Fruitbearers

2011 was a memorable year for us. We're thankful for all of God's blessings. What a mighty & awesome God we serve! 1. In Jan., we went cross country skiing at Timberline Lodge (admiring Mt. Hood) and Glacier View Snow Park. And in Feb., we went sledding at Bald Peak State Park. 2. In May, our daughter, Alyssa, got inducted into the Steps for Life Hall of Fame since she had raised over $10,000 for the Pregnancy Resource Centers. 3. From July 7th to 10th, we took an all-expense-paid trip to Colorado. I won the Celebrate Life Contest hosted by Focus on the Family the previous year. I posted about our experience here . 4. On July 23rd, Alyssa celebrated her double milestones. She turned 18 and had her high school graduation party. We're so proud of our first homeschool graduate! Eric (my husband/her Daddy) wrote a song for Alyssa, played the piano, and sang to her at the graduation ceremony. Alyssa shared about our Colorado trip and her graduation party on her ...

Here are my top 10 reads of 2011 (besides the Bible, of course :)). 10. True Courage by Steve Farrar 9. Start Here, Go Anywhere by Richie Hughes 8. The House of Hope by Elisabeth Gifford 7. Passion to Action by Jay & Beth Loecken 6. Life of John Newton 5. Life of John Knox 4. Day by Day with the Best of Spurgeon 3. We Shall See God (Charles Spurgeon's classic devotional thoughts on Heaven) 2. Life, In Spite of Me by Kristen Jane Anderson and Tricia Goyer 1. Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas You can click on the titles to read my reviews or to get more information about the books. What are some of  your favorite books this year?  Please share.

How Many Kings by Downhere O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Latin hymn from 12th century, English translation by John M. Neale, 1818-1866, performed by Selah) Come Thou Long Expected Jesus (written by Charles Wesley, 1707-1788)/ Come Thou Long Expected Jesus by Fernando Ortega O Come All Ye Faithful (Latin hymn from 18th century, English translation by Frederick Oakeley, 1802-1880, performed by Casting Crowns) Jesus, Light of the World by Third Day / Light of the World by Chris Tomlin While You Were Sleeping by Casting Crowns When Love Was Born by Mark Schultz He Made a Way in a Manger Joy to the World/Joy, Unspeakable Joy by Chris Tomlin (original hymn written by Isaac Watts, 1674-1748) What Child Is This? (written by William C. Dix, 1837-1898, performed by Fernando Ortega) O Little Town of Bethlehem (written by Phillips Brooks, 1835-1893, performed by Jeremy Camp)/ O Little Town of Bethlehem by Fernando Ortega Away in a Manger by Cedarmont Kids O Holy Night by David Phelp...

1. " The message of Christmas is that the visible material world is bound to the invisible spiritual world ." ~Unknown  2. " The kindness of Christmas is the kindness of Christ. To know that God so loved us as to give us His Son for our dearest Brother has brought human affection to its highest tide on the day of that Brother's birth. If God so loved us, how can we help loving one another? " ~Maltbie Davenport Babcock 3. "What makes Christmas?"     I asked my soul,      And this answer came back to me:     "It is the Glory of heaven       Come down in the hearts of humanity--Come in the spirit and heart of a Child,     And it matters not what we share at Christmas;     It isn't Christmas at all       Unless the Christ Child be there ." ~Unknown 4. " Christ was born in the first century, yet He belongs to all centuries.     He was b...

Day 1: " Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on Him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. " 1 Timothy 1:15-17 Day 2: " In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth...No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made Him known. " John 1:1, 14, 18 Day 3: " He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father D...

Personalize a free picture slideshow

It's time for another weekly photo hunt, hosted by Sandi at The Saturday PhotoHunt . This week's theme is Joy. " I have no greater JOY than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. " 3 John 4

Gattina at Keyhole Pictures is the host. This week's theme is Christmas Decoration.

This week, we welcome a new host, Sandi, at The Saturday PhotoHunt . This week's theme is Lights.

There's an awesome giveaway happening over at the New Living Translation Facebook page. Here are the NLT Facebook page giveaway details: Starting on November 29 th until December 24 th at the New Living Translation Facebook page, they are giving away lots of great prizes and something free for you just for signing up. By visiting the giveaway entry page (located on the NLT Facebook page, the link is under the profile picture) and entering your name and e-mail address you'll be entered to win the following prizes: One random person each day will win a Life Application Study Bible Family Pack (Guys Life Application Study Bible hc, Girls Life Application Study Bible hc, Student's Life Application Study Bible hc, Life Application Study Bible hc, Life Application Study Bible Large Print hc). One Random person each week will win an Apple iPad 2! Everyone that signs up gets a free download copy of the Life Application Bible Study – Book of Luke!

For the month of November, I posted on Facebook daily what I was thankful for. I'd like to be able to look back someday so I'm reposting all of my 30 thankful status here. 1. I'm thankful for our woodstove, free firewood (from our kind & generous neighbor), and our boys who enjoy making fire for us (when Dad is not home) :). 2. I'm thankful that my Dad, his wife, my half-sister ( Pinpin ), and half-brother ( Thanakharn ) are safe and sound from the flood in Thailand. 3. I'm thankful for the library's used book sale. Some of the cool books we bought tonight include Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ by John Piper, Heaven by Dwight L. Moody, Devotions and Prayers of John Wesley, A Wife After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George, and Becoming A Woman of Excellence by Cynthia Heald. 4. I'm thankful for the opportunity that the Lord has given us to host a weekly Bible study for international students (including American students) in our home! Great bu...

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book! You never know when I might play a wild card on you! Today's Wild Card author is: Jeremy Jones and the book: Triple Dog Dare Devotional David C. Cook (October 1, 2011) ***Special thanks to Audra Jennings, Senior Media Specialist, The B&B Media Group for sending me a review copy.*** ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jeremy V. Jones is an award-winning journalist who has served as senior associate editor of Breakaway magazine. He has authored several books, including Toward the Goal: The Kaka Story and The Keeper: The...

My 18 year old daughter, Alyssa , put together a slideshow of her short term mission trip onboard the Logos Hope in Malaysia. The song is Give Me Your Eyes by Brandon Heath. " Blessed is he who is kind to the needy ." Proverbs 14:21b " Whoever is kind to the needy honors God ." Proverbs 14:31b " Be kind and compassionate to one another ." Ephesians 4:32a " Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. " 1 Peter 3:8 "Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God." ~Bob Pierce

About The House of Hope One couple’s powerful ministry to some of China’s most vulnerable children Robin and Joyce Hill lived in a gated community in Beijing . Their family’s life was marked by luxury and the security of Robin's job as an engineer. Then one day, as members of their church, they had a chance to tour a state-run orphanage. Haunted by the needs of the children they saw there, for the next four years they tried to help the institute in meaningful ways. In 1998 the Hills planned to leave China, but instead felt a sudden call from God on their lives. They left their gated community--reserved for only non-Chinese residents--moved their family into a small apartment miles outside of Beijing and immediately began to take in foster children. They took in any child, but especially those that needed extra care—terminally ill children that couldn't receive care elsewhere, and those that needed complicated and expensive surgeries that the Hills soon began to coordinate a...

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book! You never know when I might play a wild card on you! Today's Wild Card is developed by: Jeff Sheets, product creator for Broadman and Holman Publishers and the Advent idea: TruthTats: The Christmas Story B&H Publishing Group ***Special thanks to Susan Otis of Creative Resources, Inc. for sending me a review copy.*** SHORT PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: Truth Tats: The Christmas Story Celebrating the Season of Advent with Truth Tats Designed just for the season, Christmas Truth Tats present a new way of te...