SANTA'S LITTLE HELPER

 

I'm not going to lie. The words "Christmas card photo's" make me a little uneasy. It use to be pretty easy, Steve and I would stand in front of some Christmas tree and "SNAP" you've got yourself a photo. But now, we've got children who are not too fond of sitting still or giving me synchronized smiles. I recently discovered Henry likes to sneak in his tongue sticking out in some of our shots, and my little Lucia moves so much she often is a blur...it's just not that easy.  Someone asked me the other day if I had outfits planned for our photos, I told them I'll just make the photos black and white, my method for fixing clashing outfits.

 

You know I gotta tell you though. I don't even think I need to worry about that, because I think you'll all agree...I just found my Christmas card photos... 

It was so hard for me not to laugh at my poor little girl and what I believe just may be a child's rite of passage. I'm not sure if she sensed danger, so tonight's scripture is for my lovely little girl.

 

"Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

-Isaiah 41:10

 

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

Sometimes holiday traditions just find you. 

 

When Steve and I bought our first home we had no idea that our little neighborhood would be the key to our kicking off our Christmas season. Our city moved it's 'official' Christmas tree into our park, and with it came an incredible tree lighting event. For the last few years It's been our start to the season. 

 

It's nice because it's a free event, there's snow and hot chocolate, trains and hay rides and even Santa! It's usually always cold, so it's a good excuse for us to cuddle and keep each other warm. But most of all it's fun and it gets us all together, without any fuss or stress. Which can be a great way to start what can be known as a 'busy' season...

Today's Reflection:

This year more than ever, I feel at ease about the Holidays. I'd like to make that a new tradition...no fuss or stress. I've really been trying to focus my mind on the true reason we're celebrating. I mean don't get me wrong, I've always stopped and paused and remembered why we celebrate, but this year, I'd like to do more than just remember...i'd like to focus in and live it!

 

It's funny, but when I start to strip away the things that could stress me out, Christmas letters, Holiday parties, money for Christmas presents, Holiday decorations, etc., etc., you're probably familiar with the list or maybe even have your own, but when I start to strip away these things, what could be a bare Christmas ends up becoming quite full.  I'm filling it with new traditions and I'm left focusing on the birth of our King and the love that surrounds that birth. I'm hoping to let that love be the new tradition in my house and that it be the focus this season. It's a nice way for me to kind of put in check the things I do and ask myself, am I doing this for myself or am I doing this because it represents the love God has shown me?

  

"And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them."

-1 John 4: 14-16

THE FOOLS GUIDE TO CHRISTMAS TREES

I have a mental game plan for finding our Christmas tree. Steve says I remind him of this every year. "We will not find a 'perfect' tree, we will find the tree 'perfect' for us!" (I know, I'm an inspirational quote factory!) This usually means that we will find a half dead, lopsided, heavy bottomed tree, containing a birds nest in it, that I will fall in love with! There is usually much compromising and much hunting, but eventually 3 hours later we find our tree... 

 

We leave, all of us with what we believe is the 'perfect' tree for us. We congratulate each other because obviously this tree is much  better than last year's.  

Today's Reflection:

I remember when Steve and I were broke college students, he did not have a Christmas tree. One year I decided it was ludicrous, how could you celebrate the birth of our lord with out a well decorated tree? It was like a birthday party with out balloons. So while he was at school one night I bundled up and on my own made my way to a tree lot so that I could surprise him with a tree. When I got to the lot I quickly learned that all I could afford was a tiny step up from Charlie Brown's Christmas tree. It was barely waist high and one string of lights could easily double loop it. Still, I pulled out every last dollar in my small bank account and bought him the tree.

 

I am humbled by where God has placed me now. I am grateful not only for the tangible blessings, but for the change in my heart and mind. This year as we drove out of the farm with our tree, my kids safely in the back, I realize what a fool I use to be. I think about the families who can't afford a tree, who have no place to put a tree, who  might have to pull out all their money just to buy that Charlie Brown Christmas tree.  I realize, how whether your tree be as beautiful as the white house's, be as small as Charlie Brown's, as lopsided as ours, or even be it you have no tree, God covers us all. Jesus was born for each of us. He does not come only to those who have exquisitely decorated to celebrate his birth, he comes to those of us who celebrate in our hearts the wonderful gift his birth was, no tree, no decorations required.

 

"The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world." 

-John 1:9 (NIV) emphasis added

 

WHAT'S UP

You know that line in the song..."hurt so good"...you know that line. The last few days have "hurt so good" They have been busy and nonstop, but oh so good! I won't overload you on the details, at least not today. Not on a Monday, not this Monday! But know this...details, will come. Unless I forget.

 

Here's what I will tell you, we had a wonderful Thanksgiving and packed my parents house with as much family those walls could handle...the craziness however leaked outside the walls...

Steve and I went on a date (with each other)!

I turned 31. I turned 31 this weekend and it was lovely. I have never before had a birthday where I have felt so content. So happy with the amazingness (is that a word? I'm too tired to look it up) and love that God continues to pour on little ol' undeserving me...after 31 years, he still does it!

  

So let's see, I turned 31...

we celebrated by having a crazy party...

We kicked off our Christmas season and hunted for a Christmas Tree...

We showed that farm who was boss and came out with the 'perfect' tree!

We went for fall strolls to coffee... 

and enjoyed huge festivals in the park...

 

 

We went to bed way too late, and enjoyed each others company. We missed naps and earned sleeping in. It was great!

 

Today's Reflection:

"You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing."

-Psalm 145:16 (NIV)

 

I love this, the implication that God merely need to open his hands and "BAM" my desires are satisfied.

 

I am beginning to understand just how deeply God knows me. How he moves past the junk inside me, the false desires of stuff and status. He sees right through that and gets to the true desires of my heart. He opens his hand and there it is, joy, love, peace. The other junk is pushed out because I just want more and more of what God is giving. I am satisfied.

 

Thank you Lord, for opening your hand.

IF YOU FALL DOWN

I'm back! I know, I know, I was just getting started with this blog when I decided to leave and take a Christmas break. Sometimes you just need to unplug, enjoy the time you have with family, take a nap, sit in your pajamas all day and just rest. I've heard there are moms out there that can bounce right back after a holiday, I am not one of those moms, I need a few days.  We are back into the swing of things now, already busy again. Today, we took Henry out for a little bit to break in his new beloved scooter.  Here is Henry and him taking on the scooter (he had already practiced inside)

  

 He fell once, sat for a moment, thought about what to do next and got right back up. I'm such a proud mommy! 

Today's reflection:

How many times have I failed or "fallen" and been too afraid to get back up? What's wrong with a little fall?  What's wrong with a little failure here and there? 

Lord, please give me the strength to get back up when I fall, to learn the lessons needed when I fail, Thank you for continually being there to help me when I fall!

"If the Lord delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand."

-Psalm 37: 23-24

THE HOME STRETCH

Well, we are in the home stretch!  Christmas is almost here.  Today we will be relaxing at home wrapping gifts so we aren't up late Christmas eve (like usual) and trying to finish up all those home made gifts that I told myself I would do this year.  We are trying to enjoy every minute of the Christmas season and although it's been extremely busy, especially with two kids now, we have had such a happy holiday. 

 

It's fun having kids of our own and getting to start new traditions.  We have been doing the countdown to Christmas and it's scary to only see 3 little bags left to be opened.  The bags are a part of my attempt at a new tradition.  I made one for each day of December and filled them with little inexpensive treats and notes for my little guy. He is enjoying them!

He told me this morning he doesn't like Santa Clause, maybe it's because all he gives him is socks. Who knows?

Hope your holidays aren't too stressful and you are getting a moment to just sit back and enjoy them!

What I'm Reflecting on:


Something will always need to be done.
Lord, help me not get caught up with the insignificant little tasks so that I can enjoy the moments that matter most.