Balm Of My Soul

Abby and Savannah - My Little Snow Princesses

Christmas Day 2008

Grandma and Papa on Christmas Day

Josh and Buster

I love these people. This is my family, and they are my greatest blessings. As I look at each of them I can see their unique qualities, and I appreciate how those qualities enhance and bless my life. When my life is chaotic and stressful these are the people who are the balm of my soul. These are the people who make me feel safe, accepted and loved despite all my inadequacies. These are the people I would rather be with than anybody else.

Billy and I were lucky this year being able to spend Christmas at my mom's house with Josh, Jesse, Stephanie and the girls. We had a great time, and there is something so comforting about being at "mom's" house no matter what age we are. Abby and Savannah kept us busy and laughing the whole time - Christmas is so much more fun when little ones are around. It was fun to see them open their gifts - little pieces of paper at a time.

We are back home now and have re-entered normal life. The escape with family was just what I needed. As 2008 comes to a close I am eager for what 2009 will bring.

Christmas Angels

This is Savannah - one of my Christmas angels.

This is Abby my other Christmas angel. These two little angels were my gift for Christmas. Look at those sweet little faces - sweet sweet sweet!

Abby's ready to go. It was cold outside - a snowy, windy, wintery day. We headed to Costco for some last minute shopping for Christmas dinner. Costco has the best pies.

Uncle Josh and Abby playing. I don't know which one was having more fun. Josh loves these girls.

I'm perfectly content to sit with my two Christmas angels. Merry Christmas to me. :0)

Christmas In Idaho

Billy and I left last Saturday morning for Idaho. Josh and his girlfriend, Nicole, followed us. It was a long 11 hour drive, but it was fun. It was snowing when we got to Wells, Nevada and it was the coldest weather I've ever felt. We stopped for a drink, and when I got out of the car I lost my breath. The wind was blowing a bazillion millions an hour and it was a painful cold. When we got to Boise the snow starting falling hard - it was beautiful. It felt good to be at my mom's house.

Monday morning we headed out to breakfast, and to do a little Christmas shopping. Billy shoveled the driveway for us.

This is Clyde the Camel. Isn't he cute? He had a part in the live nativity at my mom's church. This camel is famous and the sweetest creature ever.

This is another very sweet creature - John, my step-dad, or Papa to all the kids in our family. He also had a part in the nativity - he was a wiseman

Monday morning all of us at breakfast. We're having a blast. Jesse and Stephanie, and the twins arrived today, so we are all together. It's a houseful, and I love it. Babies are sleeping now, so more pictures tomorrow.

Winter Wonderland (In the DESERT?)

This is what my street looked like when I got home tonight. I spent the day at Panera Bread studying and watching the snow fall. Billy finally called me and told me to get home because the roads were getting bad. He wasn't kidding. People in Vegas are not used to weather like this - our weather people on the news usually are recorded robots that say, "today will be sunny and clear". But not today. It was the first time I ever had to scrape the windows on my car. The snow came down hard and fast. It was exciting until l I started to drive on the freeway. People were fish tailing and swirving all over the place. I have to admit I was a little nervous.

This is Billy shoveling the driveway for me. That's something he's never had to do for me before. He's so good.

There was so much snow that my Sumac trees were weighted down - don't know if they will recover.

This was fun to have a little different weather - especially around Christmas time.

Thanksgiving Pictures

I am a little late adding our Thanksgiving pictures, but better late than never. These two little girls are the sweetest most loving little people ever. I love them so much.

Here is proof of their loving demeanor - Abby will hold on and love forever. Being a GMA is the best thing ever.

Give these girls a cell phone or let them play with the computer keys and they are in Heaven.

GPA and Abby plaing with the colorful boat.

GPA and Savannah.

Next Saturday we will all be together again in Boise, Idaho for Christmas. We will all be together for an entire week. (Sorry mom) It will be a houseful, but I can't wait. I love the chaos of family - all the laughter, the mess, the cooking - it's just fun. Of course the mess will be at my mom's house so it'll be no problem for me. :0) I can't wait.

Christmas Time

As a child I wished for Christmas
For the reasons we all see
The lights, the music, Santa Claus,
For the presents beneath the tree.

Christmas Eve was special then
Anticipation filled the air
Eggnog, church and then to bed
For Santa would soon be here.

But now I’m grown and even though
Those things I still enjoy
Christmas time means more to be now
It’s the birth of a baby boy.

It is a season of reverence
A peaceful time to reflect
On the birth and life of our Savior
And the sacrifice that meant his death.

So on Christmas Eve as you stand and gaze
At the lights as they sparkle and shine
Look up at the star on the top of your tree
And remember the Lord Jesus Christ.

rj -2008

Music at Sunrise

I woke up early one morning this fall to a cool, partly cloudy, rainy day. It was a welcome reprieve from the extreme heat we had been experiencing. I sat out on the patio to enjoy the cooler weather and just as the sun was peaking up over the mountain the clouds broke and these were my thoughts:

There is music that comes with a sunrise
A symphony of celestial sounds.
Nature’s choir with reverence rejoices
At the debut of another day’s dawn.

The song not only sweet to the ear,
The vision exquisite to view.
The sky as His canvas the Artist creates
A masterpiece of heavenly hue.



I am thankful for the glimpses of heaven we are blessed to enjoy each day.