Happy New Year!

Ben-Hur

Laura gave Phil the movie Ben-Hur for Christmas. They had seen it a long time ago, but we girls hadn't seen it yet. We watched it Christmas night, and we all loved it!

This is Laura's description on the movie:
Ben-Hur is the most amazing, completely dramatic movie ever!! Each scene is packed with emotion and drama. I saw it once years ago, and decided then that I didn't like it (!) Like Phil said, we've seen a few "Jesus movies", and everyone is (pardon me), rather stupid in them. But this movie is different, and I love how Jesus has such an amazingly powerful and awe-inspiring role in Judah Ben-Hur's life, even though it only shows Him a few times (never his face, though, which I like.) This is definitely going on my favorite movies list! (FYI, there are a couple 'kissing scenes' we fast forward.)

Books

I've Started Violin Lessons Again!

Last year, Hannah started teaching me violin. When things got too busy with Sarah's courtship and engagement, I stopped for awhile. Hannah and I've been talking about playing fiddle duets together, so yesterday, she gave me a lesson. I sound terrible, but I'm very excited about maybe someday playing with Hannah and Phil!

A Christian Home

O give us homes built firm upon the Saviour,
Where Christ is Head, and Counsellor and Guide;
Where ev'ry child is taught His love and favor
And gives his heart to Christ, the crucified:
How sweet to know that tho' his footsteps waver
His faithful Lord is walking by his side!

O give us homes with godly fathers, mothers,
Who always place their hope and trust in Him;
Whose tender patience turmoil never bothers,
Whose calm and courage trouble cannot dim;
A home where each finds joy in serving others,
And love still shines, tho' days be dark and grim.

O give us homes where Christ is Lord and Master,
The Bible read, the precious hymns still sung;
Where prayer comes first in peace or in disaster,
And praise is natural speech to ev'ry tongue;
Where mountains move before a faith that's vaster,
And Christ sufficient is for old and young.

O Lord, our God, our homes are Thine forever!
We trust to Thee their problems, toil, and care;
Their bonds of love no enemy can sever
If Thou art always Lord and Master there:
Be Thou the center of our least endeavor:
Be Thou our Guest, our hearts and homes to share.

Christmas Eve and Day

The brightly decorated Christmas tree.

We spent Christmas Eve at Grandma and Grandpa's house. All but one of Momma's siblings made it.

A cowboy Santa. =)

Catching up.

Grandpa and Phil.

Lydia and Kali Jo in their pajamas.

Hannah and Kelsey

Joe wearing the sweat shirt he got from G'ma and G'pa.

Christmas morning: cooking the brunch that turned in lunch.=)

Laura cooking eggs.

Daddy making pan cakes.

The guys waiting for breakfast.

We had pan cakes, eggs, sausage, applesauce, berries, pear slices, tangerines, and orange juice.

While waiting for the girls to finish the "brunch" clean-up, the guys started a game of Axis and Allies, which Matthew got from G'ma and G'pa.

Time to open presents! Before we started Daddy read the Christmas story.

Lydia with a puzzle from Joe.

The big mess.=)

=)

Lydia in her new pee coat, hat, and gloves.

I got Jon and Kelsie these biscuit roasters, the healthy version of marshmallow roasters.

Christmas dinner: turkey and cheese sandwiches, chocolate chip banana bread, veggies, cheese ball and crackers, sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts, tangerines, and sparkling cider!

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Christmas Eve!

It's now 1:00 a.m. Christmas Eve! Hannah, Laura, and I just finished wrapping all the family's Christmas gifts and we have a big pile of brightly colored packages on/under/around the coffee table in the living room. Wrapping paper, tape, scissors, boxes, tissue paper, bows, and gift bags are strewn across the room. We've had Christmas records cheerily playing all evening, but now it's quiet. It's cold out side, but no snow. I'm going to head up stairs after I finished this post, get some delicious sleep =), then tomorrow, we're going to pack, bake, and wrap, then leave for Grandpa and Grandma's house for Christmas with them, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Then we'll come home well after midnight, catch up a little on sleep, then it's be Christmas! So, until next time, dear readers, Merry Christmas!

Girls' Christmas Shopping

At the Co-op.

Yesterday, Momma, Laura, Hannah, Rebekah, Lydia, and I went on a girls' shopping spree. We went to a couple stores in Lynden, then went to several more in Bellingham. Leaving at about four o'clock, we had dinner at Costco, went to the food Co-op, two different Fred Meyers, and Wal Mart. We got back at 2:00 a.m. very tired, but excited about Christmas! We've done this for the last couple years and always have so much fun!

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

The Cat...=P

And book worm! =)

Criss Family Christmas

On Saturday, our family, except Laura and Bekah (who were baby-sitting) and Phil (who was helping the Murphys move), went down to Bothell for the extended Criss family Christmas.

Uncle Dennis, Aunt Barb, Suzanna, Russel, and Lisa. Every year, we have a gift exchange that's always so much fun! I first opened up the book 1776 by David McCullough on CD, but that was stolen from me. I ended up with a Beethoven CD.

Jon and Kelsie.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Hannah's and my gift.

The decorated room!

More Murphy Pictures! =)

Making cut-out sugar cookies with Hannah Victoria and Rebekah Ann.

Frosting and decorating the cookies!

The boys: Matthew and Joseph Murphy. I love this picture!=)

Joe and "Nomas" =)

Smile Daniel!

Happy 18th Birthday, Rebekah!

Lots to Post!

I have a bunch of posts that are late, but that need to be posted.=) I hope y'all don't mind old news.=) Merry Christmas!

Happy Birthday, Rebekah and Daddy!!!

Murphy Children

Rebekah and Peter.

Cute little lion. =)

Hannah Feeding Peter.

Playing Pictionary. (That's a posed picture, btw.=)

Smile!

Hannah and Peter