Another Give Away!!!

Franklin Springs Family Media is giving me the honor of being able to share a DVD with one of you. So here is how it will work. Click on the logo above and go to their website and look at all of their DVD's. Then come back and let me know which DVD you would want to win and why. You will have until December 31st at midnight EST to leave a comment on this post. Be sure and tell me not only which DVD you would like, but why you chose that one. Please only one entry per family!! :) Also, if you decide to make a purchase while looking at their site, I will get credit if you use the logo/link above!!!

Also, be sure you give me some way to get a hold of you if you win. If your name is a link to your blog I will use that. If you just fill in your name, then leave me an email address or something. Thanks!!

Just so you will know this will be a give away of one single DVD, not a set. Be sure and leave the reason why you chose the one you did!!!!

More Family Fun!!!

On Monday, we went up to Lehman's Old Fashioned Hardware store. You can still buy a lot of the old fashioned tools you need from them. For a short commercial break... If you buy something on line from them, please use my link in the sidebar so I get credit. :) Each time that our friends come to see us, we make a trek to Lehman's. It takes a very long time to get through the store. They have really added on in the last couple of years, so it is even larger and takes more time. Here are some pictures from Lehman's.

We had eaten a hardy breakfast and so we went to Der Dutchman in Walnut Creek to eat dinner. This is another tradition when they come to visit. They had a buffet bar that everyone decided to get. Here are a couple of restaurant pictures.

We are truly enjoying the visit and really don't want it to end. I really enjoy the houseful of people. I have had lots of help cooking and cleaning up. We have stayed up talking (one night Terri and I stayed up until 2AM). We have watched videos together, played games and had a great time.

Friends, Family & Togetherness

We have really been enjoying our company. It seems each day is filled with an excitement all its own. Here are a couple of the boys with their baby sister. This was on Christmas morning.

The girls were given matching dresses and tights.

We all managed to get around the table for Christmas dinner. The oldest son stayed on the couch because of his leg.

One night we made pizzas. I got to use my snowman and gingerbread man pan for the children's pizzas.

The little one was fresh from her bath and wanted to help her big sister make pizzas. We gave her a little pan for her to make a pizza in. That was the most rolled out dough in history I think. Rolling was the most fun part.

They were giving the baby her first lesson in pizza making.

I have truly enjoyed holding the baby. She is VERY cuddly!!!!

This morning we woke up without power. No power equals no water in my house. :) Friends lent us their generator. The power is back on now.

Vision Forum Year End Liquidation Sale!!!

Year-End Liquidation Sale — 250+ Items at 30%-70% Off!
2008 is coming to an end, and Vision Forum wants to reduce as much of its current overstock as possible to be good stewards and minimize our year-end inventory tax obligation. So, for six days only, we are offering 30%-70% off more than 250 family-building books, CDs, films, toys, and more!

Use this special sale to stock up on gifts for 2009, or bless your family right now with resources that encourage and strengthen the Christian home. Close out 2008 with great products and savings from Vision Forum!

On behalf of the Vision Forum staff and families, thank you for your support and prayers. We appreciate your business.

Sale ends at midnight (CST) on Wednesday, December 31, 2008. Good while supplies last.

Merry Christmas!!

I pray that the Lord of all creation will be the center of your day tomorrow. That you will take time and remember what He has done for us and what a precious gift the world received that first Christmas day.

Have a special day tomorrow with family and friends!!!! I have already had lots of baby time and will be hogging more. :)

Full house for Christmas

The above picture was taken last year in December, right after Joshua had asked Brittany to marry him. This is almost all of Brittany's family. Her oldest brother was not there and the new baby sister that was born 28 hours before the wedding this past October, wasn't there. Her family is coming this year again. We are so thrilled. They are truly family to us and we all made it official by having our son and their daughter marry. Her whole family will be coming tomorrow and spending some time with us. I am so excited. Last year they did not come until after Christmas. I am so excited to have a houseful of children and people. They are leaving tonight. Please pray for their safe travel and also please pray for Brandon, the oldest. He had a motorcycle accident and has a wounded leg. They are coming with the doctors approval, but I am sure he would love for you to pray that he have a comfortable trip.

Count Your Blessings Monday!!

Here is an opportunity for all of us to give thanks unto the Lord for a blessing in your life. If you would like to take part great. If not that is OK too. If you would like to share your blessing, just leave it in the comments. If you want to use the picture above and list a blessing on your own site, then leave a URL to your site in the comments. There is no pressure here. I just know that I am incredibly blessed and I would like to share that and give thanks to Him who all blessing come from. This is a way that we can encourage one another. I know that I am often encouraged when someone shares a blessing with me. I think that many times we forget that it is a blessing to be able to breath, to get out of bed, to hold a baby... Share your blessings with us. We can share so many other things.... special gifts, recipes, let's take the time to share how God has blessed us!!

Today, I want to count the following as my GREATEST blessing of all. While I was still a sinner and deserving of death, God sent His ONLY Son to earth. He left heaven and all of its glory to come to earth. He did not come as a grand and glorious king riding a horse and leading an army. He came to earth as a tiny helpless infant. He was not born in some fancy palace, or the best room in the best hospital, but in an animal stable. He was not wrapped in silk and expensive clothing, but in swaddling cloths. The Creator of the universe had to be fed and have His diaper changed. His sole purpose in coming was to die for my sins. He was to be that perfect sacrifice that took my place on the cross. Because of Him, I know that I will spend eternity with Him in heaven. That is the GREATEST blessing of all!!!

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life ina Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10:9, 10 That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:13 For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.

Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Update on Little Hannah

I told you about little Hannah in this post. Someone left the following in the comments. I assume that it is someone close to her and her family.

Please keep praying for Hannah!!! She is 4 years old. Her birthday is in janurary. She does have a very rare tumor of the brain that is cancerous and very aggressive. However she has not been given 11 or 12 weeks to live and she is not in her 7th week as some reports have said. Please don’t presume that her time left with us is based on those reports !!! Please know she is getting treatment. Thank you for your generosity!

I signed up for updates from her Caring Bridge site. They are trying to count all of her cards. I think they have counted over 23.000 so far, and they still have more to count, plus more are coming in each day. Keep praying for little Hannah and her family.

Franklin Springs Family Media Specials!!

24 Hours Remaining...

Order by Saturday December 20th
at Noon to Receive Your
Gifts by Christmas!

Time is running out! To guarantee delivery by Christmas all orders must be placed by noon (CST) tomorrow December 20th.

The below films offer a host of unique gifts sure to warm your holiday experience, and allow you to treat those in your life with inspiring films that everyone will enjoy.

We are also making available a free shipping coupon code with any purchase for any dollar amount. Details at the bottom of this email. This is also a limited time offer that ends tomorrow December 20th at noon.

Free Shipping Coupon code
Offer Ends December 20th!

We are pleased to make available the below free shipping coupon code for all orders. Simply enter the below coupon code during the checkout process to take advantage of this special offer.

Coupon Code:
christmasshop08334

This And That!!

I have many "Mom" memories at this time of the year. My Mom was always baking something up and she had her house decorated with her touches. My favorite Christmas cookie are the ones you see below. My Mom made them every year. They are called thumbprints.

I made the 2 bears you see here. I gave them to my Mom, because she liked this sort of stuff. She loved the one that leans against something. She always made it look like he was trying to get up in a chair or on the couch. My Dad gave them back to me.

Today, Brittany and I ran a few errands. We went by this house and what to our wondering eyes did appear, but a big red sleigh pulled by 9 John Deeres. :) If you click on the picture and make it bigger, you will see there is a red light bulb on the front of the white and yellow Deere. It must light up at night.

Hannah's last Christmas - her wish

I just re-read this and need to clarify something. This was passed on to me. I am not related to her. Sorry, I meant to fix that part. I did go to the Caring Bridge sight and this is for real.

This was from the letter that was passed on to me. She is not related to me. This was written by her second cousin.

This is the true story of a 5-yr old, Hannah Garman, who
was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, a rare and incurable
brain tumor. She has been given 12 weeks to live and is currently in
her 7th week. She was going to be the flower girl in our wedding in
May, but was diagnosed a week after we asked her to be the flower
girl. This is especially sad because her mother died 2 yrs ago from
breast cancer.

Right now she has lost most of her motor skills. She is confined to
bed and cannot really do anything or play with the gifts she is
getting from people, but she LOVES getting cards - she has gotten so
many from people she does not know and just loves to have grandma
read about the people who send them and see their pictures and is so
proud of all her cards. Her room is just filled with cards.

When asked what she wants for Christmas she said she wants to see how
many Christmas cards she can get. Many people have passed this wish
along to their churches, prayer groups, friends and family. There are
school groups where children are making her cards. People are
including pictures so she can see who it is that is sending her the
card.

If you would like to help with her wish, you can send a card to her
at:
Hannah Garman
704 Orchard Rd
Lititz, PA 17543

THANKS! Feel free to pass this along to your own prayer group,
church, school, etc. Let's see if we can have the cards coming in big
postal bags for her this Christmas, since it will be her last holiday.

Read more about Hannah, see pics, & stay updated on her progress at
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/hannahgarman

Farm and Home Stuff

Well, our tree is up. I still have not put the bows on it. The skirt is askew in this picture. I think we had just put water in the base. Our tree this year is VERY thirsty. We have wood heat and it tends to really dry the air out. We do keep a humidifier going and we also have a kettle and a pot with water on top of the wood stove.

In the last couple of weeks we got Molasses and Clover bred. Buttercup is due to calve in May and the other two will calve in September. Clover has never freshened yet (that means had a calf and come into milk). I hope she does as well as the other two.

Our sheep are really going through the hay. We want to take the ram to the auction this weekend, but have to work out transportation for that. We also have some ewes to deliver to a friend. I am praying that God will work out a way for us to do this. We really need a truck. We have always had Joshua and his truck here and now with him being married and not living on the farm, it is not always available. A truck is not in the budget though, so God will have to provide other means right now for us to transport animals. I believe He can handle that. :) I am not totally sure which ewes I am getting rid of. I would rather keep them all, but we can't afford to have to buy hay for them all through out the entire winter. With the drought the last two years we got very little hay and what we did get is not that good.

I want to work on our beehives. They need cleaned up and maybe repainted. We lost all of our bees and I would like to get more.

We also need to go out and do some more clean up in the garden. We will be glad we did if we are still here in the spring.

The Power of the Tongue

I highly recommend the Bible study that we are doing. I know I have told you that before, but it just keeps getting better. It is called The Walk of Repentance. It is put out by Pure Life Ministries. One of the reasons that all four of us appreciate it so much is the fact that he does not lead you into his thought train or his view of things. He takes different topics and gives all sorts of scripture and has you read the scriptures and tell what you learn or what you think it is saying.

This week was on controlling the tongue. The different headings for the days were The Need for Control, Idle Words, Being Argumentative, Grumbling and Confident Assertion. Each day seemed to build on the day before. The tongue or our use of it can lift up and encourage people or kill them. We can't control our tongue. Out of the overflow of the heart is what our mouth speaks. We as Christians can have very strong feelings in certain areas. Often times we try to push these off onto others and even unbelievers. We can be strict and harsh and hard and then wonder why people aren't drawn to the Lord. There is no warmth or encouragement, just a hard set of rules. The tongue can get an argument going. In Proverbs 17:14 says,

"The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with."

When we start to tell others how they ought to think, we open a tiny crack in the dam. Pretty soon the whole thing breaks open and all sorts of ugliness comes dumping out. We are to put away harsh feelings to walk away from strife. We are to be kind, tender hearted and forgiving. We are to fill our heart with good things so that the overflow is good. We need to be considerate and give up our rights for a weaker Christian and we should not expect someone who is an unbeliever to discern spiritual things.

1 Corinthians 13 tells us that we can do all sorts of wonderful things, noble things, but if they are not done with love, then they are worth nothing. Do we have an openness to people and a love that draws them in, or do we hold them at arms length and see if they follow rules.

The Bible study also talked about idle words. We are going to have to give an account for every careless and idle word. By those careless words we will either be condemned or justified. I want to be careful with my words. Many times we speak "Christian things" and phrases to people. We know the right words to say that make us sound oh so spiritual. However, the proof is in the pudding. Can they look at our lives and the basics that we are to be about each and every day and see a spiritually mature person? Or do we speak one thing and live another? What if someone could be a fly on my wall. What would they see and hear out of Marci? If I was to go out and be active in a ministry or a project, and people knew who I was at home, would they even think I should be in that ministry? Is the person serving publicly in the name of the Lord, the same person who I am at home... the REAL me? If I am not faithful in the basics, I personally believe that I have no business being active in a ministry. I have not even got a good foundation down yet. There is a lot of hypocrisy today. People parade and serve as one thing, yet what they are at home is very different. Am I guilty?

I want to be found faithful. I want to hear "Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter into your reward." Lord, guard my tongue. Give me a genuine warmth and love for others. Help me to walk away from strife. Let my words count and not be careless or idle.

Essay Contest for Homeschoolers!!

Nestled in the rolling hills of Middle Tennessee, on the town square in the creative haven of historic Franklin, they’ve established Franklin Springs Family Media to provide families with top-quality DVDs that encourage the building and strengthening of God-honoring family life.

They are holding an essay contest.

Franklin Springs ESSAY CONTEST: Why I homeschool (250 words or less.)

One essay will be selected to receive the ten-pack collection of DVDs from Franklin Springs Family Media ($199 Value). Send entry to contests@franklinsprings.com – Subject "Essay Contest"

All Entries must be received by Friday, December 19, 2008. Winner will be announced on Monday, December 22, 2008. All entrants will also receive a $5 gift certificate for any film in the Franklin Springs Family Media catalog.

If you particpate please mention at the bottom of your email that you got this email from Marci Blubaugh. :) Also, if you decide to go ahead and buy something from them, please use the link in the sidebar of my blog. Thanks.

Count Your Blessings Monday!!

Here is an opportunity for all of us to give thanks unto the Lord for a blessing in your life. If you would like to take part great. If not that is OK too. If you would like to share your blessing, just leave it in the comments. If you want to use the picture above and list a blessing on your own site, then leave a URL to your site in the comments. There is no pressure here. I just know that I am incredibly blessed and I would like to share that and give thanks to Him who all blessing come from. This is a way that we can encourage one another. I know that I am often encouraged when someone shares a blessing with me. I think that many times we forget that it is a blessing to be able to breath, to get out of bed, to hold a baby... Share your blessings with us. We can share so many other things.... special gifts, recipes, let's take the time to share how God has blessed us!!

Today, I want to thank the Lord for His Word and the promises contained within it. He has promised to never leave or forsake me. He has promised that He is preparing a place for me in heaven. He knows my every thought and has plans for my life. I can trust Him to unfold them before me. Even if there is no one else, He is enough. There is so much more, but even just what I wrote can be truly mind boggling when you sit and think about it.

What are you counting as a blessing today?

Vision Forum Storewide Special

Starting today, Vision Forum is offering discounts on everything in the
store! The sale will last for just 3 days, ending at midnight on Wednesday,
December 17.

Once again, all toys will be 20% off, and all books, audio and DVDs will be
30% off.

But here's the best part: a long list of new and old favorites will be 50%
off!

THE LIST
50% off items will include:
*Thoughts for Young Men
*All-American Pop Gun
*Passionate Housewives Desperate for God
*Spy Monocular
*Toy Crossbow w/Darts
*Teach Them To Your Children
*1911 Official Handbook for Boys Scouts of America
*Ten P's in a Pod
*Swiss Family Robinson
*Little Bear's Outdoor Adventure Guide
*True Story of Noah's Ark
*Umbrella Doll Stroller
*(DVD) Return of the Daughters
*Western Revolver Cap Gun
*The Coral Island
*So Much More
*Fuel Cell X7 Car
*20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
*Gulliver's Travels
*(DVD) Training Dominion Oriented Daughters
*Frontier Tomahawk
*Air Burst Rocket System -
*Men of Science, Men of God
*(DVD) Putting on the Whole Armor of God
*(CD) Curriculum Advice Volumes 1 & 2
*Merry Adventures of Robin Hood
*Candy Factory
*The Family
*(DVD) Measure Twice, Cut Once
*Juggling Balls A-08-204
*Ice Cream Maker
*Ping-Pong Gun
*(CD) Sabers, Spears, and Catapults
*Fighting the Flames
*The Book of Psalms For Singing
*(DVD) Awesome Forces of God's Creation
*(DVD) History of the World Boxed set
*Silk Ribbon Embroidery
*Princess Ka'iulani Doll Dress
*Coming In on a Wing & a Prayer
*(CD) Bible Lessons for Manhood
*Rubik's Cube
*1599 Geneva Bible
*Prairie Bonnet Multi-Print
*Swiss Military Field Telephone
*Edison Light Bulb Kit
*John Gill's Commentaries 9-vol SET (With Free CDROM and Book)
*Jonathan Park Hat (Blue) Child's Size Adjustable

FREE SHIPPING
Discounts of 20-50% are great alone, but they're even better with FREE SHIPPING! For the same 3 day period, Vision Forum is also giving free shipping on all qualifying orders! (domestic orders only, $25 or more, no specialty items)

Birthday And Snow

Joshua and Brittany came over this week. Brittany started taking pictures of the dogs. Joshua informed her that she was using my camera. :) The cameras are very much alike. Belle is on the left and Star has the ball in her mouth.

I wanted to show you some of my birthday gifts. Someone gave me a wonderful Christmas package. It had ornaments, a towel and lots of snowman items including a journal, post it notes and the cutest snowman scissors. I also got a gorgeous herb book that is very informative as well as beautiful to look at. The art and pictures in it are worth just sitting down to look at. One family gave me one of the items below as well as a snowman shaped pan that you make one huge snowman cookie in or a pizza in. They also bought themselves one and made me a HUGE snowman cookie and decorated it. I don't have a picture of those things right now.

A friend gave me the clock below. Her and her husband were out together and as soon as they saw it, they both thought of me. :) It plays Christmas carols on the hour. I love it.

I got these Croc Wooly Mammoths. They are so snug and warm and comfy!!!

This goes around your neck. It is VERY soft and VERY warm. It also has a vibrator in it. I often wake up in the morning with neck problems and I have enjoyed using this.

My dear sweet husband got me the throw and pillow you see below. It is made in the mountains of Appalachia. It couldn't be more me. Blue and white and sunflowers. I really love it.

Today, the sun was shining, but it was still very cold. We have snow on the ground that we got yesterday. Here are some pictures I took yesterday.

If you click on this and make it bigger you can see the snow outside better.

This was a darling lawn ornament the dogs left for me right outside my front door. I think this deer was in dire need of a dentist!!!