Finishing Strong

Quotes to Ponder...

My friend R.J. put together these great quotes on COURAGE. As we enter a brand new year, I thought it was a great theme for my Quotes to Ponder post!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.
Theodore Roosevelt

Half of the failures in life come from pulling one's horse when he is leaping.
Thomas Hood

Go back a little to leap further.
John Clarke

Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.
William Shakespeare

Failure is blindness to the strategic element in events; success is readiness for instant action when the opportune moment arrives.
Newell D. Hillis

There is no impossibility to him who stands prepared to conquer every hazard.
The fearful are the failing.
Sarah J. Hale

They fail, and they alone, who have not striven.
Thomas Bailey Aldrich

We learn wisdom from failure much more than success. We often discover what we will do, by finding out what we will not do.
Samuel Smiles

I was never afraid of failure, for I would sooner fail than not be among the best.
John Keats

It is foolish to fear what you cannot avoid.
Stultum est timere quod vitare non potes.
Publius Syrus

He that is down needs fear no fall.
John Bunyan

Never let the fear of striking out get in your way.
George Herman "Babe" Ruth

One who fears failure limits his activities.
Failure is only the opportunity to more
intelligently begin again.
Henry Ford

The greatest mistake you can make in life is to continually be afraid you will make one.
Elbert Hubbard

Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortunes; but great minds rise above them.
Washington Irving

Our greatest glory consist not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
Oliver Goldsmith

Wherever we look upon this earth, the opportunities take shape within the problems.
Nelson A. Rockefeller

What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?
Vincent van Gogh

Experience teaches slowly, and at the cost of mistakes.
James A. Froude

It is the want of diligence, rather than the want of means, that causes most failures.
Alfred Mercier

A man's life is interesting primarily when he has failed--I well know.
For it's a sign that he tried to surpass himself.
Georges Clemenceau

He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat.
Napoleon Bonaparte

There is no failure except in no longer trying.
Elbert Hubbard

There is no impossibility to him who stands prepared to conquer every hazard.
The fearful are the failing.
Sarah J. Hale

Disappointments are to the soul what thunderstorms are to the air.
Johann C. F. von Schiller

Failure teaches success.
Japanese Saying
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Happy 12th birthday Joshua!

 


We had everyone over for Christmas this year. It was great. In the evening we have a birthday celebration for my Christmas "baby", Joshua. He had a great time. We had cake and ice cream for his birthday, but we never did get into the four pies that we made for Christmas dinner. Everyone was too stuffed! Joshua is becoming a very caring, sensitive young man with a huge imagination. He keeps us in stiches a lot of the time. He has a tender heart, and best of all he loves the Lord. Happy Birthday Joshua! We love you!

Christmas Tour...

I've heard of other bloggers giving a Christmas tour of their homes. Last year we were in the hospital, but since this year we are home, I thought it would be fun to participate! So welcome to our home! As you come in the door, the bells on the door will ring. We love nativity sets, so I have a few around the house. The little grey nativity is made out of Mt. St. Helens ash. Our poor little Joseph got broken over the year in our nativity by the front door. Fortunately, Mike was able to piece him back together. I'll have to keep my eyes out for a replacement. :( Only three more days until Christmas! We're still snowed in. The neighborhood looks beautiful! Thank you for visiting our home this year! Have a very Merry Christmas and the very best of New Years!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

I am so enjoying the snow days! All Obligations have been canceled! No parties, no caroling, not even church! We are snowed in. Mike even got a couple of extra days off of work before the holiday break. We are totally forced to slow down and ENJOY the Christmas season. This has been an unusual Christmas season for us any way, as we are not in the hospital. Every Christmas for the past I-don't-know-how-many-years, we have been in the hospital. This year they decided to give the kids one of the "big gun" antibiotics, Zyvox, and keep them home. I'm so glad. We might have to go up in January, but for now, we're playing games, baking cookies, watching movies and just enjoying being together. It looks like we will have snow until the New Year. YAY!

Bucket List... Well, maybe not exactly a bucket list.....

I found this on a friend's blog. I thought it would be fun to see how many of the 99 things I've accomplished. The yellow ones are the ones I've done. Some of these things aren't exactly what I want to do though. I was thinking about checking this list once a year and seeing what I have accomplished. However, I think if I were to do that, I should probably come up with my own personal "bucket" list. Anyway, I have done 56 of the 99, so that's not too bad! How many have you done?


1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped (No Way!!!!)
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

An interesting story...

The story is told of an old man who lived on a farm in the mountains
of eastern Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning, Grandpa was
up early sitting at the kitchen table reading
from his old worn-out Bible. His grandson who wanted to be just like
him tried to imitate him in any way he could.
One day the grandson asked, "Papa, I try to read the Bible just like
you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as
soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Bible do?" The
Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and said,
Take this coal basket down to the river and bring back a basket of
water." The boy did as he was told, even though all the water leaked
out before he could get back to the house. The grandfather laughed and
said, "You will have to move a little faster next time," and sent him
back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran
faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of
breath, he told his grandfather that it was "impossible to carry water
in a basket," and he went to get a bucket instead.
The old man said, "I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of
water. You can do this. You're just not trying hard enough," and he
went out the door to watch the boy try again. At this point, the boy
knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that
even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he
got far at all. The boy scooped the water and ran hard, but when he
reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he
said, "See Papa, it's useless!"

"So you think it is useless"? The old man said, "Look at the basket."
The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that
the basket looked different. Instead of a dirty old coal basket, it
was clean.
"Son, that's what happens when you read the Bible. You might not
understand or remember everything, but when you read it, it will
change you from the inside out." That is the work of God in our lives.
To change us from the inside out and to slowly transform us into the
image of His son.
Take time to read a portion of God's word each day, and remind a
friend by sharing this story.
Author Unknown

Kelly's View Chocolates...

 


Josiah and Christalin have done many fund raisers for Children's hospital over the years. This current fundraiser is Kelly's View chocolates. They had the kids draw pictures. Josiah's pictures was chosen to be put on the exclusive chocolates. I think there are six different pictures and six flavors. The proceeds from the sale of the chocolates will go to Children's Hospital. They had a revealing party where the kids got to paint with chocolate and make yummy chocolate treats. They had fun.

Happy Birthday Joseph!!

 
Double Digits! Yikes! Joseph has arrived in the double digit realm! Ten years old! Joseph is a great young man. He is quick to smile, quick to defend and always helping. He very patiently waited at the church while his brothers went through three hours of auditions for the Valentines Theater. When we finally got home, we had his favorite dinner and cake and icecream. He loved his pile of gifts. We had a quiet party at home and played Monopoly until midnight! As a final birthday present, Joseph won!

O Christmas Tree... O Christmas Tree

 
We got our tree up. I think it turned out very nice. This year I let the kids put almost all the ornaments on. They did a nice job I think. I guess you know your kids are getting older when they can do a Christmas tree by themselves and it still looks nice. In years past, we used to have a bunch of ornaments all along the bottom of the tree when I had the kids help. Sigh. They are growing up so fast!

A couple of years ago, my on-line FIAR family lost two mothers, Missy and Lorrie. They didn't know that that would be their last Christmas with their families. However, they made it a point to make the most of their Christmas. Here is a quote from Missy's blog:
"For now, I'm enjoying making memories with my family and letting all the worries and stresses roll right off my back. They'll be there for another day. But for today I'm going to get my Love Bank filled back up with kisses and hugs and quiet conversations (while making those same kinds of deposits into each of my loved one's Love Banks) and regain the strength to face all those worries and stresses that will still be waiting for me come January. I think that by then they won't seem so big anymore anyway."

So my FIAR friend Christy has encouraged us: "In honor and memory of Missey and Lorrie, I hereby declare that in our home the whole month of December will be spent making wonderful, warm memories with my family and taking the time to do what THEY want."

I try to make that my daily motto; to make memories every day. We really don't know how many days we have with our families. I have a dear friend that is having to go through the holidays and the rest of her life without the love of her life. Andy was killed in a horrible car accident a few weeks ago. All she has is her memories. They are ever so sweet for her.

I don't mean this to be a downer message. It's just that the kids grow up so fast! Memories are made every day - what kind of memories are you making? Let's all try to make them the sweetest memories ever. Don't stress about all the little things, but stop and enjoy your families this year.

Merry Christmas!

A great song...