It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

Two days until Christmas and this is what it looks like outside! Beautiful!!

I Dare You...

To strip down to your undies and run outside in the snow. Porter made good on the dare and made it even better -- he ran outside, down the back stairs, and slid down the hill on his belly! Crazy kid!

These are a few of my favorite things...

I absolutely love my house during the holidays! Even if it takes three days of boxes scattered everywhere to get it all set up, I love the way it looks when it's all done. And I love the memories and the love that each piece represents. From the tree in the living room that displays black and white engagement photos and now photos of our children too, to the intricate hand-painted nativity and Old World Santas I received from Aunt Emily, to the big tall tree on the stairs that was built by my husband from an old log and old tree branches because he wanted a tree with colored lights and I did not.

living room tree

Kevin's creation. Not a very good picture. This tree really is cool!

Old World Santas from Emmy

ho, ho, humbug.

another nativity from a dear friend

nativity from Emmy

new this year -- a shelf to hang the stockings! Thanks mom and dad!

Thanksgiving 2008

I know that this is old news now, but I wanted to record it. Our Thanksgiving morning started earlier than most as we began the day with a 5k Turkey Trot.

There really was not much trotting happening. In fact, our star long distance runner decided to rebel and refused to walk a single step! She had a slight fever the night before. But she normally will run a half mile without stopping when we go for walks on the nature trail! And, because of this, no one thought that a stroller was that important. Kevin carried her for a while but then he and the other kids took off and she and I were left. It was a long waddle carrying her in my arms! When the finish line was in sight, Porter came back and rescued me. Thank goodness!

I think it is a fun tradition to start as family.

Then we went down to Pa's house for dinner and fun and games. Along with the traditional board games and trivial pursuit marathon, we had a new game provided by Timbri. TURKEY BOWLING!!

The game involves throwing frozen turkeys down a "lane" of plastic to knock down 2 liter pop bottle "pins". Lots of fun! We ended the day with Kevin uncharacteristically hauling out all the Christmas decorations and putting up his tree. He always does this, just usually not this early. Bring on the holidays!!

A Season for Miracles

My cousin just received some fabulous news today. I am talking about my "your baby has a golf ball size tumor on her brain" as of just a few months ago cousin. Today, said cousin took her sweet baby in for another MRI where doctors were able to officially announce her in remission. Can you hear my WAHOO!! from where you live? Here is a picture of the scrumptious girl herself. You will have to trust me, she has been very sick although she doesn't look it here.

And, while my day has been filled with small dances of joy and prayers of thanksgiving, I am also very mindful of a friend who is on the other end of the journey just now. She recently discovered that her 8-year-old girl has leukemia. They are facing a long and difficult road and my heart aches for them. But did you know that childhood cancer has upward of 70% recovery rate? Children are resilient. They live in the moment and find happiness in the details and even forget to worry about the future. I am convinced that they are also full of faith. They haven't fully forgotten their first home and I believe they still have visitors from that heavenly place ~ especially when they are hurting and sad and scared. And that is why sick little girls can still look like that picture above.

I am thinking of that scripture that says that there is a season for everything. I am also thinking of becoming seasoned. My cousin is now a seasoned pro at baby vomit and hospital sleeping and feeding tubes and planting kisses on bald little heads (at least two that I know of :0)). I dare say she is also seasoned. As in refined. With more faith, more love, more tenacity...just more. More of who she needs to be. And there are tests out there for each of us, to help us to become seasoned and refined and ready for God to work through us and in us. My friend has an estimated three years of some tough seasoning ahead of her. Three years. That is only three Christmases, Lana. Less than one presidential term. Only a little season. It will be tough as hell. It will be over before you know it. And you can do so much more than you think possible through the grace of God and the companionship of angels.

What a season to rejoice!! Right now, perhaps more than ever before, I am thankful for miracles and angels and seasoning by the Master. God bless us, every one!