Holiday Scrapbook

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

21st Anniversary

December 27, 1987 at 4 pm at the First Baptist Church of Scottsdale

Susan Ellen and Charles Derrick wed

It was the first time that I know of in our church history, that 2 families were joined. Two families that had grown up in the church.

Pastor Brouwer was amazing. Watching the video tonight, hearing his words again, the first thing that popped into my head was that his prayer was answered. And is still being answered. That we would serve God in all we do. That God would make us the wife/husband and mother/father He would want us to be. Ones that would give Him glory in all we do. I know we fall short of the mark, but it truly is our goal.

Mark Zeeman and Julia Winterberg (Hamilton) on the piano and organ gave us chills. Sacred, powerful music. Processing in to Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee, with a key change every verse, had everyone's hearts pounding!

My cousin Vicki singing Friends for Life and Julianne singing Community Song. Then they sang together: Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us for our benediction/recessional.

My dad's final words in the video were, "the wedding was terrific and we expect the marriage to be even more so, but longer!"

And off to St. Bart's. I'm still hoping to go back there.

Father God, thank You for this man that I will spend the rest of my life with. You knew what You were doing when you brought us together. May we always keep you first, eachother second and these gifts from You third.

Our life poem: "Grow old with me, the best is yet to be. The last of life for which the first was made" Browning

A Day of Family

My precious gifts from God.

SAANNNTTAAA!! He's coming!!!

13 year old cousins

7 year old cousins

This year since there would be 22 of us together, we did a gift exchange with a theme. Everyone had to bring a gift that cost $15 and had something to do with Entertainment. So the big 'steal' item was of course, iTunes gift cards. Good thing there were 3 of them because you could only steal an item 3 times. There was a great Springbok puzzle (which we're still doing) a travel Scrabble game, books, kitchen gadgets ( oh well, not really entertaining, but cute!), music and the Dark Knight was a big 'steal' item too. Lots of laughs and fun.But the highlight for me was my 70 year old mom playing Rock Band!!! Rock on Nana!

Too Late for Christmas Cards?

My North Dakota family, Todd with his wife Pam, son Michael (21) and daughter Cara (20)
Thought we'd shoot some Christmas card photos. First, we have to fix Cara.

Then get the giggles out of the way.

And they wanted to 'hang around' a bit.

And here's a good one! Aren't they beautiful?

They really don't take bad pictures!

Annie Moses Band

The Annie Moses Band is called Pop/ Chamber music. The lead singer is Annie, named after her Great Grandmother. They have a vision for leaving a legacy for the next generation that teaches to nurture the gifts God's given us. This family was on PBS the other night and we were so moved by tears and excitement by their talent and their heart for the Lord and especially by how much fun they were having! We wanted to hop up and sing and dance with them. I wish we were closer to participate in their Fine Arts Summer Academy where kids of all ages learn all kinds of instruments and play right along with the Wolaver family.

Here is my favorite: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. Get ready to dance!

Replacing light bulbs. Sorry, Emma, it's a hard job, but somebody has to do it!

Jeff's helping by holding up the tree!

CHRISTmas Program

Lizzy (at drummer's right elbow) and Emma (behind drummer, hands clasped in front of her) singing a Celtic Christmas

Worshiping in dance. So beautiful

Starlight Dancers added the sparkle!!

Liberty Wildlife .. a fieldtrip

A residential home was transformed into a rehabilitation center for wildlife, many years ago, here in Scottsdale Arizona. They travel to schools in the valley educating and helping to instill in our youth, a vision for taking care of wildlife here in Arizona.

Just a Warning for You Men

Want to stay out of the dog house? Click on the dual-bag no-no

Dual-bag no-no

Fun with Fotos of my Friends

Original shot

Temperature adjustment (if you click on this, you'll see it's much more vivid than the original.

Saturation adjustment

Original

Saturation adjustments for both of these but special effects added to the shot below.

Family, Friends, Food and Thank FULLness

My very own Alton Brown

Gratitude is the Best Attitude

Thanksgiving is the holiday of peace,
the celebration of work and the simple life...
a true folk-festival that speaks the poetry
of the turn of the seasons,
the beauty of seedtime and harvest,
the ripe product of the year -
and the deep, deep connection of all these things with God.
~Ray Stannard Baker (David Grayson)


Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them,
is the true measure of our thanksgiving.
~W.T. Purkiser

Gratitude is the memory of the heart. ~Jean Baptiste Massieu, translated from French
(La reconnaissance est la memoire du coeur)My cousin's farm in North Dakota is past the harvest stage and into winter. But I know they stop and rejoice in the way God provides for them from year to year.

Come, ye thankful people, come, raise the song of harvest home;
All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin.
God our Maker doth provide for our wants to be supplied;
Come to God’s own temple, come, raise the song of harvest home

This is my favorite family book we read at Thanksgiving. It's by Barbara Rainey. The kids love the stories of the Pilgrim's journey and sacrifices. The hardships they endured to establish a new nation. And we also love the CD it comes with.

Click on the book to go to an online reader.

Scrabble and Cousins

Jefferson really wanted to make his own bow and arrow.

And convinced cousin Jack to join in.