"Monthly 10"

We continue to celebrate our 10th year together 

by highlighting someone in our group on the10th of every month!
 This month we are highlighting

 our Christy who has....... 

retired!

I talked her into meeting me for coffee at the Lift.

I asked her to give me a sentence summarizing her years of raising her
beautiful and godly daughters, I couldn't agree more with her answer:

"As a Mom, I am blessed to see what amazing woman
of God my girls have become."

Here's what she shared about her retirement -

"I am excited to see what doors God will open for me

to serve Him in this new season in my life." 
So are we Christy!
_____________________________________

I have a new feature to this "Monthly 10"
segment of my blog,
it is titled:
______________________________________

"10 Minutes That Changed My Life"

Here's what Christy shared:
"A conversation I had with Linda in Target years ago when 
she invited Kayla and I to join the Heart & Keeper family. 
It truly changed my life!"

Christy, we just weren't complete until you and Kayla joined us
and the Lord knew that!

In Galatians 5:22-23 we read-
"But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, patience,
 kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
 gentleness, self control..."
 that came to my mind when I was thinking about
 the kind of wife, mother and friend you are.
Thank you for displaying that fruit in your life
and for being an example of a woman surrendered to the Lord.
Thank you for investing in your personal walk,
your marriage and family, it is evident!


A Look Back:

Here's a picture of our Christy and Kayla about the time I think we'd just met.
 We were all at a Mexican Restaurant on La Sierra.
(L to R: Kathy, Christy, Kayla, Me, Janie, Brittney and LeAnn.)

Do you ever make lists?
Well I asked Christy to and here it is!

"10 Things/People I Can't Live Without"
1. Jesus
2. Bible
3. Mel
4. Tara/Anthony/Kayla
5. My Kitty
6. Iced Tea
7. Bible studies
8. My H & K Sisters :)
9. Hawaii
10. Hume Lake

How grateful we are that the Lord brought you and Kayla to H & K!

You have brought so much to our group.

Your whole family has.

Lastly a verse Christy wanted to share with us:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths."

Proverbs 3:5-6

In Loving Memory of Jayne Johnson

In honor of T.J.'s Mom

"...In Your presence is fullness of joy..."

Psalm 16:11

Pastor Ron Case spoke
of the hope and comfort we have in Jesus
when we believe, trust in, cling to, and rely upon Him.
He quoted Jim Elliot, a missionary -
 "I desire not a long life but a full one."
Jayne lived a full life,
for which we are thankful.

My son Daniel played some of the families favorite hymns, 

It was so touching to close the service with everyone singing 

"How Great Thou Art".

At Riverside National Cemetery
where we were summoned to attention
by the beautiful notes of a bagpipe player.
With family seated and friends gathered

Pastor Ron continued his words of comfort
by reminding us what Psalm 37:7 says.
"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him..."
Jayne's waiting was over
 and Christ's promise realized
 of a place He had prepared for her.
He assured us that if Jayne could speak to us today
 she would tell us eternity is REAL!

As a daughter stood to honor her Mother
T.J.'s sweet voice stilled the warm afternoon air
sharing from one of Jayne's favorite devotion books.
Dogeared and well read she repeated the words
on our handout that had ministered to Jayne so many times.

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

he leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul."

Psalm 23:1-3

The Heart & Keeper of The Home

gave T.J. and Chelsea a 

"Welcome Home" rose bush.

A beautiful yellow rose that in "flower language" mean friendship. 

 Jayne has most certainly been Welcomed Home!

"Monthly 10"

As we continue to celebrate our 10th year together

I have some exciting things planned and some surprises up ahead 

and today I want to introduce you to my 

"Monthly 10"

On the 10th of each month I am going to highlight one of you from our group!

This month it is our 

Chelsea!!

Surrounded by family and friends cheering her on

Chelsea completed college early in December.

Here is how Chelsea summed up college:

 "Three and a half years of growing, learning, seeking, 

loving, stretching, dreaming, 

and praying that I wouldn't trade for anything. "

Chelsea and Luke got engaged!!

When I asked her about the new season ahead she shared:

 "I know that this year is going to fly by 

but I am looking forward to enjoying 

each and every day while excitedly 

and anxiously awaiting the day that I become Mrs. Luke Astfalk."

Chelsea would also like to share a scripture verse 

that continues to be a staple in her foundation with the Lord:

"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart."

 Psalm 37:4

You'll all remember last January I had you select ONE WORD as an anchor

 instead a long list of resolutions that are soon forgotten. 

Chelsea's new word for this year is:

Patience

Please let me know what your new WORD for this year is.

Thanking the Lord for our wonderful Seabert family!

Keep Yourself

"Shut out every other consideration and keep yourself before God for this one thing only -

 my utmost for His highest. 

 I am determined to be absolutely and entirely for Him and for Him alone...

surrender your will to Him absolutely and irrevocably." 

Oswald Chambers

"He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

Hebrew 11:6b

Engaged!

                                                        Chelsea and Luke are Engaged!

                    

                                                             CONGRATULATIONS!

Heart & Keeper Christmas Breakfast at Ruth and Katie's

Everything was all decorated and ready for us!

The Merry Christmas blocks on top of the mirror

 were something Ruth made with her Dad when she young!

We had a drawing for a beautiful Christmas lantern and it went to PAM!

His birth - the JOY for the season! 

The table was set,

The centerpiece beautifully placed.

There were gifts to be given!!

So nice to be together!!

And just in time to make for your Christmas morning breakfast.

Here's the recipe you were all asking for:

Hash Brown Quiche

ingredients - 

3 C. loose - pack frozen hash browns, thawed

1/3 C. butter melted

6-8 oz. diced, cooked ham

8 oz. mild cheddar cheese, shredded

1/2 C. milk or Half n Half

3 eggs

1/4 tsp. seasoned salt

optional - 1/4 c. chopped tomato,

1/4 c. sliced green onions

Directions - 

Press hash browns between paper towels to remove moisture.  

Press in a 9" pie plate to form a crust.

Drizzle melted butter over crust and bake at 425 degrees for 20 min. 

Remove from oven and reduce the temperature to 350 degrees.

In a bowl mix the remaining ingredients together.

Pour mixture into pie plate over crust.

Bake uncovered in 350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes.

Let stand 10 minutes before serving.  

You can substitute any meat and veggies for this recipe.

Originally from TJ

A last minute VERY EASY wrapping idea straight from Apple Farm:

You'll need a brown bag, tissue and twine.

Take your gift and put it in your tissue, nestle it into your bag.

Tie with twine, you could easily attach an ornament or pine boughs too.

Simple and quick!

How about a cute little place to tuck a small gift?

Take a empty plastic pill bottle

and embellish with scrap paper, rhinestones, charms etc. 

Just adhere with use glue gun, glue stick or decoupage.
If you want to hang on the tree just glue ribbon to the lid.

Lovely!

I was showing everyone something I've added to my journaling this year -
pictures, text from facebook and some email snippets!
It makes it all much more personal and refreshes my mind
to all the Lord's done and is doing.

Thanking the Lord for all of YOU!

and

M E R R Y    C H R I S T M A S!

"And you will have joy and gladness and many will rejoice at His birth."
Luke 1:14

Christmas Open House this Saturday

"And you will have joy and gladness, 

and many will rejoice at His birth." 

Luke 1:14

I thought I'd get you up to date a little,

 although I don't have wedding pictures yet.

  I will post them and pictures from our 

Heart & Keeper Bridal Breakfast soon. 

Kim and I just got home from New York 

where we visited my girlfriend Jackie, 

we have been friends since the 4th grade,

 we both made a commitment to the Lord when we went to church camp 

together in middle school and have stayed connected all these years.

We are at Madison Square Gardens where we enjoyed 

"A Night of Celebration" 

with Pastor David Jeremiah

He has a new study Bible out that I highly recommend

called The Jeremiah Study Bible.

The tree was up in Rockefeller Center.

It was cold, very cold and it made us look forward to getting home

 and decorating our own tree for this Saturdays Christmas Open House!  

But before we headed home we visited Princeton, 

when we go there we always have breakfast at PJ's.

We headed out of town just before a snow storm hit!

And good thing cuz I have some decorating to do before our Open House.

I decided to decorate the garland around our fireplace with

Heart & Keeper treasures sooooooo

  Today I gathered up some of my favorite H & K pictures from our 10 years together, 

you will find ones of all three of our trips to Montana, 

our retreats with our girls, 

and yes the PLATE!!! Who has the plate??

Even Wedding pictures!

 I put them on these light brown tags 

I purchased at Michael's,  

I collected all the ornaments we've exchanged over the years 

and hope you will enjoy looking at them on Saturday!

Here's a Montana postcard and a picture from last years trip with our husbands,

 the picture is all of us in front of the Chapel at Burnt Fork Ranch.

 A heart from Lyn 

 Ice skates from Linda J.

Ruth's handmade ornaments.

Some of Chrissy and Melony's handmade ornaments. 

The ball has a colorful peacock feather in it

and the birds have glittered tails with old hymn pages for background.

and....

WEDDING pictures!

 I used them for last years retreat to Montana, 

 these are all hanging on my garland ready to greet you!

(Left to Right - Bobby & Chrissy, Paul & Lyn, T.J. & Dave, Ruth & Lou)

Last picture.  Can anyone tell me what this paper chain of girls is from?

It is when I first met Joni and Laura.  They were down for a visit and we invited them

to join us for one of our H & K gatherings at T.J. and Chelsea.

Joni jumped in with a wonderful devotion and this paper chain was a part of what she shared,

I cherish it!

Before I go how about an easy recipe
 just perfect for a Christmas party
 directly from Shelley a delightful hostess
 I met at Apple Farm recently?

8-8-6 Pie

Ingredients:
8 oz. jam or spread (not jelly)
8 oz. softened cream cheese
6 oz. Cool whip

Blend together and put into a prepared
graham cracker crust.
Top with a couple dollops of jam.

Refrigerate for 30 minutes then serve.

Enjoy!
       

Leave a comment and your name will be entered
in a drawing for this Christmas lantern!
Drawing will be this Friday.

Well I have more new things to share and some surprises too

 but they will have to wait for now.

See you Saturday!