Happy New Year!

2009
May you have blessed New Year!
May you find hope in our Savior, Jesus Christ
And gain a deeper understanding of His love for you!

From Our House to Yours...

MERRY
CHRISTMAS!
May each of you find peace in a wonderful relationship with our Lord & a deeper walk with Him in the coming year.

The Kregenows

Computer Down

I just wanted everyone to know that my computer is down. :( I am currently on a friend's computer. I am hoping to get it in for repairs after the new year. So check back then for any new posts. I will have a lot of catching up to do reading all of your blogs.

Beautiful Snow!

We have had so much snow this fall/winter. Our last was so beautiful that I have to share it with you. Since this snow, it has gone up into the 50's long enough to melt it all away only to have it once again return. We woke up to 57 degrees, it is currently in the low 30's & snowing. It began at 10pm & we already have 2 inches at 12:30am!






Anyway, these pictures were taken on our way to get our Christmas tree. It was a winter wonderland drive.







These are the houses that are out the country drive to get our tree.



These are on Woodlawn Drive out past our house. Scott like that drive & on a clear day, you can see Uniontown mountains from it.



























We go to Volker's Nursery in Richeyville to get our tree each year.

After much indecision, we finally decided on this one.

This is the picture I took off our back porch while it was snowing like crazy.



















And these are of our front porch all lit up.

1 Corinthians 13 Christmas Style

©By Sharon Jaynes

If I decorate my house perfectly with lovely plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights, and shiny glass balls, but do not show love to my family - I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family - I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family - It profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

Love never fails. Video games will break; pearl necklaces will be lost; golf clubs will rust. But giving the gift of love will endure.

Let's Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, that starry night in Bethlehem. Like the Shepherds, I am still amazed at Your great love. May I not lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas, but celebrate Jesus' birthday with joy!

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Puppy Lovin'

This summer:
























Parker didn't want Dan to go (we won't tell him that we put peanut butter on his face!)











Thanksgiving Weekend:

Parker thought that this was the best place to be.

There's no denying love there.

But no love compares to Momma's love!

Thanksgiving Weekend

Plans for our Thanksgiving weekend were on a moment by moment basis. And isn't that the way the Lord wants us to be? Ready in season & out for His purposes. Because of the situation with Carissa's Grandmother was rapidly deteriorating, she & Dave decided to come up Tuesday through the snow storm. They finally got safely in at 2:30 in the morning after being forced to take a long detour through Morgantown!

After much needed sleep, they left for Indiana to meet up with her Dad & then on to Kansas City, MO to be with her ailing grandmother. Scott worked on Thanksgiving Day, so we shifted our Thanksgiving celebrations to Saturday instead.

Dave & Carissa got in to the hospital at 3am Thanksgiving Day. They were able to spend some wonderful time with grandma & the rest of her family. Since my sister Vicki has just moved to Kansas City, Dave & Carissa were able to stop in & have Thanksgiving dinner with them, an unexpected treat for my sister. Her daughter Jordan & her family were there as well. My sister said that they really appreciated the opportunity to get a chance to visit with them a little.

It is tradition with the my family for my teens to join the youth group at our church for breakfast Thanksgiving morning. Afterward, they head on to do ministry outreach of some sort. This year they went to a nearby nursing home to put on a service & to sing for them, as well to visit with them.

Friday night, Dad & Ginnie stayed with us. Jacque was able to join us for dinner. Early Saturday they were on their way to Ginnie's daughter, Mary's place in Columbus, OH. Before they left, we enjoyed the cinnamon rolls I made for breakfast.

As you have read in the previous post, Carissa's grandmother passed away early Sat. morning. Dave & Carissa decided to come on back to celebrate Thanksgiving with us. Scott's mother & her friend Jack, as well as Jacque, joined us for our feast. Here are the pictures from that day.

This was the Thanksgiving table.
Before we eat, we always go around the table & tell
what we are thankful for with each person taking a turn.

Aunt Jacque ready for a Kodak moment.

After the blessings, we gathered in the kitchen to get our food buffet style. It was too much food for the table. As everyone else was doing that, Dave made his choice to have dessert 1st!

How blessed were to have so much food! We enjoyed bantering back & forth.

Then of course there was dessert! We waited awhile for some of that. Scott made pecan pies , I made apple pies, & my sister made the pumpkin pies. They were sure good later with a nice cup of coffee.

God has truly blessed us not only for the food but with a great family! He has blessed us with 2 more family members & safe travels, especially this year. What a privilege to live at a time like this!

Thank You for your Prayers

We wanted to thank you for all your prayers for Carissa's grandma. She has gotten her ultimate healing in the arms of the Lord Saturday morning. Continue to keep the family in prayer as they make funeral arrangements. Again, thank you so much! Your prayers really sustained them through this whole situation.

Please Continue to Pray

Dave & Carissa went out to visit her grandmother for Thanksgiving. When she got there she was still alert & talking to them. She said that both her grandparent have a great peace. Only prayers could be doing that! They were glad that they went & said their goodbyes. Today though she has been unresponsive & her breathing labored. Please continue to pray for that family as they as they release her into Jesus' loving arms. And as always, for as long as she has breath, ask for a complete healing. Thank you all so much for the prayers that you have raised before the Father in her behalf so far. They really feel them!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

We want to wish you all a blessed Thanksgiving!
And we just thank the Lord for His many blessings!
For He has blessed us mightily!

More Snow!

Yesterday it rained almost all day washing away the old snow. It was a good thing that it wasn't snow or we'd be snowed in. But the Lord brought us some fresh stuff this morning. I thought I would upload the pictures I got as I was driving through Bethel Park. Please forgive the quality.









They did have their pretty decorations out for Christmas which made the snow all the more enchanting.











We actually got more at home than they did up in Bethel Park, but it was coming down quite a bit as I was driving home. I was worried that I would make it.





Dave & Carissa were coming in tonight, but got as far as route 40 & had to return to the interstate to crawl on to Morgantown & up route 79 instead. That added at least 2 hrs to their trip. They are planning to drive on to Missouri tomorrow to be with her grandma, so please pray for their safe journey!

Happy Birthday !

Today is my sisters', Vicki & Jacque, birthdays.

Happy birthday ladies!

Prayer Request

Please pray for Carissa's Grandma. She's the one I asked for prayer for before. She is back in the hospital, only this time they have found cancer all through her body! They give 1 week to live!!! So please pray!

Is it January?

I can't believe how cold is has been during this month! Last night it was suppose to dipped down to 16! I feel like its January instead. We even got 2 inches of snow yesterday. When it got dark, it all froze causing many accidents in the area. Scott said that on his way to work last night that they were pulling someone out of the woods. :( Lord, God Almighty, please be with those people & their families! Route 70 was backed up for miles as well. No one was going even the speed limit. This is not the weather we're used to in November. At any rate the snow is beautiful, & I thought that I would show you how Bentleyville looks right now.



Yesterday it was blowing so hard, you couldn't stay warm in the house. And you definitely didn't want to go out! We had several white-outs during the day.









But all that left pretty results!

This was taken this morning.

Do you think that we can hope for an early spring?!

Look what I found!

I found out how to embed the weekend last summer that I spent with my sister, Vicki, at the Beth Moore conference. It's just pictures done by a fabulous photographer whose name is credited under the video below. It's put to one of Travis Cottrell's songs. If you look carefully, I'm in there about half way through. Enjoy!

My Weekend with Beth Moore

Living Proof Live Louisville KY Simulcast from Rich Kalonick on Vimeo.

Dave & Carissa's

Saturday

After we packed up, we headed to Dave & Carisssa's place.

It was wonderful driving through the mountains.

Parker was happy to see us! After a 5 hour drive, it was good to just relax.










We visited as we anxiously awaited Carissa's return from work.

We got to see the wonderful kitchen Dave has been working on. It's absolutely beautiful! He tiled the floor himself!















Carissa fixed us a wonderful dinner when she got home. We made plans for the next day over dinner.















We were graciously put in the guest room. We felt like a king & queen!

Sunday

Dave & Carissa took us up to Charlottesville. It was such a beautiful day! We so enjoyed the drive. They closed off a portion of the road to make a "mall" of sorts. The thing that is so neat is that there are so many historic buildings that have been renovated into shops & cafes & such.
















We took a lovely stroll down the mall avenue & looked at all that was there. I took random shots of the goings on the different types of people.

Dan stayed with Parker as we each took turns in the library.

We made our way around the Historic Court Square a few streets up.












They had an encampment going on in the center of the square.





















It was neat to see all these old buildings in good shape & being used.

































These guys were waiting for us. We had a wonderful day exploring!

Monday

Time came for our vacation to end, & to head home. It begin to flurry as I took this picture of Dave & Parker. Yes, the weather changed again, but God blessed us with good weather when we needed it! In fact, God blessed us through the entire trip! He is so good!








We made our usual stop at Crackerbarrel to end the trip.