Home of the Bork Family

I am so not ready for vacation to be over, but ready or not...today is my last day! Today is Rick's last day. Today is Kayla's last day. Today is Kalli's last day. Kammy and Kaite? Well, I don't think they know the difference. Every day is pretty much the same to them. Although, I know Kammy will miss having her sisters off school to play and Kaite is really going to miss daddy. We had such a wonderful 2 weeks of family and fun! We played games, read books, shopped, ate, slept, and played in the snow!

Kayla is just abou to let go of the sled...here comes Kalli!

Kammy & Kaite are watching from inside. They got cold!

And here, Kaite is trying on big sisters sunglasses.

And now we shall return to our 'normal' schedules....buby, busy, busy! Actually, I felt as if I never quit for all of vacation...taking Christmas decorations down, cleaning, cooking, and taking care of BabyCakes. Have I ever mentioned that I am so so very tired of her being so fussy?!?!? No, she still does not sleep all night! Last night she was up for 5 8 oz bottles! This is just crazy!!! God must have made her extra cute so we would love her anyway! ;)

Christmas Eve was spent with my parents and brother and family. We had a great time!

Today was a wonderful day at home! We had a big home cooked breakfast after the girls got in their stockings and then the girls opened their gifts from Rick's parents. After we were all cleaned up and presentable, we opened gifts as a family. We are so blessed, but if there had been no gifts at all, we still would have felt blessed with the greatest gift God ever sent....the one of whom the angel said, "Thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins."

All of our children were such a joy to us today and Kaite was no exception. She took her 1st steps today and spoke, "Dada" over and over!

A Christmas Eve Picture

This unicorn is baking a cake. See the recipe card in her hand and the thought bubble where she is thinking about the cake? She is getting ready for a christmas party. I love the pedestal table complete with a tablecloth and see the bowl, spoon and sugar? There are decorations on the walls too…a row of bows and ribbon and a row of Christmas lights. This was drawn by my little Kammy…3 years old.

Hope you all have a Wonderful Christmas!!!

This 23rd day of Christmas is better known at our house as Christmas eve eve. I get a little sad when it is this close, because it means this 'Most Wonderful Time of the Year' is almost over! My favorite time of the year, is from Thanksgiving Day to Christmas Eve...funny aren't I?

Last night, we packed sandwiches and goodies and the family went on a Christmas lights tour. It was so much fun! I love making memories!!!

This was my very favorite! I just love the Thomas Kincade look!

This was another of my favorites...I guess I look more at the house than the lights.

These guys had the most lights...500,000!

These were set to music and Christmas stories on the radio and it was super neat!

Well, that concludes your tour...now you don't have to go!

Christmas Goodies

Here is the plate that went to work with Rick today. I told him it was HIS. Often, I send him something to share, but these I did for him. The girls and I had a very busy, fun day baking. We made Sugar Cookies, Sugar 'n Spice Nuts, Coffee Bonbons, Whipped Shortbread Cookies, White Christmas Candy, & Peanut Butter Fudge! I think we will RELAX today...a little...

We also made some goodie jars for some neighbors, friends and church family.

We have lots of little angels but no shepherd boys in our family...perhaps that is why my hubby chose the shepherds for his topic Christmas Sunday evening. Whatever the case, I thought it was a very special message. Here are my mental notes...

Shepherds were the bottom rung of society. They were unable to participate in the religious life of their culture and were therefore considered heathen. They were viewed with the same suspicion as any other drifters. Jewish writings concerning the shepherds stated that, "they do not have lives." They were assumed to be unfaithful and prone to adultry. They were rejected by society and the first to be accused when a crime took place. Yet the shepherds received the news of Christ's birth first. They represented the people He came to minister to. Also, Christ with all of His purity and innocence identified himself with the shepherds. "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."

The Shepherds were given the message

The Shepherds sought the truth

The Shepherds were changed by their meeting Jesus

The lives once filled with isolation and hopelessness suddenly had reason to rejoice, for we see that they were "glorifying and praising God".

 On that night of Jesus' birth, Roman nobility and Herod's court reclined in their opulent palaces; the Pharisees discussed the scriptures and argued over nonessentials, convincing themselves they were the most righteous people of their day; and the common people of Bethlehem went about their business.

On this same night, a group of men considered to be the most lowly and vile, had the honor of visiting the King of the Universe on the night of His arrival! What a priviledge...so undeserved, and yet...that is just how God is!

There are so many like the Shepherds--even those who appear to have it together on the outside may be broken, lonely and isolated-- feeling hopeless and forsaken. From the drunkard in the ghetto to the president of our country all men have a longing for the Saviour. It may be your neighbor, the clerk at the store, it may be your children, your spouse, your pastor, or your best friend...like we learned from our Christmas program, they have a 'hole' in their heart.

In the busyness of this season, lets remember WHY he came and for WHOM! The message of peace and hope is for ALL!!!

This morning was our church Christmas Program and I might add that it was a complete success. We didn't have nearly enough kids to my way of thinking, but the ones we had did a superb job! The program was titled, "There's a Hole in my Heart" and the kids had a big red heart which they tried so hard to fill with all sorts of things...money, candy, toys and games. Finally, they got to reading in the Bible and decided to try Jesus. He was a perfect fit!

There's a Hole in My Heart!

(tune: There’s a hole in the bucket)

There’s a hole in my heart, dear Jesus, dear Jesus

There’s a hole in my heart, dear Jesus, a hole

Only you can fill it dear Jesus, dear Jesus

Only you can fill it dear Jesus, this hole

Come into my heart, dear Jesus, dear Jesus

Come into my heart dear Jesus, today!

I love you dear Jesus, dear Jesus, dear Jesus

I love you dear Jesus, I love you so much!!!

BORN IN ME

“Tis not enough that Christ was born

Beneath the Star that shone

And earth was set that morn

Within a golden zone

He must be born within the heart

Before He finds His home.

Rick's message this morning was Mindless of the Manger and just took off where the kids stopped! I was SO proud of them all!!!

Our Church Christmas Brunch and Omelet Bar went well and was a lot of fun! I think we had 15 here at the parsonage and would have loved to have a whole lot more!  I couldn't decide whos picture to post, so here is a shot of the food!

Just one week from today is Christmas! Today is the last day of school until after Christmas. Our Christmas Brunch and Omelet Bar is tomorrow and our Church Christmas Program is Sunday morning..."A Christmas-size Hole in my Heart". Then, next week, the girls and I are going to do some more baking and a little relaxing before Christmas Eve at Grandpa & Grandma's and Christmas Day here! Now, here is today's picture. Kaite is just almost 8 months old and I am trying out some new shots with the camera.

With Christmas, comes Chex Mix!

So, the other day my girls were eating Chex Mix and Kalli held up one of these pretzels and said....

"I like the windows!"

Well, that was cute...but not to be outdone, Kammy held up one of the chex and said...

"I like the screens!"

Ok, so you have seen lots...and lots... of Kaite on her first Christmas. Well, once upon a time, before the modern invention of blogs...there were other babies in this family! Some of this seems sooo long ago!

Kayla's first Christmas

Kalli's first Christmas

Kammy's first Christmas

Have I ever mentioned that I LOVE snow??? It makes me so very happy to wake up to snow...go to sleep to snow and have it snow all day!

Kaite didn't get to go out this time, but she was pointing!

Workin' on the face

The girls with their snowman.

Gotta love girls!

This little girl must be getting worried about Santa's visit because she actually slept ALL night last night! 8 solid hours! Now if momma would just have not worried about her all night...I was up at 2, 3, 4, and 5 to check on her!  However,  I think I could get used to this!

Oh, who cares what Santa thinks anyway! We love all our Merry-makers...even this one!

I think pretty much everyone should have received our Christmas card by now, so I'm posting it here for my 13th day. I love Christmas cards and if it were possible, I would send one to every friend and far distant relative I could think of. There is just one teeny problem...after a while, they and the postage starts to add up, so...if you didn't get one in your box this year...please consider this your personal greeting! I'm noticing that the scan color and quality is really pathetic on here...oh well.

(outside of card)

(inside of card)

I ordered 65 of these thinking to cut back this year. Last year, I was so disappointed in the number of cards we received and I was only going to send to a 'few' this year. Well, then I ended up using all those and ordered 25 more (cheaper ones). I thought I had things covered and then I started getting from some I didn't last year so...you guessed it! I ordered some more!!! I should have gotten smart and done the free ones that I got for my mom. All she had to pay was shipping (about $5.00) for 100 really nice photo cards! Ah well! Maybe next year! So anyway, here is the letter for this year...I love Christmas letters!

Dear:

a. Family

b. Friend(s)

Well, here we are nearing the end of another year filled with God’s blessing.

For our Christmas letter this year, we are providing you with a multiple choice test.

Rick and I are still:

a. married

b. speaking

c. madly in love

d. doing our best to live for God

Rick is healthy and:

a. pastor of Heritage Holiness Chapel

b. bursting with pride over all his girls

c. working full time at Loomis

d. in high demand

Karen is tired and:

a. unemployed (another word for housewife)

b. loves being a mommy

c. incredibly busy

d. Kaite’s favorite person

Kayla is 11 and:

a. doing fabulous in sixth grade

b. her momma couldn’t manage without her

c. is growing up too fast

d. loves taking notes from daddy’s sermons

Kalli is 7 and:

a. mostly in love with second grade

b. losing teeth

c. prays daily for the world and all the people in it

d. knows that ½ of ½ is ¼ …duh!

Kammy is 3 and:

a. loves horses

b. her foot ‘sparkles’ when it is asleep

c. runs best on pop tarts and ‘bine’ (pop)

d. has plans for a dude ranch when she grows up

Kaite is our newest treasure and:

a. is mommy and daddy’s little alarm clock

b. receives an infinite number of kisses

c. tipped the scales on April 23rd at 8 pounds and 21 inches

d. does not like bottles

As a family we:

a. went camping this year

b. visited our family in Colorado

c. enjoyed camp meeting and Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota

d. vacationed in Yellowstone

Looking ahead to 2010, we wish you:

a. a very merry Christmas

b. a wonderful new year

c. God’s richest blessing on you and yours!

d. fewer democrats in congress

Our love,

Rick, Karen, Kayla, Kalli, Kammy & Kaite

NOTE: This test is very difficult to fail. We would not want to hurt anyone’s feelings, especially at Christmas time; therefore all of the above multiple choice answers are correct.

Tonight we got a date! Red Lobster with the staff at Loomis. Grandma is babysitting and this is a first for me and Kaite. Needless to say, I am a little nervous. I am a bit of a mother hen, but I'm going to enjoy the evening with my honey and hopefully get some rest!