In Honor of the Seuss :) Happy Late Birthday!

[Via: 30 Dr. Seuss Quotes to Live By]

I certainly should have posted this on March 2nd, Dr. Seuss' actual birthday, but I just found it today :).
Great quotes for scrapbooking, journaling, inspiration. Thought for today?
#7 Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So ... get on your way!
And have a great day!

Thanks To Our American Heroes!

It's Memorial Day again. Every year at this time, I take a few minutes to think about the sacrifices so many are making, and have made, so that I can live my life the way I want to. Free to make my own decisions. Free to come and go as I please. Free to follow my God. Free to follow His will. Free to have the lifestyle we have, to have the 'things' we have, free to have the liberties we have. Free to be. I think about my dad and his buddies, my father-in-law and his buddies, and the fellows and ladies we know today that serve so I, my husband, and children can be FREE. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Flowers in the Snow

Many of you know that we spent Christmas in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Some friends of ours own a lodge there and were gracious enough to invite us up for the holidays.

We stayed at the Laurelwood Mountain Inn in Cashiers, North Carolina.

It snowed on Christmas Day, nine inches worth of snow. It was beautiful!

We spent the better part of the day outdoors - making snowmen, snow angels, walking, taking loads of pictures, my daughter and I even ganged up on my husband and pummeled him with snowballs. It was awesome!

As I shot pictures, I was surprised to notice all these flowers on the trees. I am guessing that these are a type of laurel flower. I found dozens of different laurel flowers online, just not this specific one. It is my guess that the lodge is named after these trees that were growing all around the grounds. We had a wonderful time! If you ever need a beautiful place to stay in the mountains - wonderful accomodations, and super-friendly people, check out Laurelwood Mountain Inn. You can find their website here.

Christmas in the Mountains, 2010

Thanks to some wonderful friends of ours, we were blessed to be able to spend Christmas this year in the mountains of North Carolina. It snowed nine inches on Christmas Day. What a great way to spend Christmas - we played in the snow for hours! We just got back home a couple hours ago, and I wanted to get this photo of Kali posted. If you are looking for a great place to spend some time in the Blue Ridge Mountains, check out the Laurelwood Mountain Inn at their website here. There will be many more photos to come in the next few days! Continue to enjoy your holidays :).

Follow the Star

While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel. Luke 2:6-7

There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger." Luke 2:8-12

Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East. Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell him exactly when the birth-announcement star appeared. Then he told them the prophecy about Bethlehem, and said, "Go find this child. Leave no stone unturned. As soon as you find him, send word and I'll join you at once in your worship." Matthew 2:7-8
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. Matthew 2:9-12.

Merry Christmas to you and your family this wonderful, holiday season! May you hold Christ dear and near in your heart. May you remember all that God has blessed us with through the birth of His son - Jesus. May the God of the universe bless you in this coming new year. From The Shadow of the Cross - Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

(Photos of the life-size nativity were taken at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Orlando while visiting the Osborne Family Lights. Scripture is from the Message and from the New International Versions of the Holy Bible.)

i ♥ faces Pet Challenge

This week's challenge at i heart faces is pets. This is a picture I took of Gus and turned into an email Christmas card. I love the textured look. And Gus is always up for getting his picture taken - he's such a ham! To check out all the other pet shots, head on over to i ♥ faces here.

He's Alive

Dolly singing at the 1989 CMA Awards. Grab your kleenex. You're going to need them before the end of the song! (Thanks to my dear friend Cheryl for letting me hi-jack this from her facebook page!)

The Light of the World Is Jesus

This past week, Kali and I were attending a Christian students' speech and debate tournament on the campus of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in North Carolina. One afternoon, while the debaters were in full force debating, I walked out about the campus to take some pictures. I also wanted to enjoy the quiet and the peacefulness of the campus.

What I found was this cross.

What stood out about the cross was the lamp post standing behind it.

"The light of the world!" That was the thought that came to mind. I walked over and turned the cross a bit, to line it up like you see in the above photograph and I thought about our path to the light.

The way we access the light is through the cross, through Jesus Christ.

In John 1:4-5, we are told In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood. The passage continues by talking about John the Baptist, a man sent from God. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through Him all men might believe. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

I look at the above picture and I see that the way to the light is simple. Step out in faith, believing, and receiving Christ as the Son of God, and He will make your path be one of light.

The light of the world is Jesus!

May you and your family have a blessed Easter as you consider all that God and Christ have done for us!

A Cocoa Beach New Year

This New Year's Eve was spent in Cocoa Beach with family.

Yes, I know it's snowing where many of you are as you sit reading this post.

Yes, I know it's freezing and wet and miserable.

So, as my violin plays softly in the background, I welcome you to a Florida-style New Year's Eve Day :).

Hugs all around.

Well, actually you might want to hold this one at arm's length - lol!

Not me, I got a big hug anyway!


The water was chilly, but do-able.


It was a beautiful, peaceful day.


The children had this whole water-world-thing going on. Pretty incredible!




(I think this is my favorite picture from the whole day!)


Then we headed up to the house . . . .

. . . . for more swimming. Don't you just love Florida?!?

After showers, the kids played with the DS's,

and the grownups just enjoyed the company.

And this is what a Cocoa Beach Christmas tree looks like :).

I love Shannon's taste in ornaments! So much fun!

Remembering.


I apologize now to all my northern friends for these pictures.

Hopefully they made you feel a little warmer.

A little more hopeful. And happy.

From the Hendon household to yours - Happy New Year! May the God of the Universe richly bless you in this coming year!

I Want One, Santa!

Hey, Santa! How come I didn't get one of these for Christmas?!?

So not fair!


All kidding aside, here is precious little Noah! Isn't he the sweetest little Santa you've ever seen?!?

Our photoshoot went like this.

Dress Noah in his onesie, his little jeans, little Santa boots and hat, then stuff him into a big red bucket!

Lean back and get all cozy, Noah.

Give him a cute little Donner reindeer to teeth on :).


Eat the props and hang on!

Getting tired, Noah? Take a little rest . . . .

. . . . and start looking for Aunt Nikki.

Ooh, time for a little snuggle-break :).

Add Gramma into the snuggle-time :).

OK, all ready for more pictures.


Posing and teething is hard work!

(Take a little photo-journalistic opp here to show off these awesome little Santa boots!)

Then finish off with some any-time-of-the-year kind of pictures :).




Noah loves his Aunt Nikki and Gramma - you could just tell by looking at him!



Such a happy, precious little fellow! He loved getting pictures taken. Not a frown to be found in any of them. Sweet!

Hang on a minute! Noah wants to wish you a Merry Christmas!

Seriously, Nikki - thanks for letting me take Noah's pictures. He is so precious and I know he must be a delight to your whole family. Love you! Happy Holidays!