Happy Thanksgiving...

Here are some photos from our Turkey Day. We started out with our Special Brunch (our own little tradition =) and then headed over to my Aunt Mary's for the BIG family dinner with my Dad's side. Yummy - but we really missed Jeff and Tim (my brothers) and Rachel and Laura (cousins) who were celebrating in other states and countries of the world. After a short nap at home, we spent the evening with Steve's side watching football (Go Broncos) and eating leftovers. All in all, it was a delightful day filled with good fellowship and of course - feasting!!! I think Glendon really enjoyed his first Thanksgiving!!!

One Happy Little Elf

Our First Snow

We woke this morning to fluffy flakes falling to the ground. It was a wet snow, which made the trees beautiful and is gone by now. Glendon did get to go outside and put his hands in it which made for some interesting facial expressions. =)

Winter Musings

I love this picture. I wish I could just step into it and hike all the way up to that lighthouse. As we're receiving our first light (very light) dusting of snow today, I'm looking forward to the beauty of winter. I can't wait to watch my son experience things like snow (Wisconsin snow) for the first time!!! Hopefully sledding will be in the works!!

Winter Sky

Well - today has the feel of winter on it's way. The sky is gray and heavy and the wind is coooold... I have an extra sweater and slippers on this afternoon which signals winter in the Schulz home.

PS - For Santa Steve's information, I could use a new pair of slippers for Christmas!! =)

The Birthday Bash...

Today, Glendon and I threw Steve a birthday party!! Here we are in our party hats!!!
Both sides of the family were able to come, and it was so much fun to have them all there!!!

Steve adores his wife and his chocolate w/butter cream icing cake!!!


And he blew them all out....


Opening presents...


Yeah!!! The much needed snow shovel...


Schulz Men L - R: Conner(nephew), Paw(Steve's Dad), Jordan, Kyle, Alex(more nephews) and Dan (Steve's bro)...




Mom Haumersen, Daniel (Kelly's bro) and the birthday boy...


Mom Schulz, Marybeth (Kelly's sis), and Glendon Peter hanging out together...

Youth Group Winning Team

This is a photo of about half of our Jr. High youth. This is the group that won the popular (at least in our room) bean toss game. I especially enjoy the joyful faces of the girls wearing pink at left.... We'll just say that little Gretchen (front) adds quite a bit of zazz to any experience....

A Kelly Recommendation

Downy Simply Pleasures fabric softner...this stuff is good stuff! I'm almost through my second bottle, and it's wonderful!!! If you're up for something new, you might want to give it a try!!!

Sniffles and Cuddles

Little Glendon is sad today. He's come down with a runny nose cold this afternoon. Poor guy wasn't able to sleep at all due to the inability to suck on his luchie (German for Lollie - what we refer to the pacifier as.) I finally gave him some meds and a warm bath around 5pm, and he was asleep in my arms by 6pm. As I was cuddling him, I couldn't help but be grateful for the precious moments these sniffles gave me. His little body was so warm and sweet next to mine - a rare moment for one little boy so on the move these days. I'm so thankful for the wonderful gift God gave to us in our son, and for the joy of loving him - even on sniffly days!!!

Block Head

Glendon is now pulling up and standing along furniture. He seems to be very proud of himself and reminds us often of this verse...

Proverbs 24:16

"For a righteous man falls seven times, yet rises again..."

In these photos, Glendon was enjoying very systematically taking each individual block and dropping it on the floor.

Marshy Monsters...

I had tons of fun throwing together these fun monsters for our Monday Night football get together over at Dan and Deena's this past week. The kids (old and young ) enjoyed them!!
They turned out pretty scary - you better watch out!!!

Wisdom from Beth Moore

Satisfaction
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 55:1-6

Today’s Treasure: “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare” (Isa. 55:2).
God wants us to find satisfaction in Him rather than waste our time and effort on things that cannot satisfy. When we look to other sources for satisfaction, we are guilty of idolatry.

Isaiah contains one of the most poetic and comely expressions of grace in either Testament: Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters; and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost. (Isa. 55:1)

On the heels of the invitation, God posed the question that haunts every generation of Adam’s descendants. “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?” Then, like a frustrated parent determined to get through to his child, He said, “Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.” I believe God’s prescription for those who possess an inner thirst (Isa. 55:1) and hunger they cannot fill is implied in Isaiah 55:6. Those who are spiritually thirsty and hungry need only to do this: “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.”

I believe God creates and activates a nagging dissatisfaction in every person for an excellent reason. According to 2 Peter 3:9, God doesn’t want anyone to perish. Rather, He wants everyone to come to repentance. He gave us a will so we could choose whether or not to accept His invitation, but God purposely created us with a need that only He can meet.

Have you ever noticed that one of the most common human experiences is the inability to be completely satisfied? Unfortunately, salvation does not completely fill the need. Many come to Christ out of their search for something missing; yet after receiving His salvation, they go elsewhere for further satisfaction. Christians can be miserably dissatisfied if they accept Christ’s salvation yet reject the fullness of daily relationship that satisfies. God offers us so much more than we usually choose to enjoy.

Dissatisfaction is not a terrible thing. It’s a God-thing. It’s only a terrible thing when we don’t let it lead us to Christ. He wants us to find the only thing that will truly satiate our thirsty and hungry hearts.

Lord, I’m sorry for trying to find satisfaction apart from You. Thank You for providing true satisfaction through a daily relationship with You. I pray for my friends and family members who do not know You to recognize their nagging dissatisfaction and turn their hearts to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Adapted from Breaking Free, by Beth Moore, pages 64-65. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2000. Used by permission.

Carousel Ride...

When we were in Minneapolis, Glendon enjoyed his first carousel ride at the mall of america. He loved going around and round on his big giraff. It was good Mommy chose one that didn't go up and down because he was able to hold on well.