HAPPY BIRTHDAY LANDON!!

Whoops! I am 2 days late on wishing Landon a Happy 9th Birthday! I have a Christmas Eve blog that follows this one so be sure to check it out. Landon turned 9 on the 22nd and we celebrated with his friend Peyden spending the night. Mason's friend Chance was also here so it got a little rowdy at times! It snowed on Landon's birthday so the boys played out in the snow some. Landon opted to have a party in Cullman with his friends there so we will party again on the 29th at the skating rink there. Here are some pics from his big day.........

He got a laser pointer and some skates for his big day. We ended the day at my friends Sandi's house, singing Christmas Carols around a fire. BRRRRRRRRRR.......

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

It's 11:05a.m. on Christmas Eve and my household is totally silent. Why? you might ask? Santa came last night and although there was rule that the kids couldn't get us up until 5 a.m., I heard Landon and Mason up at 1 a.m. and again at 2 a.m. and then at 5:03 a.m, they got us up to open the presents! I feel like a truck has run over me! Everyone is asleep at the moment and I haven't been up long but there's soooo much to do so I have to get busy. I'm going to make this pretty short. We got snow again this week and oops! I just remember that I forgot to post Landon's birthday so that post will come next. Anyway, God blessed us with gorgeous weather yesterday and we went to see "Alvin and the Chipmunks" yesterday and finished up all the shopping. Landon and Haven tried to go to bed at 7 last night but it was more like 10 before we finally bedded them down.

The hot items for them this year was an Ipod Touch for Mason, a PSP for Landon, and a Littlest Pet shop house for Haven. They also got a trampoline to share but that has to stay in the box until spring due to the snow...bummer!

Our Christmas Eve Candlelight service is tonight at 5pm and afterwards we are heading on a straight 22 hour drive to AL, hoping to arrive in time for the Owen Christmas gathering. I know, it's going to be tough but we're saving $1200 or so driving instead of flying this time. So if you are reading this today, whisper a prayer of safety for us as we take turns driving all night and all day. We hope your Christmas and New Years is full of wonderful blessings and memories! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!

Fa-la-la-la-la La-la-la-la

This weekend was the Vallecito Kids Christmas Party at Blue Spuce RV Park. I'll say this about Vallecito.....they may be lost but they have community. And that's nice and we are certainly feeling more a part of the community than this time last year!
At the party they have games, prizes, bouncy house, and Santa comes in on the fire truck and gives everyone a stocking and hat. Here's some pics from the party......

Here's videos playing in the snow. Mason has a 'real' snowboard now and this was the first time he was able to try it out. He'll practice a good bit before really hitting the slopes.......

They both have a friend over tonight spending the night and we'll have Landon a small birthday celebration tomorrow. He asked to have a party in Cullman with his friends there so we are renting the skating rink in Cullman on the 29th. His heart continues to be with the ones that he knows love him and I think it is precious!

Getting Excited!

OOOOO...I'm so excited about Christmas!! I praise God for whoever started this holiday in His honor! I love the gift giving that represents the giving from the wisemen. I love the special togetherness families feel on this holiday. I love all the little traditions we have as a family. I love all the Christmas movies that have a "feel good" ending. I love that the kids are out of school for 2 1/2 weeks. I love the Christmas songs. I love the food. But mostly, I love that because Baby Emmanuel came over 2000 years ago, I can choose to spend eternity worshipping at His feet!

This is for the mom and Kaye....our tree this year......

Haven playing with the snowman...I found her one day all covered up on the couch with all the snowmen under the blanket with her!

Two years ago, we bought and made our first gingerbread house kit and it turned out very cute. This year, we tried to be creative and make our own.....Haven was the only one interested in helping so this was the result!

OK..it's a little SAD but we enjoyed trying it!

Today was the last day before Christmas break and Landon had his class Christmas party! Hats off to his teacher Ms. Sparks who instead of them buying presents for themselves, asked the class to bring money for Make A Wish Foundation.

Congratulations to Landon for getting Citizen of the Month for Honesty for December! He will be honored with a breakfast on Jan 7th and his picture will go out on the school bulletin board!

OK..so he doesn't like to pose for pictures if you can tell!

I took this picture from Landon's room of the playground they play on everyday. Can you imagine!!! What's funny is that I saw many kids with their snow bib on and short sleeves! It will stay like this until April at least. They don't get as much snow in Bayfield as we get in Vallecito.

Mason had a dance today to end the 2nd 9 weeks and it was his first time to dance with a GIRL!! He has a girlfriend named Kendra now. If this week flies by as fast as this last week has, we'll see you very soon in Gordo and Cullman! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Just Stuff!

Hey guys just wanted to post a quick blog about what is happening this week. Both Mason and Landon won thier basketball games this week, Mason's team won the league championship.

Here are some pics of the view from our house. Snow everywhere. It is beautiful. Everything covered by pure, white snow. Come see it.

We want to wish you all a very Merry, Christ filled Christmas. God bless.

The Owen Family

December Birthdays!

After making it a year on the blog with Birthdays, I decided back in November that I would condense the blogs and make one big wish each month (of course, with the exeption of my little family). I apologize if I left you out this last year and please let me know when your birthday is if I did.
So I want to wish a very happy birthday to......

My sis-in-law DENISE OWEN----Dec 7th
My nephew CALEB OWEN--------Dec 9th
My friend EDITH PARKER-------Dec 12th
My sis-in-law RENEE RICHARDSON----Dec 12th
My friend ANGIE JUNKIN--------Dec 13th
My friend JOHN JUNKIN---------Dec 15th
My bro-in-law JEFF OWEN-------Dec 17th
My Daddy JAMES RICHARDSON--Dec 19th
My son LANDON OWEN----------Dec 22nd
My Mom PAT RICHARDSON----Dec 23rd
My pop-in-law HERSHEL OWEN--Dec 23rd
My friend JONATHON SMITH---Dec 26th
My friend DIANE HADLEY--------Dec 31st

Lots of people in our life are turning a year older this month. Sorry I'm late with this for those who already had birthdays. We hope your special day was or will be great and hope to see you all in a couple of weeks!

B-L-I-Z-Z-A-R-D

The blizzard hit last night and I actually woke up scared a time or two. The winds were fierce and you could hear them hitting the house and then my warped mind started thinking about avalanches. I don't know why because we are never at risk for an avalanch here at our house! Anyway, the snow stopped for a little while and we got out for some fresh snow fun!
Here are some pics for our cousins in Alabama, Carter, Caleb, Sydney and Parker. Since the brothers will never come out we need the sister in laws to bring the kids out to play.

Hey kids, these pictures are just for you......

Lucee likes to be in the snow if we are in it with her...but yes, more "accidents" in the house thanks to the snow

HA-HA....Mike has to use the snow blower

Why did we move here again? Just kidding but I really do have to remind myself of why quiet frequently in the winter.......did I mention that I hate winter??!!

Boo-Boos

Well we had an exciting Saturday!! Both boys had basketball games Saturday morning and then we had our first game day party planned at the house with several couples who, because of us, have started watching Crimson Tide football. Mason played first and beat the other undefeated team and had an awesome game. While killing time between games, Haven was playing out in the gym foyer on some handicap railing and fell and bursted her chin open. Poor thing! She's so accident prone! We left the boys at the gym with some friends and heading to the ER for some stitches. She was soooooo brave and did great!



She ended up with 1 inside stitch and 4 on the outside. We missed Landon's game as were sitting very anxiously in the hospital watching the clock, knowing that at 1:30 we were expecting company for the game (remember we are 2 hours behind Atlanta). Landon's team won their first game and Landon scored 6 points!!! And we missed it all! We pulled in the driveway at 2 pm (GAME TIME!!) and one of our friends had already opened up the house for us and even tidyed up a bit (which I was very thankful for!). Of course, the BAMA game was wonderful but I couldn't even be excited about the win for watching Tebow's little heart that was broken! He is such an awesome example of how we should give God the glory in everything we are doing. Now the National Championship game will be pretty tough on us if we don't win because there are sooooooo many more Texas fans here than any other team so Bama has got to pull through for us!!!

We are under a blizzard warning and it is coming down steadily now. The kids are in school today but we are doubting about tomorrow. We probably have about 8 inches right now but are expecting up to a possible 5 ft over the next couple of days. Many of you know that I struggle with this white stuff so say a little prayer that I'll enjoy my snowed in time!

So What's Happening at Church?

Many of you may be wondering what God is doing at Vallecito church. The 9 years that we were in Cullman, we were able to witness a pretty constant flow of people committing to follow Christ, some changing their lives completely and others coming back to the Lord. Here, it has been a much slower progress. We were definitely warned of this, that it would be much more challenging in such a liberal area.....and they were exactly right! BUT....it doesn't mean that God is not working. We don't always see the seeds that are planted and what God is doing in the life of others. I am so encouraged though when I see a football mom come in with her boys. And then the next time she comes, she brings her mother along with her. We continue to have visitors every Sunday. For those who are newer to the blog, Vallecito Church is packed full in the summer but in the winter, we are doing good to have 25. However, so far we've been running around 50 and had 14 children at church Sunday! Praise God!

I can definitely say that we've seen Christians strengthen their relationship with the Lord and God has really used Mike to do that. I feel the church family has gotten closer and much more loving in showing visitors that we want them there. I am just hungry to see a life completely changed!!! A life totally given to the Lord for the first time ever! There's no greater blessing than witnessing that and I can't wait to see that again!

We are in the process of planning for a new building addition starting this spring/summer. We have a building group from Alabama that is possibly coming to help, as well as one from Texas. If you are up for a mission trip to Colorado, we'll sure give you something to do and would love to see you!

When you read this or think about us out in Vallecito, please pray for the following:

1). "The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few"......we need children and youth workers! Pray that God will rise up or bring someone new in to lead these two ministries.

2). Pray that the offerings will come in for the cost of the building supplies to avoid getting a loan

3). Pray for Olivia, Veronica, Timmy, David, Clyde, and Wyatt, all kids in the valley that we want in church!

4). Pray for Mike and I as we try to discern what God wants us to do with the youth ministry

AND MOSTLY......

5). Pray for lost people to recognize their need for JESUS!!

Thank you my friends!

By the way, Mom and Appi left on Sat morning and this is what we woke up to on Sunday morning........

It was absolutely gorgeous! I enjoyed it for a second.....and then I was ready for it to disappear!! (And it has now but we gearing up for another big snow this weekend....UGG!)

Thanksgiving-Part 2

To pick up where I left off.......on Tuesday it was Morgan's 12th birthday and what an honor it was to celebrate it with him in Colorado! We let him pick what he wanted to do and he chose rock climbing. But first we took a ride up Middle Mt and found a little snow for them to play in....

Here's Lillie

Landon.......

Landon and Harrison......Harrison below

Now some of you who know Mom pretty well may be shocked at this next picture............YES..she is holding Lucee!!! It's a miracle!

She did quiet well all week living with Lucee and was proud of herself! (I can just hear her now, talking to you guys about how we let "that dog" eat off the table and sleep in our beds! We don't "let" her eat off the table but we do catch her quite often helping herself when she is unsupervised!)

Then we spent the rest of day bouldering up to the top of a small mountain near the house. I think the kids loved it...but Appi on the other hand.....let's just say she got a lot closer to God on that little excursion!!!

Finally made it to see the lake in the background.....


Here we are finally at the top!

All the kids from youngest to oldest......

There are 2 months between Lillie and Haven, 2 months between Mason and Morgan, and 6 months between Landon and Harrison. Did we plan this? Nope.....God did! Isn't it neat!
Our family shot from a top the mountain

On Wednesday, we journeyed to Honeyville for a taste of honey and to see the bees; and then on to Silverton and Ouray. The kids got to do more sledding at Molass Pass. Here are some shots of the day......

Oh, aren't they just the sweetest!! They played sooooo well together all week and were my best posers for the pictures! We were going to let the kids swim in the outdoor hot springs pool at Ouray but the fun part of the pool was closed and an adult had to get in with the girls so we ended our day at the Durango Rec Center so the kids could swim there. They had a blast!

Thursday was Thanksgivng Day and our church once again hosted a community lunch at the Communty Center. We had a good turnout but wasn't what they had expected so we had lots of leftovers! Appi made an awesome sweet potatoe casserole and caramel cake, and mom made her southern cornbread dressing.....yummmmmmmm!

Friday, Appi and I joined the Black Friday shoppers at 5 am first in Durango and then headed to Farmington, NM. We got back to watch the big game and I was literally sick to my stomach, from fear that we were going to beat by Auburn!! What a game!

They left out on Saturday morning for their 2 day trip back home. Appi and Mom, it was such a blessing to spend this week with you and I thank you for giving up your Thanksgiving with your other family to spend it with us. We made precious memories together that will be etched on my heart forever! I love you both so much!