What a WONDERFUL Christmas!
Christmas Eve was a wonderful evening, probably my favorite ever! Our church had a beautiful candlelight service for the first time this year. It was fun going to church at night! One of our guitar players and I did all the music for that night, just sitting on stools in front of a projected fireplace...it was just a sweet and special time. This picture is me and the boys before the service started.
After the service we went over to our neighbors for a wonderful evening. Our neighbors, Juan and Elsi, are amazing and beautiful people. They are having a new home built and we will miss them so much! 
They had us and some other friends over for a HUGE feast! There was music, laughter, awesome food, friendship and gifts...it was a rich time. It is the Hispanic culture to celebrate BIG on Christmas Eve, that is the main holiday for them...Christmas day is more a day of rest. They stay up really late on Christmas Eve, and then after midnight open gifts and everything. It was SO fun to be a part of their celebration. They gave John II his very first Christmas gift of the year, and the first present he has ever opened by himself! It was a little police car! :)
After sleeping in a bit Christmas Day, we got up and watched Josiah and John II enjoy their gifts and stockings. John II was really into it this year, that was really fun to watch. Taylor and Storm joined us later in the day and we all headed up to my parents for a wonderful Christmas dinner and more gifts! My parents really wanted to see the kids open up some of their gifts, they got a big kick out of that.
At Grammy and Grumpy's house!! :)
Grumpy and John II. So sweet.All in all, we had a very blessed Christmas. One full of love, laughter, family and great friends... and most of all a time to reflect on the beautiful gift of salvation and relationship with God.
My favorite place to be.......Merry Christmas!!!!
posted by Cagle Clan @ 2:13 PM
7 Comments:
I'm glad your Christmas was so wonderful. Love you, Laura
Aww, those are great pictures!
Hello from Pennsylvania! I just happen to come upon your blog several weeks ago and I just love it! Thanks for your inspiring thoughts! It's refreshing to me to see someone so passionate about God and having a good time in life full of love and laughter. I have a couple of questions (if you dont mind) the first is, how do you find the time to really connect with God on a one on one basis and keep up with everything else in your life? I certainly struggle with this.Any suggestions? The second question is, When you were trying to lose weight, was it the South Beach Diet that you were on? I have about 15 pounds to lose from my last baby, he is 3 yrs old now so its getting to the point that I cant use that excuse anymore,I have been considering South Beach Ive heard so many good things about it. Anyway, Im getting alittle wordy so Happy New Year to your precious family and God Bless!~Krystal Wilson
Krystal, so nice to meet you. :) I tried to go to your blog, but couldn't. Do you have one?
First, thank you for all the very nice things you said, you blessed me.
As to your questions.......
Time with God as a Mom of young children is NOT easy, alone time is hard to come by. :) I actually spend great time with God in the shower! The water drowns out everything else, and I am able to really focus on God and just talk with Him. Worship happens a lot in my car, often I pull in the driveway and just sit there for a little while and continue to sit in the Lord's presence with the worship music on (my husband and neighbors I'm sure are used to this!)....I have heard a lot from God in those times. Now sitting down and really getting into the Word and my study books proves to be a bit more of a challenge because there is always noise and activity around me...but I NEED those times. It is a total discipline, but I feel strongly that if you can get up and spend time with the Lord, even if it's 10 minutes, before starting your day...it just sets the day off on the right coarse. It's easier to walk in peace and when things do come at you...it's easier to align them with truth. It is a discipline to get up any earlier than you have to, but the bible says "I beat my body and make it my slave"! :) That's the same thing I have to do to get myself out the door in the morning to go running!
OK, your second question...Yes, the South Beach diet is what I used to lose my weight and I highly recommend it. Nothing else was working for me and I wanted a diet that was healthy. Working out by itself was doing nothing for me, I had to change my diet. So, now it is a lifestyle. I am a size I never thought I would see again...it feels like freedom! :) I just eat a lowfat, no sugar, high protein and fiber, and no white carb diet! I am not starving either, I eat ALL the time. But, I can afford to eat so much more because I am eating all the right things. I have not found it to be difficult to live this way(except in the first couple weeks). The results have totally outweighed any sacrifice though! I cheat once a week, and I really enjoy that. :) As for working out, I run 30 minutes, 4-5 days a week. That's it! I would like to do some weight training to really tone and shape everything like I want it, but I'm not too worried about it, I feel great....maybe when summer rolls around! :)
There ya go! And you thought you were wordy! :)
Blessings,
Jess
Jess, Thanks so much for the taking the time to answer me! Your thoughts and ideas are awesome! I find it hard to get creative about things when Im in the middle of day to day living, its nice to hear what works for others!Keep me in your prayers, I just finished reading the South Beach Diet book and I am planning on starting phase 1 on Tuesday as well as an exercise class at our local ministry center. I am really excited. I do have a blog, I just recently started, and also a website my family and I are planning on using as an on line journal this year. It is still under construction but please feel free to visit! I will be adding alot more info in the coming weeks. www.freewebs.com/y2krystal/
Hope you and your family have a Happy New Year!I cant wait to see what 2006 has in store for the Cagles!God Bless, Krystal
Krystal, for some reason I cannot open your blog. I would love to see pictures of you and your family. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers as you start the South Beach...you can totally do this!! Let me know how it's going! I can always help with ideas of what to eat, especially for snacks and desserts! :)
Here's to a new and better you!
Happy New Year!
Jess :)
Jess, If you type in this URL,
www.freewebs.com/y2krystal/, to your search engine it may come up "cannot find URL" but then will say "if you know the URL is valid click here and it will give our web address again, just click on it and it should go right to the site. If that doesnt work let me know I will email it to you.:0)
~~Happy New Year!~~Krystal
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