Happy Birthday, Jesus!

These pictures of my youngest son were taken in 2005.  He was 4 years old.  The three stockings were for our 3 kids.  The three presents were for Jesus.  It's one of our traditions.  Whenever our kids do something that pleases the Lord (being kind, helpful, patient, humble, putting others above themselves, etc.), my husband or I write it down on a little piece of paper and put it into their boxes (I cut a little slit on top of each box).  On Christmas day, after Daddy reads from the Bible about Christ's birth, the kids open their presents for Jesus and we read out loud what they have done to please the Lord.  By the way, to us...it doesn't matter if Jesus's birthday is not Dec. 25th, we want to celebrate Him and His birth anyway :).  I expressed my thoughts on this issue in my poem, "What Really Matters".

May Jesus always be on your mind and may His love, peace, and joy always be in your heart! Merry CHRISTmas and have a blessed New Year!

P.S. I'm hosting a book giveaway on my HSB blog. You can win a copy of 40 Loaves: Breaking Bread with Our Father Each Day by C.D. Baker.  The deadline is this Sunday, Dec. 20th at midnight (Pacific time). Hope you will stop by and enter :)!


Previous Friday Photo Flashback:

- Earliest Picture of Me
- To Grandma's House We Go
- Best Brothers...Best Buddies
- Harvest Festival
- I Love Mommy & Daddy
- Corn Roast Festival
- A Taste of Thailand
- I Could Never Promise You
- In Father's Hands
- Thai Version of Wipe Out
- My Graduation Day in Thailand

Earliest Picture of Me

 

This is the earliest picture of me.  It was taken when I was 17 months old.  I don't know how it got so torn up but I'm glad my mom had kept it and given it to me.  Tomorrow, I'll turn 41.  I am thankful for each day that the Lord has made.  Another day closer to spending eternity with my Savior!  Living is grand when we're living for God.

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20

P.S. I'm hosting a giveaway (4 free movie tickets) on my HSB blog. The deadline is tomorrow at midnight (Pacific time). Hope you will stop by and enter :)!

Previous Friday Photo Flashback:
- To Grandma's House We Go
- Best Brothers...Best Buddies
- Harvest Festival
- I Love Mommy & Daddy
- Corn Roast Festival
- A Taste of Thailand
- I Could Never Promise You
- In Father's Hands
- Thai Version of Wipe Out
- My Graduation Day in Thailand

To Grandma's House We Go

 

Every year (except maybe once or twice in the past 18 years), we celebrate our Thanksgiving at my mother-in-law's house.  It's where our kids get to see their cousins and their aunt.  The picture above was taken on Thanksgiving Day in 2000 before our third child was born (in 2001).  We all are looking forward to going to Grandma's house again this coming Thursday :).

Have a blessed Thanksgiving, everyone!

P.S. I am hosting 3 giveaways right now. You can win custom thank-you cards, a poster print, and a rolled canvas. Please scroll down and take a look :).

Previous Friday Photo Flashback:
- Best Brothers...Best Buddies
- Harvest Festival
- I Love Mommy & Daddy
- Corn Roast Festival
- A Taste of Thailand
- I Could Never Promise You
- In Father's Hands
- Thai Version of Wipe Out
- My Graduation Day in Thailand

Giveaway: Rolled Canvas

Update: This giveaway is now closed. The winner (randomly chosen) is Sara Carmichael. Congratulations! I appreciate all who left a comment here.

Another great giveaway from LargeFormatPosters.com!  They are giving away one free 16"x20" custom rolled canvas to one of my readers and one to me.  Rolled canvas prints are perfect for home decor, photo prints and signage.  They make wonderful Christmas gifts, too :). 

Giveaway Prize: (1) Rolled Canvas for One Winner
Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping in the US
Eligibility: Limited to US Residents due to shipping costs.
Deadline: November 28, 2009 at midnight (Pacific time)
To Enter: Leave a comment here describing what photo gifts you want to have printed for your family and loved ones.
Extra Entries: 1. Blog about this giveaway.  Please leave the link to your post in a separate comment.
                        2. Read one of my other posts and leave a comment about it here.
Links to check out:
Canvas Print
Poster Printing
UPrinting Reviews


Other Current Giveaways:
- Poster Print
- 'Tis the Season to Be Thankful

Giveaway: Poster Print

Update: This giveaway is now closed. The winner (randomly chosen) is Carin. Congratulations! I appreciate all who left a comment here.

I love taking pictures.  I even have a photo blog :).  I'm excited to be hosting this giveaway.  Thanks to my sponsor, LargeFormatPosters.com, one of my readers and I will get to make one 18"x24" poster print from our digital photos. 

Giveaway prize: (1) 18x24 poster print for One Winner (randomly chosen)

Size: 18x24 Poster: Paper: High Gloss; Semi Gloss
Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping in the US
Eligibility: Limited to US Residents due to shipping costs.
Deadline: November 28, 2009 at midnight (Pacific time)
To Enter: Please leave a comment here sharing what (holiday) photo you would choose.
Extra Entries: 1. Blog about this giveaway.  Please leave the link to your post in a separate comment.
                        2. Look around here and let me know which of my Word Filled Wednesday photos you like the best.
Links to check out:
Poster Print
UPrinting Youtube channel

Other Current Giveaways:
- Rolled Canvas
- 'Tis the Season to be Thankful

What a Silly, Goofy Cutie!

This photo of my youngest son makes me smile.  He huffed and he puffed to make his curly mustache extension stay extended :).  He had too much fun being silly.  I'm entering this in the Elefun & Friends Silly Kids Photo Contest at 5MinutesforMom.

Best Brothers...Best Buddies

 

Tomorrow, my son, Josiah, will turn 11 and on Sunday, my youngest son, Isaiah, will turn 8.  The pictures above were taken in Oct., 2004.  Can you tell they were "King" Josiah and "Prophet" Isaiah? :)  I am so thankful that my boys are each other's best buddies.  They both can't wait to celebrate their birthday's party together tomorrow.

"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!" Psalm 133:1

P.S. I just spent hours making a Smilebox (slideshow) with my boys' pictures (72 total) but then the computer froze up on me and all that I did was gone.  I will try again when I get a chance :).

Previous Friday Photo Flashback:
- Harvest Festival
- I Love Mommy & Daddy
- Corn Roast Festival
- A Taste of Thailand
- I Could Never Promise You
- In Father's Hands
- Thai Version of Wipe Out
- My Graduation Day in Thailand

Harvest Festival

Our family does not celebrate Halloween.  We usually focus on the Reformation Day and sometimes attend Harvest Festivals at some churches.  The pictures above were taken in 2005 at a church's harvest festival.  My boys dressed as Israelites (with sweatshirts inside because it was very cold :)).  My youngest son had a big gum grin while holding the "mouse pumpkin/ pumpkin mouse" he made.

Speaking of harvest, my 16 year old daughter who is a regular contributor at Growing In Grace Magazine, wrote an article titled, "Plentiful Harvest" for this month's issue.  She also includes a video she just made featuring one of our favorite Christian organizations.  Please let her know what you think.  Thanks!


Previous Friday Photo Flashback:
- I Love Mommy & Daddy
- Corn Roast Festival
- A Taste of Thailand
- I Could Never Promise You
- In Father's Hands
- Thai Version of Wipe Out
- My Graduation Day in Thailand

I Love Mommy & Daddy

When our daughter, Alyssa, was one year old, we had this cloth banner made with her photo on it at the Oregon State Fair in 1994.  She did not have much hair then but now she has beautiful, long hair :).  And yes, she does love Mommy & Daddy!  Mommy & Daddy also love her and are very proud of her!

Alyssa (now 16) just launched a quarterly Christ-centered online magazine for the whole family, More Than Conquerors. You will find a variety of articles, a free book offer, and a fantastic Vision Forum DVD giveaway. Please stop by there when you get a chance.  I know she would greatly appreciate your comments and/or suggestions.

Previous Friday Photo Flashback:
- Corn Roast Festival
- A Taste of Thailand
- I Could Never Promise You
- In Father's Hands
- Thai Version of Wipe Out
- My Graduation Day in Thailand

Corn Roast Festival

 

The 45th Annual Corn Roast Festival in Forest Grove, Oregon will take place this Saturday.  We used to live in FG and attend the festival every year.  We now live in a different city but still plan to attend it tomorrow.  The pictures above were taken at the festival in 2005.  My sons looked so young here; it's hard to believe that they'll turn 11 and 8 next month.

The highlight for the kids besides enjoying the delicious fresh-roasted corn on the cob, was the Reptile Man.  His show was always educational, exciting, and entertaining.  In the second picture, the kids had the opportunity to touch a Burmese Python.  My boys hesitated at first but did touch it :).  I did, too.  It felt smooth and rubbery, not slimy at all.  Burmese Pythons can grow up to 23 feet long or more and weigh up to 200 lbs.  The female coil herself around her eggs (up to 100). God gave her the ability to raise her body temperature by making her muscles tremble. The Burmese Python is the only snake who is able to do this (a snake's temperature is usually lower than ours; reptiles are cold-blooded) and the increased body heat helps keep the eggs warm enough to develop properly. Our Creator made all kinds of cool animals, including some very exotic reptiles.

Previous Friday Photo Flashback:
- A Taste of Thailand
- I Could Never Promise You
- In Father's Hands
- Thai Version of Wipe Out
- My Graduation Day in Thailand

A Taste of Thailand

This coming Monday (Sept. 14th) will mark my 20th year of living in America.  It's my "half-n-half" day :).  I spent 20 years growing up in Thailand and I have spent (almost) another 20 years in the U.S.  I first came here on Sept. 14, 1989 to study at Oregon State University for my master's degree.  The pictures above were taken at OSU's A Taste of Thailand event.  My husband (boyfriend at the time) and I were in a funny skit (about Songgran/Thai New Year Festival).  My outfit was a Northern hills tribe kind of clothing.  During Songgran, people enjoy getting others wet (the water play is usually fun and welcome (unless it's violent/excessive) since the weather during April 13-16 is very hot in Thailand).  On stage, I was armed with a water squirt gun.  My husband played as a tourist.  The lady between us in the first picture is my husband's mom (my mother-in-law).

Previous Friday Photo Flashback:
- I Could Never Promise You
- In Father's Hands
- Thai Version of Wipe Out
- My Graduation Day in Thailand

In Father's Hands

This picture was taken in 1993 when our oldest daughter was a newborn. Alyssa was born prematurely and weighed only 4 lbs. 5 1/2 oz. Now you would have never guessed that when you look at her :). She just turned 16 last month. Alyssa is such a beautiful blessing to our family and to the world. She blogs at Life of Faith and she is a contributor at Growing In Grace Online Magazine.

In this picture, she looks so tiny and fragile, yet so loved and protected in her Daddy's arms/hands. It made me think of how we (God's children) can rest, feel loved and secure in our Heavenly Father's hands. It's the best place to be!

Previous Friday Photo Flashback:

- Thai Version of Wipe Out

- My Graduation Day in Thailand

Thai Version of Wipe Out

My friends and I were contestants in a TV game show similar to Wipe Out. I am the one on the right. I have no idea why we posed like that :). Probably just being silly/goofy! I was one of the last two final contestants and I lost on the balance challenge (we had to stand and try to balance ourselves on a log in a pond while trying to knock our opponent off with something (I can't remember what we used). I got knocked off first.

Previous Friday Photo Flashback:

- My Graduation Day in Thailand

My Graduation Day in Thailand

This is my first time to join the Friday Photo Flashback. I think I'm supposed to only post one picture but all these three pictures were taken on the same day (my graduation day in 1989) so I hope it's okay :).

The King and I! :) I received my diploma (Bachelor of Arts degree) from King Rama IX of Thailand (previously called Siam).
I stood in front of the picture of King Rama V who founded Chulalongkorn University (where I attended).

The gentleman in blue suit is now my husband of almost 18 years. The Love of my life! The one with the blue tie standing next to me is my brother. The other two were friends.