Christmas Review

Christmas at the Annanie house was a quiet one.

The boys came to Christmas Eve service with us.

After church we gathered at home and did our tradition of scripture readings.

We each choose and read a

 Bible verse that has been meaningful to

us personally throughout the past year.

Matthew chose:

Matthew 6 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life]?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Christopher talked about being kinder to people and showing Christ’s love through our actions.

Michael’s verse: 1 John 5 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

I chose 1 Peter 4:9-11 says "Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen."

I received a bread maker for Christmas. 

I have made a loaf of really wheaty bread,

yummy dinner rolls and some delicious pizza dough.

December Happenings

Well Jule here is your entry! 

Per your request.

Each year our office goes to Fogo De Chao.

 My eyes are closed but I wanted to show

 you how the meat is served to us during our meal.

 This weekend we gathered as a family to decorate our tree.

I set up a buffet of finger foods and Christmas cookies.

This year the kids decided on the

pyramid pose for their Christmas photo.

Each year I try and make new cookie/candy recipes.

Peppermint Bark was a winner!

Pretzel Turtles are very yummy also. 

Both of these are fast and easy to make!

Now I have five days to finish up my shopping and wrapping!



A Trip To North Carolina

After packing up shoeboxes here in Maryland. Michael and I headed down toCharlotte to help out at the Operation Christmas Child processing center.

We received our training.

Lined up to be assigned a worksation.

We took the boxes and opened each and every one of them. 

 We found the money, inspected to make sure there

were not any liquids, army/fighting toys

 or chocolate in the boxes.  If the boxes were “lite” 

we had filler items to make sure the boxes were full. 

 The integrity of the box is kept at all times. 

Then they are taped, boxed and sent down to the shipping trucks. 

Franklin Graham came one day to share stories

and inspiration about this wonderful program. 

We had a great team from all over Maryland!

We helped process over 400,000 boxes during our time in NC.

It was an honor to serve the Lord in this way.

  We worked hard and pray that all the children that

receive the boxes enjoy the contents and are open to

receive the gospel message given to each child.

1 Peter 4:11 "If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen."

Past Few Days....

Saturday night Michael and I went to our churches Married Fellowship.

We roasted hotdogs and marshmallows.

YUMMY!

Sunday we hit Dazzle Dash a local hospital fundraiser.

We walked through the drive through lights.

As many of you know I am volunteer for Samaritan's Purse, Operation

Christmas Child.  Every year I organize our church to deliver shoeboxes.

This year we collected 150 boxes.  Then I spend the week at the

collection center.  I pack all the boxes that get delivered.  Then

Those trucks go to NC to be processed and delivered

all around the world to children who would otherwise

not receive any gifts.

.

"Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God’s love. Since 1993, more than 61 million shoe boxes have been packed, shipped, and delivered across the globe. People of all ages can be involved in this simple, hands-on missions project while focusing on the true meaning of Christmas—Jesus Christ."



Scrapbooking in Ocean City

 Here is the gang that gathered at Cropmania in Ocean City. 

We spent the weekend eating and scrapping.

This year I planned monthly layouts.

I combined all the activities into one layout.

Below is January - June.

Here are some layouts of activities that were so

much fun I made a whole page about them.

Weekend Review

This past weekend I drove up to NY to visit with my friends.

Here is our group of scrappers that have been gathering over the past 10 years.

On Sunday  Jan, Jule and I went to the Waterwood home.

I will post more about the home later.  It was a fantastic home.   

We enjoyed tea and biscuits in the great room.

Some major scrapping went on all weekend.