The baby

My girl just keeps growing. There is something painfully nostalgic about the baby of the family. She's four. FOUR. And every time I see her do something significant I get emotional. I can't stop myself from thinking about how we will never experience that event again. Andy actually tried to console me today with the fact that we'll have grandchildren one day. Seriously? I am thirty five. Grandchildren aren't coming any time even remotely soon. And he was serious about it, too. I cry a lot in public because of these tender moments. Today, for example, I sobbed like a baby during her preschool Christmas music program. The really funny thing is, she is only in the three year old class. There is another year before "big school". But once I realized it, there was no turning back. I cried because of the little girl on the end that hid her face and cried on stage. Poor baby. She reminded me of my Jack at that age. Then I cried because of the vivacious, blond boy that waved at his Mommy the entire time. Isn't it great to be some one's hero? I especially cried, hard sobs, at the Grand mom in the row ahead of me that waved frantically and proudly during her baby's performance. "It is one song per class, for Pete's sake.", Jack reminded me. "I know, I'm a basket case. Isn't it embarrassing?", I replied. Because it is, there's no denying it. But, there's just something about a little child singing

and dancing (pictures from Lydie's ballet Christmas party)

that touches a soft spot. Especially when that child is my baby.

"...parenting will eventually produce bizarre behavior, and I'm not talking about the kids."~Bill Cosby

Christmas Prayer

Loving Father,

help us to remember the birth of Jesus,

that we may share in the song of angels,

the gladness of the shepherds,

and the worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate

and open the door of love all over the world.

Let kindness come with every gift

and good desires with every greeting.

Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings,

and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.

May the Christmas morning make us happy to be Thy children,

and the Christmas evening bring us to our beds

with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven,

for Jesus' sake. Amen!

~Robert Louis Stevenson

Holiday madness

Three parties, three days...

We had a fun party with our home school group on Friday. A simple craft and cookie decorating left plenty of time for the kids to play and the Moms to chat. We had a great time and came home just in time to pack and hit the road for weekend parties out-of-town.

I find that I don't do well when we travel this many weekends in a row. This weekend was our third away. By the time we were half way to Alabama, I was ready to come home. It's a proven fact- I am a homebody. But we love our family, so we kept on going and were blessed for it. The parties were wonderful, and as always, we were glad we attended. (There was Josh's blood sugar nose-dive, Lydie's melt down (see bottom picture), and the spilled drink at the late-night Saturday party. All sure signs that the kids were beyond their breaking points. But all's well that ends well.)

Some time between one party and the next we saw Voyage of the Dawn Treader. We all agreed that it was a wonderful movie! If you love The Chronicles of Narnia, it's a must-see. I am so thankful for the memories...and so thankful that now I get to play host for a while.

Pajama/brunch with my parents and brother's family

My Aunt and Uncle's party

This weekend was our last time to travel for the holidays. We had two great family parties. Now we will be preparing to host a couple of things at our house this weekend. I can not wait to bake and wrap and enjoy the prep time! We might even get some snow!!

Sacrilege

When I look back on this past year I can see a distinct growth pattern in my life. But along the same line, I can see much more distinctly a sin pattern. I have often been scared and truly lacking peace. (Which is a shame, because it was my word this year.) This morning the kids and I read Matthew 8 in our advent devotion. It's the story of Jesus and the disciples in the storm out on the boat. My heart felt a hit when Jesus described the fear of his friends as "ye of little faith". I have been facing big, faith-testing storms this year too. And certainly, he would describe me as one of little faith as well. I have done everything but run in the opposite direction of where God is leading, and many times have chosen to doubt the Lord's good hand in my life. What a heart breaking realization. C. S. Lewis' describes sin this way:

"We poison the wine as He decants it into us; murder a melody He would play with us as the instruments. We caricature the self-portrait He would paint. Hence all sin, whatever else it is, is sacrilege."

This fully surrendered life is one of courage and risks. It hurts deeply to set down idols at the foot of the cross, trusting him to bless us when we risk failure and security. Up until recent years, my life as a Christian has generally been fairly safe and predictable. But for what he calls me to do now, intention, planning, and security are not part of the task. No, now it is time for risks, big faith, and boldness- courage that I do not possess, even worse- I lack. So those fearful, panicked disciples in that boat struck a chord with me. "Yes, yes, I know how they feel!", I said to my boys. And we all marveled together at how He, the One we follow, calmed it all with his words. Even the water and wind obeyed. When we asked ourselves what this scripture teaches us about Jesus, we noted "He is powerful and trustworthy and strong. He is in charge. He wants us to trust Him, wait on Him, and follow Him without fear. There is no need to panic." Isaiah says, "I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born." I can trust the One who puts the storms to rest. His name says it all- "Immanuel- God with us." What a promise!

**Artwork above by my Joshua

It's beginning to look...

a lot like Christmas around here. We finished putting up our wreaths on Thursday. And with that, the house was decorated inside and out. I love the way the Christmas tree and the outdoor lights illuminate the family room, especially when we are using the fireplace. Besides the fun decorating, we have had many Christmas celebrations already. Last week we were very excited to start our Advent devotions and crafts.
We were supposed to tour the "Walk Through Bethlehem" up the road last Friday. But we realized we were a day early, so we opted to drive around and look at lights and eat these:

My friend and I were in charge of decorations for our Women's Ministry Christmas event on Saturday. We decided to go with a simple, traditional theme and used phrases from carols propped on sprigs of holly as place tags, along with simple floral arrangements and polka-dotted fabric for the center pieces. After this party we headed to Birmingham for our first family party. We have a beautiful family. This is our second Christmas without Grandmom and Granddad, and it's still hard to get used to because they LOVED Christmas, but it was a good time together!

And today we went to the Nutcracker ballet with our homeschool group. It was a wonderful performance, followed by a long lunch with our friends. I feel incredibly blessed with this full life of ours. I am committed to not allowing myself to feel unappreciative of our bursting-at-the-seams-calendar. My desire is to focus on this beautiful season, probably our last one here in Georgia, with our amazing friends and family. I hope my mind will be fully atuned to my surroundings, and my heart fully focused on the life of Jesus. I want to really, truly enjoy!!

"He brought peace on earth and wants to bring it also into your soul-that peace which the world cannot give. He is the One who would save His people from their sins."~Corrie ten Boom

"Remember to attend"

For me, there is no better 25 days than those during Advent season. What a total delight to know and celebrate the Messiah! It takes all of the self-control I can muster to wait until the blissful day of DECEMBER 1ST to begin the festivities! (This bliss may be a little exaggerated this year because of my head start on Christmas shopping. Excuse me if it's obnoxious.)

This year we are combining lessons and activities from this book:

with Advent object lessons found here (just scroll down the page a little past the ads). These lessons are very short and simple for the sake of our 4 year old. But the scripture reading always provides a spring board for deeper meaning and discussion for my 8 and 10 year olds.

We are also doing one week of "Christmas Around the World" using ideas from Heidi's blog. We own most of the books she has recommended from Decembers past. My kids LOVE studying other cultures and I think this study really gives them a global perspective of Christianity.

I used all of these materials with the children two years ago, and it was the best Christmas of my life. The Lord was gracious to really give us a rich, meaningful sense of worship. I know this year will look very different, as the children are all 2 years older. But I am excited to engage in their conversations, see their artwork, pray, read, and sing with them, open God's word and camp out in the gospels together, and bake, bake, bake!

"We may ignore, but we cannot evade, the presence of God. The world is crowded with Him. He walks everywhere incognito. And the incognito is not always easy to penetrate. The real labor is to remember to attend."

~Armand Nicholi

Book suggestions

I've said before that I have really grown to love my reading time. When there is a quiet moment at night, what is really worth watching on the television? And reading is the perfect hobby for those twilight hours when weariness has set in at such a level that even crafting requires too much energy. Particularly during the winter, a good book beckons.

I have had several friends say that they consult this blog for book suggestions. I do not really make them that often. But I have found several wonderful sources for those who are interested.

First, check out the suggestions on this blog, whose author is a very well-read librarian! Click on "reading" on the top tab and she has links for her book lists from each year. LOVE her choices for this year! It will take me the entire 2011 to read what she did in the winter of 2010! Oh and here series of letters to her unborn son are so touching, as well, if you have time to snoop into her blog a little more.

And a second suggestion would be the booklists from this book:

Or, if you love learning and regret pining away at a boy or daydreaming about what you were going to wear to the party during high school and/or college while the great literary classics were being taught (guilty), try the book suggestions from the book below. The author starts with Don Quixote, the first novel in recorded history, and the most boring book of all time in my opinion, and gives what books she believes one needs to read from each historical period in order to gain a knowledgable view of literature. I will say, if you prefer light fiction just don't even bother with this book! I got to the third book and decided this was not the right time in my life to try to take on such a feat!

"No man can be called friendless who has God and the companionship of good books."

~Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Happy reading!!

The goods

I want to remember the gifts that my husband chose for my birthday this year so I am going to record them here. I can not count how many times the Lord has used this blog to remind me of how abundantly He has blessed us, mainly relationally and spiritually, and in every area FAR BEYOND OUR DESERVING. So this is so I won't forget how my husband really listens and knows me...

This print from "fancyprints" on etsy.com (except mine had our initials and wedding date, plus green birds and gray background pattern)
This print was SO MEANINGFUL because he proposed to me at "our tree" in a state park where he had carved my initials when we dated. We have visited our tree several times, including when I was pregnant with Lydia Joy (pictured below). Can't wait to get it back from the framer and put it above our bed.Love my new gen-u-ine cowgirl boots. My man is getting me ready for the farm life and these will far exceed my polka dotted rain boots with the hole in the toe. (PS: Cowboy boots are COMFY!!) He probably envisions me pulling weeds in these. I envision boots + short floral sundress + flower garden. And last, the necklace below that was found on dayspring.com. Because as a child of God and a mother of three, all I really need to know is that I am saved "By Grace Alone". This necklace has become a permanent attachment to my neck. Could I ever be reminded enough?? I am so thankful for my sweet, sweet family. I really love doing life together with them! They know and love me well! Thank you for the celebrations!!

"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder."

~G. K. Chesterton

Thanksgiving weekend

We had an eventful weekend! We went straight to Mimi and Papa's house for Thanksgiving lunch. My parents don't really have Thanksgiving traditions, so Mimi and Papa very graciously invited them to lunch, too. We were so excited that Andy's Aunt Glenna joined us as well. The kids enjoyed the day with their favorite adults, eating, and playing games. I know they missed their cousins, but they forgot all about that while we were there.

Lydie took orders (on her pad) and Mimi & Aunt Glenna teamed up to make a YUMMY meal!

Beautiful table

Sweet Papa sat at the kids' table. Poor Papa!

Lydie loved to wear this mask. It works for cutting turkey, doing surgery on dolls, and the like.Aunt Glenna and Joshua had a Monopoly war. Josh won, as usual. Every family has a game whiz and he is ours!

Friday night our favorite football team, the Auburn tigers, beat our rivals the Alabama Crimson Tide. We were sure it would be an upset, but we came back for a close win- 28 to 27. What a fun game to watch together!

Friday morning Andy and I enjoyed our annual Black Friday shopping date. We decided to sleep in and leave at 7:00 this year. We actually found everything on our list! ALL of my Christmas shopping, plus all 5 birthday gifts were bought! I am DONE Christmas shopping!! THIS is a good start to the holiday season!

I came home on Saturday and Andy enjoyed some time alone at the farm. It was the best decision I have made in a long time to get home a day earlier than usual. It really saved my sanity! I am so, so thrilled that December is upon us!

**Favorite part of Thanksgiving: Thankful comments from our jar. Some favorites were: art or drawing, which was put in the jar 4 or 5 times by the boys, "my loving family" by my boy (sniff sniff), and "our church home". We didn't have any funnies like in years past (winged meat was my favorite from last year), but seeing their hearts revealed in an unpromted setting was so touching! I am so, so thankful to have a gracious God who continues to bless this sinner!!

Over the river and through the woods...

Turkey gifts painted and glossed. School work done for the week. (The picture below is Squanto. J got a little "happy" with the shadowing technique. :) But I like the expression that he captured.)

Squash casserole ready to go. Along with a fresh apple pie. Tangled premiere with Lydie shared and loved.

House cleaned and car de-trashed. Clothes washed and bags packed. Check, check, check.

We are FINALLY ready for a FOUR day weekend with grandparents! Holiday with family, birthday celebrations, black Friday shopping, Auburn/Alabama game, then back home to decorate the house for Christmas. I am SO ready (and praying for coveted REST)!!

I almost gave up today. So tired, weary, discouraged about things that are out of my control. My husband came to the rescue, as usual. Loving the words below, tonight, as it all winds down and I remember it is all for Jesus. And that even when I forget, His grace abounds.

"Thank God! He deserves your thanks. His love never quits. Thank the God of all gods, His love never quits. Thank the Lord of lords, His love never quits."

Psalm 136:1

Hope for Thanksgiving day:

"When I fully enter into now, the weight of fully being in the moment slows time down. Full attentiveness is the only thing that does."

~Ann Voskamp

Thanksgiving projects with the kids

The kids and I have had a blast in the kitchen today. We made a few things to take to Thanksgiving dinner at my in-laws. First, we made Thanksgiving ornaments from salt dough. I found this project here and decided to tackle it, even if it required sweeping, mopping, and extra laundry (flour-soaked clothing, dish towels, and dish rags). The kids really enjoyed making the turkeys. We have one for each family that will be at Thanksgiving dinner with us, plus one to keep at home. I am sure painting them tomorrow will be another fun time (with less mess, double plus!).

Then, we decided to make turkey cupcakes to take as well. My kids have not been completely convinced that pecan and pumpkin pie are "yummy", with the exception of my oldest son who will eat anything and love it. So we are taking our own little festive, kid-friendly, dessert. Lydie and I made these cupcakes. I saw the idea in a Family Fun magazine, I think. I couldn't find the recipe, but just went by memory. These were fun, but took a good bit of time, too. Back to squash casserole and apple pies tomorrow!

Happy thanksgiving! Hope your holiday is full of gratitude and celebration!

A date with my son and Harry Potter

Jackson and I finally went to the new Harry Potter movie. We read the series last winter together, and we've seen all six movies together. Its been a great experience. Oh, the conversations we've shared! We give the movie two thumbs up, although it is very intense and scary! My favorite Jackson quote from the night was when I asked him if he wanted to wear his HP costume to the movie and he said, "I respect those people's enthusiasm, but I'm not into geekdom." Almost everything he says is hilarious to me. So courteous, so blunt, so spot-on. He is the king of one-liners.On the home front, we are taking the week to do a little of this and that. A little school, a little housework, a little shopping, a little baking, a little napping-some work and some play until Thanksgiving day when we celebrate with family. Although there is much to do and the next few weeks are jammed packed with activities, I am so thankful for good health, a normal week with my husband and children, and taking it at our own pace (I say this in comparison to Andy traveling or me walking around with swollen cheek and toothache). I will take busy over sick and parenting solo any day!!

Here's a normal morning with Lydie, watching her lick the bowl clean. Love it and her! So happy to bake with her.

And here's Joshua's usual afternoon routine, wearing monochromatic pants and shirt and running out to play. We call this "camo on camo". (It's better than green on green or denim on denim, which is particularly tacky.) He is darling, though. Love it! So happy to watch through the window and laugh. It's good to have a daunting, difficult week every now and again, if for no other reason, to embrace the mundane with open arms!

"My heart took delight in all my work."

~Ecclesiastes 2:10