merry christmas!

No - I don't expect anyone to be checking my blog on Christmas Day!  It is just 4:30 am and I am wide awake!  Jonathan was up at 4 and I couldn't go back to sleep.  Just cherishing the quiet.  I never got to the rest of our Christmas traditions here - maybe next year.  I was having computer difficulties, spent time baking, etc.  

I spent Christmas eve attempting to bake cinnamon rolls for the breakfast on Christmas and to send with my mom for her guests.  My timing got a bit crunched so I was still trying to manage their baking during dinner which meant abandoning eating and worrying about whether they were too soft and then over baking the second batch!  Once I stopped stressing about their final condition I had to spend the next 15 minutes figuring out how to keep them from being gobbled up off the counter by Aslan the expert counter surfing dog!  

Finally I was at peace in the pew at church.  What a relief.....4 kids dressed and spiffy, presents  wrapped, out of the house not on time but we still got to church on time!  I think I have been to Christmas Eve service every year of my life.  That is definitely a rich tradition I absolutely love.  It really helps me get focused and slow down.  It is reflective, emotional, and good family time.  Not everyone has the blessing of great family to spend time with at Christmas.  I am thankful for what the Lord has given me!  I don't know what is coming in 2009.  My grandma passed away Tuesday - causing me to be even more reflective and urgent about the time here in this part of eternity.  This life is not just a 30, 50, or 90 year stint and then it is over.  If that was the case there would be no Christmas.  Christ came to offer us grace and eternity with Him  if we will accept who He is.  Eternity awaits us whether we know him or not.  I have lived some of my life separate from Christ.  It was a self-centered time with struggles.  In Christ now I still am selfish and have struggles and pain - but I do have the promise of peace and eternal life.  There is purpose in this life.  Thank you Jesus for humbling yourself as a baby to carry out your Father's grand plan.  I am blessed to be included in it.

......thou shalt call his name Jesus. For he shall save his people from their sins. MATTHEW 1:21

Christmas is coming!  Thought I would share a few family traditions over the next few days......they have helped us focus on our Savior.  Our nativity has grown over the years as we chose one that has a lot of pieces we can add over the years - they are non-breakable (key).  Last year Merl's oldest brother Loren made us this stable!  It is just plain cool.  I love keeping old pictures the kids have drawn of the nativity over the years.  Madison sketched this one during church last week (click on it to enlarge).....

let me assure you

Let me assure you - if you think you are losing your mind......you probably are.  However, let me assure you - you are not the only one and you most likely have not lost as many brain cells as I have!  I can't justifiably state the "Christmas rush" is an excuse.....we've actually had a nice relaxed pace here.  I can't say it is school - I called that more than a week ago.  I could plead the I have 4 kids thing but I seem to still be losing brain cells and the labor has long since been over!  So maybe you have done some crazy things lately - made some silly mistakes......but I'll bet you haven't backed straight into your garage door!  Bet you haven't!  Oh no, I am not so insane that I backed into it completely closed, I still have perfectly good eyesight.  The kids had left the door about 1/4th of the way down, you know, who knows why?  Later husband asks patiently......"You didn't notice it when you were loading up the van?"  Well noticing is one thing - in fact Madison said to me "Mom you'd better fix the garage door before you back out".  OK - file that in my mind.......that is request number 1,000,001  today.  Proceed into the house 3 more times to get my keys, sippy cup, and change a diaper.  Mind is now completely a blank slate.  Fire up the van and back out!  Crash!!!!!  What in the world?  Oh yes - request #1,000,001 flashes through my mind.  Put the van in drive - back into the garage  while watching the weather strip attachment rip completely off the garage door.  Kid's are yelling in the back seat - "Mom!!!!!!"  Mom gets out of the van thinking to herself, this cannot be happening, tell me this is not happening.  Mom says a few things she has to apologize to the kids for later......inspects the long metal/weather strip thing and deducts she can't put it back on.......notices the garage door is a little bent - no major damage.  Still thinking...."I can't believe this is happening....."  Mom gets back into the van still flustered as all get out and starts the van again.  (Yes, Merl I did remember to turn the van off so we would not die of carbon dioxide poisoning in the midst of it all.)  Mother then proceeds to BACK THE VAN into the door AGAIN!  Yes - you read it right!  I forgot in my fume to put the door up!  Mom gets out of the van again and sees that now the garage door is more significantly bent......hmmm will it actually work now?  Thankfully the garage door goes up and we successfully back out.

So.....what do we learn from this?  1)  We are blessed - the garage door is not a living God created animal or human 2)  anyone who "looks" like they are happily delivering Christmas gifts, shopping, and has all their little children in control is a fraud - they probably just smashed into their garage door 3) I have justifiably lost my mind and it appears that coffee, chocolate, adequate sleep, etc. is still not regenerating the necessary brain cells to keep me out of trouble!  4) The Lord has blessed me with an exceptionally patient and forgiving husband! 

the Christmas letter that didn't happen this year.....

I began this blog over the summer because I enjoyed reading other friends' blogs so much - and thought it would be a nice way to keep people up to date on our family.  I was mostly thinking of our friends and family out of state - but really I wanted to keep in fellowship with all our friends near and far.  I've enjoyed "journaling" so to speak here - it is my link to the "outside world!"  Not everyone is into reading blogs so that is fine - if you are one of those people I guess you will not read this - or you'll read this post and not be back.  That's cool - but it is a nice way to only write things one time!

So I took the easy way out on the Christmas letter gig this year......I think that most of our year is fairly well represented in the archives here....though there are just a few things I haven't blogged about I could mention:  

1)  I am still married to Merl despite the fact that I have hardly mentioned him here!  I guess for the most part I decided that he should speak for himself - or that I'd better not say too much without his permission.....maybe I could get him to write sometime.....

2)  The Lord has really blessed Merl's employment situation in ways we could never fathom.  After so many years of working 2 and 3 jobs at one time to keep me at home - his now 1 job has been fulfilling, challenging, enjoyable, and given us financial stability.  We are so thankful - as are those he works with.  He has received much encouragement and acknowledgment for his work which is a first in many, many years.  I know it is because of his character - honest, trustworthy, approachable, sensitive, hardworking, determined, thorough, and dependable.

3)  Merl is halfway through his first year as teaching leader in the men's BSF class here in the Phoenix area.  There was no question in our minds whether or not he should do it when he received the Lord's call.  After almost 15 years of serving in and being fed by such a reputable and fine organization - it was a privilege to be asked.  He has handled the responsibility of the class with I think great success - through the Lord's help and much prayer.  We are learning as a family to adjust to his "study and preparation" schedule and how to prioritize our activities and other responsibilities.  

4)  We have been at our new church home almost one year now.   Of course now looking back we can see God's providence and wisdom in prompting us to make a change.  We prayed for a smaller fellowship closer to home - and have been graciously and warmly accepted.  The kids love it and have made many new friends - just as we have.  We appreciate the preaching from God's word every week as well as the commitment to relationships.  We do miss our friends we don't see anymore at Faith - but believe it was the necessary thing to do.

5)  I am still long winded as you can see!  I have struggled to keep my posts short.  Most of you do not care about my ramblings!  So maybe I should work on being short and sweet in 2009.  Hmmm......well I might be able to work on being less wordy - but "sweet"?  I don't believe anyone has ever described me as sweet.  

6)  It would be a blessing to stay in contact with all our dear friends and family - it seems each year we hear from less and less!  Keep us in the loop!  We are privileged and blessed to have you in our lives.......

it's coming......

This year I was a little lazy - I skipped writing a Christmas letter and sent people here to read up on the family news.......I intend to write an update soon - for one thing I have neglected writing much about my dear husband on this blog!  So I'll add a few things, but for those new to the blog you can check out the archives on the left there to catch up on our year!

priorities

We interrupt this school day for making and eating the finer things in life!  (Bet you won't believe no sugar or trans fats either!)

"tea with mr. tumnus"

Saturday Madison hosted her 10th birthday party - with the theme of "Tea with Mr. Tumnus". The kids have been very into the Chronicles of Narnia - so she cleverly planned activities for the party following that idea. The 10 girls plus siblings played "statue" where the White Witch was it and if frozen, someone had to blow on you to get you thawed. Next the girls had their "tea" with tea sandwiches, chex mix, fruit, jello, and then birthday cupcakes. Next they played "pin the tail on Aslan". Madison drew a huge lion for that. It cracks me up how even 10 year olds still love this game! Madison is blessed with very thoughtful and creative friends who showered her with gifts of books, a knitting circle, and crafts to do. After the gifts it was out to the backyard for the pinata! (Sidestory: we had worked ahead to make sure the pinata had lots of paper mache coats of flour and water. The day before the party I finished the last layer and set it out in the sun to dry. Not 5 minutes later Aslan came sauntering in the house with a white nose........yep - he had eaten the pinata - no filling in it yet thankfully!) So back to our account - what you see in the photo is "plan B" for a pinata......aka carboard box. The kids had a great time beating the White Witch to a pulp. I am sorry people - I know this is violent but give me a break - I thought it was a pretty good idea. After the pinata the girls decorated little photo albums to take home with a picture of Madison and each girl. You've got to love digital!

It was neat to see that Madison has so many lovely friends of great character - we actually had to limit the number that came and left out still some she greatly enjoys. Every year after doing Allie's party, Thanksgiving, and then Madison's party I think no more! But then after the parties are over and the kids have such a great time it is all worth it. One time a year each child gets to have a party individually their own - fun.