Joy No Matter What

 Christmas

 

We went back to Quincy last weekend to spend Christmas weekend with my family.  It has been one hard year for my family, so to all be together was very special.  My parents have been separated since this past May, and since then all of our lives have been filled with new struggles and challenges.  There has been a lot of hurt and tears, but despite the change in our family God is still constant and there and in control.  As much as I wish sometimes this struggle in my family would go away I would be a fool to actually want that.  When I ask myself how has God shaped and taught me this past year, it has most prominently been through the struggle of my family being broken.  I praise Him for this trial although it is not always easy.  Right now it is not hard for me to say this, but tomorrow it may be different.  God give me the grace to trust in your sovereignty! 

City Life

A couple weeks ago Matt got the opportunity to go to Chicago with his dad to the Asta Farm Show.  Of course for mom and me that meant 3 whole days of shopping and spending time together.  We didn't mind at all. :)  

Here we are taking a shopping break for some lunch and warming up from the walking in the cold.

Here is the KSI booth where Matt and Dad spend a lot of their time during the show.

The last day we were there we didn't fly out till late in the evening, so all 4 of us got to spend the day together exploring Chicago. 

We went and toured Pacific Garden Mission

What a place.  It is a homeless shelter that teaches the Gospel to all who enter through their doors.  It is also where the radio program "Unshackled" is produced.  It was very encouraging to learn about the different ways they reach lost souls for Christ

This man here (in which I forget his name) gave us our tour of the mission.  He shared his testimony of how he came to the mission as a homeless person and how God used the mission to help grow him to greater maturity in Christ.  He is now working for the mission as he continues to live there. 

Ok, now off to the Sears Tower.

It looked so close......but was really FAR away!  We definitely got our exercise in this day.

We made it all the way up.

Quite the view!

Walking onto this made our stomachs turn a little. :)

Dad and Matt at most likely Matt's favorite store we went into....Apple.

We went to the American Girl doll store to check it out.  I had never been to it. 

Yes mom, you are as hip as Julie. =)

I love hanging out with someone so cool.....yes, you babe!

Oh yes.  I can not forget this picture.  The blue paint on Matt's face is proof that he got to participate in the Blue Men Group show that we went to see. 

It was a fun trip!  We really enjoyed getting away and spending time with mom and dad.  As nice as it was to be in the big city I think we were all ready to head back home after 4 days there.  

Birthday Boys

My sweetie turned 24 on November 8th and my dad turned 51 on November 26th!  I'm a little late posting this, but it is too important to skip over. =) Since their birthdays are so close we decided to have a double celebration.  Matt requested his favorite soup and my dad brought over his favorite wine (which is probably now my favorite too).  We had a very nice dinner and conversation before we headed into the living room to open some gifts.

soup, salad and bread......definitely a comfort meal

Excited to rip into their gifts.

My dad always tries to guess what the gift is before he opens it.

An amazon box.....what could it be?

Ahhh haaa....books!  These should keep my dad busy for the next month.

As you can see in this picture wrapping gifts is not a gift of mine.  It's the effort that counts right?

This was kinda funny:  Matt really though that the small gift on the top was a ring.  Especially when he unwrapped the paper and saw a ring box.  I knew what he was thinking, so I thought I would play along and get on one knee.... :)

No ring.....just a coupon to go watch shopping.  

We really enjoy playing Ticket to Ride, and since Matt has lived in Europe I thought he would love to have the Europe version.  

It was a fun, love filled evening.  We spend the rest of the evening playing Matt's new game and watching FOOTBALL!  Matt and my dad were in manland!