Christmas Pictures

Because I can.

Aw Christmas, its the most wonderful time of the year, at least that's what I have always heard, some are good, some are great and some . . . not so much.  This year was pretty nice all things considered.  The boys sure had fun and I didn't get too stressed so I would say Christmas 2012 was good.  Some of us spent the whole day in our pajamas.

The Christmas Eve service at church was very entertaining as always with the kids doing the "impromptu" live nativity.  All are included.  EM pretty much thought he should be a part of everything everywhere and was all over the stage during the whole thing.

Every time they lit the candle at church during advent he wanted to have the fire.

HT "sang" in the children's choir so EM thought he should be up there too.

Even Papa got in on the act, since none of the children wanted to play the donkey that carried Mary, he volunteered.  This is a man who isn't afraid to make himself look foolish for the sake of his children.  A man recently diagnosed with RA and in considerable pain on his hands and knees for the sake of the children.  I do love him so.  I'm pretty sure he enjoyed himself also.

New Years was spent with the boys early to bed along with their papa who had a nasty cold, that is still lingering, and I sat up by myself, sewing, binding a quilt actually until at least 10:00pm.  We sure do know how to ring in the new year, don't we?!

A Christmas List

It seems that, especially at this time of year, everyone has a list, whatever it may be we put it on a list.  Whether we shop for groceries or Sub for Santa, we all have our lists.  Our children have a list for Santa. We adults have a list of things to do, preparations to make, places to go, for groceries, gifts to buy and a list of bills to be paid.  We spend a lot of time stressing over our lists, we cross one thing off and then add another two.  In our efforts to do it all we wear ourselves out, we become discouraged, that perfect moment we hope for is elusive and often lost in our own exhaustion and sometime short temper.  We convince ourselves that if we can just do it all, everything will be all right, but it rarely turns out the way we thought it would or should because we are trying to live up to a standard that is only possible with a screenwriters imagination and a Hollywood budget.

So this Christmas I would like to offer you a different list, my list, a gratitude list.  Rather than focusing on what I think needs to be done, I'm going to focus on what has been done for me.

Things that I am grateful for, the gifts in the ordinary things that I so often overlook in all my busyness.

Things like:

• a love note on the mirror in the morning
• an early morning cuddle with a boy or two
• a kiss on the cheek
• clean sheets on the bed
• an old fashioned game of Scrabble
• a humble winner and a gracious loser
• a boy remembering his brother when a treat is offered
• a sister, whose door is always open
• a willing babysitter
• brothers who defend me
• the delight a boy takes in Winnie the Pooh
• the first day of Kindergarten
• a walk to/from the school bus stop
• soap bubbles on the breeze
• a boys fascination with birds on a wire
• a book read by a boy learning to read
• lunch with a friend
• Sizzler on a Sunday after church
• a boy who likes to eat broccoli
• hot tea on a cold day
• a finished quilt
• that stillness that comes at the end of the day
• and that I am forgiven.

Forgiven.

Forgiveness our greatest need, the greatest gift given in our savior, that gift we all so desperately need but all too often fail to ask for or to offer.

I hope and pray that this year you will find that gift, in both the giving and the receiving, and that in the finding you will be blessed, beyond measure.

Merry Christmas

"Glory to God in the highest

and on earth

peace

good will toward men."

Luke 2:14

A Caroling We Went

When we were kids, nearly every year at Christmas time Dad and Mom would pile all eight of us in the car and take us christmas caroling to folks they knew, family, friends, those from church and sometimes my Dads co-workers.  Being one of the littlest I didn't always understand or appreciate my parents need to bless those folks.  I was also a shy and introspective child and sometimes resented being put at the center of attention and asked to perform.  Mom would spend the day baking and we would deliver a loaf of fresh bread and a jar of homemade jam along with our singing.

All that to say we went caroling with a group from church and the boys had a fabulous time, entertaining themselves and those who enjoyed our singing.

We went to the VA and to two assisted living centers.

EM found himself a place to sit, much to the delight of these folks.

The other littles decided to dance while we sang.

December in Review

Well the month is almost over and so is this year.  I'll not be sad to see it go, not because it was an especially bad month or year but because it is better to look forward than to wallow in the past.

Anyway . . .

It has been a busy month.  The week before Christmas being the busiest of all as I'm sure many of you can attest too.  All in all it was a good Christmas, a good month.

The boys had fun running all over the christmas tree lot, "helping" us pick out the perfect tree.  HT  really wanted one like Charlie Brown's.

I found these two cars in the fridge one morning.

 Then I found this one the following day hiding in the stable.  Even Italian race cars worship the King.

HT had his Winter Program at pre-school.  Lasted a whole 7 minutes.  I know, right?!

 He sure was cute though and did his Mama proud.

 We came home and decorated Snoopy's doghouse . . . 4 times, thank you very much.

 Some of us are having fun.

Do I look like I'm having fun, or does that face say, "If you ever buy these again Auntie, you are doing the decorating, NOT me!"?

I've mentioned here before how this boy does love a bucket.  They do make the most fashionable head gear . . . for a two year old.

 

The Christmas eve service at church with the "impromptu" live nativity was really enjoyable and the kids had fun acting out the parts.

HT could hardly wait to dive into the presents on Christmas morning.

The boys got everything they could have asked for and more.  The only specific request made was for a treasure map.  So Papa sat down and drew one for HT and he had fun following it and finding where X marked the spot.  His treasure was a boxed set of Roald Dahl books and we have been reading James and the Giant Peach and he is loving it.

EM was content to play with his "marmol machine" as he calls it. For those of you who don't speak toddler, "marmol" means marble.  He also got several dump trucks or "dumb frucks" as he calls them, which can be quite amusing, unless you are walking into the store as he sees one and he starts telling you all about it in the loudest possible voice. "Wook mama, dumb fruck!"

And finally we feasted on roast lamb for Christmas dinner with my brother and his family.

Merry belated Christmas to you all and I pray that God will bless you and yours in the coming New Year!

"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. 

Amen."

Revelations 22:21

Christmas Re-Cap

I thought that I would do a Christmas re-cap before this year was over and as you can see I'm barely going to make it.  So here goes.  Warning, it's going to be heavy on pictures, 'cuz that's what the people want . . . well okay it's what I want.

HT excited to see what's in his stocking.

EM concerned about what might be in his stocking.

The boys really had fun opening presents and it was fun watching them.  Well I should say HT had fun opening presents, EM was decidedly more into checking out the box full of bows or seeing what had already been opened.  I have added a few captions to the pictures, that I'm sure if EM could use words instead of baby talk he would have been saying.

EM "unwrapping" the bows.

"No really Mama, these are much more interesting than presents."

"Wow, look what HT got, can I play with it, rather than open my present."

"Say, there's a button here to push, wonder how long it will take to
drive everybody nuts."

"Aren't you done yet, I wanna go for a ride!"

 EM can say a few words, like "car" and "go" and "uh-oh".

"Look this is where it goes."

Peace on Earth

As the moon shines bright

on this dark cold night

we once again celebrate the coming of a king

a babe in a manger, 

yet the world sleeps in silence

while God works in miracles

and all of heaven sings!

Peace on Earth!

As a new day dawns
the sun fills the sky
bright beams of light break across the earths crust
awakening our hopes and dreams
of the salvation this day brings
while God works in miracles
and all of heaven sings!
Peace on Earth!

"Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace, goodwill

toward men!"

Luke 2:14

A Christmas Letter

To the boys,

Let me begin by saying how much I love you, how much you have brought to my life. I thought I had everything in life that I needed and was content, but then God gave me you and suddenly I knew a deeper joy, a greater love, of how to love and what it meant to be loved in return. And part of that is in knowing my Saviour, my God, my Jesus.

He is the reason for celebrating at Christmas, He is the one gift I most want you to have. Please understand that Christmas is about Him, not me, not you and certainly not Santa Claus. If we never watch Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer again or exchange another gift, I'd be okay with that. Because really I have all I need in Christ and you. Having received Gods gift in Jesus we can then give the gift of giving ourselves to those whose needs are greater than ours, sharing a warm smile, a kind word or a much needed hug and a whispered prayer.

I so often feel inadequate, when trying to express my love for Christ and when it comes to modeling that love in my life, I fail miserably. So please forgive me, please understand that when I am struggling with my own human brokenness that I love you and that I want the best for you. That I want you to know and love Jesus as much as I do. I am often shy and fearful especially around crowds of people and that fear paralyzes but you have shown me that it's okay to shake a strangers hand and perhaps make a friend.

Especially you HT, there isn't a shy bone in your body, so willing are you to be friendly that sometimes it scares me. I think that sometimes you are testing peoples willingness to be friendly. You are my charming boy and I am often charmed by your antics, the stories you tell and your exuberance for life. My prayer for you this Christmas is that you will have wisdom and discernment and an angel on your shoulder when I am not there to guide and protect you.

And for you my sweet baby boy, my littlest one, you are so young and so cute and cuddly, sometimes I think I just can't get enough of you, you give the best hugs and melt your mama's heart when you give her that half grin, that little smirk and that look that says, "I see you Mama". You seem to be a bit more reserved than your brother, but are certainly no less charming than he, you have such a sweet spirit and a quiet nature, always watching, looking and then deciding if its for you or not. My prayer for you this Christmas is that you will keep that heart of tenderness pure and that you will have a heart for Jesus.

Last, but not least, to my dear husband, I meant it when I said yes, all of it, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health. We've known a bit of triumph and of trial, the last few years. The former brought us joy and the latter, I hope, has made us stronger. I love you for always and forever, no matter what. My prayer for you my love this Christmas and always is that you will find comfort and purpose as you walk this road of uncertainty that you sometimes find yourself on. Know that you are not alone, that the one who cares for you is He who made the heavens and the earth. And God has given me you and you me and we are "together for good".

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God,
to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28