we're back

Merry Christmas everyone!!
After a very fun and relaxing time with our family in Columbia and Yadkinville, we're back in "the 'Burg." It's always nice to come home and get things settled back in again. We're looking forward to having Josh and Kristen Dellinger come to visit us for New Year's!!! Since they're in California we haven't seen them since our wedding.
Pictures from Christmas coming soon!!

cute finn pics

Here's a few from photo shoots as of late....


Fascinated by the water in the tub going down the drain!

In the dryer. I put him up there and he loved it. He's since learned to get inside it by himself.

This is Finn inside the box of the coffemaker Jon gave me for Christmas. (yes the gift was a bit early... long story) Finn ended up tearing this box to pieces chewing on it and playing in it.

I don't know what this cat's issue with sitting on top of things, like this towel, is all about. You can put a piece of paper on the floor and he'll sit squarely on top of it!


Getting some lovin' from Jon.

emily's not allergic

Yea! I (Emily) just got back from the doctor and I am not allergic to cats!! That means I'm not allergic to our precious baby kitty:o) We're still not sure the exact cause of the asthma though they do say it's mild and intermittent (possibly weather-related). It's such a blessing that the Lord is in control of even the seemingly small things in our lives!

last year's snow

Here's a picture of Jon, Em and Finn in the snow last year. And today it snowed again. I went outside at work and did a snow dance. It's beautiful to see it coming down. Though it's not really accumulating right now. Hopefully later this winter!

it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

And it's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas here in Blacksburg- we're talking in the 20s on my way to work in the morning with windchill in the teens. Yikes! Now I'm happily sitting at my office sipping hot chai and listening to my heater make funny noises... at least it's working. Jon is continually getting picked on for his complete lack of toleration for cold. He went to homegroup a while back in his big winter coat and they laughed at him because they had just taken their baby out earlier without even a sweater on. Poor Jon. Fortunately for him he's going to Arizona later this week. I wonder if they decorate the cacti with lights out there... maybe he can take some pictures of that! Speaking of Christmas lights... this time of year wherever I am going I tend to think of all lights as Christmas lights. Traffic lights... street lamps... car headlights... yea! Everyone is celebrating! That really makes me think about how even ordinary things cry out in praise to the Lord.
"...the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works which they had seen, saying, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest!" Some of the Pharisees from the multitude said to him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" He answered them, "I tell you that if these were silent, the stones would cry out."- Luke 19:37-40
It's like now even the street lamps are trying to say that it is Christmas, the Light of the World has come and brought Light into the darkness.

it's december!

I am continually amazed by how quickly time goes by. It's already December... not to mention that it's almost 70 degrees here today (don't worry it'll be in the 30s or 40s by Monday!). Things are a bit slow in the office today, we're supposed to be having walk-in hours, but either all the students came yesterday, or they are all waiting until the absolute last minute this afternoon (the latter is probably most likely). As soon as I get something out to do, I have to clear it all off my desk because someone does come in, so I'm using a bit of my time to write on here.
We went to home group at the Gilbarte's last night and it was really the best one we've had I thought. It was very open and really hit a lot at sin that we all struggle with. We are going through Romans, still in Chap. 1, and we read:
"For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened." (Rom. 1:21)
The point we really pulled out from it is that the beginning of all the sin that is listed later in the chapter stems from a lack of thankfulness... true thankfulness. And there are so many reasons for our lack of thankfulness: pride, seeking contentment, seeking comfort, lack of faith, etc. There are so many places throughout scripture where we are called, and commanded, to be thankful in everything! In the end our lack of thankfulness really comes from not believing that God has truly given us everything... EVERYTHING! We continually focus on ourselves. It was such a great reminder and this is something I had never really gotten out of this verse before.
May we all be truly Thankful to the Giver of every good thing this holiday season and always.