Kids Home for Break = No Computer Time for Me

It is a cool, sunny New Years Eve Day. The house is relatively quite. Harper is asleep, Jody and Hudson are watching a basketball game, Sydney is playing at her friend's house, and Carson is vegged out watching "John & Kate Plus 8". I decided to sneak away for a minute and capture some of our last few weeks.

We have had a great Christmas! As I sit here and recall the last several days I feel the smile form on my face. Celebrating this first Christmas with Harper has been terrific. If she could talk I think she would say her favorite part was eating the bows and wrapping paper?! Carson got some more Webkinz (like she needed more of those), skates, fuzzy Crocs, an American Girl doll, and some clothes she wanted. Sydney has been learning how to play her Nintendo DS and has enjoyed her new American Doll as well. She also got a house for these (ugly) little pets that have big bobble heads. Hudson enjoys all his new toys that he can throw, hit, shoot, or wrestle.
My favorite gift has been Jody's extended vacation. He has been off for 11 days...1 more to go. We have also loved being in our new home. Since we decided to build a few years ago I have looked forward to having our family and friends here to celebrate this season. It has been great having plenty of space for everyone to be together, I am very grateful for that.

As happy as I am for Christmas to come, I am also ready when it is all over. I often find myself frustrated with all the "extra" that we as a society have added to this season. I can't for the life of me understand why people that do not believe in Jesus celebrate Christmas. It seems that we have taken the awesome birth of our Savior and "ho ho hoed it" into something that it was never meant to be. I'm really not trying to be a scrooge here, I love giving gifts and spending time with the people I treasure the most. I just find myself questioning our motives and our hearts every year when Christmas rolls around. Here's another question I have, we hear so much about Angel Tree, visiting nursing homes, and giving to those who are less fortunate during Christmas. What are we doing the other 364 days? Are we just adding this "extra" work during the holiday to make ourselves feel better about the hundreds of dollars we are spending and all of those parties we are going to?

OK, I'll stop now! Whew, maybe I had more to get off my chest than I realized. We are off to a new year and I am more blessed than I could have ever asked for or imagined. I guess instead of sharing my frustrations with this computer I should ask my Creator for some advice.

Just Random

There's not much to report on around this place lately. Things are actually quite calm.....kind of like the calm before the storm?? Here are some of our random comings and goings:

Kids Christmas program was last night-I think it was the best one yet. It was a little strange having 3 children on stage. Hudson was dreading it....he was almost in tears before it started but he did a great job (I actually bribed him....cappachino and Christmas lights at the park...it worked).

Harper has enough hair to wear hair bows now!

Murray still is not house trained....good thing he is so darn cute.

I still have several Christmas gift purchases. Oddly enough, I'm not really stressed about it.

We are going to see "Wicked" in 18 days!!!

Jody's office Christmas party is here on Friday. Even stranger (is that a word), I'm not worried about that either?!

We have had 2 Saturdays in a row with nothing to do...I love that!

I am still reading "Sacred Marriage", having a hard time finishing it up.

That's about it! Be back soon.....

Christmas Cards

I have a love/hate relationship with Christmas cards. I love getting them, especially the ones with a sweet picture and a letter recounting the year. I love to display them and look at them throughout the month. My kids especially love this. We often get cards from friends from college and family that we don't see very often. I used to love sending them also. When our family was a tad bit smaller I could set them in front of the tree and take a great shot. I even used to enjoy setting down at night when everyone was asleep and addressing them. It felt like I was sending a small present and sharing our family with those who are so special to us.

I don't know when this all changed! I must confess that last year I did not send out one card. Maybe I get a special pass on that considering I was 6 months pregnant and not living in our own home. But, now here we are. All week long I have thought that this Sunday I need to get everyone up and dressed earlier than normal so that we can get a picture for "the card" before church. Oh, the stress!! Now you see, Sunday mornings are not always a nice occasion around this place. "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" is not heard, instead it is something like this, "Do you have your Bible... did you brush your teeth... where is the diaper bag..... get in the car we are going to be late"!! You are probably thinking, do the card some other time during the week....well, the kids wear uniforms to school everyday and that just won't do?! The rest of the time they are either in dance leotards, soccer shorts, play clothes, etc. So tomorrow it is! I will get everyone up a little bit earlier, have their clothes laid out and ready to go and we will all stand in front of the tree and "cheese". Oh, the things we do, who came up with the tradition of Christmas cards anyway......must have been Hallmark?!?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Victoria Secret and the Bible??

On the way home this afternoon I was thinking about something I read this morning in 2 Corinthians...(2 Cor. 2: 14-15) "But thanks to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing." So how might this relate to Victoria Secret? I was there a few days ago (with my 89 year old Granny....little awkward) looking at all of their new scents and lotions. I am a sucker for body butter and they had one that I loved...."Romantic Wish." It had the sweetest smell. As soon as I lifted the container to my nose I smiled. It was just that sweet! So how awesome is "the aroma of Christ"? I can't comprehend that! I want to spread the "fragrance of the knowledge of Him". I want Him to be pleased with me....I want to smell that good! I also thought about the Israelites so many years ago that would offer the incense in the tabernacle. That aroma that was also so pleasing to Him. It was His requirement before they could continue with their sacrifices. God loves smells! WOW! Double WOW!

His Word is beautiful...It is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. I am thankful that I am the "aroma of Christ" to the King of Kings (and a little body butter never hurts)!?!?

Have you ever.....

Have you ever experienced a gynecological exam with an 8 month old baby on your lap? This is not fun and something I would never recommend. The large "paper towels" that they give you to wrap your naked self with don't last long.....especially while setting and waiting 30 minutes on the exam table. What was I to do, get up and walk around?? Babies do not set still and they pull and tear at your "paper towel" until basically there is nothing, and then the doctor walks in and you might as well just be setting there naked for all to see!! When you are pregnant and excited to be having a baby this isn't so bad (the naked for all to see part), but not so much when you're just there for your yearly check up.

Moving on......I am off to lunch with a friend (Los Amigos is calling my name) and then to the mall for a little Christmas shopping. I am thankful to be spending my day in sweats and not a "paper towel".