Mary is 4

Mary has turned 4. It happened rather quickly on April 10th without much fanfare that day. Today is the big Chuck E. Cheese blowout for a now 4 year old. I couldn't wait till after today to post pictures or write about our beautiful daughter.

Mary is the life of our party. She is wild crazy emotional, cries at the drop of the hat, laughs like there is no tomorrow and cares for her brother and daddy without hesitation.

She can instigate fighting with John in a second and start singing the next. Mary loves music - the louder the better!! She just saw Skillet for the 2nd time and can truly say she is a panhead.

She brings her mama and daddy much happiness (and a few grey hairs too).

Mary - mommy and daddy are praying that soon you will know you need Jesus as a Saviour and ask Him into your heart. We know you already love him as you pray and learn verses at Cubbies!!

Happy Birthday Monkey!! We love you!!

Good Friday....

I always wondered why it was called Good Friday. Then one year, our Pastor explained it so well.
It is good that Jesus went to the cross.
It is good that He willingly laid down His life for all mankind (and especially for me).
It is good that Jesus came to serve and be a ransom for me!

It is good....but it is GREAT that HE arose and lives today!

May each of you have a Blessed Easter!!!

Reflections on Christmas at the Nitengales

I was sitting here sad, mad and very worn out from a long holiday weekend. Muttering under my breath that no one appreciated all I had done, that my kids were selfish and spoiled and that I was so glad is was over....when God knocked me in the head.

I read on Facebook that a friend from high school lost her precious daughter this morning - the day after Christmas - to a 4 year battle with cancer. My life could be so much worse!

Why do I let myself get into this funk every year at Christmas when I come off a great time of Thanksgiving in November? God is the greatest Father in the world and Christmas is the day we celebrate the birth of HIS son....yet here I was being selfish and spoiled because I didn't feel appreciated - I wonder what God thinks of how I treat HIM (probably the same way I was feeling).

Help me Father to set my eyes on you each day and not my circumstances!!

Thankful for the Reminder

I'm thankful that I took this month to be thankful....for the reminders that the Nitengales are incredibly blessed beyond belief. Thank you God for putting this on my heart so that it would remind me to....

Count your blessings,

Name them one by one

Count your blessings

See what God has done.

Count your blessings

Name them one by one

Count your many blessings

See what God has done!

Thankful for Jesus

I'm thankful that Jesus came to earth as a baby, lived a sinless life, willingly went to the cross to die for each of us and then on the third day arose again! I'm thankful HE is sitting in heaven taking my prayers and making them into something God better understands!!

Thank you Father for JESUS - my Lord and Saviour!!!

Thankful for Many Things I take for Granted

• Running water



• Heat



• Flush toilets



• Refrigeration



• Microwaves



• Washer & Dryers



• Vacuums



• Dependable Cars



• Electricity



• Diet Pepsi



• Chocolate

I think it's important to be thankful for even the smallest things - and Mary often reminds me of that.

So thank you God for the many things I forgot to list!!

Thankful for Passion

I often wish that I wasn't as passionate about things....that I could adopt the attitude "Who cares?" about almost anything. And while I can about a few things - the things I'm passionate about are important. I'm thankful for passion for God and for His word to go forth in the world.

I'm thankful that I want with great passion my children to love God and serve Him. I know I'm not the best example but my passion for them to have passion for God is strong!

Thank you God for giving us passion for you and for other things in life. Help me to focus my passion on you!!