Let it Snow......

We have gotten tons of snow, lately! It is so deep that we have to dig the cars out, and the dogs make tunnels when we take them outside. Drifts have piled up that are at least as tall as I am. And it's not stopping. Truthfully, it is quite lovely, though, and we are really enjoying it. Definitely looks like a winter wonderland. We've gone sledding and taken walks in the snow. I especially love it at night, looking out the window and seeing a blanket of white, glittering with diamonds. The world has a softer, gentler feel under a layer of snow. It kind of glows, too. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Walton and Uncle Sam

Samuel Walton Minatra and Walton William Bambach - two of my favorite fellas. We love you Uncle Sam!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! This is such a special time of year as we remember all that the Lord has blessed us with, "blessing piled upon blessing". For the first time since Bill and I have been married, we were able to spend Thanksgiving with his family in Michigan. Every year past, Bill had to work the day after, so we weren't able to go anywhere for the holiday. We had a great time. We celebrated Christmas early with them, which was especially fun as we watched Walton "open" his gifts. We did a little shopping, some sledding, and got together with some of Bill's friends. Bill went to a hockey game with his Dad, and had great seats. We had an unexpected blessing this year, and I am so grateful that the Lord worked it out for us. My dear cousin, Sam, lives in AK and works in Canada, so it is not often that we get to see him. However, he is dating Amanda, who happens to live in MI, about an hour from Bill's parents, and was visiting her for Thanksgiving. We were able to meet for lunch that Friday, and what a treat that was! It was so good to see my cousin, and to meet his sweet girlfriend! It was the first time that Sam had met Walton, too, which was very special. The time with them really blessed my heart. We returned to NY Saturday, and Sunday we went and got our Christmas tree. Every year in TX we went to the same Christmas tree farm to cut down our tree. It was something that we looked forward to each year. We wondered if we would find a farm here in NY that we would like as much, since that is one of our favorite traditions. Thankfully, we found a very neat tree farm about 40 minutes from our house. It had a great selection of trees, and lots of extras for Walton to look at. The only downside was that the lovely light snow we had that morning turned to freezing rain by the time we got to the farm - brrrr!! But, we still enjoyed it and picked out our tree in record time! :) And now we welcome in the Christmas season!

Lumberjack Bill cutting down the Christmas tree

Special time with Sam and Amanda

At Bronner's Christmas Store: checking out the reindeer with Daddy

Walton examining his stocking

The Bambach family after Thanksgiving Dinner

Smog the Dragon: Halloween '08

October Snow

Bill and I were reminded yesterday that we no longer live in Texas when we got a light snow. It didn't stick, of course, but still...snow...in October. I am looking forward to a white winter, but I admit that I am not quite ready for that yet! The sun is out today, and it is a crisp Fall day, but the weather is getting cooler. In preparation for this, I wrote on our grocery list yesterday, "HOT COCOA" :).

A Crying Kind of Day

Today has been a crying kind of day for me. Ever have one of those? There is nothing really wrong with me, but off and on throughout the day, I've cried about different things. I have just felt overwhelmed today with all the grief touching those I know and love. At the church we used to go to, three little girls lost their father to a brain tumor. An amazing lady at our church just brought her father home from the hospital to die with his family. Another lost her spouse unexpectedly when a routine procedure found a rare disease; she couldn't even touch him to say goodbye. A friend of ours here in NY lost his mom a few years ago, and then his dad just died in June. And a friend of my sister, a neat, godly young man, lost the battle with brain cancer Sunday morning. And there are lots more that I could list. I admit, sometimes I just want to pound my fists against the Lord's chest like a little child and cry, "No! No! This isn't right. It isn't supposed to be like this!" As I cried that today, I had the sudden realization that, no, it ISN'T supposed to be like this. We weren't created for death, and, thanks be to God, death is simply a stepping stone for us into eternal life. I thought of the verse about the Lord "making all things new". Then, with tears flowing harder, I raised my eyes to the rain-filled grey clouds and cried with new urgency, "Please come quickly, Lord Jesus. Oh, come quickly!".
And so, as I continue to cry throughout this crying kind of day, I just whisper again, "Oh, come quickly!"
Amen and amen.

Random Oct. Pics

A New York Fall

It is officially Fall in New York, and it is as lovely as we had heard it would be. After spending five years in Texas, it is nice to be back to the four distinct seasons. Though we have had quite a bit of rain lately, the weather overall has been gorgeous - in the 70s with crisp wind and sunshine. We have taken lots of walks, gone apple picking, and the leaves are really starting to put on a color show now. Supposedly the peak time for Fall color is mid-October, so I will try to post some pics of that when it comes. Last but not least, I've had my first Pumpkin Spice Latte, to ring in the season! The view from our back windows on a rainy day. This picture doesn't do it justice, as the reds and yellows are really beautiful.

A hike through Watkins Glen Gorge. This place feels like being in Rivendell, for you LOTR fans!

Pumpkin candles and a puzzle make for a cozy Fall evening.

Dressed for a blustery day.

Apple picking - this orchard is so gorgeous and only about five minutes from our house. Great apple cider, too!

Beautiful Fall colors!

Are we presenting an "Un-Christian" view of our Christianity?

About a month ago, the senior pastor at our church introduced this book to us, and Bill and I both started reading it. It was so compelling, I finished it in a few days. Now, there are not many books that I would say "everybody has to read", but I think this is one of those books. I would go so far as to suggest that if you really want to be a relevant Christian - and impact today's culture - you need to read it. (Now, if you don't read it, I'm not going to think that you are lax in your faith - I just think it is a provocative book). Based on studies done by the Barna Group, the author, David Kinnaman, addresses the six major perceptions that our culture has of Christians. To pique your interest, the research showed that the majority of people considered Christians to be:

1) Hypocritical

2) Only interested in "getting people saved"

3) Anti homosexual

4) Sheltered

5) Too political

6) Judgmental

Now, you can agree or not agree with his suggestions on how to address these perceptions, but you can't argue with the statistics. Which is why I think it is so beneficial to read this book. If we say we are Christian, then for many people, the aforementioned six subjects are what they believe our faith to be. Personally, I found this book to be convicting and challenging! Pick it up - and then let me know what you think!

The Last Four Months in Photos

Living in New York!

Four- wheel drive for New York winters

Amy's Wedding

Bill's Graduation from DTS

Bill's Ordination

Walton's arrival!

Funny Things Bill Has Said Since I've Been Pregnant

I know it has been a while, and I promise to post pics, updates, etc., soon. I just wanted to share a few of the funny things Bill has said during this pregnancy:

"I hope you get really huge".

"I hope you have a big baby" (ok, some of these maybe aren't all that funny!)

"You are not as mobile as you used to be"

"You are getting to be mondo, sweetie"

"Once you get the epidural, labor is going to feel just like you are sleeping" (oh really?)

"I think I am going to pass out when you have the baby".

"This is the best thing that's ever happened to us that is going to ruin our lives" :)

I know I am forgetting some, but as he continues with these classic lines, I'll keep you posted.

Life with Bill is NEVER dull :)