Christmas 2011

Whew! 

Another Christmas is behind us. 

It always goes way way too fast. 

I fully intended to blog after each day but I think I forgot how tiring Christmas can be! 

I am so thankful for some of the new traditions we started this year...traditions that seemed to extend the season and help us to focus where we needed to be. I'm excited to extend on some of these traditions next year. 

These 5 will never be these ages again...and we are blessed to have had a wonderful time together!

I know there will be 'easier' Christmases. 

But there will never be another one when I have this....

And I love them more than I can express. 

More later! 

Christmas Break...Day 1

Tonight we celebrate Christmas with our kids. 

It is also the first day of break.

So my job for the day was to keep them as busy as possible!

To start the day they opened their last gift...it was to do something nice for our neighbors.

They elected to deliver cookies. 

And they had a ball running around the neighborhood.

I think it might have been their favorite gift of the 10 we did...loved this whole gift idea and will be a tradition for us. 

(just to keep it real, I will admit that my sugar cookies COMPLETELY failed and I was NOT pleased...

luckily the chocolate chip ones were wonderful!)

One thing I will surely miss most in Christmases of the future 

will be watching these two girls in poofy skirts. 

Oh little girls...

When Jordan came home for lunch we loaded and to go see the Wilson's while they are in town.

No Christmas would be complete with out at least a hug from them...and hopefully a few games of Pepper.

Our kids love visiting them as much as we do...seeing how Jerod is just an oversized kid and all. 

Now its 3:00 and we have a couple more hours to wait...sounds like time for a Christmas movie! 

Two things...

1. the whole 'everybody chose their favorite dessert for Christmas supper' idea was a lot better idea in theory than in reality.

2. I LOVE receiving Christmas cards and photos in the mail. Its one of my favorite parts of the season and its nice to make the USPS feel important for a few weeks.

back to baking

Jesus made frosting!

We got some frost last night.

And from the sounds of it that is the closest to a White Christmas as we are going to get.

Tess walked outside with me today and gasped and said, 'Mommy! Jesus made frosting! There's frosting!'

She has heard us call frost - frost...and I guess to her we were talking about frosting.

Anyway, she was pumped! 'Look at the frosting mommy! Look at all the frosting!'

She licked it and said 'brr' and then proceeded to fall on her rear.

I went back to help her and she said, 'huh, His frosting is sure slippery!'

love this kid.

excitement

Tonight at supper we asked the kids to each tell us what they are most excited for with Christmas coming.

They all mentioned our 'special' drink we have in our fancy cups with our christmas supper....which is sparkling grape juice.

I casually said that this year I thought we'd do 7 Up instead.

They flipped out.

Could not have been more excited. You would have thought I'd told them we were going to Disney for Christmas.

And so I will be returning all gifts and giving them each a 12 pack of 7 Up.

Mary's Song

I've been reading the account of Jesus' birth in Luke over and over this week. 

Today the portion sometimes known as 'Mary's song' stuck out to me. 

I think about Mary a lot this time of year. Can you imagine being her?

A young girl in a time when women were not held to much esteem. Pregnant. Unmarried. 

Can you imagine how the town was buzzing about her????

Dont you just love to see God use ordinary people?!

She had to have been scared and even though she was called, 'highly favored' she must have had moments of 'why me?!' 

That is why I love to hear her praise Him in this section. Her faith was so strong even in the middle of something so scary and miraculous and beyond comprehension! She praised Him and gave Him glory even though I'm sure her head was filled with questions and worry. 

Oh, to have that kind of faith. 

Mary's Song

Luke 1:46-55

And Mary said: 'My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed fore the Mighty One has done great things for me- Holy is His name.

His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 

He has performed mighty deed with His arm; 

He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as He promised our ancestors.

Reality

nothing like a great big 'welcome back slap in the face'

we walked in the door yesterday to find tori fresh from a nap and covered in an odd prickly rash. 

2 hours later she had a temp. She kept the temp all night. it never dropped. 

she did not sleep. i did not sleep. 

dr. this morning revealed a negative 'rapid' strep test. 

he thinks its all viral. and a nasty virus at that. 

she is completely pathetic. I feel so sad for her. 

and its not helping my 'prepare for christmas plans'

and walmart, the week before christmas seriously, you are out of cream of tartar (for my christmas cookies) and dried onions? 

really? 

reality...you are not my friend this monday.

One of my most favorite traditions

I think it was four years ago that Jordan and I started the tradition of getting away together the weekend before Christmas. We missed last year because we had a newborn but other than we have made this weekend a huge priority.

And it is so perfect. 

Relaxing, reconnecting, laughing...

This year we traveled to Galena, Il.

Otherwise known as the town that Christmas Spirit threw up on!

I mean that in the nicest way possible. 

I mean there is Christmas music everywhere, folks handing out roasted chestnuts, every window and door is decorated, everyone is telling you Merry Christmas, everyone is all geared up for the season. 

These carolers paraded around and stopped in shops and were SO good. 

Saturday morning we even woke up to the PERFECT amount of snow.

Are you kidding me? 

This town is breathtaking in every season...but Christmas is my new favorite.

Gorgeousness around every corner. 

Little did we know we happened to come for the most romantic night of the year...The Night of the Luminaria. The entire town was lit with luminaries. 

Every sidewalk, bridge, walkway, stair and doorstep.
It was so beautiful. Just cant explain it. 

Another great benefit to the weekend was all the live music in the restaurants and pubs. 

And we had such yummy food - and I didn't have to cut up anyone's food or get up for anyone's requests! We sat and enjoyed our meals and the music for hours. 

Truly this may have been one of my most favorite weekends ever. 

Thank you Jordan, for this wonderful Christmas gift! 

pjs

we are getting ready to head out for our weekly grocery run.

contessa says, 'uh, mommy...why do you still have your pj's on?'

the sad part is not that i forgot to get dressed.

its that i AM dressed and she still thinks im in my pjs.

Oh holly, you would be so disappointed in me today!

Waiting...

If I had to name my biggest flaw it would be lack of patience.

Ask my husband.

Waiting is EXCRUCIATING for me.

And really for anyone who has to be near me while I am waiting. 

This problem can rear its ugly head in the every day - like waiting for the oven to heat up, the kids to get their shoes on, or Jordan to answer a question I've asked. 

I tap my toes, bark orders and nervously pace around the house.

It can also rear its head in important things...like times when God chooses to be silent with me and all I want is an ANSWER! or a clue as to WHY I am going through what I need to go through. 

Waiting for the 'why's' in life to be answered have probably added all the gray hairs to my head and taken at least a few years off my life. 

Learning patience has been something that Christ has been working on in me for my entire spiritual life. 

And I'll admit...I'm a horrible student. 

Just when I think I'm getting better...perhaps maturing!

Bam, I'm back where I started - pacing the floor, lying awake at night, feeling anxious and begging Him for an answer. 

Last week this verse was laid in front of me. 

And while I know Christ still has major work to do on my inpatient heart...this verse calmed my spirit.

It softened my heart to the Joy of Waiting for the first time in my life. 

Isaiah 30:18

'Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you,

and therefore He exalts Himself to show mercy to you.

For the Lord is a God of justice;

blessed are all those who wait for Him.'

I had to read it a number of times.

It seems to contrary. So backwards. 

He WAITS to BE GRACIOUS, to SHOW MERCY.

to me. 

And I am BLESSED when I wait FOR HIM.

I'm not sure words can really explain how my heart felt after reading that. 

I felt like I understood why I need to wait for the first time. 

He isnt asking me to wait so that He can see me squirm.

Waiting is how He refines me. 

How He perfects me. 

I think that verse may have been written just for me. 

He knew exactly how much I would need it. 

And how I would cling to it. 

note to self

'keep your expectations LOW Becky'

Last night the kids 'gift' was going to Cedar Falls to go out for supper and then look at Christmas lights. 

I had been excited about it for 2 weeks but after a week of sickness, a less than stellar Friday and a raging headache I will admit that I was more hoping to just survive it with out 'my little vein popping'.

And just as always...when I expect little...we have our best times. 

Everyone was quiet and fun and appreciative during supper. 

We had a blast eating at one of their favorites, Texas Roadhouse and laughed a lot. 

I enjoyed the stares we got from everyone and watching people actually counting our kids with their fingers and then giving each other 'the look'. (seriously, we have 5 kids...not 13).

The kids ran out of 'light looking' steam before Jordan and I did but they held up well and even endured singing along to Christmas carols during part of it. 

So my new motto may be, 'expect little'.

:)

Prone to Wander

Do you ever sit and wonder...'why is my first impulse not to dive into my devotions'?

I have alone time every day during nap/rest time. Alone. Ah...Its MY time.

Typically I dont really take it as my time...I do laundry, organize supper, clean...you know.

But there are days when I plop on the couch and grab my computer like it is made of gold and I lose myself.

Yesterday out of the corner of my eye I saw my devotions sitting there. Neglected. I have been ignoring them before bed lately and I guess they were tired of it. I had just plopped down. I was EXHAUSTED. Tori had not slept well the night before and I wanted some peace.

So I ignored them and started in on the computer and those books kept seeming bigger and bigger in my peripheral view. (Side note...Isn't the Holy Spirit amazing?!) 

Finally I sighed, annoyed, put my computer down and picked up the book. I read my 2 chapters and hurriedly threw it to the side on top of my bible and picked the computer back up.

After all, I deserve some me time! Come on, right?

Then this morning I thougth to myself...what is wrong with me?!? 

(Again...the Holy Spirit...amazing)

Why, when I have quiet moments, am I not eagerly diving into His Word? Why am I not anxious to get at it? Why does the blog world or email or pinterest or my latest Christmas project or even laundry call to me over that?

Then later today I heard this song...Come Thou Fount...and I remembered that on two of the blogs I checked yesterday I had been asked to go listen to it or read the lyrics. And I also remembered the story a friend had posted on facebook about dying to self...and somehow it all kind of clicked.

See, Im a worthless sinner. 

Just as the song says, 'Prone to Wander Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love.'

And my daily prayer has to be, 'Here's my heart Lord, take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above.' and 'Bind my wandering heart to Thee.'

Without me asking Him for help on that daily...I am so easily distracted. So wandering!

The world is a beautiful place. Filled with beautiful 'distractions'! And I'm not saying they dont have their place or that we aren't allowed to relax and have fun. But I was struck with the fact that my FIRST inclincation is to those distractions and not to Him.

And oh Satan knows that and he fills us with lies like, 'but I deserve some ME time!'
He and his minnions are ever so crafty and always on the hunt. 

I'm the type that even though God sent his Only Son to die for me..and save me from a deserved hell...I stray. I let this world fool me and draw me in.

Worthless, pathetic sinner.

And yet.

Precious.

Precious to Him who came to save me. He who laid in a manager and took on man. Precious enough for Him who knew no sin to become sin...

Phillipians 2:7-8
'But Jesus made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in a fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of The Cross.'

2 Corinthians 5:21
'For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.'


Go back and read that one again...

And I am thankful that I was reminded of that this christmas season. 

Of the magnitude of that gift amidst the breveity of my sin.

And that instead of focusing on the fact THAT He came I may need to focus more on WHY He came.

And celebrate Him for that. 

Because He didn't stay a baby in the manager. 

No, He became my Savior. 

And that is Christmas.

Luke 2:11

'For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the LORD!'

Isaiah 9:6-7

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his Kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with Judgement and with Justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.'

Copy Cats

Suddenly over the past couple weeks Sullivan is obsessed with reading. He was coming along real well and then bam! obsessed. He reads everything he sees. Sounds out every word he sees and if there are no words posted around him...he just picks out objects and sounds them out as if he is reading the word.

But the best part is that Tess is watching him. She wants to be just like her older siblings so badly. I am always reminding them that they have an audience for all they do...and that they are examples. She wants to do everything they do. Including being able to read. So now she is sounding out everything she sees. Much of it is gibberish but its SO cute.

And yesterday she sounded out the word OWL. Um, that's a hard word.

This picture has nothing to do with reading...but its an example of her copying their every moves. Avery loves to dance by the Christmas lights like a ballerina...

So of course Tess does too.

This picture is just too cute and along the same lines...

Apparently I say, 'Who wants to__?' alot. And then the kids will respond, 'I do!' or 'Me!' and throw their hands up in the air...so guess who is copying this now? 

And. Its. Stinking. Adorable!

a little update

As you can see I updated my blog with new pictures by my awesome friend Amy.

Now who can tell me why Sully, Tess and Tori's pics are smaller than the rest...

and why is my header so big?

also I cant remember how to change the color of the text in my posts...

anyone? anyone?

Bueller?

help!?

Sick House

This picture doesn't really show it...but we have a sick house.

Colds and yuck.

Avery came home from school yesterday and felt just awful and

threw up by evening and then did not sleep well.

Tess has a cold and very gross cough.

I dont know that Tori has been completely 100% since she had pnemonia 6 weeks ago. She's been stuffy and not sleeping normally. Then Friday the fussiness started.

Like insane fussiness.

The kind that makes me question why I ever had children!

Last night Jordan was carrying her around and she would just scream out like she was in pain. Jordan wanted to head to Urgent Care right then.

But I waited till morning. Cause she doesn't really SEEM sick. Just fussy. So I kept thinking it was teeth. But we went this morning and she has Strep!

I'm so glad we took her in rather than waiting it out longer.

And while we were at it...Avery is bring treated for Strep too.

And really kids...if you could get a fever when you need to go to the dr. that would be hugely helpful. Or turn hot pink. That would work too.

Now, who will be the next to fall?

Oh Christmas Tree

simply walking into this room makes me so very happy.

Christmas should last longer than 1 month.

24 Gifts - sort of

I'm not always the 'fun mom'.

I say no a lot.

I expect them to play together OR alone, without me. A lot.

So when I get to be fun and say yes...its fun for me too!

This is fun. And meaningful. And will force us to do all the things on my list that I want to do during the holidasy that can get put off.

These years with young kids home with us every night are coming to a close before we know it. And I want to treasure every Christmas I can where we are all home together every night. I know once its gone I will miss it like crazy. And this will help us create memories and family fun!

I originally got the idea from Courtney. She calls it...24 Gifts. But I had to modify it because I think 24 days might be more than I can handle. So we are starting this year with 10 Gifts.

Each of these gifts has a date on it. And will be opened on that date.

Nothing wrapped up here is new. But they are either symbolic for something we are going to do together or its a Christmas movie, a book, something we are going to do for someone else, or fixings for Christmas goodies ect.

Look at these faces! Excited and happy.

Mine was too.

I am super excited about this. And I had a total blast getting it all ready tonight...just me, some wrapping paper and some christmas music!

Now to be real...I will admit that tonight's gift didn't go great. They decorated paper for a paper chain. We started late...they were very tired...I was tired and not feeling great...I let them use glitter...it was the perfect storm. ha! They were whiny and I got short with them. I wanted them all in bed asap.

But hopefully they will remember that it did start out as fun. Kids are good like that, right?!

I thought so.

And the rest of the gifts will go a lot better! :)

Then 1/2 hour after the project ended and they were ready for bed, I walked into the living room and found this...Kids have a way of humbling us don't they?! Really, these are some amazing kids.

Day 30 - 30 Days of Thankfulness

Day 30:

I am thankful that over 2000 years ago a King, a Savior came.

I am thankful that He came to die.

For you.

And for me.

Of all the things I am thankful for in this amazing life that I am blessed to lead, I am most humbly and assuredly thankful for my salvation.

Christmas can be a lot of things.

Its family and food and fun.

Its gifts and lights and traditions.

But what it really is, is a time for us to celebrate that the baby in a manger grew to become a man who was hung on a cross for our sins.

That morning a miracle occurred and the greatest act of love was shown.

The Father sent His Son to die for a sinful world.

I'm not sure we can even begin to grasp the magnitude of what He took for us.

And of how unworthy we are of the gift!

Without that all the rest of my blessings would be of little value.

As we set off in another holiday season it is my prayer that I will have this verse at the front of my mind to help me remember the Reason for the Season:

Matthew 6:33

'But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,

and all these things will be added to you.'

Day 29 - 30 Days of Thankfulness

Day 29:

I am thankful for little girls who can have their days made by the 'Enchanted Forest' at Menards.

The three of us had so much fun and spent SO much time walking through the lights and trees displayed at Menards today. I was dreading taking them into the store but it ended up being the favorite part of my day!

I'm so lucky I get to spend my days with them.

Phillipians 4:4

'Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I will say Rejoice!'

Day 28 - 30 Days of Thankfulness - Lauren's Edition

Day 28:

written by Lauren

I am thankful for my mom's blog.

I am thankful for it because I like to see the pictures of our family. I also love to read what she writes about us. I always laugh at the pictures of my siblings. My favorite picture of all of us is the one she just took with us around the Christmas tree. I like how we all have our arms around each other or are holding hands.

I like that I can always look back at my family's memories.

The blog is special to my family because when we are older we will be able to look back and see what it was like when we were kids.

I Corinthians 13:7

'Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.'