New Hobby, Stress Reliever and So Much Fun!

Much Needed Smiles

God knows that when you are having a hard week, that kids always make us smile. Rylie decided that she didn't want her feet to get cold this morning so she put on her slippers. She also asked me in the sweetest voice possible: "Mommy, if I have a really good attitude today, can we go to Disneyland?" Rylie and Daddy were taking pictures of themselves. This is Rylie trying to learn how to lean on her hand just like Daddy.

Grumpa Ernie

As many of you know my grandpa passed away yesterday afternoon. It was a very difficult day and my dad was sad to lose his dad and we were sad to lose our grandpa. The night before he died he told my family that he had made peace with God. We really do believe that he had a relationship with Christ and that he had asked for forgiveness for his sin. As I reflect on his life and what he meant to us a few pictures stick out in my mind. My grandpa Ernie was a very hard worker and a businessman. We used to love going over Lakey's Cafe near Caldwell and working behind the counter and washing dishes to earn a little extra money. He was always visiting with his regular customers and gave everyone a hard time. In recent years he was involved in several Bible studies and read almost all of J. Vernon McGee's commentaries. He loved to share his theology and get you riled up about what you believed. He kept everyone on their toes at Grace Assisted Living and he loved giving Rylie rides on his cart. They would cruise around the halls at lightening speeds almost taking out the other residents and pick up some popcorn from the popcorn maker on his way back. Some of my best memories of him are playing cards (he taught me how to play poker), talking about his theology, and watching him interact with my girls. We will definitely miss him, but we know that he is out of pain and with the Lord. Although he was often grumpy (or pretended he was), I am so thankful that we had him for as long as we did. Please pray for my dad, Aunt Arni and Aunt Mary as they are struggling to find closure and prepare for the funeral. Thank you for all of your support and love for our family.

Joyful New Year

Everybody sets up their New Year's Resolutions and plow through week one, often with some success. I decided this year instead of resolutions, I am going to just call them much needed changes. Now that I have been a stay at home mom for over five months, I am finally ready to take on some new habits and evaluate my progress. So far I am cooking at least 4-5 nights a week (that is an improvement from 0-1 times a week)! I have been reading up on every topic imaginable, finance, parenting, digital scrapbooking and my new favorite-Read Through the Bible in a Year! These new changes in my parenting style, hobbies and discipline in our finances are so exciting, but difficult. I have given God my children, my budget, my time and needing to have control of every situation in my marriage. If you haven't sensed it yet, I have a new peace and a renewed joy for life. As I continue to grow as a person in my walk with God, I also hope to inspire others to wait on the Lord and not to settle for mediocre. Happy 2009 and I can't wait to see what God is going to do this year in and through my little Dayton Family.

p.s. Valerie MacMahon took these fabulous pictures that I used for my first two digital scrapbooking designs.

Sleigh Bells Ring

My friend Teresa gave us this amazing sleigh ride and dinner at Bogus Basin for Christmas this year! You drive up to the top of Bogus Basin Road and board a sleigh with 25 of your closest friends and head off into the winter wonderland. Craig so thoughtfully brought hand warmers, so I warmed my hands and enjoyed the delightful smell coming from the horses. We arrived at a temporary dinner cabin, which was heated and sat down at a long table. At the end of our table was a country singer that played for us throughout dinner. He was amazing, along with the food and the poetry. Yes, the old man that owns the company and his son, drive you, serve you and entertain you. We saw two couples get engaged right after our steak and prawns dinner. It was a truly unique experience, which I would love to do again with my hubby. We had a really fun time chatting and relaxing in God's cold creation!!!

The Three Days of Christmas

Merry Christmas! Today is the first day for us this week that hasn't been Christmas! We had such a fun week with our families remembering Christ's birth, eating, and opening a lot of presents!!!! Some of the highlights were listening to Rylie recite her verse about Mary giving birth to her firstborn son (Luke 2:7) and wrapping him in "swaddly" clothes. Also listening to Rylie wish everyone a Merry Prismas and telling us about visiting Santa at the North Pole ( a friend dressed up like Santa in his neighborhood-Thanks Rick!) So we started our Christmas tour on Christmas Eve and went to Grandma and Grandpa Skinner's house. My 6 year old nephew sang a solo at Eagle Nazarene, so we went and cheered him on and sang some praise songs. We are so thankful for Christ's birth and all that he has done in our lives! I got my Photoshop Elements 7 Program, so now I can start working with my pictures and doing some digital scrap booking! Thank you Dorothy and my hubby! Then it was on to Nana and Papa's house Christmas morning for turkey, laughter and a mountain of presents!!! We received the game Cities and Knights and it goes with our Settlers of Catan game. If any of you know us, you know Craig and I are both competitive and we love this game!!!! Thanks Randy and Chris- We are ready to take you on at the cabin. Then the last stop on our tour was my parents house on the 26th. I felt bad because I think Rylie was beyond tired and almost seemed tired of opening gifts! But don't worry Santa delivered to my parent's house this year and she got her bike that she asked for!!!! Thanks Mom and dad for helping Santa. So you ask what we are up to today. Absolutely nothing! We are sitting in piles of gifts and thanking God for all that He has provided for us this last year! Beyond the gifts and material things God has taught us that He will provide for us no matter what by bringing people into our lives and joy in hard situations. Also, that he asks us to be faithful to Him just by sharing with others! If you stop in all the Christmas Craze and think about Christ coming to earth just like us and then sacrificing himself for our sin, how could we trust anything else?

Frosty The Snowman and Santa Claus

Rylie's new favorite movie is Frosty The Snowman and her new favorite person is Santa Claus! Rylie and I stopped by Barnes and Noble yesterday afternoon. We were looking at books when suddenly from across the store we heard a loud "HO HO HO". Rylie could barely contain herself and she started jumping up and down yelling and pointing "It's Santa, It's Santa!" We have talked a lot about Santa this year and I told her that he wasn't real. She said, "I know mom, he isn't real until he comes to life and brings us presents." So I am pretty convinced she thought it was Christmas! We walked over and she sat on his lap and told him she wanted a new bike. Later as we were getting ready to leave the store she ran over to the window and said "Hey, where is Santa's car?" I told her that his sleigh and reindeer were probably out front, or that Santa had already taken off on his sleigh! We continue to talk about the real meaning of Christmas, but I think it is still ok to enjoy a little bit of the fantasy as well.

Today, I woke up to a light dusting of snow, roads made of ice and to my wonderful husband who turned 33 today! Happy Birthday Baby! Rylie loved sledding with our neighbors, but Craig was not thrilled about being outside in the cold-can you tell???