now. Olivia has become quite the baker and really does now how to make cakes, fondant and butter cream.  

Do you see all those little blue and red fondant balls around the cake?  They disappeared within seconds between the 6 boys. THAT is a lot of sugar. We adults turned our backs for just a minute while talking and poof they were gone!

Billy and I stayed up into the early hours of the morning working on Logan's cake. I usually make the fondant and butter cream a few days ahead of time, but we made the whole cake all in one day....that's a lot of hours in the kitchen! Billy hand painted the edible logos and scoreboard with food gel on fondant.

So Maddy came straight in from school and asked to look up music on the computer so she could learn how to play Happy Birthday for Logan. She researched a few keys that she hasn't learned yet in her lessons so she could play a song for Logan.

Nana and Papa have called the kids on their Birthday's for years to sing Happy Birthday. They certainly have a "unique" way of singing each time. The kids look forward to the calls on their Birthdays and  this year Logan was able to Skype his special song.

 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

   your works are wonderful,

   I know that full well. Psalm 139:14

SNOW DAY

Logan woke all the kids up at 6am to let them know it snowed! So they had a long day of playing and making the most of their real first snow day in PA.

Lot's of scraping going on in the neighborhood! Lot's of neighbors out talking and helping one another clean driveways and side walks.

Maddy worked on her igloo for quiet a while

Midnight had a grand ole time playing in the snow with the kids.  She had no idea she was the target in the snowball fight.

The kids played outside most of the day. At one time Logan said he was too hot in all the clothes!

The streets didn't stay like this very long. They were scraped an cleaned very quickly. However a mile down the road in Harrisburg where the city is bankrupt we noticed streets have not been touched.

We headed over to Reservoir Park to go sledding. I must admit, my age showed by how cautious I was of the kiddos getting hurt.  My eyes see things in a much different perspective these days with all the possibilities of injuries.  There sure was a time that I would have been the first one to hop on a sled and try out a new hill.  This time I enjoyed taking the pictures, and loosened up just a bit watching all the falls, tumbles and flips on (and off) sleds. 

Logan had a tumble-free ride the first time...not so much the second time after he got a face full of snow.

Going well so far........

ends with a pretty harmless...and cute landing.

So Maddy goes again......

Ohh my she is upside down! (I am thinking at this point my kids are not going to like me putting on helmets next time..hehe)

Maddy & Joseph having fun for sure!

JB cracked me up, every time I think about this landing it makes me chuckle. As soon as he bounced out of his sled he started laughing.  He had a difficult time getting up, not from being hurt but laughing so hard. I am laughing as I type this....I wish it was on video.

  The boys would notice Olivia working hard to pull her sled and they would lend a hand to help her back up to the top. 

Lots of sledding and lots of climbing back to the top.

Shawn and JB started at the top of the big hill. JB made it half way and Shawn made it down the second hill....He came back a little wet but all in one piece!

So Billy and Logan started at the very top on this sled and here is what was left by the time they hit the bottom.  Notice Logan didn't make it all the way either.

Good job Logan??? What??.... for not continuing like you have across the street to get hit by a car? Gesh!  

Ice in the Susquehanna River

Wordless Wednesday but Logan has a few to say!

God Is Enough by Lecrae

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

 Philippians 4:19 

Farm Show

Well, you certainly couldn't turn on the TV, chat with neighbors, walk through the store or talk with anyone around town and not hear the buzz about the PA Farm Show.

Several people told us that the farm show traditionally brings in the snow.  We had a few snow flurries the past few days however it certainly held true by bringing in the cold weather! The farm show is much like the NC state fair minus the rides and games. Plus the whole thing is inside! Rooms full of animals, crafts, food, tractors and much more. Food was a big deal at the farm show so we felt it would only be responsible to fully grasp the experience & try lots of fried, non healthy foods. The milkshakes were the best! Olivia and I went during the day on one day and then we took all the kiddos another day.  So here are a few pictures of our time at the PA Farm Show 2012.

The prize winning pumpkin

We watched a horse show, very cool

I have never seen this before, this is a carriage race.  The person on the back of the carriage worked so hard bouncing from one side to the other almost touching the ground when they leaned over to help steer the carriage.

The beginnings of a great milkshake!

Ohh yes, the Milkshake and cotton candy. All kinds of sweetness! (The best milkshake EvEr!!)

Watching the little chicks hatch.

Maybe some locals can help me out with the history of getting a peacock feather?  Our kids just had to have one and everyone was talking about them at school. Seems like many people get them..is it a tradition here at the farm show?

Maddy got all dressed up to go to the farm show, ya see this is my little country girl at heart so this was a great night for her.

Taking a few lessons from the Vet.

waiting for the horse show

My handsome guys

What a great scoop!

 my "sweet pea"

That's A LOT of butter!!!! The 1000lb butter sculpture.

This is a sheep before it is turned into a sweater.  They were shearing sheep the night we came through and then they would cover them completely with a blanket/robe type thing.  Olivia said they looked like "ghostesses"

Breanna had her own outing at the farm show after school one day with her friends Taylor & Maya.

Here is a picture they took of their afternoon together.

Well, the Farm Show has been over for 3 days now and we have snow forcasted for Wed.  We will see if the legend holds true...let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

Road TRIP Post 1-VA

Our first stop on our road trip was Chester VA., Nana and Papa's house. Maddy and Breanna learned how to knit on this trip to Nana's. They picked it up pretty quickly but off course they had a great teacher.

Love this picture of Nana's hands teaching.

 I am sure you can see the joy here in this picture with Nana.

We took a few minutes to open Christmas presents (no worries it is almost January) We turned on Christmas music and had a fun time. Here, Logan is opening a gag gift from Nana and Papa. They had one for each of the kids...it was funny.

What's even more fun is seeing logan's face when Maddy opened her gift.

Our next stop was Dinwiddie VA to see my sister and her family.

My niece Marguax is learning how to play the banjo. She is doing very well for only having it a few days.

Marguax provided much of the entertainment with her instruments, a very talented young lady.

Here Margaux is playing her classical guitar which she has had for a while and is taking music lessons.

It's hard to believe these girls are all grown up. Where does time go?   

Here is my oldest sister. We had such a great visit and it was nice to get our families together. It's been over a year since our last visit and it was the day after I got hit in my noggin with a hockey puck so my memory of that visit was very foggy.  

They have plenty of land with a few ponds. The kids enjoyed running around playing together.

What's this you ask??? It's pure goodness, my sisters homemade Carmel candy. I kept it secured it on my lap and tucked it away so no little fingers would invade it without our knowing!

On the road again...next stop Wake Forest, North Carolina!