The Best of 2012

Oh, what a year!  A year of blessings!  In January and in May we welcomed two more grand babies!  Oh, so sweet!  In February, my hubby and I, celebrated 22 years of marriage. In April, my boy turned 17! In July both kiddos went to summer camp.  One, was gone for 2 weeks! Yipes!  In August, we headed for New Orleans for our cruise and my girl turned 13! In September, my boy started his Senior year and my girl her 8th grade year!  In October, my grandson turned 2! In November, a quiet Thanksgiving and in December home for the celebrations and then to the cabin for some skiing.

My year recap would not be complete without adding how much Jesus is apart of all that we do. Jesus is the central focus of our lives.  We could not and would not be who we are today if we did not have Him to guide us and direct us. Over the last year, we all have grown spiritually in our walk with Him.  My personal growth has been the Lord showing me how important it is to show LOVE everywhere we go because Jesus is Love. Also, to not be so judgemental and legalistic.  We all have a tendency to judge and to be legalistic.  The Lord has shown me, through some pain, how important it is to not do these things. We all want to live by rules and check off boxes.  Well, that is not always how God works.  There is not a recipe for success. The only recipe is to look to Jesus and to be like Jesus to everyone you meet.

So, with the New Year approaching, I will choose to judge less, and to show love.  To take my thoughts captive and to share Jesus.  My Jesus is Love, Mercy and Grace.  That is who I want to be like.

Help me Jesus, to be more like you!

Blessings,
Kim

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35

366-366 Made It!

End of the 366!  Made it!
Have a safe and Happy New Year!!!

Blessings,
Kim

366-364 & 365

Some of our Christmas pictures!  We had a sweet time at home and then headed out to our hometown the day after Christmas.  I can't believe we only have one more day of 2012!  It really did go by so fast!

Happy New Year!
Blessings,
Kim

366-363 Plus One!

Two great shots from my girl.  I LOVE THEM!!!!  She is taking these shots out of automatic.  She has been doing this for the last year.  I told her once that if you are in automatic than the camera is taking the shot and not you.  She did not like that and has been trying to only take them on her own.

Blessings,
Kim

366-362

Another shot from my girl.  Yes, we still have pumpkins on our back porch.  Why? Well, I thought they were still too nice to throw away, so we kept them.

Blessings,
Kim

366-361

My girlie girl got a camera for Christmas!  Yay!  She got a Nikon and loves it.  She has been grabbing my camera for awhile now and taking some pretty nice shots.  So, we thought this would be a gift to encourage a talent (I think) she has.
So, the next days will be pictures that she has taken on her new camera.  My old camera will now be passed to my boy.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.

Many Blessings,
Kim

366-360 Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas!

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

366-355-359

Today I went around the house looking for things to take pictures of.  I decided to take out my cookie cutter and take a picture of it like Kristal did a few days ago.  I had to get some bokeh in there.  The first picture of the present has small bokeh but the last picture of the snowman head has bigger bokeh.  Oh, I love bokeh! The third picture is of an ornament on the tree.  It came out kind of cool looking.

Merry Christmas Eve!

Blessings,

Kim  

366-354 Polar Bear Club!

Polar Bear Club. Okay, so that is a bit of an exaggeration.....BUT the pool was freezing cold!  My girlie girl decided it would be fun to jump in the pool after baking cookies.  Umm... She must be a little nuts... : /
I told her to wait until I grabbed my camera!  : )

She got out really quick...

I might add that it is not as "cold" outside where we live compared to so many people but it was the coldest day of December the day she decided to take a dip.

"Joy is the serious business of Heaven." CS Lewis

Blessings,
Kim

366-351-353

Fun times today..... Girlie girl had some friends over to bake some yummy Christmas cookies and put together a Gingerbread house.

In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:6

Blessings,
Kim

366-350

I am behind...I really don't like being behind.  I feel a little less inspired to take pictures.  I am not sure what is going on.  Maybe because I am busy preparing for Christmas.  Maybe because I am having a hard time thinking of something to take pictures of... I am not sure...
Needless to say...I am behind.

I am struggling with what to do with my blog.  Should I continue with 365?  Should I even have a blog?  I am not sure...

So with that, I will leave you with a scripture.  Because really, that is what I want my life to be about.  Jesus and His word.

The Lord God is my strength.  He makes me like a deer that does not stumble so I can walk on the steep mountains.  Habakkuk 3:19

Blessings and Merry Christmas!
Kim

366-345-349

Trying to focus on Joy during this Season.  It is easy to get sidetracked and start to panic about the busyness of the days.  For the last few years we have done a Jesse Tree Advent from Holy Experience.  We have loved it so much.  It helps us to focus on the "Reason for the Season."

The first picture is of some bokeh on a house in our neighborhood.  I used a texture to give it a different look. The second and the third are evidence of our rain that we received the last few days.  Oh, I love the rain.  The fourth picture is of the Jesse Tree ornaments that we put on the tree everyday.  And, the last is our Christmas tree with delicious looking bokeh.  My next attempt of bokeh will be with a focused figure in front of it.  I need to take the time over the weekend to play around with my camera.

Many Blessings,
Kim

366-344

One sweet girlie!

Many Blessings,
Kim

366-342-343

Some fun pictures of last week with the kids and grandkids.  These were taken with my iphone.  My girlie girl took the first shot.  The second shot is not the best quality but they looked cute in their 3-D glasses.  Notice my grandson's hand. ALWAYS moving... just saying : )

Blessings,
Kim

366-340 & 341 Plus 1000 Gifts

I am still counting my blessings....

511. Time with the grandkids...

512. Disneyland at Christmas...

513. Early Christmas with the kids...

514. Sleeping in on the weekends..

515. Christmas lights on all the houses...

516. Friends inviting us over for hot cocoa...

517. Shopping started...

518. Date night with hubby...

519. Teen Event with the new homeschool group... success!

520. My kiddos enjoying their new friends...

These pictures were taken from my girlie girl....She has a great perspective...

Many Blessings,
Kim

366-337-339

This is why I have not posted pictures all week....The oldest daughter and her kids (our grandkids) came to visit this week.  We spent lots of time doing fun things and no time to sit and edit pictures.  These are a few that I took outside of Build A Bear at the mall.  The lighting was great! My girlie girl cracks me up in the picture with my grandson!

Blessings,
Kim

366-336

My boy has played the piano since he was 5 years old.  After the move, he stopped playing for about 9 months.  It was a little upsetting but I decided to just leave it alone.  Well, for the last few weeks he has been playing almost daily.  I love to hear the sound of piano music in my house.

My dad gave me his class ring about 10 years ago.  I just got it sized and passed it down to my boy.  It is now his class ring...from 1957!  So cool!

Blessings,
Kim

366-336

It was so fun getting all the decorations down and the tree up.  I went down memory lane with all the ornaments that we have given to our kids each Christmas.  These are from when my girlie was a baby.  So sweet....

Blessings,
Kim

366-332-335 Thanksgiving Recap!

We did not go home for Thanksgiving and it was a little sad not being with my parents, son and his wife.  It was nice to stay home and cook dinner but I did miss family and of course my sweet grandsons!  It is so hard to be away from most of my family.  We did get a visit from army girl her husband and my mother in law. So thankful for that. We enjoyed our day with lots of yummy food.  Later, we went to see the new Lincoln movie.  It was very good and I have to admit I cried a little at the end.

We have a funny tradition in our house.  We got this silly turkey hat about 15 years ago from our oldest daughter.  Now, every year we HAVE to to pass the turkey hat around and have everyone take their picture with it on.  Hence the silly turkey hat pictures.

Blessings,
Kim

366-331

Blessings,
Kim

366-328-330 Plus 1000 Gifts!

We were able to attend the grand opening of Georgetown Cupcakes in downtown LA last week.  My daughter watches the show on NetFlix and was excited to hear of the opening.  My friend and I loaded up the car and the kids and drove to downtown, in the rain, I might add.  I hate driving in the rain on a freeway.  I came from the desert and it NEVER rains so I am not used to it.  Anyway, we waited in line for almost 2 hours to attend the opening and then to meet the owners and get an autograph signed copy of their books. We also received a free cupcake.  I must say, they were DELICIOUS!  Not your Betty Crocker cupcake.  Sorry Betty, I do like your cupcakes but just not the same.  After, we headed over to the American Girl store to just look at all those pretty dolls.  Oh, I am very sad for that stage to be pretty much over for my girlie.  TEAR!  Anyway, we had a great outing and I love my new friend and her sweet daughters.  I did not put a picture of them because I need to get permission : )

Still counting...

511. Yummy cupcakes!

512. Rain...

513. Time with my sweet friend...

514. Fun times with my daughter...

515. Thankful for travel mercies to and from...

516. A quiet but sweet Thanksgiving..

517. Yummy food... I am overstuffed now!

518. Family time...

519. Decorations being put up around house...

520. God's provisions...

521. A country that we can still study God's Word...

522. My mother in law visiting...

523. Sleeping in days...

524. My girlie girl helping in the kitchen right along side of me....

525. Laughter in the kitchen...

526. Everything coming together..

527. A great homeschool group...

528. Things I thought would be hard turning out to be easier...

529. Studying God's Word with my boy...

530. His Mercies...

Blessings,
Kim

366-326 &327

The last few pics from our field trip last week.  I forgot to post them with Thanksgiving and company and all.
I hope you all had a great time together with your family and friends.
Give Thanks to the Lord, For He is Good!

Blessings,
Kim

366-325

And there it is....
The Hollywood sign...
It is in renovation.  Sherwin Williams is painting it.  We just found out that you can hike up to the sign (to a certain point).  You are not allowed to touch the sign or get too close, because of vandals no doubt.  I see a hike in our future.  I think that would be fun.  If it happens, no doubt, I will post about it.

Blessings,
Kim

1000 Gifts Plus 366-324

My babies are growing up so fast!  Only a few months away until the big boy graduates!  I am so thankful that the Lord heard my prayers and granted me them.  It has been wonderful.  Really, for the most part.  Some days are difficult or should I say some situations are difficult but the good out weighs the bad part and it has been a HUGE blessing.  I just can't imagine my life if I did not have these two blessings.  God is so amazing!

This picture is from a field trip to Griffith Observatory in LA.  Can anyone say "Rebel Without a Cause?"  It was filmed here.  Yes, that is the Hollywood sign in the background. Sometimes I am just too wiped out to go on anymore field trips but when you move to a place with so much to do, it is hard to pass up.

Still counting...

501. My blessings.

502. Two fun excursions this week...

503. God hears my prayers...

504. Cloudy and rainy days...

505. Time with my friend and her girls...

506. Yummy cupcakes...

507. Family coming this week..

508. My Christmas cards are ordered...

509. Cool field trip...

510. Restful Sunday...

May you have a wonderful Thanksgiving week.

Blessings,
Kim

366-323

I took this picture on a field trip that we went on the other day.  I am trying to take pictures in manual.  I took this picture and it turned out too blue!  I forgot to change my white balance.  Ugh!  So I edited it.
Anyway, it kind of matches because the building was built in the 30's.

Blessings,
Kim

366-319-322

My girlie girl hangs Christmas lights in her bedroom around this time of year.  The temptation was too much.  I just had to try some bokeh.  I tried without the glass and that is pretty easy.  The next two are with my wedding glass.  I am trying to get the glass in focus.  They came out okay but I really want it to be crisp.  Any suggestions??
The last one my girlie girl took.

Blessings,
Kim