ADVENT, Christmas By Candlelight

Advent! Awaiting something special, preparing for something coming! Advent to a Christian is the 4 weeks preceding Christmas, awaiting the coming of our King, Savior, and awaiting the second coming when Christ will come to gather all who believe and trust in Him to to live with Him in heaven forever and ever. Above is the welcoming centerpiece as we entered our church this evening, the first day of Advent for Christmas By Candlelight. What a special way to start our Advent season. This was a night of scripture, song, candlelight, fellowship and desserts.

The Praise Team from our church led the music. Many Christmas songs were song with scripture and other short narrations between. Silent Night, Away in a Manger, Angels we have heard on high, Mary did you know, Manger Thrown, and many others were sung very professionally by the praise team. We had certain songs or verses that we sung with. The big screen was used to help us with the words and also had very beautiful Christmas scenes.
Here you can see the dessert table. There were many, about 20 tables decorated and prepared by a volunteer host. Each table done by a different person or group. Below, you will see several of these tables or at least the centerpiece. We had desert, coffee or water before the inspirational program began.

This was the table we sat by. There were 3 trees, white and glistening with special meaning of The Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The white reminds us of the pure, holy, sinless Christ Jesus. The purple reminds us that He alone is our King.
This picture didn't get too good but lets you see how elegant this was in the dark candlelight.

This was another table behind us.

I believe this wood carving of the escape is from Germany, or maybe this is from the Holy land, olive wood! It sure is a beautiful piece.

This table was adorned with Willow Tree
Nativity figures.

This uniquely decorated table captured the attention of many. It was called the MAN TABLE!

Notice the decorated Elk antler with fishing, camping things and even a small air plane. It had bright garland on it, flashing lights, a camouflage table cloth and nothing else matched.
And yes, all men sat at that table. What a cute idea!

This was the view by candlelight as the Praise Team sang and read.

Now this was so beautiful on the baby grand piano. The picture below shows it more detail.

The final song was O'Come, O'Come Emanuel

Let us all remember as we prepare, rush around, buy gifts, bake cookies, decorate, what the real reason is that we spend so much of our time and energy for!

Let us take time to worship and adore HIM!

Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a Child is born,

unto us a Son is given:
and the government shall be upon his shoulder:

and His name shall be called WONDERFUL, Counselor, The Mighty God.

The everlasting Father,

The PRINCE OF PEACE.

Bath Time

Just to let you know before you look at this Bath Time blog, there are 12 pictures. I have been having trouble reading blogs lately.
Only a few of the pictures show and many times the comments section is missing.
So give it a little extra time to upload and maybe you will even have to hit refresh or the blog title: Bath Time again.

Our youngest baby granddaughter just turned 7 weeks old and we were blessed to spend a couple days with them. One of the fun things about spending a few days rather then a few hours is that I get to see every aspect of their lives. From waking up, to breakfast and devotion time to night prayer time, bath time and tucking into bed time.

Mommy is giving her a bath. She never gets any pictures of bath time since she is very occupied and busy while bathing the baby.

ALL CLEAN! and mommy wraps her in a soft clean towel to keep her warm. You can see she talks to her all the time. I have witnessed this with all five of her children and I never tire of watching her tender, caring love.

Kisses and hugs to comfort her crying baby.

6 yr old sister just can't resist giving her little sister a kiss on her forehead.

She is certainly one loved baby!

Here mommy is putting on the cloth diaper. Lucky little girl! This brings back so many memories of when her mommy was a baby and I used cloth diapers as well.

Big sister shows up to talk to her baby sister.
She loves it when one of her siblings talks to her or sings to her.

Now that feels so-o-o good! Mom rubs good smelling baby lotion all over her sweet baby girl.

All dressed for bed time! MOM! please pick me up!

Mom and baby ready for bed! They are both so So-o-o cute.

Mommy rocking her tired baby.


SOUND ASLEEP! Looks like mom is tired too and ready to get some much needed rest herself.

Thank You for sharing your beautiful family with us when we visit.

We certainly remember to give thanks to God for our loving family.

BATTLE OF THE BLOGG"S

Are you ready for the battle of the blogs? When we were in ND for my Dad's 90th Birthday, We took a little walk down in the coulee.

Now how is this for a unique shot? I bet you don't have one of these in your scrap book?

I think you have quite the battle on your hands!

This is just on our way down the hill, into the beautiful, colorful trees that adorn this old coulee that I have walked in for years. My brother is the one posing for the picture. Cute, isn't he?
OH LOOK, LOOK AND SEE! It's the big oak tree where we left our Donald duck pop cans some 50 years ago as we were children. We used to see some of these old rusty cans but even though we still look every year, we never find a remnant of them.

Hey, what's that you say? You want to do the battle of the blog? OK, if it involves a camera, I'm game. Here we go!

Well, would you look at that. now where did she go with her camera, if only she was here we know she could win the battle of the blog with what we are looking at right now!

It's too bad she wasn't there.

Wow, I bet she hasn't found anything this neat!
OH MY! look at this crawly thing?



And what are these unique things growing from the tree?

OH< you know I love flowers! How nice to find some down in the coulee.

WHAT? There are actually bums in this coulee? I thought that was a thing of years gone by.
Looks like pretty good quality pans to me!

Now why did you have to push that tree over? We all know how strong you are!

I wonder if these are eatable? I guess I will leave them for the bum's!
Hey, I bet you didn't get a picture of these?

And moss! This must be North!

Hey we are way over here! How did you get lost?

WOW it is getting harder and harder to climb these river banks and hills!

HIKE, HIKE, HIKE

AND HIKE SOME MORE!

and you thought I looked funny!

Looking back at the colorful trees after a fun walk in the coulee!

ALRIGHT< style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 244px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269104378516544658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpx-GNxt5YKJ-5udOOj8ouUA3SiwCFfwCEH8KlJcUR74cAINfcAnOMTozLBzDKpnXeozuiasvTVKcN42DoFRW1O71Y5eu9YHgnuaK7lPwTWLdT_lNbrh2x1sajTMznJmKqFXHB07nlEg2-/s400/PICT6310b.JPG"> Another good shot! How many pictures do you have of your dad climbing a fence from the back no less?

Back on the farm! Aren't they cute?

Below are several pictures of my grandson having fun on the straw bales.

Run, Run and JUMP!

Not only is he strong, he is a good aim!


SEE! what did I tell you? He hit his target just where he wanted to. Plastic bags are plentifully and work just fine for a target. AS LONG AS IT"S NOT TOO WINDY!

God's creation is wonderful, all we have to do is take care of it and enjoy it!