Christmas 2008

What a blessed Christmas we had - thank you, Lord! We started out Christmas Eve with my parents coming to spend the night. We had a wonderful time catching up, eating pizza, watching Christmas movies, and snacking way too much! After the kids went to bed we lugged all the presents out of the attic (had to hide them there because of a nosy 3-year-old and a chew happy dog)! The kids were gracious to let us sleep the next morning until 7 am! Woo hoo! I can tell Kristen's getting older - she wanted to sleep til at least 9 am! Russ began the morning by reading the Christmas story out of Luke in The Message. I LOVE LOVE LOVE watching them open presents and as far as I know, they loved it all and were thankful. After the traditional Russ Tyler Big Breakfast (and I do mean BIG), we played Guitar Hero, and prepared to leave for Springdale. Later that afternoon we gathered with Russ's side of the family at his brother Nick's house. SUCH a fun time - lots of cousins, food, presents, and it ended with the kids playing an adventurous game of "flashlight hide and go seek" outside. Clay is sporting a black eye as a result, but he thinks it's cool. :)

I took tons of pictures, but here are some highlights. Merry Christmas and now on to the New Year!!!

Santa ate his cookies!


Madi loved her Littlest Pet Shop :)


Clay had been wanting this for awhile!

Jake being a rock star - check out the right foot!


I love this pic - this game is so fun!

All ten cousins - there will be 11 next year!
(No, not me! - it's Scott and Steph!)

Me and my sweetie!

This is precious! Papaw and Mimi's gift was a custom book of pictures
taken over the last year - it was awesome and they were moved!

Erin and Madi

Ashley, Kristen, and Aunt Debbie - the hostess with the mostest!

Who's that girl?

It's Madi! She got her first haircut a couple of days ago - that's right, no pair of scissors had even touched her hair - and she's 3 and a half for goodness sake! I guess I just never took the time to get it done - just too easy to let it grow and grow. Since it's so curly, I never really have to "fix" it - except for an occasional bow. When she would watch her brothers get their hair cut she told me she NEVER wanted that done to her! So as I was combing her wet hair out after a washing (which I admit is a chore), I said "you need a haircut, girl - this hair is down to your waist!" She said "OK!" Exactly two hours later we were at the salon to see "Mrs. Terri" before she could change her mind! She did so good - didn't even flinch and got a the all-important sucker after it was over. Later that day, Kristen decided to straighten it to see what it would look like!




... Love this one - flashing a peace sign with an attitude!

Santa Claus is comin' to town....

It was "Breakfast with Santa" at the kids' elementary school last Saturday. After feasting on donuts and juice, face painting, and snow globe crafting, Jake and Madi decided to tell Old Saint Nick exactly what they wanted for Christmas. Madi said she wanted "dollies and color pages"... Jake was a little shy at first, so Madi tried to speak for him. I think he eventually said "Guitar Hero"!

A Special Day

My sweet boy Jake was baptized Sunday, December 7 by his dad. He asked Jesus into his heart back in May shortly after his great grandmother's passing. God had been working on him for some time and his questions grew more intense and more frequent, so we suspected it was "time". After we prayed with him last May, we wanted to continue talking to him about his decision before he was actually baptized. So, almost seven months later we chose Dec. 7 as it coincided with the children's-led service at our church. It was a very special and meaningful morning for Jake (he also had a solo in the kids' program) and priceless for his parents :) May God use him mightily, all the days of his precious life!

Here are some pics of Jake with his Mimi and Papaw and Mom and Dad.....

Blogging? Oh yeah....

Well it seems like I have been MIA on this blogging thing! Truth be told, I'm developing a slight addiction to Facebook :) - at least when I get computer time - gotta share with 5 other people in this household!

There's been a lot going on since Thanksgiving believe it or not, and I'll start with a couple of pictures from Kristen's Christmas Dance at Chaffin. She loves getting dressed up and she had a blast doing so with her good friends - she really does have the BEST friends anyone could ask for, such a sweet and encouraging group of girls - praise God!


And while my oldest is too busy growing up (way too fast), I want to be sure and enjoy my "little" princess while she's still little! I love this picture - one of those rare instances where she let me fix her hair!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving with our precious family down in Waldron at the home of Russ's aunt and uncle. As usual we ate waaaaaaay too much. The weather was perfect and we were treated to an awesome annual football game between the boy cousins and girl cousins. Ummm, not sure who exactly won....

The girls' team, complete with jerseys.

The boys' team

The Tyler clan - all 18 of us!

The Tyler's, the Hullender's, the Jeffery's, and the Bass's

**I don't want to leave my parents out: they were busy cooking and serving meals at their local Salvation Army. It's something they've done for several years now - I'm so proud of them!!! I love my whole family and so blessed to have each one of them in my life!

Reflections of a birthday girl....

Ok so today is my 39th (*sigh*) birthday and I've been challenged to think of 39 things I'm thankful for off the top of my head - sort of random order except for the first few..... here goes:

1. My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, no question!
2. My most precious gift from #1... my husband Russ.
3. My awesome kids (lump in throat...)
4. My church.
5. My incredible extended family and friends from all stages of my life.
6. My home that I've been privileged to live in for 12 years.
7. My van that is always willing to cart around an extra kid or two.
8. A college degree and the freedom to choose not to use it while I'm home with children.
9. My health.
10. My family's health.
11. Coffee, flavored that is.
12. Technology like FB and blogging to stay in contact with friends new and old.
13. Pictures of my kids.
14. The kid's schools that are a block away.
15. Godly teachers who love what they do.
16. Working with teens for the last 18 years.
17. Stolen times alone with each of my children.
18. Date night with my husband.
19. Lazy days at the pool in the summer.
20. Sweet neighbors.
21. Disney channel, Nickelodeon, and PBS Kids for occupying Madi for just a second!
22. Old photos and home videos.
23. High school football games.
24. Shopping just for the fun of it.
25. My country and its freedoms.
26. Snow days (and no place to go!).
27. New shoes.
28. American Idol
29. When a really good song comes on the radio.
30. A clean house that stays that way for more than five minutes.
31. Unexpected blessings, large and small.
32. Opportunities to serve other people.
33. Road trips.
34. My kid's activities.
35. A book that I can't put down.
36. My bible study group.
37. A good night's sleep.
38. My dogs.
39. Another birthday to count my blessings...

Birthdays and Cold Fronts!

Note to self: Do not plan an outdoor party for your child's mid-November birthday. I had the brilliant idea to have Jake's birthday party at the park on Friday since school was out that day - of course the weather man said it would be beautiful that day with a cold front coming in that night. Well it did start out at a pleasant 69 degrees... for the first 15 minutes! It progressively got colder and windier as the minutes ticked by. We were all ready to get back to our warm homes by the end! But the kids had an absolute blast and to my knowledge, no one came down with pneumonia the next day. My sweet boy is 7 now.... Happy, happy birthday son!

"Clone Wars" Birthday Cake :)

Friends Jackson and Hayden

Blowin' out the candles


Friends Colby and Will

Gotta love blue icing!

Taking a swing at the pinata

Friend Conley's turn...

Friends Jacob, Jackson, and Nicholas

From the NCR website: Congrats Jake!

NCR Week 7 - Defensive Player of the Week - Jake Tyler

Our defensive player of the week for the final week of the season is Jake Tyler. Jake had a great game versus Police Cubs making several big tackles. Jake has improved all season and has been a pleasure to be around and coach. Can't wait to have him back next season. Great job Jake and congratulations on being named the defensive player of the week.

Times are a'Changin... Election '08

Barak Obama made history last night, becoming our new President-Elect - and he was chosen by means of a cool concept called a 'right to vote'. After much prayer for the direction of this country, I exercised that right (and brought my kids with me) yesterday and, as we were leaving, said a prayer of thanks that we had the freedom and safety to vote (and pray, for that matter). Wow, there are SO many things I could say about this country, my convictions, the election, the candidates, moral issues, people's opinions, but I think I'll just stick to the heart of the matter, and talk about my God.

~ Although I did not vote for the winning candidate, I am instructed and compelled to pray for him, and this country:

"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone, for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2: 1 - 4

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14.

~ Although I have the option to dwell on my fears (founded and unfounded), I am instructed and compelled to trust the author of this universe:

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, It is He who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. It is He who reduces rulers to nothing, Who makes the judges of the earth meaningless." Isaiah 40: 21 - 23

I'm so relieved and comforted that God won't fit in the box that I seem to want to put Him in. He is very much in control, while my roles (privileges) are to seek His face, watch for His return, trust His sovereignty, love His people, speak His truth, obey His word, and pray His will.

PRAY AND VOTE! (in that order...)

Psalm 32:6-7 – Pray that Christians will be motivated to pray faithfully for this election and that the Lord would deliver us from the wrong leaders.

Psalm 16:7-8 - Pray that the Lord would give wise counsel and guidance to His choice for president in this campaign.

Proverbs 16:13 - Pray that our nation will listen to the truth and not be led astray.

Psalm 18:32-36 - Pray that the Lord would arm the man of His choice with strength; that He would guide him in battle this election, and that He would sustain him and give him victory.

Hebrews 11:32-34 – Pray that God's man could, through faith, persevere and maintain his courage throughout this election.

Psalm 125 - Pray that those who trust in the Lord will not be shaken.

Psalm 86:14-17 - Pray that the Lord would defeat those who have no regard for Him in this election.

2 Cor. 12:9 – Pray that the Lord would empower and enable his man in any area of weakness.

II Kings 13:16 - Pray that the Lord would put His hands on the man of His choice for president (and his team) and guide them in this election.

Proverbs 1:5-6 - Pray that God's man will listen with discernment, add to his knowledge, and receive wise counsel in this campaign.

John 16:33 - Pray that the man of God's choice would be given wisdom and ability from the Lord to overcome any obstacle or difficulty during this campaign.

Acts 17:30 - Pray for repentance for yourself and for our nation.

Luke 12:54-57 – Pray that God's man and our nation will be discerning and do what is right.

Phil. 4:13 - Pray that the Lord's choice for President will have special strength and unusual ability from God.

Habakkuk 1:5 and 3:2 - Pray that the Lord would do something that would utterly amaze us and give His servant victory

** thanks to my sister-in-law Debbie for sending me this great way to pray Scripture over this Election Day. No matter what - God was, is, and always will be, on His throne.

Trunk or Treat....

We had such a great time on Friday! Our church hosts a "Trunk or Treat" every year and this one was probably the best - we estimated around 300 folks on our grounds that night taking part in games (set up in the trunks of vehicles lined up in our parking lot), activities, door prizes, and a chili cook-off. My hat's off to our Children's minister, Derenda, who successfully pulls this off! It's a great way to reach out to families in our community and provide them a safe, fun alternative for their kiddos.

I can't post without a few pictures: Russ was the "Crocodile Hunter" (rats - no picture!), Madi was "Sleeping Beauty", Jake was a Ninja Turtle, Kristen was a football player,and Clay was, well... Clay. Kristen was with friends that night, so I didn't get a picture, but her costume included Russ's 9th grade football jersey from his days at Central Junior High! I loved it!!!

Too cool for costumes, I guess ;)



Madi and her friend Skylar at her preschool parade



Madi and her friend Katie (Katie had just bobbed for apples!)

Jake and his friend Will

The ponies were a hit!

Madi, Jake, and our sweet neighbor Patty

~

Well I'm finally done picking all the Snickers bars out of my kids' candy collection - I'm sure they will never notice :-}

Inspiration, anyone?

This is an incredible story that my mother-in-law shared with me about an 8-year-old cancer survivor who is also an amputee. He is a catcher (I have a heart for catchers :) for his baseball team, the Astros.
Be sure and watch the video and then listen to the audio clip directly below it. What an amazing kid!

http://www.heraldleaderphoto.com/2008/05/31/

Family Picture Time....

Those words send a feeling of dread to every mother, I think - well at least it does for me! The pressure to make sure everyone is somewhat coordinated and in a reasonably good mood, not to mention keeping faces scratch and bruise-free (a challenge for my little ones!), hoping you have decent weather on the day of the appointment, and finally, anticipating at least ONE shot in which everyone is looking in the same direction with a pleasant look on their face (ha - check out Madi in the pic above)! Well, I have to say this one went well. As long as I was pumping Madi with candy and using bribery with Clay and Jake (Kristen was easy - the girl loves the camera ;) - it was actually a pleasant experience. Of course our favorite photographer, Bob Dyer, made everything turn out great.
Here's a few favorites: