The Reynolds Nation

I am just taking a moment to post from New York...sorry no pictures...Matt can't get his computer to work since it is normally on our wireless. The weather was really warm when we got here...all the way into the upper 50's, which of course melted all the snow. So the kids got to throw a few snowballs, but not much. But we are waiting for a few inches of snow tonight. It was so beautiful this morning eating breakfast with the kids, Matt , my Dad and Heidi and watching the snowflakes come down through the sliding glass window. The day after we got here we traveled an hour drive to Ithaca...the home of Cornell University. We wanted to check out the city because it is considered one of the greenest cities in the country and also one of the best cities to live in. It was really nice...we ate at a small delicatessen and walked along the commons...it was a great morning. And yesterday we drove 200 miles to Poughkeepsie, which is the city that I grew up in. It was worth the lon...

I know..I haven't blogged since the last gratitude Friday...it has been a super busy week. I hope you had a great Christmas. It was quite joyous here...lots of presents, lots of family...lots of love! So I am posting my list of thankfulness...and I hope to post pictures later. We are off to New York in one hour, so I am pressed for time. Have a great week...and I hope to blog on my down time up in the cold...can't wait! 1. Thankful for the tiny baby born in a manger over two thousand years ago. 2. I am thankful that Mary and Joseph were so faithful and followed His voice. 3. Thankful that Jesus loved the Father enough to die on the cross for us...because the Father loved us! 4. I am thankful that He loves me despite my faults, troubles and inconsistencies. 5. I am thankful that we are taking a ten day break...my family needs it and we are expecting a new refreshing spirit!

It's the Friday before Christmas...and we are in super excite mode right now! The kids are counting down and we are ready..somewhat. I have some more shopping to do this weekend...but the kids are all done. I have lots of wrapping and sorting to do. So may you get lots done this weekend! 1. I am thankful for the snowstorm coming through the east...may everyone be safe and enjoy the weather of the season! My dad is counting me responsible for all the early snow this year. My prayers for snow are working. 2. I am thankful for the harvest that we are reaping for what we have sowed. Now, to find more to give to. 3. I am so thankful that we are off from school today. I need a break more than the kids do!!! 4. I am thankful for Matt's job and the increase that he received this week! 5. I am still thankful for the man who is named Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. My kids learned this scripture this week...what a beautiful word!

Just wanted to show you what we made yesterday...a ten day countdown to Christmas. There is a poem at the top and the red part is beautiful star ribbon...and then we hot glued 10 kisses on the ribbon and there is a bell on the bottom. Every night they are to take a kiss off the ribbon and count backwards to Christmas...and when they take the last one off on Christmas eve the bell on the bottom will ring. They had such a fun time making them (including 3 year old William who could thread the string on top and bottom and place his kisses on after I put the hot glue on). The rest of the night they were killing me to get the kiss down...and first thing this morning they were asking to have today's...that is the best part of Christmas...the anticipation! So, on to today where we are making reindeers with our hands and feet! What a stretch from the Lord for me...I am the least creative person in the world, and here I am doing crafts all the time! Blessings in this holiday season!

I am posting a picture of our tree..it is quite beautiful this year. The kids decorated it and they did such a good job. I would post pictures of them decorating it, but I already put them on the memory card so I am unable to find them. So...just imagine them working so hard on this masterpiece. I am posting pictures below of Matt's night out with the girls...every year he takes them out for the night, dressed up and the whole night is about them. They look forward to it, and the best part is dressing up. Bryn wore her "best dressed" dress from her junior youth party and Esther had a silky black dress. They were out late and they loved every minute of it. The boys stayed with me...and they are planning a camping trip out on one of the islands with Daddy and PapPap in January! Here is Bryn and Daddy having a crazy moment. I love this picture, because it shows how lighthearted the night was. Here are the girls drinking their Shirley Temples...they thought they we...

I have been missing this week. I was out of the house this week....shopping in Orlando with a friend, half-day staff meeting for the health department and then Polar Express day with the kids. I will post in the next few days some photos of our decorating. But I didn't want to miss gratitude Friday. 1. I am still thankful for the cold weather. 2. Thankful for old friends who you may see only once a year, but you pick up like time never parted you. 3. Thankful for this Christmas season. 4. Thankful for all the families in our homeschool group...they are so creative and fun to be with. 5. Thankful for my dear Matthew...my true love...our covenant is solid! *Just posting a picture of the the stair steps at the fair last month...my life!

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth, Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them..." Here she is! Best Dressed! Bryn attended her Afterwards (junior youth) Black and White Christmas party last night. She was all dressed up...beautiful black and white dress, sassy shoes, and even hair extensions. She looked so beautiful..and then won best dressed for the night! She made my eyes misty...what happened to my little B running around around our knees. I thought she was always going to be small...I guess that myth isn't true! This picture was the hardest to take. Matt went as a chaperone, and I took this as they were walking out. Our baby growing up...it seems like yesterday we were 21 years old and holding this tiny bundle. I must admit that my man looks quite dashing!

I think every week I say that the week went fast...lol. I can't believe how fast it went...but it was a good week. Can't believe that Christmas is 20 days away. Still have lots of gifts to buy and preparations for our trip the day after Christmas. Hope you are doing well and hope that your focus this season is on HIM! 1. I am thankful for the good report from my mom's doctor. It is so good to see her walking again! 2. I am thankful for good friends at Rock Church. We have made and are making friendships that are both awesome in the natural but have spiritual ties! 3. I am thankful for good, solid word given by the pastors at Rock. How much we have grown. During tough times the word is the only thing you can lean on. 4. I am thankful for funny saying that our kids say...Esther sounded out BOT (she was picking which vowel worked) today in her phonics books...I asked her if it was a word and she gave me the funniest look and said, "I bought milk at the store." She is...

Just wanted to tell you that I am not missing in action...four days without blogging...where has the week gone? Praise report for today. My mom received clearance from her doctor to start walking (with a walker or cane) today!!!! Three months and five days later. It brings so much more freedom for my family and I. Never did I think I would experience this at this stage in my life and it has changed me. It truly gives you a servant heart when you have to serve your own parent (one who always served you). What a change in my life. But we are so grateful for the healing process to have gone smoothly. So keep us in your prayers as she ventures out. Not much else going on here...I have been in a soup mood this week. Made beef and barley soup on Tuesday, homemade tomato soup on Wednesday, and now fresh chicken noodle is about to be on the stovetop. I guess the cold weather brings it out of me. So love on your families this week and make them a nutritious, homemade soup. Blessing...