What I found on my doorstep yesterday...

For you Facebookers....this is what I found on my doorstep yesterday. A very sweet friend surprised me and sent this handbag to me. Don't surprises from dear friends just brighten your day? It's called the "Betseyville handbag" and it says so on that little metal tag. No one will have to guess whose it is. :) Isn't it fun?

I love Jesus Christ

A clarification of what it means to love Jesus Christ from John Piper:

• I admire Jesus Christ more than any other human or angelic being.
• I enjoy his ways and his words more than I enjoy the ways and words of anyone else.
• I want his approval more than I want the approval of anyone else.
• I want to be with him more than I want to be with anyone else.
• I feel more grateful to him for what he has done for me than I do to anyone else.
• I trust his words more fully than I trust what anyone else says.
• I am more glad in his exaltation than in the exaltation of anyone else, including me.

More Love to Thee oh Christ, more love to Thee...

Luke and Sam

John had today off and so we went to Racine, WI to hear our dear friend Spencer DeBurgh preach. It was awesome and afterward we spent the afternoon together. The boys had time to jam together. Check it out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_mSat0qmBU

Christmas with Friends

Lis and Mr. Tobin
Amy and Carly

Lauren P, Bets, and Tanya

Todd, Sam, Spencer, Amy, and Carly

Liam, Tan, and Amy

Snow Forts!

Lis hiding inside her fort

Lauren

Lis, Luke and Lauren

Grandma and Grandpa Dirkse were here!

The kids were gifted a season of The Cosby Show from Grandma and Grandpa. This is a hit already! Thank you!
Grandpa and Emma

Grandma and some of the girls

Gingerbread house making contest

Mid December we had friends over for this annual Dirkse contest. We had 8 teams. Very Fun!

This almost won except that it needed more icing coverage. Note the red swedish fish in the river.

Mellie and Kristin partner up

Scott and Seth