As the end of 2010 comes to a completion tonight I am filled with thoughts of the wonderful blessings and growth that have come from it!
We did not know Josiah last year this time and he has definitely been a wonderful blessing.
Hannah and I have enjoyed making some interesting cuisine! New England dinner, corned our own beef brisket! Tonight Cornish hen in a wine sauce with mushrooms and onions. Swedish meatballs and homemade bread to name a few more.  What fun!
As we close out the year our family hopes you and yours continue to walk the road less traveled and fight the battles that really matter, to the victory, with Christ right beside you all the way!

We had a cool time in snowy Kentucky!  It snowed the entire time we were there.
Hannah and her team won the volleyball tournament which had us on the edge of our seats for the final 3 game play off!
The time spent visiting with Daniel and Kelsi seemed very short as we were all so busy with sports or crafts or just having fun!
Josiah enjoyed his time as well and we hardly knew he was along on the 10hr. trip.  Martha helped brighten those long hours on the road and also refereed the fights which popped up from time to time between our bored children.
Now the new roman year is about upon us and we must pull up our boot straps and work hard at school(Sarah, Sam and Anna), work (Bruce, Abby and Hannah) and at home
I hope you are finding new insights each day that bring you closer to the pattern laid out by our Savior.

The excitement and anticipation has built to an almost feverish pitch here in the Chesney household as we plan to leave for the Winter Family Tournament in Lexington KY.  They love this annual event more then anything else we do throughout the year.  Martha plans to ride down with us, this will be her first time!
We have finally learn what Sarah's health problems are stemming from as blood tests show that she has Mono.  The lump in her back is most likely a swollen lymph node.  She tires easily but we feel she has had this for several weeks if not a month or more so she should be on the up swing now.
Hope you are staying healthy and feeling the love of Christ warming your heart as you serve Him faithfully each day.

The family seems to be getting their health back and with it their feist (short for feisty).  The days have gone by quickly as everyone anticipates going to Lexington in a week.  I am the exception, I dread long car rides for several reasons, many of which I am sure you can imagine.  But getting a break from the mundane does have it's appeal and so I am willing to suffer for 10 hours.  Seeing Daniel and Kelsi will definitely make up for the long cramped trip.
Bruce has been working 8 hrs. a day in the cold. He has been feeling the frigid weather is his joints and is very achy by evening.
Josiah is much better and has become quite fun to watch as he is learning to crawl (fast) and stand.  Sarah is still suffering from pain in her back and the doctor is, more then ever, convinced it is a lymph node. He ran more blood tests for mono and Epstein Barr virus.  Hannah and Abby are both working hard and are very tired when they get home, which leaves me with most of the chores, except vacuuming which Sarah does.  The orthopedic doctor said I will be on a 5-10 lb. restriction for another 6 weeks.  I am experiencing some symptoms of numbness and arm pain again.  He said that I must be careful because it takes a while to heal.  This of course is quite frustrating to me, I can't even pick up Josiah. But I know it won't always be this way! For we must fix our heart, soul and mind on our eternal hope and salvation.
Life is hard some times especially on these cold winter type days, dear ones, but please remember "His mercies are new every morning" and "His love is an everlasting love".  Even when we feel distant from Him he is not far away, we just need to turn around and open our eyes. He says He will never leave us or forsake us. Just meditating on these words can turn the grayest of days into ones of sunshine and hope!

Well I tried scaring the blues away by Bible study and cleaning.  It has worked and I am feeling more cheerful, however physically I am run down and not feeling well.  Bruce is still coughing and not getting much sleep, hopefully that will change soon, we are both on antibiotics!
I am studying Beth Moore's Stepping Up , a study of the Psalms of Ascent.  The 120th chapter begins with a feeling of woe, so it was an appropriate place for me to begin, as they say, "misery loves company".  Perhaps just knowing someone else understands the feeling of "woe" makes one not feel so alone.  After all we know King David went through much in his life and yet he overcame great obstacles and with the help of God won the race in the end.
What a wonderful encouragement and comfort we have with God's own Word and the great hope He has given us through His Son!

Well, I am sorry to say the winter blues have really set in.  I can't seem to pull myself out of the doldrums.  Having 8 people sharing this somewhat small living area is just a little much.  Add to that colds and the flu and then a baby who has mastered an ear piercing scream that can endure for an hour or more and you have an almost impossible situation.
But I am brought back to reality as I realize the number of homeless are growing and the shelters are jam packed on these very briskly cold nights.
Our troubles seem quite small as we consider the growing number of those losing jobs and homes.  And as we see those around us suffering we must be ready to lend a helping hand.  For when Christ divides the sheep from the goats, he bases his decision on those that gave drink, food and clothes to those in need and upon visiting those in prison and those who were sick ( Matt.25:31-46). Christ places a high priority upon those in need and it is apparently very important that we do the same.
So if you are feeling a bit of the winter blues, reach out to someone in need and I know you will be blessed!