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2014 A Christmas Post

2014 A Christmas Post, sharing our pictures from this year and our thoughts on the meaning of Christmas.

I love it when my favorite bloggers share special posts aside from recipes. Grab a cup of hot tea or coffee and welcome to our Corner as we share this Christmas Post.

A Christmas Post from our family to yours

Our Christmas wish to You-

Christmas is a time to bless each other and we would like to take the time to do so.

Husbands- May God bless you to love your wives in the same way as Christ loves the church, unconditionally.

Wives- it’s us that can create an atmosphere at home where our husbands want to return to after a long day of work. Us that can really build a beautiful home (Prov. 14:1).. I just want to bless you whether you have been married for 2 month or 20 years, may God give you (and me) wisdom to be a woman of Faith. The Godly example your daughter will look up to, one your son will want in a wife and one that parents will be proud to call their daughter. I think we as women were given such a beautiful gift from God to really impact our children and husbands and that is pretty amazing.

Yes, life isn’t always easy, being married 12 years and having to deal with all kinds of trials, I have learned so much. I have learned how powerful prayer is. I have learned that regardless how terrible my situation may seem, God is Almighty and all-powerful. Most of all I have learned that a submissive, God fearing, supportive, God loving wife can “build” a home that will withstand any situation their home is hit with (of course the husband must help but that’s a different topic). This dear wives and mothers are my blessing for you (and the desire of my heart for me).

Families- May your homes overflow with the blessings of laughter, health, joy and the making of memories you will cherish forever. Memories that your children will want to pass down to their children.

Our desire is that families together grow closer to God this year, more than last year. May our Light shine bright so those around us can see that light. May we be generous givers. May we speak words that are kind and heal. May our Church attendance become more frequent and not less. Most of all, may we all of strive to live according to the Word of God.

Christmas Post 1 2014

The Birth of Christ-

During Christmas, as we reminisce about the Baby Born many years ago, we remind ourselves He knew what his life would look like. He knew what awaited Him on Calvary. The ridicule He would face. Yet, He chose that path for us. Though the path wasn’t one any of us would agree to. He agreed to take that path for each and every one of us. Regardless of our pasts, sins, and iniquities, may we find Salvation and Forgiveness at the foot of the Cross, through the name of Jesus.

I love the verse in Psalm 150:6 “Let everything that has breath Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!”

We, mere humans, can never fully thank God for His Son. Still, let all of us will all that we are and have; our parents, our spouses and our children Praise the Lord, Praise His Holy Name.

Christmas Post 2014

This Upcoming Year-

We are also excited to share with you that our firstborn, Benjamin, will be going on his first mission’s trip to Haiti with his dad and a group of people in January. I know not everyone will agree that an 11-year-old should go but we are thrilled. We want our children to have a servants heart and what better way than to start them at a young age. I hope he will be able to witness to the children there and that he will come back a better and more grateful person. Yes, it is scary of the unknown, what may happen while he is there, but we also cannot guarantee he will come home from school, or wake up from his sleep. I ask all of you to say a prayer for this group going. May God use them to minister to the Haitians and that each missionary that is going not only will be a blessing but will be blessed by this trip as well.

We are looking forward to all the new things this year will bring. New recipes from our blog, new friendships and new goals accomplished.

PicMonkey Collage

Merry Christmas and a Happy 2015 New Year!..

Fondly,

Valentina and Timur

Benjamin, Joseph, Elizabeth, Nathaniel and Abigail

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32 Comments

  1. Yes, Praise God for His son’s birth. Happy birthday Jesus. Such an beautiful family thank you for this honest post, very rare for our Ukraine people.

    1. Margarita,
      Thank you. I guess I’m not a typical Ukrainian, not sure if that’s a good thing though. Blessings to your family as well!

  2. This is amazing especially your son going on trip. Why Haiti and is it American church they going with and what will he do there. Sorry if to many questions. Merry Christmas to your family.

    1. Marta,
      They are traveling with Slavic youth with SFG Youth Ministries. They will be working with children, Evangelism and medical help. Since he is going with his dad he will be kind of everywhere. Our kids excitedly packed alot of toys he will b able to pass out and they did little Jesus loves you cards he will be giving to kids. I cannot wait to hear how this trip impacts him.

  3. I have been going trough a really hard time in my marriage and this is what I need. I want to be like this wife too but when husband is not christian it’s very hard:(. Thank you for encouragin words because I know God do a miracles.

    1. Annechka,
      I know far too well what it’s like living with not Christians. My husbands parents are nonbelievers, yet. They came to visit the states and live with us for a half a year for 6 years. It really is hard but boy has God taught me a lot. Like A LOT. If you ever need someone to pray for you or just an ear to listen, here is my e-mail [email protected]. I will give you my phone no. when you e-mail. Have a WONDERFUL Christmas and May God bless you through this and give you strength and wisdom.

  4. Love, love, love this post! I’m so glad to read posts like this one. I find that we have similar points of being a Christian wife and a mom. I totally agree with what you say. I have truly Christian husband who is very active in church and I am so thankful to God!
    I want to wish you and your beautiful family a Blessed Christmas!!! I really wanted to post family Christmas picture but we didn’t make one this year (I am not feeling well being prego and wasn’t up to it). Maybe next year! 🙂 God’s blessing for this holiday season and always!!!! 🙂

    1. Oh my. You are super woman, I don’t know how you do it all. You can always take a Christmas family picture next year and share with us.

  5. Bless Your family! Thank you for writing such a special and meaningful post. Thank you for the reminder to keep our eyes on Him. Thank you for not being ashamed to stand for what is right.
    May God keep your family safe as you do His work. That is so neat for your husband and son to go on a trip.
    MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

  6. Do you ever speak at conferences? You really are inspiring. I would love to hear some ideas on what you learn about like raising kids. Maybe you can do post on that for new mom’s.? Your kids are all so beautiful.

    1. Maya,
      Oh my. You are too sweet but no I do not speak anywhere. I am a regular person from a small little city. Blogging is my speaking. I may do a post on kids. Definitely learned a lot and you just get wiser with each child. Oh to have the knowledge and understanding I have now with our first child. Merry Christmas and wonderful New Year to your family and enjoy this journey of parenting.

  7. Valya, Nicely written post.. Wishing you and your family a wonderful New Year. May God bless you more and more so you continue to be a blessing to your beautiful family and others. God Bless..

  8. What an inspiring post! Thanks for sharing. It’s so true that a woman sets the atmosphere in a home .. wish I would always remember that when my temperature starts to rise over scattered toys and all the other things that come with having kids

    1. Lubochka,
      I think that’s the beauty of it. I don’t think God expects us to be “perfect” and never have those days where I think wow wow back up, this isn’t right. I have learned that in those moments it’s beautiful to show my children that I am an imperfect human and point to Christ. This one time comes to mind I was just having such a terrible day. Everything seemed to be going wrong yet I had a really blessed morning Bible reading but as the day progressed it was well “a rough one”. As I started getting snippy one of my boys said I’m sorry mom I shouldn’t of asked (with such innocence). The Holy Spirit convinced me immediately and I gathered my kiddos. I said honey you’re sorry? It’s not you that should be sorry it’s mamma. We all got to our knees, I apologized in front of my kids and we had such a powerful prayer together. It was a wonderful feeling to see the ugliness of the day transform into a beautiful example that I as a mom have errors and need Christ and my kiddos share that with me.

    1. I am so so sorry my son wrote this, he wanted to tell you, how he likes your website, but didn’t know how..

      1. Sorry? Are you kidding? That was the SWEEETEST comment. I cannot wait to tell my boys. They help me A TON in the kitchen. A lot of the things I post, they cook or bake right along with me. They will be so excited to know a “boy” likes our blog.

    2. I am so excited that we have you as someone that likes our blog. If you ever help your mom make something, send us an email with your creation. We would love to see it.

  9. I just love this post. I have come back to reread it many times. Can I ask you a question, sorry it’s not Christmas related. With five kids how do u manage their television and electronics.We only have three and that is such a hot topic for our family, they can be on it all day. Can’t imagine with five. I would love your feedback. Thank you.

    1. Lesya,
      You are too sweet. I am really touched that someone would read this more than once. Well, I am no expert but can definitely share how things work for “our” family. We believe in rules and that rules need to be followed. During the week when there is school children are allowed 30 minutes of electronics. They are allowed to play in the living room where we can hear what they are playing and monitor it. They themselves turn on a timer on the kitchen stove, they just inform us they are starting. Once that timer is up, their time is up. If they go over their time the following day of “electronics” burns up. We believe children are super smart and therefore need to carry responsibility for their actions (especially our older two). On the weekend Friday and Saturday is 1 hour and Sunday absolutely no electronics. Sunday is our time for relaxing, church and just a lazy day, free from all distractions.
      We have not purchased them their own gadgets like iPods, tablets or phones. We thinks children cannot filter/control what they see and can stumbled upon unnecessary sites or apps that will harm them and therefore they don’t own their personal gadgets. Does that mean they don’t want one? Absolutely not. Last year, when our older was 10, his uncle gave him his old mini tablet. After a few weeks, I really noticed he had a strong desire and just couldn’t wait to go on there. We prayer with my husband so long and I sat down with him and we had a really, really long talk about what the positive and negative affect the tablet has on him. It was a LONG talk. In the end PRAISE GOD, he himself gave up that tablet and hasn’t touched it since. When he turns 13, we will she how mature/responsible he is and will decide whether to purchase him one.
      We do not have a television in our home so that does not need controlled.
      With the above said I too as a mom must regulate how much I spend on the computer or phone. I cannot tell my children they are not allowed yet do that myself. My blogging is done either before they are up or after they are asleep. If I have a “love” for electronics, me telling my children they cannot go on it will be pointless because my words will not carry weight.
      WOW that was a long response. Not sure if it helped or not but this is what we do!. Is it always perfect? NO WAY, but this is what we are thriving for!

      1. Hi Valentina,
        Totally love your blog, your love for God, Your gifts and talents ( I love how you dress your family).What a gorgeous family you have! This respond about electronics you should put in your blog. I think God give you wisdom and understanding how to be a virtues wife and you should really share it with others ( I think it’s even more important than food, oh tho I love your recipes). Who knows maybe this was Gods way for you to start with food and than He can do more through you to reach and teach other a Godly way of living especially for wife’s , as we “build” our homes as it says in His word.
        I just want to encourage you, please prayerfully consider it 🙂 And you can see from the responses there is a great need. May God bless you even more!

        1. Oh Linochka,
          Your comment got me all teary eyed, seriously. Comments like yours are worth so much to me, I have re-read it many times. You will not believe me when I will tell you when originally thinking of starting a blog my dream was to start a blog for our Slavic women to just have a place to encourage, lift up and just a place to share ones experience on our journey to being a Godly wife and mother. I am a huge believer that we can all learn from each other, every single one of us. I was too much of a chicken though and did food instead, lol. I wish I had a blog 12 years ago where women shared their experiences and the many mistakes we made could have been avoided. I really am prayerfully working on a post because God has put my spouse and I trough so much “schooling” and if our creative approach to parenting and marriage will be a blessing to at least one family it was worth publishing. I come from a family of 11 and was a Christian all my life, my husband was an only child and his parents are not believers and he first went to a church at 18. His parents would come visit and live with us for 6 months at a time for 6 years (they are not believers). Do you see see what I mean by “schooling”.
          Two totally different worlds coming together setting aside our beliefs, our upbringing and relying on God to show us what He wants for our family. Powerful stuff happens when we learn to set aside “I” and say Lord shows “us”. It’s such a pleasure meeting you Linka and Thank you, Thank you for your encouraging comment. Many, many blessings upon you. May those closest to you be blessed by your presence in their lives.

    1. Dee,
      Thank you so much. Yes, God blessed us with really wonderful children! Sooooo glad you enjoy our family’s blog!

  10. Valentina,
    You have such a Beautiful family. I am totaly agreeing, please share a post more about your family. It sounds like we can learn something. I’m a new mom and would like to read more. Thank you already. You are inspire us moms.

    1. Elvirochka, Congrats on being a new mom. This is such a wonderful journey you embarked on. Hmm. I will think on it, maybe I just will.

  11. Valentina.
    Thank you for such inspiring post. Would you please consider writing more post on your family and on Christianity or on how you deal with day to day problems and issues like raising your children acording to Gods word and on good morals, etc.
    i also read your reply to “electeonics” message. This is so thaughtful! Please write more about things like that.
    Very greatful. Thank you.
    Where do you live? What state? If it is not a public question. You look very familiar, may be i saw you in my church one day.

    1. Natalichka,
      You are so sweet. I am so humbled that you are somewhat inspired by such a simple post. Yes, those electronics are satan’s greatest tool sparing no-one in the attack. Sad, very sad. I am prayerfully working on a post like this, hopefully will be posting it in the next few weeks.
      We reside in Ohio. I used to travel a lot with our youth back in the day, maybe I look familiar from then. Where are you from and do you have children? It is such a pleasure to meet you!