A Merry Christmas

It's still a mystery to me

That the hands of God could be so small,

How tiny fingers reaching in the night

Were the very hands that measured the sky

Hallelujah, hallelujah

Heaven's love reaching down to save the world


Hallelujah, hallelujah
Son of God, Servant King,
You're here with us


You're here with us


It's still a mystery to me,
How His infant eyes have seen the dawn of time



How His ears have heard an angel's symphony,
But still Mary had to rock her Savior to sleep

Hallelujah, hallelujah

Heaven's love reaching down to save the world

Hallelujah, hallelujah

Son of God, Servant King

Here with us

You're here with us

Jesus the Christ, born in Bethlehem

A baby born to save, to save the souls of man

Hallelujah, hallelujah

Heaven's love reaching down to save the world

Hallelujah, hallelujah

Son of God, Servant King

Here with us

You're here with us

"Here With Us"

Joy Williams

Not wanting to forget the real reason for the season...

Charlotte and I began a new Christmas tradition, baking a birthday cake for Jesus.

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Merry Christmas to all...

... and to all a good night!

Christmas Surprise!

IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME, AND EVERYONE KNOWS THE HOLIDAYS BRING MAGICAL SURPRISES. IN OUR HOME, THE SURPRISE CAME IN THE FORM OF CHRISTMAS "SHORT CUTS" AKA HAIR CUTS. EVERY SINCE THE LITTLE LADY GOT HER FIRST HAIR CUT, SHE HAS BEEN ASKING TO GET A SECOND. EACH WEEK I WOULD ASK HER, "DO YOU WANT LONG HAIR OR SHORT?" SHE WOULD ALWAYS ANSWER, "LONG." THAT IS UNTIL LAST WEEK. SHE WAS CONFIDENT SHE NOW WANTED SHORT HAIR (LIKE MAMA.) IN ADDITION, JOEY'S SWEET CURLY LOCKS WERE STARTING TO RESEMBLE A MULLET (A SAD REALIZATION). A TRIP TO GREAT CLIPS BECAME PRIORITY NUMERO UNO AS WE COUNTED DOWN TO CHRISTMAS.

OUR CHRISTMAS CUTIES PRE-SHORT CUT.

THE LITTLE LADY SAT DOWN AND PROUDLY PROCLAIMED, "I WANT SHORT HAIR!"


THIS LITTLE GUY WAS A DREAM (WHEN IS HE NOT?) AND SAT ON MY LAP AS THEY TRIMMED AWAY HIS SWEET BABY HAIR.

LOOKING AWFULLY OLD. (SNIFF)

SHORT, TOUSLED HAIR.

AND...

THE INFAMOUS "SUCK-IT"

A SWEET AND MEMORABLE TRIP FOR SURE! WE ALL GOT A KICK OUT OF SURPRISING THE GRANDPARENTS ONCE IN MILWAUKEE. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH CUTTING A FEW INCHES OFF HER MANE NOT ONLY MAKES HER LOOK OLDER BUT ACT OLDER AS WELL - 2 1/2 GOING ON 15! (SIGH)

Party?

EVERY DAY IS A PARTY IN OUR HOUSE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE LITTLE LADY DECIDES TO THROW ONE OF HER "REALLY BIG PARTIES."

JOEY, PRE-PARTY, ENJOYS SOME ALONE TIME IN OUR GREEN JEEP TENT.

"COME IN MOMMY, THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM."

CHARLOTTE'S PARTY BEGINS.

HER IDEA OF A PARTY IS EMPTYING EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR NICELY ORGANIZED TOY BINS INTO THE TENT, OR ONTO THE FLOOR, OR (HER NEW FAV) ONTO THE RECENTLY "DE-PILLOWED" COUCH. "THIS PARTY IS A HUGE SUCCESS!!!"


OUR LITTLE PARTY PLANNER.

IT'S A ROCKIN' GOOD TIME.

Gingerbread House

LAST THURSDAY THE KIDS AND I BUNDLED UP AT HEADED TO MY MOM'S GROUP TO MAKE A GINGERBREAD HOUSE. I WAS ACTUALLY QUITE EXCITED AS I DON'T RECALL EVER MAKING ONE BEFORE (MOM, YOU WILL HAVE TO CONFIRM THIS). THE ROOM WAS A BUZZ WITH MOMS AND THEIR LITTLE ONES EAGER TO GRAB SWEETS FROM THE EASY-TO-REACH TABLES. I CHUCKLED AS I WATCHED MY DAUGHTER AND COUNTLESS OTHER CHILDREN "SNEAK" DELECTABLE TREATS WITH WIDE GRINS AND SUGARY LIPS. IT WAS A SWEET TIME (LITERALLY) AS WE ASSEMBLED OUR HOUSE WITH FROSTING AND CHRISTMAS CANDY. A FAVORITE HOLIDAY ACTIVITY TO DATE.

THE LITTLE LADY POSES BEFORE ENGINEERING HER GINGERBREAD HOUSE. ALAS, POOR JOE HAD TO WATCH FROM THE CONFINES OF HIS STROLLER (YET AGAIN). I'M THANKFUL HIS LOVE OF SNACKS KEEPS HIM STATIONARY.

ASSEMBLING OUR MASTER PIECE.
"GOOD CANDY PLACEMENT, CHAR."

FAILING TO ACTUALLY LIMIT HER CANDY INTAKE, I GAVE IN TO HER SWEET CRAVINGS. NO, SHE DID NOT NAP THAT DAY.

IT SEEMED FITTING FOR HER TO FINISH HER HOUSE EARLY IN ORDER TO READ THE CHILDREN'S BIBLE.

THE FINISHED PRODUCT

DISPLAYED SWEETLY BY OUR WEE TREE.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

LIKE MANY OF YOU, WE WERE HIT WITH OUR FIRST BIG SNOW OF THE SEASON. WE WATCHED IN AWE AS IT FELL LAST EVENING FILLING THE FIELD AND FALLING PERFECTLY UPON EACH BARE BRANCH. I LOVE THE FIRST BIG SNOW. GAZING OUT ONTO THE UNTOUCHED FIELD LAST NIGHT WHILE GENTLE FLAKES FELL FROM THE BLACK SKY, I FOUND MYSELF CATCHING MY BREATH WHILE TAKING IN ITS BEAUTY.

THIS MORNING, JEFF WAS EAGER TO TAKE CHARLOTTE OUTSIDE TO LET HER EXPERIENCE HER FIRST ROMP IN THE SNOW. THE TEMPERATURE WAS LESS THAN IDEAL, BUT SHE WAS UP FOR AN ADVENTURE WITH DADDY. SO, I PULLED OUT HER SNOW PANTS AND BOOTS (GENTLE HAND-ME-DOWNS FROM OUR DEAR FRIEND, ANNALISE), EXCITED TO SEE THE LITTLE LADY IN THEM FOR THE FIRST TIME. SHE WAS DELIGHTED TO BE OUTFITTED IN SUCH WARM WINTER GEAR. AND, WHILE HER TIME IN THE SNOW WAS LESS THAN TEN MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO CAPTURE A FEW SWEET PICTURES.

POSING SWEETLY IN HER GEAR.

ALL READY FOR A SNOWY ADVENTURE.

"WHY DON'T YOU JUST PICK ME UP, DADDY?"


SAFE IN DADDY'S ARMS; READY TO EXPLORE.


"WHICH WAY SHOULD WE GO?"

"HELLO MAMA!"

AND ALONG WITH HER FIRST FEW MINUTES IN THE SNOW, SHE WAS ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THE WARMING FACTOR OF HOT COCOA!

"THAT'S PRETTY TASTY."

"Mmmmmm."

Did you know?
"It is very unlikely for two snowflakes to be exactly alike due to the water molecules which make up a snowflake. These molecules grow at different rates and in different patterns depending on the changing temperature and humidity within the atmosphere that the snowflake falls through on its way to the ground." (Adapted from Wikipedia)

Like the snowflake, we too, are unique. Our uniqueness is by design, orchestrated perfectly by our Creator. It is a simple comparison until you stand on your porch watching the first snow fall of the year. As thousands of tiny flakes catch a branch, or find their way to the ground it is profound to realize that no two are the same. Likewise, it is astounding (at least to me, a mother of two, who spends her days observing actions, comparing features, noting differences, finding similarities) to recognize that there is no one else on this earth just like me, my husband, our Charlotte, or sweet Joe. And tonight, I am struck by the creativity and thoughtfulness of our God. I admire his handiwork - the beauty I find in our children, the traits they share and those that differ.

I pray that in the midst of a busy season, you are able to find a moment to notice His blessings, appreciate your uniqueness, and marvel at His creation. His creation that includes YOU!

YOU ARE UNIQUELY YOU

by Jackie Alvarez

"Consider this. And really take the time to think about it. You are unique. There will never be anyone else who can fit into your mold.

And that was on purpose.

Reflect on the detail put into creating your physical body. Think about the one-of-a-kind way you taste food, make and grow babies and see color and all the complex processes you body carries out every day.

Examine the way your mind works. Ponder the individual way you experience emotions, think complex ideas, enjoy others and love deeply.

Contemplate what makes you - you. The combination of your genetics, life experiences and choices are exclusive only to you.

And consider that it was all on purpose. You are uniquely you! And you are loved for exactly who you are."

Holiday Merriment

BOB, OUR FUTURE BROTHER-IN-LAW, HOSTS A CHRISTMAS COSTUME PARTY EACH YEAR, AND THIS WAS OUR SECOND YEAR IN ATTENDANCE. LAST YEAR OUR SON WAS ONLY THREE WEEKS OLD WHEN THE PARTY WAS HELD AND SO WE SWADDLED HIM UP (LITERALLY) AND WENT AS MARY, JOSEPH AND BABY JESUS. (PLEASE DON'T THINK US BAD PARENTS.)

THIS YEAR, WITH OUR EYES SET ON WINNING THE COSTUME PRIZE I GOT CREATIVE AND SET OUT TO MAKE JEFF AND I INTO A HOT TODDY. WITH A QUICK TRIP TO JOANNE'S FOR SUPPLIES, I SET OUT TO CREATE TWO LIFE SIZE BOTTLES OF RUM AND EGGNOG.

$29 AND 5 1/2 HOURS OF WORK TIME RESULTED IN THE FOLLOWING:

THE EVER IMPORTANT NUTRITIONAL FACTS. EGGNOG IS NOT EXACTLY GOOD FOR THE WAIST LINE.
RUM, THE INFAMOUS "CHRISTMAS STORY" LEG LAMP, RALPHIE, AND EGGNOG
DAWN AND BOB ARE FIERCE COMPETITORS WHEN IT COMES TO COSTUMES.

AND, LET US NOT FORGET JOLLY OLD ST. NICK AND HIS BRIDE WITH LITTLE ELVES IN TOW!
IT WAS TRULY A FAMILY AFFAIR THIS YEAR. (DON'T WORRY, MRS. CLAUSE TOOK OUR CHILDREN HOME AND TUCKED THEM IN BED AFTER 30 MINUTES OF FUN.)

ALAS, WE DID NOT WIN A PRIZE FOR OUR COSTUMES. WE WERE A BIG HIT, THOUGH. AND, I GREATLY ENJOYED WORKING ON OUR COSTUMES. WHAT CAN I SAY? I WILL ALWAYS BE A TEACHER AT HEART, AND I LOVE ME A GOOD ART PROJECT!