O Come All Ye Faithful!

Christmas is one of my favorite holidays!  Gifts are my love language so that may be why! Ha! Even though I usually don't get a lot of gifts--since my family does NOT have the love language of gifts! Ha!  No matter!  I love giving gifts!

I also love the Christmas carols.  They remind me of going on long car trips when I was a kid and singing carols with my dad.  In those days we had to make our own fun in the car and we loved to sing!  My dad knew all the verses and we learned them and enjoyed singing to pass the time.

Another favorite- It's a Wonderful Life! and A Charlie Brown Christmas!  We watch these every year and I can practically quote them by heart! Good messages in both and watching these definitely puts me in the Christmas spirit.

I also love to go driving and see Christmas lights.  Another fond memory as a kid-we used to drive around to the best neighborhoods and just look at all the beautiful lights. One neighborhood I remember had a life size train at the end of their cul-de-sac that kids could ride and the people would give us hot chocolate!

Christmas was really fun when all the kids were at home!  Shopping for them and watching them open their gifts, baking with them and watching their wonder was amazing.  

It's different now with an empty nest.  But new traditions are starting and now that I'm a grandma it will be a different kind of wonderful!  

Love this verse --"Luke 2:17Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child."

Let's not forget to make Christ widely known now and all year long!

More of my favorites of Christmas-y things here.

May your Christmases be Merry and Bright this year!  The Light of the World came to seek and save the lost!  Oh Come Let US Adore HIM!

It's been a while

Hey all!
It's been a while since my last post.  Seems like life just keeps going.  Faster and faster at times it seems.

To catch up, we got to go on an amazing trip to the Baltic States - Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, & Poland back in the first part of September!  It was absolutely wonderful! Got to see so many pretty sites and countryside. We also got to learn a lot about the history of the Baltics and how they were occupied by different countries and how they eventually got their freedom!

I need to write an entire blog post about this grand adventure in the near future!  Mental note!

Then we got to take a quick trip to see my Godson in Pittsburgh for his birthday!  Those are always fun little trips!

In October, my son got married!  It was a simple, sweet ceremony and very beautiful!  

I'm also enjoying visiting my granddaughter!  I wish they lived closer but for now I'm loving going down and seeing them each month!  She's growing so quickly and is just an absolute doll!  I love seeing my daughter and her husband be such great parents!  It's kinda surreal but I love this stage of life.  

So that about catches you up!  Now it's Thanksgiving time and there is much to be Thankful for!  Sometimes things aren't exactly how you would plan it or do it but that's ok.  Learning to be thankful for each season.  Learning to trust and rest in Him.  God is so good.

The 2017 Eclipse

We headed up to Nebraska on Saturday to see the Great American Eclipse of 2017.  I had never seen a total eclipse.  I've seen some partial ones.  I knew it would be cool but I really had no idea.

I expected there to be lots of traffic and lots of people.  There were..but not near the amount I thought there would be.  Maybe because it was boondocks Nebraska?  I don't know.  We even saw a school in session on Eclipse Day!  Why?  Best education ever is to see totality.

Anyway.  Eclipse day comes and we start watching the skies.  The morning looked good-not too many clouds.  So we played some Monopoly and waited for the countdown.

One hour until first contact- the clouds started rolling in.  No way were we going  to drive 10+ hours to miss this amazing event.  So we packed up all our camping stuff rather hurriedly and started chasing blue skies.  Thankfully, in Nebraska there are a lot of dirt roads and lots of places to pull over too.  So off we went.

We found a patch of blue sky and pulled over just in time to see first contact.  I had a cool app on my phone that we could check if we were in the totality range and then it announced when to look for certain events and what was coming next.  We set up our chairs and got out our snacks and watched as the moon started coming in front of the sun.  Such a weird sight to see the sun start to shrink.

Then the clouds started rolling in again.  So we threw everything in the truck and started chasing blue skies again.  As my phone announced "15 minutes until totality"  we prayed we would find blue skies before totality hit.  Up ahead the sky started to clear and we pulled over in the middle of a dirt road surrounded by corn fields and hay bales.

The anticipation for totality was mounting.  What were we about to see?

As it started to get darker and noticeably cooler,  I could tell something remarkable was about to happen.

Birds suddenly got quiet.

Shadows were extremely short for the middle of the day.

There was a hush that fell over everything.

Then totality.

Glasses came off and my eyes got to see the moon blocking the sun.

How to describe it is very difficult.  The only way I can think to describe it is that it felt like we stepped through a mirror into another dimension.  Darkness in the  middle of the day.  Looking at a huge hole in the sky with long streaks of corona shooting outward.  Frogs started croaking in the middle of the day.  Time seemed to slow down.  My mind could scarcely take in what I was experiencing.  2 minutes and 39 seconds.  And then it was gone.  Everything slowly started returning to normal.

What a remarkable thing to experience!  It was surreal.

 It was spiritual.  Will this be even a glimpse of what it will be like to enter Heaven?  Will the Lord in all His Majesty and Beauty have to be eclipsed so that I can look upon Him?

It was unlike anything I've ever seen before and I can not wait to see another one.

A Kilgore is...

What it means to be a Kilgore

When our kids were little we decided to come up with a family creed.  What it really means to be a Kilgore.

We each contributed thoughts and ideas and the kids were the ones that encouraged us to find Bible verses to back up each of these.  We had this framed and it hung on the wall for years.  As we moved and the kids grew up and moved out..it had gotten lost somehow.  The file was on an old computer that we no longer could use and it sort of went by the wayside.  

Then I went to message an old friend about a random topic and lo and behold this creed was there from a previous conversation many many moons ago!  

I think I'll print it out and hang it on the fridge again.  It's a great creed for our family.  Have any of you all made a family motto or code? Would love to hear it!  Comment below!

A Kilgore is....

Fears, loves and worships the immortal, invisible, only wise God.

Deut. 6:4

Honors God, parents & elders.

John 5:23, Eph 6:2, Prov 16:31

Man lays down his life for his wife and loves her as Christ loves the church.

Eph 5:25-28, Col. 3:19

Woman submits to the authority of her husband and provides wise counsel.

Eph 5:22, Col 3:18

Child seeks opportunities to serve parents without being asked.

Gal. 5:13, I Corinthians 9:19

Protects and cares for orphans and widows.

James 1:27

Can do all things through Christ who strengthen us.

Phil 4:13

Hates the wicked and seeks to crush their schemes.

Ps 139:21

Meditates on infallible Word of God, the Bible.

Prov. 3:1, Ps 1:2

Communicates with God frequently and ask for wisdom.

Col 1:9, Phil 4:6

Is hated by the world, because we preach the truth without compromise.

Ps 34:21

Mourns and rejoices with others and provides comfort.

Rom 12:15, Isa 61:2-3,  I Cor 12:26

Practices unquestionable integrity, truth & loyalty.

Job 27:5, 1 Kings 8:61

Does not whine, yell, pout, or display discontent.

Phil 2:14, Phil 4:11

Provides freedom and justice to the oppressed.

Isa 61:1, Job 36:6, Ps 10:18

Eagerly accepts correction.

Prov 3:11

Gives generously of our time, talent and treasure.

Prov 3:9, 2 Corinthians 8:3,4

Has a thankful heart and hates covetousness.

Eph 5:20, Eph 5:3

Enthusiastically communicates Gods plan for an abundant life.

Matt 28:19

Is fun.

John 10:10

Times they are a changin'

This year has been a whirlwind year!  There's been so much happening!

First of all, I became a GRANDMA!!!  How fun and exciting is that! I'm really looking forward to this stage of life.  The empty nest is great and having my time with hubby is fabulous but grandkids!! That brings a whole other level of fun!

Secondly,  my son is getting married!  I will have 2 grown kids that are married!!  What?!  The Lord is so good to provide such wonderful spouses for my kids.  I'm so happy to experience my grown kids in this new stage of life!  My son will be a wonderful husband (and dad sometime!! AH!) and it's so exciting to see this newlywed couple and their new love!

Thirdly,  we are moving AGAIN!!!  Ok this is about the 14th time we have moved in our 27 years of marriage.  See this post here about that.    But this time is gonna be so cool!  It has always been a dream of mine to move to Europe.  To live in a high rise and be able to walk down the street for groceries, coffee, shops and restaurants.  I have always loved living near parks and water and especially looking at the greenery.  Although we aren't moving to Europe just yet.... (you never know what the future holds!)  my hubby has found me the next best thing here in Texas!  It's a condo in a high rise building overlooking a canal!  Pictures will be coming for sure!

I'm really looking forward to what this year will bring.  The Lord is gracious and loving.  Even though sometimes life is like a roller coaster, I can trust that the Lord is good and is faithful.

I never want to portray my life as only the good and only good things happen to me.  I have my ups and downs just like everyone else.   But this roller coaster ride of life is taking a fun turn this year!  I'm holding on tight, raising my hands and seeing what the Lord will do.

Nature Hoopin'

I love hoopin' in pretty places.  I take my hoop everywhere.  This past weekend we went to Branson, Missouri and saw some absolutely gorgeous waterfalls and scenery!  Hoopin' in these places is relaxing, inspiring and so enjoyable.  

Grandma time!!

Beautiful Annabelle Lee was born 

to my wonderfully strong daughter, 

Renee & her equally amazing husband Kyle 

on March 15, 2017 at 5:05 pm 

in a peaceful and calm environment. 

 She is absolutely gorgeous and precious and 

I am overjoyed and blessed to be this sweet girl's grandma.

Words cannot express the feeling of seeing my baby being a momma.  

I'm so excited to start this new chapter in my life!  Can't wait for all the sweet new adventures!

Thanking the Lord for new life!

See this past blog post for a hint of what I feel like :)

Dancin' in the minefields

I went to a wedding this weekend and it was lovely.  Young love in the air is so inspiring!  All the dreams and hopes for the future are just sitting right there like gifts waiting for them to open!

They have no idea what lies before them.  The better.  The worse.  Just eyes closed and dancing.  I love that.  Yes, it's gonna be a long road.  But oh so worth it.   If I could talk to my 18 year old self standing at the altar some 27 years ago and tell her all the trials she will face, and the heartache and the tears...I'm not sure my little 18 year old self would understand it all.  I had stars in my eyes and my heart in the clouds.  And that's ok.

I've grown - we've grown.  We've learned so much about each other, life, others, ourselves.  It hasn't all be happy happy - but it has all been wonderful.

I think this song explains it perfectly.  Lyrics are below.

I was nineteen, you were twenty-one
The year we got engaged
Everyone said we were much too young
But we did it anyway

We bought our rings for forty each
From a pawn shop down the road
We made our vows and took the leap
Now fifteen years ago

We went dancing in the minefields
We went sailing in the storm
And it was harder than we dreamed
But I believe that's what the promise is for

"I do" are the two most famous last words
The beginning of the end
But to lose your life for another I've heard
Is a good place to begin

'Cause the only way to find your life
Is to lay your own life down
And I believe it's an easy price
For the life that we have found

And we're dancing in the minefields
We're sailing in the storm
This is harder than we dreamed
But I believe that's what the promise is for

So when I lose my way, find me
When I loose love's chains, bind me
At the end of all my faith, till the end of all my days
When I forget my name, remind me

'Cause we bear the light of the Son of Man
So there's nothing left to fear
So I'll walk with you in the shadowlands
Till the shadows disappear

'Cause he promised not to leave us
And his promises are true
So in the face of all this chaos, baby,
I can dance with you

On being an introvert

You might not know this about me... but I'm an introvert.  I like people and I like being around people...just in limited quantities.  I like time alone.  A lot.  I like time to myself and time to think by myself.

You might not think I'm an introvert because my hubby is such an extrovert!  But it's true.  I am more of an introvert.

So just some thoughts on being an introvert:

• I do enjoy people and big crowds but if I'm not talking that doesn't mean I'm not listening.  And I may need to leave and walk around by myself just to recharge a bit.  Crowds drain me.
• I'm better talking one on one or in small groups.
• I love to be silly and have fun.
• If I've spent a while with a big group then I need some down time to recharge.
• I'm perfectly fine spending an entire weekend alone.  Or going places alone.
• I think internally.  I may mull something over for a while and process it all internally. I may or may not eventually tell you how I feel.
• I prefer to work alone. I'm not sure if this is an introvert thing or just a being independent thing.
• I like being married to my best friend the Extrovert!  He helps me get out of my shell and not be a hermit!  He makes my life interesting and a whole lot of fun!

God made us all different!  I'm thankful for that! It'd be a pretty quiet world if we were all like me! I'm glad I have a lot of extrovert friends too! They are fun! and I love it!

Just not too much fun all at once! HA!

So...Did you think I was an introvert?  How about you?  Where do you fall on the introvert/extrovert scale?

Adventure is out there

I love to vacation!  And travel!  And explore new things!  Even if we can't get away for a long period of time we take every advantage of our weekends!  If you think about it- I get 2 weeks vacation a year- that's 10 days PLUS there are 52 weekends in a year--that's 114 days!  So that is 124 days a year to explore and have adventures!  Not to mention the occasional 3 day weekend!  Bonus!!

So what kind of things can we do in just a weekend?  Well, lots!!  It doesn't really have to cost anything either.  If you are going on the cheap then pack a lunch and dinner, take advantage of a campground to spend the night or an Air bnb, and find out the free events that are happening near you that weekend.

Adventurous ideas:

• Go to a museum in your town
• Find the botanic gardens in your area
• Google bicycling near me and find a new bike path
• Your local library usually has a list of free events and concerts in your area.  Go! and take a hoop too!  It's a ton of fun!
• Walk to your local coffee shop.  You'll be surprised little things you notice about the neighborhood that you hadn't noticed while driving.
• Take a board game or backgammon or cards and go to a park and play in the sunshine!
• Find a little small town a few hours away and explore their town square
• Go geocaching!  You will find so many cool local things you didn't know existed by finding these!  They are EVERYWHERE!
• Google Adventures near me and see what pops up!
• Find out when the local festivals are in your area! Maybe there's a parade you could check out!
• Go to the library and pick up books that look interesting and just sit and read 

The point is have fun!  Do what you like to do!  The laundry will always be there, the chores will always be there!  (just get it done quick so you can go have fun!)  

Don't put off an adventure today!  Even little small things add up to a LOT of fun!