"School"

Elianna thrives on structure and also enjoys learning so at the beginning of the year, I decided to start "school" with her. We have a few coloring sheets she does - one that has a bit to do with "math" (counting) while the other incorporates what we are learning. We also have a Bible story time and coloring sheet. Lastly, there is always a "hands on" activity she does. One day she separated different color "puffies", as she likes to call them, into their correct colors. Another day she had to put blocks on a shoestring. Different things. Fun things.

So far she seems interested and is excited the night before when we talk about "school" the next day. A couple of days have been a challenge while we learn to sit still and listen, but overall mission accomplished. She is learning and we are spending some one-on-one time together.

2012

Last year, God gave me the perfect verse that He knew I would need for the year. As this new year came around, I started thinking about a verse for this year. As the days have gone by, not one verse has stood out to me and screamed "Here I am!" But I believe God uses other means of speaking to our hearts that are Scripture based. The song that I have heard over and over that reverberates in my mind day in and day out is "Blessed Be Your Name."

Blessed be Your Name

In the land that is plentiful

Where Your streams of abundance flow

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name

When I'm found in the desert place

Though I walk through the wilderness

Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out

I'll turn back to praise

When the darkness closes in, Lord

Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name

When the sun's shining down on me

When the worlds all as it should be

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name

On the road marked with suffering

Though there's pain in the offering

Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out

I'll turn back to praise

When the darkness closes in, Lord

Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away

You give and take away

My heart will choose to say

Lord blessed be Your name

The hardest part of this song for me to sing is that last part. You give and take away. My heart will choose to say, Lord blessed be Your name. That part gets me every time and I often have to stop singing and say "God, do I really and truly choose to bless You for everything?"

Four years ago tomorrow, I gave birth to my sweet Toree. Last year, we said goodbye to my daddy and niece. Yet somehow, I must choose to say "Lord blessed be Your name." I don't understand. I don't know why. I wish it were different, but yet I bless Your name. That is not an easy thing to do.

So this year, I choose to say "Blessed be Your name."

Snow Days

We have had our fair share of snow already here in CO. While we were in NJ in October, the Koenig's bought Elianna a snow suit. Good thing! It has come in handy already. She also got snow boots for Christmas along with a warm hat and mittens so she is all set to go with her winter wear.

At first, Elianna was a little leary about venturing out into the snow; however, once she got out there and tasted it (literally), she loved it!

Don't worry, I helped her up.

Chris even brought home a sled for Elianna and we took her for a spin in it. Both he and I tried it - it's apparently for big kids too!

Estes Park

Before my Chris begins working at Starbucks, we decided to take the week between Christmas and New Year's as our "vacation week." One of those days, we headed up into the mountains to Estes Park. Estes Park is beautiful! And snowy!

As normal, we have a story to tell... But before we get there, I have to tell you that Chris and I ate our very first Elk Burger. Oh yeah! Elk is a very lean meat which can end up a bit dry but it nonetheless has a great taste. Elianna had an Elk Hotdog. Just kidding! It was a plain 'ole hotdog which she enjoyed! We also walked around Estes Park city for a bit before we headed up into the mountain.

Once we got our map to the gigantic Rocky Mountain National Park, we headed up into the mountain. No problem that there are roads closed due to the amount of snow already up there. *Shiver!* Well... apparently we missed our correct turn and headed on a snowy path where we eventually got stuck! When I mean stuck, I mean we were unable to move my poor Nissan Sentra. I mean, the snow was packed so hard all around the car, we thought we were going to have to hike out of there. It "just happened" that a Jeep happened along our way that "just happened" to have a tow strap with them. "Just happened" = God intervening! The one good thing I got out of our time sitting there was a beautiful picture!

After getting unstuck, we drove to Bear Lake where we walked out onto the lake and then started to hike around the lake. We had to cut our time short because the wind gusts were up to 50mph and we just don't have that kind of winter gear yet. Here's to hoping we can find good sales on winter wear soon!

This was totally cool! The water rushed in under the ice and, if you look at the top of the picture, came out on the other side.

And if you don't enjoy beautiful scenery, skip to the bottom.

Although it was a blustery kind of cold day, we enjoyed our time together as a family!