Christmas Moments

While I am learning that no Christmas is perfect ;), this year we had moments of...

...peace
Silence throughout the house led me to find my three girls reading Christmas books in the living room.

...excitement
With Christmas landing on a Sunday, we changed our normal traditions in order to go to church Christmas morning. We drove up to my Mom's house the day before Christmas Eve, taking all our presents with us and informing Santa where we'd be. The girls each had one present from us that was huge (and Jessica and Mikayla's were luggage, hee hee) so we let them open that the morning of the day we left. It pretty much just got them excited for things to come.

I hate that this is so blurry, but you can still see the excitement on her face!

Rebecca got a Baby Alive, something she's wanted for a couple of years.

...wonder

On Christmas Eve we have a birthday party for Jesus. We read Luke 2 by candlelight, with a nativity scene and a special dessert on the table, sing "Happy Birthday," and blow out the candles. I have done this every Christmas Eve of my life, and it is one of my favorite moments of the season.

...nostalgia
Another tradition I grew up with is a song I've never heard anywhere except from my mother and her mother. After we decorate the Christmas tree, we sit on the couch and sing (to a tune all its own):
O Christmas tree, O Christnas tree,
the best in all the world to me!
With branches green and spreading wide
to hide our gifts at Christmastide.
O beautiful tree,
please tell to me
the gifts you are hiding, what can they be?
O beautiful, beautiful Christmas tree.

...giving
Christmas morning (when the girls woke us up at 5:20!!) we opened presents from each other, and I honestly think we all enjoyed watching each others' pleasure at what we gave as much as we enjoyed the gifts we got.

Mikayla made this apron for Gran.

...joy
Although I don't have any pictures of it, the church service we went to was a perfect celebration of the Gift of Christmas. We read Scripture prophesying the Messiah and telling the whole life of Christ and His return, with hymns and carols between. We saw old friends and had a wonderful time.

...family
My Aunt Sue, my brother Mark, and those of his family who were able came after church. We took pictures, ate a feast, talked and laughed, and played games.

Whitney painted Gran a picture!

...silliness!
We played "Would You Rather..." and Wii "Just Dance 3" on Christmas day, and "Quelf" the day after. I laughed so hard!

My niece Sarah had to keep this spoon in her mouth 2 turns.

Just Dancing "The Mermaid Dance"

I don't have any pictures of Quelf, but in that game I had to remove an article of clothing, swing it around over my head yelling "Rawhide;" Mike had to give himself a wedgie; my nephew Jason had to say, "I command you to be silent!" whenever anyone laughed; my mom had to keep one elbow on the gameboard at all times; Mark and Whitney had to say, "To ancient times and distant music" every time they took a drink---oh, it was hilarious.

In the words of Laura Ingalls Wilder (again!) "It was a rich Christmas."

Links to profound Christmas thoughts

These posts by Ann Voskamp have really made me think this year--and she says things so much better than I could.
http://www.aholyexperience.com/2011/12/3-gifts-you-really-need-to-open-right-now-love-comes-down-video/
http://www.aholyexperience.com/2011/12/why-you-need-to-go-look-at-the-stars-tonight-and-become-one-of-the-wise-men/
http://www.aholyexperience.com/2011/12/10-ways-to-celebrate-christmas-morning-regardless-of-whats-under-the-tree/
This blog is written by some Portuguese missionaries in Mozambique whom I got to meet on our mission trip there. The picture broke my heart.
http://mozambiquechronicles.blogspot.com/2011/12/there-was-no-room-for-them.html
And this last one is far from profound, but we had fun and I hope it makes you smile!
http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/udBrpdwOAOW3TumDD0qk

Christmas in our new house :)

Mike and I LOVE to decorate for Christmas!! We may even go overboard a teense. Here's how it all landed this first Christmas in our new house (so my Mom can see it):

Entryway

Family room

The picture above the red "count-the-days" felt hanging is a Slovenian bee hive cover with a nativity painted on it.

Snowman collection, stacking dolls collection, Guatemalan Noah's Ark and Mozambiquan carved nativity

Willow Tree nativity on Polish embroidered tablecloth on piano (I love this one)

Kitchen--but the table had a jig-saw puzzle on it all this week!

Dining room
(My picture of my angel collection and other favorite nativity won't load for some reason)

Living room

24

*Thank you all for your encouragement. I guess the good news is whatever good comes out of our lives, we can know and say that it's all from God ('cause it sure ain't from us)!*

In the last 24 hours I have...

• watched "The Polar Express," complete with hot-hot-hot-chocolate!
• slept "late" (got out of bed at 8:00)
• cooked and ate pecan waffles for breakfast
• wrapped 3 presents
• washed that gray right outa my hair
• made goodies for goodie plates (reindeer chow, white choc. dipped pretzels, red velvet cake balls, fudge, peppermint bark) while listening to Christmas music
• started cooking supper, then ran to Walmart where I made Jessica go in for sour cream, then finished cooking supper
• looked at Christmas lights and a live nativity
• had candy cane milkshakes (our Christmas light tradition)

Church and a Survivor party with some local friends, and then a whole week to relax and enjoy Christmas. Yay!

Blue

I feel sad tonight and don't really know why.
Sad may not even be the right word...maybe it's anxious...inadequate...discouraged.
Maybe it's because I'm still trying to live in a Hallmark commercial, but I can't.
In my world sisters are sometimes mean to each other for no reason. But if I was a better mother they would get along and love each other and be sweet all the time and be grateful and generous.
And my spending would stay under budget.
And everything I cooked would turn out perfectly, and my house would be clean--all of it, at the same time, for longer than 30 seconds.
And we would give more money to missions and the needy than we spend on ourselves at Christmas time.
And I would get involved in people's lives and share Jesus with them, confidently and lovingly, even if they didn't accept what I said.
And my hair would be neat and attractive, and I would remember to buy birthday cards and send them on time.
And I would be patient and fun and wise and consistent.

I almost didn't post this, but I figured somebody out there might be thinking they were the only imperfect ones with imperfect kids, so here you go.

10 on the 11th

It's time for my annual Christmas ornament post! This year, here are 10 friends I think about when I look at my Christmas tree:
1. Mendy

When I was little, we lived in Dale City, Virginia, for 5 years. There were a few families at our church who truly became family. Most were military families, but not all. The Barretts lived up the street and around the corner, and to this day I know if I needed anything, they'd be there for me. Mrs. Barrett made ceramics, and made me this kitty when I was 5.
2. Alyssa

We moved from Dale City to San Diego when I was 10. I didn't meet Alyssa until I started going to Spring Valley Jr. High in the 7th grade, but we had most of our classes together and the same hair (except hers was blond). We had some really deep conversations...and some really silly moments! She gave me a surprise going-away party when we moved to Arkansas, and the next summer flew to Arkansas to visit! It was her first time to see lightning bugs and to hear cicadas. And it was also her first time to meet Jesus! She was blessed with lots of artistic talent, which she uses today to teach art to children. She painted this sled for me.
3. Amanda

After my family visited First Baptist Church of Conway for the first time, Amanda and her mom visited us in the duplex we were living in while our house was being built. We sat on the cot I slept on (our furniture was in storage) and got to know each other, and we were practically inseparable from that day on. What fun it was, after living away from Conway for 21 years, to move back for a year and go to Sunday School together again and realize that some friendships never change.
4. Angie

Angie and I lived next door to each other on Flippen First Floor our freshman year in college, and were part of a group of 12 girls who knew how to laugh and cry together. After a campus revival of sorts broke out during Global Focus Week that spring, we bonded together as sisters. The next three years we were roommates, even though she was an RA and could have had a room to herself. Then after she married Charlie and I moved to Fort Worth to teach...she and Charlie moved to Fort Worth for seminary, and ended up joining the church I went to. And a certain Mike Sandusky joined it the year after that. :) It's been fun watching our families grow from opposite sides of the world, but it's even more fun now living an hour away from each other so her family can come have supper and a White Elephant Christmas gift exchange with us. In which I get a yam.
5. Mandy

Another of my Flippen First friends was a frail, small girl with a heart defect. I was always afraid I would break her if I hugged her too hard. She and Sandra became my rides to church every week, and somehow we ended up with this thing of quoting "Have Faith in God" to each other. She had more patience than I did--enough to cross-stitch lots of beautiful things like this. She went to heaven about 15 years ago.
6. Sandra

One more Flippen First friend! We shared a lot of hoped and dreams together. When I lived in Fort Worth and she lived in Little Rock, we took a vacation together to see Laura Ingalls Wilder's home in Missouri, something we'd always wanted to do. I bought this ornament at Silver Dollar City and gave it to Mike, who I had just started dating...secretly hoping I'd get it back someday.
7. Karrry

Karry and I became friends on a mission trip with our Fort Worth church when we discovered (along with another friend, Amy) how this one guy was stringing all of us along with the same lines. Haha--funny thing is, we all stayed friends with him, too! Karry and I ended up rooming together for a couple of years before I married Mike...and I was in her wedding 6 weeks after I had Jessica!
8. Denise

After Mike and I had been married for a year and he graduated from seminary, we moved to Lewiston, Idaho. One of the first things we did was go eat with Tim and Denise, and I hopped up on her kitchen counter and we talked and talked and talked! The 4 of us were instant friends. We always had a Christmas get-together, and were there for the births of all our children, and the deaths of some of our parents. We even sang in church together once, something my husband has never done since! We went on vacation together in San Antonio, and my family stayed with her family when we went back to the Northwest for a wedding/vacation...but I really miss her. I wish she could come see me.
9. Matt and Jackie

Matt was one of our first college students when we moved to Moscow, Idaho, and became a part of our family--especially around our Easter table. He and Mike have a lot in common. We were so happy when he and Jackie started dating...and then got married...and then had little Owen! I can't believe he's over a year old now and I haven't even been able to hold him yet. But I'm SURE his parents tell him we love him...right, Jackie?
10. Kim

Our next-door-neighbors in Moscow became like adopted grandparents to our girls. When we trick-or-treated their house, they had special treat bags for my girls. :) 'Cause they were special. At Easter we would show them the girls in their dresses, and at Christmas, when we took them baked goodies, she gave us stained glass! They were really good neighbors.

When I look at my tree, I see so many ways I am blessed beyond measure.

Kids say the darndest things...

Especially Mikayla! Last year, one of Mikayla's history questions asked: How did the Egyptians use the Nile River.
Mikayla's answer:  Nicely.

I was reminded of this when I read one of her history questions last week: What did Paul Revere and William Dawes ride to warn the town of Concord of?
Mikayla's answer:  Horses.
Guess she missed that last word!

This science homework also made me laugh:

Yes, she got her artistic ability from her mother. Should she get extra credit for Baby Bop?

Finally, look at the sentence Rebecca wrote with her spelling word "pear."

Can you figure out the first sentence? I couldn't. I had to ask. And it says exactly what it looks like, "Jena pear tree."
"Like the song...and a partri jena pear tree!"
:)