Crazy Girl

In a tutu and flamingo sunglasses having fun at Nanee & PopPops house!

Ready for Christmas!

Bella Grace is getting ready for Christmas! Here she is with her cousin, Pelham, trying to help him count down the days!

1-2-3- Jump!

Grace + Thankfulness = God's Glory

It's that time of year again.... Time to write up our list of things which we are thankful for... The greek form of the word "thanks" is eucharisteo. It can be used as a verb, a noun or even an adjective. Within all three of these forms, it is used over 50 times in the Bible. One of my favorite places it is used is found in 2 Corinthians 4:15- "For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God!" The context surrounding this verse speaks of Christians who are going through much suffering. They had faith to believe that their momentary troubles were "preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond ALL comparison." (17) Where grace extends- thanksgiving increases- even in the midst of suffering. Let's think about it this way- the more grace we show to others, the more our hearts and the hearts of others will overflow with thankfulness. Can we be truly thankful without being filled with grace? Where would the thankfulness originate? If we are without the grace of God- it is all about ourselves. ME, ME, ME- I did it! Give ME thanks! When we come to understand that it is only through HIS grace that we can do anything good, then and only then can we be filled with true thanksgiving! Let us be instruments of the grace of God this Thanksgiving season so that our hearts will overflow with gratefulness for what the Lord has done and continues to do in the world around us.

GO VOLS!!!

As most of you know, I am a VOL fan and James is a HOG fan so this weekend proved another fight for victory in the Trone household. Last year, in Fayetteville, I was sadly disappointed while sporting full orange in the midst of Razorback country. But- this year we traveled to the best (and I truly mean that) place to experience the joys of college football in the world! Football in Knoxville, TN is serious business. The girls don't dress up- we even wear the ugly orange color T-shirts- all for the sake of the game. It is not about who can have the most elaborate tailgate truck bed. TN football is about walking towards Neyland stadium and feeling like you are lost in a sea of orange while waiting for the TN marching band to walk through the streets of UT playing Rocky Top. It is about a young freshman girl from Benton, AR walking into the stadium for the first time with her mouth open in complete awe. TN football is about camping out for hours just to be able to get tickets to the TN/FL game. Most of all, it is about the thrill of victory. This last Saturday, the thrill on Rocky Top was back again. I can still hear the words.... "Rocky Top you'll always be home, sweet home to me!"

Movie Review

Our daughters name was the appropriate title of a new movie released in theaters last week. "Bella" is a movie about redemption. It celebrates life- whether gained or lost. This film is a rare jewel in the midst of the disillusionment of Hollywood giving viewers a glimpse of the beauty of life. There is a scene within the movie that is very difficult to watch but must be included to give significance to the totality of the film itself. It is a very simple movie without much glitter and fanfare. But, this is what makes it beautiful because true, everyday life is much like this simplicity. Life- what an amazing miracle yet how we neglect to cherish it. I encourage you to spend a few hours and a few dollars to watch this film. You will cry, you will hope, you will laugh, and you will feel what it means to live. Celebrate life!
"In Him was LIFE, and that life was the light of men." John 1:4

Mommy's Girl vs Daddy's Girl

Trick or Treat