::Snow day::

Today has made the feeling of Christmas come.

School was canceled and the kids were able to relax and play in the snow. They had so much fun! It rarely snows here in Abilene so they took major advantage of this fun filled day.

Tuesday night was the City Sidewalks parade in the downtown area. The kids rode in the awana float. City Sidewalks is what makes Abilene feel small town. Everyone comes out and families gather to see the lighted floats ride by.

I am sitting in my living room bundled up with a blanket, the fire is searing warmth, and the Christmas tree lights are glowing. At this moment I am so content. At peace! This is just one of those dreaminess days.

Tonight is 'Parker night'. It will be a good one. I think we are going to make chili and play games or watch a movie. What a day!

Thank you so much for peaceful days like today. Your peace has transcended my understanding. Things are happening all around me and I am only to trust in you. You are in control of all. I am in awe of you. I am in love with you...my sweet Jesus.

the nutcracker

I really think my daughter might surpass my level of starry-eyedness...

The other night as I was cooking dinner she asked me to put on one of her favorite Cd's. Of course that would be the nutcracker soundtrack. She began to tell me that she couldn't wait until daddy was to be home. After all she had a show to put on. She informed me that she needed to practice and that I was not to watch until the real thing.

A little bit later she came into the kitchen and asked for tape. What do you need tape for? Mom I need tape so that I can post my sign on the door. I want daddy to see it when he drives up. At that moment we both heard the famous garage door moving up. She ran and got her sign and opened the door just enough so that she could hold her sign out for her daddy to see. She was so happy when he reached the door and read aloud "welcome to the nutcracker...the show will soon begin."

She is something all right!

Here are a few pictures of the show that took place in our living room. She had the costume down to the details. She was the character of Clara. She even begged her brother to do the scene from the beginning. And for the end who else to play her prince but her beloved daddy!

She dreams big and loves much. I love that about her.

family pictures

So we played around this morning and attempted family pics. Caleb we needed you around to shoot these for us. I am going to pick one of these for Christmas cards. I haven't decided which one yet so if you have some input let me know. I took them to wal-mart and printed some in each one the top of Ernest's head was chopped off. Does anyone know if there is something I can do to change that? I guess it just automatically cropped them.

this one shows the true spirit of our family!

so thankful

What a great year we have had. God has been so good to us. My mind is spinning thinking of all the things that I have to be thankful for.

God has ignited a desire within our hearts to follow him in whatever way that he leads. We have had this for some time but this year it seems to be burning stronger than either one of us could have ever imagined. I am so thankful for that. He grows my love for him each day. I still stand in awe of this savior.

We have been to so many places this year. As a family we went to New Braunsfels and camped IN A TENT! We floated the river and fished...Fun. This year also took us to Sea World. Ernest and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary with a cruise to the western caribbean. That was so amazing and so beautiful. As if that wasn't enough we were able to take a mission team to Belgium. On our celebration day we hopped on over to Paris via a euro rail....amazing! There were other great highlights among our year like camp and vbs.

We moved into a house of our very own this year!!! God definitely worked that situation out. We were able to stay in the same school district and that was great!

Needless to say we have a lot to be thankful for. This is only some of the highlights.

Every good and perfect gift comes from above!

today

so we trust...

some days thoughts are summed up in the form of these three words...




We love you father. Help us to stand firm in you. Give us strength to trust you when our feelings seem to run another direction. Protect us and guide us.

student halloween service

So the week before Halloween we had costume night for 'rush hour'. Here are a few pics from that night. The best dressed won $50. I went as a doctor (we had the costume in the prop room). Ernest went as Joe Dirt. We do some crazy things in the name of ministry.

can you see Joe Dirt on the stage...?

some of the girls who dressed up

bryce // is he in costume or not???

Halloween 06

We had so much fun this Halloween season. We of course were so busy with Judgement house. We did that for four nights. The kids had a great time at our fall festival. On Halloween night I stayed home from Judgement house and took the kids trick-or-treating in our neighborhood...they had such a great time. It was so cold that night but the kids did not care! Here are some pics of that week in our life.

me and my sweet girl (with a scared face)

This is us at Judgement House

the kids trick-or-treating in the neighborhood

our very own Lance Berkman

in full view

our very own pop star

another one of lance

she loved this microphone!

he made his daddy so proud!

i love this little man

they have my heart

why?

So there are many thoughts today...my heart is heavy for the haggard family. I do believe that he was wrong in what he did. But I am sad at the victory that Satan won in this life situation. I think about the wife of this man who I am sure is hurting. What about the children. I don't know their ages but no matter they are still grieving from the fall of their father.

If you know us then you know that we are not free from scandal. When you have been given much grace then you are usually apt to give much back.

I have heard a lot of people drag this man's name through the ground even in our Christian circles. The truth is he fell into temptation. Sin always hurts! We cannot judge or think that we are above making these kinds of decisions. We need to stay close to God and pray for this family.

He was secluding himself in a certain place to write and get close to God if you will...this is when he gave into temptation. After hearing this I thought of Jesus who was lead to the desert to be tempted. He was alone and it was a time when he needed to rely on the truth of what he knew. Here is my reason for saying this...If we are sent into a time of temptation what would be the outcome? What are you doing to arm yourself with the truth that you need? Do not forget that it is an all out war out there. When you are in ministry Satan wants nothing more than to ruin your name and reputation.

Watch out for the enemy is prowling around seeking whom he may devour.

I ask that you would be with this family...at this moment whatever they may be feeling. The hurt is much and the emotions are high. The embarrassment is almost unbearable. The death of life as it was known last week. The feeling of no future. Lord just come to the rescue. Show them your love and grace. Your love is higher and deeper than we can imagine. Put your arms around them and give them spacious breath. Bring their friends close and show them how to minister to this need.

Protect my family sweet Jesus. I know that we are not above a fall...keep us close to you. I thank you for your grace and unconditional love. You have restored my soul...I sing a new song.

A good book to read about this subject
When Godly People do Ungodly Things By Beth Moore

How could this be coincidence?

Really...could this be some kind of coinsidence???

A miracle is about to happen.

If you live in Abilene and know me you know that I am without a car at this moment. My car has been broke down for a couple of months. Ever since we came back from camp this summer my car has been giving us problems. Let me also say that this car has been a great blessing to us over the years. We have had it since we moved to BBC in 98 so needless to say we have just worn it out.

For a while we have been looking at what kind of car to get to replace it and we settled on a Saturn Vue because of price and gas efficiency. I really like them. Well just because I like them does not mean that I can have one...right. I know that God wants me to stay at home and pursue writing so that limits our funds to purchase a new vehicle. We didn't want to get into something that we couldn't handle. Okay...I will try to get to the point.

Yesterday I was shopping at Target and after my second transaction (that is another story) I looked at my receipt and there it was starring back at me. In black bold letters "you could win a 2007 Saturn Vue Green Line"!!! All you have to do is fill out this survey online. What do you think I did as soon as I got home??? It was a weird coincidence since we had been praying about transportation that exact morning and once again bringing to God the fact that at this point we can't afford a new one (like he doesn't know.)

I know that this may seem like a long shot and you may be thinking "Debra this time your dreaming has gone too far..."

I am choosing to believe that this was just for me. How awesome would this be? God is going to provide us a means for transportation if not by this way in some other miraculous way.

He is so good to me!!! I am so in love!

How a father loves...

Last night we are in the middle of rush hour service when Carly comes to me...she wasn't feeling well so her teacher brought her over to me. She sat cuddled in my lap for the rest of the service listening to her daddy's words. The end came and the band started to play then I felt this precious girl leap out of my lap to run to her daddy. I sat there in complete amazement! I have seen her sit with him a million times but it never seemed so beautiful.

She was so safe! She felt so secure in the arms of her father. She knew that nothing could take her away from him. More than that she knew that he would pick nothing over sitting there with her. He loved her and she loved him. It was beautiful. There is just something between a girl and her daddy.

We talk all the time about the love of our heavenly father. Last night I saw it in a perfect picture. It is just that much. He loves us and we are to love him. He is who can make us feel so secure. If we could only learn this lesson.

Just some thoughts from a mother's heart.

the cloud of waiting

We are in a place of waiting. Waiting for everything. Waiting for God to say the word or in this sense to move the cloud. Sometimes I wish it were just that simple for me to see a physical cloud in the sky and know to follow it.

God is providing all of our needs and a lot of our wants. Our biggest want is to pursue this great adventure with Christ yet at this time we are to wait. It is hard and my patience is growing weary each day. I trust God's timing!

Each day is time for preparation...to mold us into what He desires us to be. In my devo today it said that this is the ultimate act of obedience.

Whatever the waiting process is for I desire to be doing the work of my father now and in the future.


the itch is great Lord...I pray that you would strengthen us through this time. Make us ready for tomorrow but also for today. I am in great need of your direction. And more and more each day I long to follow hard after you and the dreams that you have put before me. Still me before you.