Happy Birthday to Me!!

Conversations with Olivia

Me: Olivia, stop sliding down the steps....
Olivia: Why?
Me: Because you throw a fit anytime you think anyone might possibly, maybe thinking about coming close to bumping your finger....
Olivia: But I am sliding down on my butt (demonstrates while looking at me like I am crazy!)

A human eating back pack

Christmas Fun

Because of God's Great Love

For those of you who have asked or wondered, the Jobe crew is healthy. Thank you for your prayers!

May the peace of Christ by yours this Christmas....




Luke 2

The Birth of Jesus

1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.

4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Wow!

What is worse than three barfing kids, two ear infections, and one severed finger? Try two sick parents with 5 kids who feel just fine....

Life is so unfair!

There should be a rule that you cannot have zits and crows feet at the same time! Now that would create quite a dilemma....which one would I choose?

a reluctant model

One Monday, Olivia was playing hide and seek with her siblings and a friend of mine. Her hand was accidentally shut in a closet door. I'll spare you the details, but at the top of the pinky finger she had an "amputation with complications." The complications being that the bone was chipped and there is a bone fragment floating around in there. The pinky was not completely severed. It has been sewn on and she will see a doctor on Friday to make sure it is healing correctly. She didn't want to have her picture taken, but I know many of you are curious about the extent to the wrapping of her hand.

Oh, did I mention Charis's ear ache and the three barfing siblings????

The 12 Days of Christmas

Makes my mom's least favorite Christmas song waaaay too much fun!

My Birthday

After the event....

What a great concert. MH was wonderful as awesome. Plus, we got to hear the world premiere of one of the funniest things ever written. Made even funnier because it wasn't supposed to be funny! It was a 'world peace' piece written to include every song about love you can imagine....just a few were, "All You Need is Love," "Can You Feel the Love Tonight," "I'll Be There," "Stand By Me." Too much fun!!

Guess who my husband is taking me to see for my birthday?????

Allow me to reintroduce the Christ

Rainy Day Fun!

Rainy Day Fun!!

Sick babies

Okay, so last week it was Elliana with the cold and fever and fluid in her ears. Today it is Charis. Of course she still feels well enough to tattle! No kids to babysit today....just a cloudy, overcast, blech kind of day.....

Off to make hairbows! I got several orders yesterday. Yipee!!!

Bow Giveaway TODAY!!

Today, 4 Princess Bows is featured on Bloggy Giveaways! Check it out and you could win!!

Kind of on Edge Today

Ever have one of those days that just kind of seems off? I'm having one of those. Taking on other people's stress, reading between the lines when there is no between to read. So I have to run to the one source of all things. My Heavenly Father. And HIS words of hope.

1-2By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that's not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.
3-5There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit! (Romans 5:1-5, The Message)

Free Hair Bows!

Do you like hair bows? Do you like free stuff? Would you like to win free hair bows? This week, 4 Princess Bows will be doing a giveaway over at Bloggy Giveaway Shannon from Rocks In My Dryer does giveaways every week. And she has graciously agreed to feature 4 Princess Bows one day this week! I am not sure which day, so check it out every day! I am giving away two $25 gift certificates!!

Breath of Heaven

Conversation with Josiah

Josiah: Mommy, can I talk to you???? (repeat in your head about 12 times, increasingly louder)

Mommy: Can I stop you?

Josiah: NO!

Good think he's so cute!!

Conversations with Grace

Grace: Mom! That nativity on your blog looks just like your nativity!
Mom: Grace, that is my nativity on my blog.
Grace: Oh! I wondered why the wall behind it looked like ours!

2 Years Ago

Two years ago today, Miss Charis Xiao-Xing joined our family. She has come so far from that scared little girl that walked into that room in Changsha, Hunan. She would have nothing to do with me for the first several days. Now she is a mama's girl. I can't imagine our lives without her......

Wordless Wednesday

My Tree

I love our Christmas tree. It was decorated by 5 very excited children! Who cares that the 'good' ornaments are still stored in the attic? Who cares that the ornaments are clumped together on the bottom left side of the tree? It brought the Jobe crew such joy to put it together! Thank you, Jesus for the excitement and laughter of children!

Baby News!!

Nathaniel is home from the hospital! Kathy stopped by on her way home today, around 4:00. God is so good and faithful! Thank all of you for your prayers. Hopefully, Aiden will be ready to come home in a couple of weeks!

Go here for some recent pictures of the boys.

Our God is truly an awesome god!!

My Deliverer

1 I love you, O LORD, my strength.

2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

3 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.
Psalm 18:1-3

Do you ever need delivered from anything? I know I sure do! Mainly from this muck of a life that I have created. Okay, before anyone who knows me protests, we've all made messes in our lives. Created pits that we get really comfortable living in. So, yes, there is muck in my life. And some days are 'muckier' than others.

There is just so much stuff that gets in the way sometimes. In between me and God. So I need to be delivered from that. Rescued from that.

Now, I can sit around talking and bemoaning how hard that is. And it can be difficult. But I am done with that. I am just going to let go and let God. I am going to ask him to be my deliverer. I've asked him to be my savior. But I seem to always relate that to eternity. I'm not there right now. But he can deliver me, right now, while I am living in time.

So, this advent season, I am expecting a deliverer! Praise God!