Gingerbread houses anyone??

Okay, so this is loads of fun. We had our friends over one afternoon and decided to make Grahm Cracker houses. (not quite the same as gingerbread of course, but much better for our little attention spans!) Nonetheless, we had fun with our friends- Aiden is sitting on the left, but his house is on the far right. Ben's house is in the middle, and our friend Kinsey (and her mom Katrina's) house is on the left. Fun was had by all!

Was this fun times or what?

Okay so Thursday night a week and a half ago we had a pseudo Christmas Party. It was loads of fun, complete with a rousing White Elephant Gift exchange, complete with pickles that were a year and a half old. These are pics of the cookies we decorated. Everyone draws a name from the hat and has to decorate the face of a cookie to look like that person. We had a blast and it was a really fun idea! You can't see our completed cookies very well, but the only one that doesn't look much like it's namesake is the one Samuel decorated. We all had a good laugh! I would highly recommend it as Christmas Party fun activities-

A New Read

This week I was in the christian book store reading childrens' books about Christmas. I am a sucker when it comes to the story of Christmas. I want it in 10 different books with 10 different perspectives, and 10 different views (thought biblically correct is a must). We even have a WONDERFUL one from the perspective of Humphrey the Camel who brought the WiseMen. Anyway, I looked over and saw a "Value-Priced" sticker on a short little adult book by Max Lucado. And though I can't say he's the best ever, he does really well at presenting truth. I have never read anything by him that I think is misleading or false. So, I thought why not? I'll pick it up for a moment.

Now, let's back track. I have spent the last two weeks seeking the Lord about the meaning of Christmas. I want an internal view of what happened. I have been praying that through ALL the words spoken by angels in such a short time, by Mary's prayer, or Zechariah's muteness, that the Lord would show me the emotion of heaven. The view from his heart about this massive part of the plan- the sending of God as a baby. Sometimes I think he must have lost his marbles- a baby???? But of course, I remember. He knows the whole plan. He knows the baby, he knows the adolescent, he knows the cross, he knows life, and he knows the return. He knows the judgement. He knows it all. SO, that being said, I wanted a glance into how he was feeling when this part started.

Back to the bookstore- I pick up this book because it's called "An Angel's Story, the First Christmas from Heaven's View." I couldn't believe it. Well, let me assure you. I started it in the store and had to put it down so my mascara wouldn't run. Really. I almost started weeping on the spot. Just to know the heart of heaven over the plan is so amazing. When God the Father is speaking to Gabriel he says the following, "The time has come for the second gift." As if he has been sitting up there waiting for the perfect time, knowing exactly when it would have to come, wanting to send it as soon as possible, but waiting until everything was exactly as it should be. And then, moments later Satan comes into the throne room and has a discussion with God the Father. After he leaves, God reminds Gabriel, "Satan desires to destroy the seed as much as you seek to deliver it. But fear not, I am with you." What a concept! We think of God coming to Earth as a baby, and all was a quiet, "Silent Night." And yet, there was probably real battle, real struggle. If the devil doesn't want my heart committed to the Lord, how much more does he not want the Son of God to dwell with men- SO that he can die for our sins and be raised from the dead that we would never die. What an amazing battle!

Nonetheless, this post has been a bit long, but I will come back to it sooner or later. Read the book, and pray with me that the Lord would show you in a new way the message of Christmas.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

It was about this time two years ago when we got the first real snow of the season too. I remember it clearly because there was much debate about whether or not our dear friends, the Rupps, would make it up to see us. Daniel, being the man that he is, braved the icy roads and made it up for a visit. We had a blast and here is a little proof. . . (look how little those boys are!)



Nonetheless, we had the first snow of the year this weekend and it was once again a blast. We are sad that our friends are not here to join in the fun, but there was a lot of love sent out across the oceans and we had a blast. I didn't get a pic of the snowman, he was too small. And as fun as the snowball fight was, Samuel wouldn't let me get a video of it. Katrina has pics of the sledding, but here's a little view of our day yesterday and today!

Adoption

Okay, so most of you know that at some point in time we are going to invite another little one or two into our home- most probably from someone else's uterus. :) We have fallen head over heals for little ones who have no mommy or daddy and we are convinced that some of them will/are a part of our family. What leads me to these thoughts are the ones I read recently on a blog- I thought I would share them with you. The first two entries are particularly interesting- the heart of God for Adopotion- from a Max Lucado book and the available babies as of right now. Let me know what your thoughts are. . .

A Full Blown Horse Parade!

Today we met John's mom and sister (Memaw and Grace) in Lawrence where Grace goes to KU. They have a yearly Christmas parade that is completely horse-drawn. Though it wasn't as entertaining for as long as we had hoped, it was well worth the time. We had loads of fun, for the time and then we went to a local methodist church that collects Nativity scenes from around the world and calls it the "Festival of the Nativities." I couldn't even tell you how many there were in that room, but it was really cool. What a ball seeing how the nations of the world interpret the birth of the Savior. Some of them were amazingly cool-like the one made in the west bank out of olive wood or the one from South Africa. Then there were some "interesting" ones, like the one made completely of dog creatures. Yes people, even the "baby jesus" was a dog. I didn't quite know where to go with that one. Nonetheless, we ended the day with fun at Union Station and Crown Center where they have the largest display of electric trains that I have ever seen. My children could spend HOURS watching. What fun to be a little boy. :)


And at the trains. . . .

Repentance. . . for my lamenting.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, it seems I have become a bit of a sourpuss. As I read the last two entries on the blog, I appear to have some attitudes of ungratefulness in my heart. I sat in church this morning, seeking the Lord's heart and working to recognize all the junk in my own heart so that the Lord could get it out. As I was singing, a worship leader here at IHOP came and sat down right next to me-one of the big ones (haha)! As all hearts go (and with a history of failed auditions), I began to worry that he was listening to my singing and I should sound really good (forgetting also of course, that he was simply at church seeking to worship the Lord himself). Anyway, as I felt my heart turn in the wrong direction, I was reminded that it is for an audience of ONE that I use my voice. It is for the heart of the Father alone, no other, that I sing. I was reminded of my dear friend Candace, and the word that she has spoken over me so many times, "You are a songbird. One made to sing for your maker." As I was continuing along, the words of the song changed and the leader began to sing about the alabaster jar of perfume that Mary of Bethany poured over Jesus. The one thing that was hers. As I began to weep, as the Lord was moving my heart, he spoke so clearly. I am in this stage of life, where nothing seems to be mine and my children are everywhere and everything, I have this little thing called my voice. If I will pour it over him, the heart of the Father will come to me. He will love me to the ends of the earth, he will defend my actions before all that may criticize. It is a heart broken before him, offering up this thing that I have. What warmth flows through my heart. Not because I have to give it up to him. He doesn't require it to be saved. It is from a place deep in my heart that I long to give it to him. I want him to have all of me, that I may become less and He may become more. (John 3:30)
This pic came from this website-
www.csabaosvath.com/p_0406_03.html

Really???

To top it all off, the temp this morning is 17 degrees!!!!

The woes of parenting. . .

Okay, so this morning I am loathing the morning sun, longing for my coffee to kick in and trying desperately to not harbor bitterness in my heart about it. My children, who usually sleep very well and were exceedingly tired last night were up over and over and over and over. . . . .(you get it.) My sweet Samuel was awakened by his brother nearly screaming "I want it back" in his sleep, and he really thought his nap was over. I tried to rock him back to calm three times, he ended up screaming in his bed (and we all know that doesn't lead to sleep for Samuel), and eventually I just put him in bed with me. Poor little boy, his body wiggled around beside me for quite some time before he could go back to sleep. At 3:30 John took him back to his bed.


So, here's to caffeine (and hopefully a nap!) Have a great one everyone and may we see the Lord in even the most mundane. (see my friend Candace's post on just that)

It's time for a shout out-

Okay, so I swiped this idea from my friend Candace, who I suppose is getting an unintentional shout-out by the mention of her name and totally cool bog. Either way, I have to decided to mention two very similiar friends, but from two different eras in my life.

(sorry Blair, it's the only pic I could find that wasn't really old!) This was like 15 hours after she had her second child. Doesn't she look amazing?? The first goes to my dear friend Blair Luper Wood. She and I met when we were 16. She had just moved to Fayetteville, AR and we met on a youth trip (that was like 15 years ago this past fall)! We sat in the back seat of JD Walt's car on the way to Kanakuk camp and found out that we both had a secret love for candy corn. After many years, laughs, tears, and babies I am eternally grateful that the Lord brought this precious woman into my life. She has challenged me in heart and spirit and I will forever put candy corn out in the fall to remind me of all the Lord has done in our lives. Thank you friend!

The second is to a new and equally challenging friend, Gracie/Mary Grace Welch. Mary Grace has the amazing talent of making me laugh. Often. I so appreciate someone who is genuine and honest and open with her life. Someone who is really funny is also really cool. I am challeneged by her because we are going to lead a small group together and it is something I haven't done is several years. Thanks my friend. I am getting deeper into the heart of the Lord by watching him at work in your life- you are a precious one before him and he is ever seeking to bless others through you. Let it begin!!