merry merry

The excitement around here is at an all-time high!

For our family, we start celebrating monthly birthdays in July :: so by the time December arrives, and we've wrapped up our son's birthday...we're more than ready to celebrate the coming of Christ to earth! Josiah has been walking around this week singing 'Happy Birthday to Jesus' numerous times--very sweet.

While we know it's not the exact day or even season of Christ's actual birth, we stand in awe that He came. And that we are the recipients of such a gift!


Well, this December has certainly been different :: while we're excited about the new babe to be in our family, sickness has also changed plans. So, how do you enjoy the season anyway? Go to Plan B~

:: let the children decorate the house! They're old enough right? So, I have to hold my tongue when about 30 random items {holiday decor and other} line my mantel after our 5 year-old finishes her contribution. She even asked for a picture to be taken of it. Gotta do that. Really, I will.

:: let hubby do our Christmas cards. Okay, that's a joke. He always does our cards to close family, friends and our church family. What a guy.

:: accept help from others. This used to be really hard for me, but I've learned that we were created to be interdependent, created to give and to receive. In humility, we've welcomed the offers to take our children out for a bit or to bring over a meal.

:: let the rest go! We can eventually make treats for the birds, finish some crafts, and pick up our other subjects in schoolwork outside of language arts and math {what I like to call bare-bones homeschooling}.

Right now is a time for celebrating His coming, gathering close as a family & enjoying the togetherness, and for giving thanks for all that we've enjoyed through the year. We've been blessed. I'd like to remember this season not as one that was frenzied, but one that was joyful.

Merry Christmas!

merry merry

still here...

A quick hello to everyone!

I'm still here though not posting as often :: thanks for the words of encouragement and of prayers, what a blessing! Just to answer a question or two about my pregnancies--yes, I usually do become very sick in the first 16 or so weeks. It's a challenge, but this round has already been different. I'm not dehydrating and am able to hold down some food and small amounts of liquids at a time. Ginger tea is a dear friend of mine, and life has just taken on a slower pace to accommodate.

I hope your December is moving along and that whatever preparations for Christmas and celebrating you've planned are coming to pass with ease. I'll be back here in this space soon, probably every other day or something. We'll see. And, I need to make some blog stops and see what you all are up to. Enjoy your Tuesday!

still here...

adoration

Thank you so much for the congratulations and blessings!

In the spirit of the psalm that continually repeats the phrase 'his love endures forever', with a different expression, I offer my reflections on this week:

O Come All Ye Faithful

Joyful and triumphant,

O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.

Come and behold Him,

Born the King of Angels;

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord!

O Come, let us adore Him.

Lord, even when morning {um, all day!} sickness seems to be taking over my days

O Come, let us adore Him.

When my newly turned 3-yr old decided this week to throw all toothbrushes into the toilet and ransack his sister's room just a little

O Come, let us adore Him.

As I await with my oldest the results of her first college semester efforts and continue to offer direction and vision

O Come, let us adore Him.

As I explain to our 10-yr old again and again how to convert an improper fraction into a mixed number, and she says she understands, but we begin afresh the next day {and I work at keeping patience as a close friend}

O Come, let us adore Him.

When the offended sister of little brother's ransacking decides to retaliate in like manner

O Come, let us adore Him!

In all situations, where ever I find myself at the moment...Lord, teach me to see You. To adore You in the midst of it all. Isn't this too a part of the Christmas account?

A smelly and untidy stable, which in reality was more a cave-like dwelling than the fancy barn depicted in our nativity scenes...strange men, full of exuberance & motivated by angelic visitation, invading the privacy of a newlywed couple adjusting to the early hours of parenting...maybe all wasn't as silent as we sing about and yet...

They all worshipped you. Recognized you in the midst of the chaos and the random events of that day...the shepherds sought you out until they found you. They came to adore you.

May I respond likewise.

O Come, let me adore Him!

adoration

blueberry baby

Well, that's about the size of our little one right now...

Our family will welcome a new family member this July! Mom and Dad are happy, the can't-wait-until-the-baby-comes siblings are ecstatic, and friends and family celebrate with us.

As I reflect on this season, I personally cannot imagine a visitation from an angelic being to announce my pregnancy :: seeing the two lines on that stick was enough of a celestial experience. And the news would have crushed Mary's world and dreams, brought on doubts and serious concerns, and surely, surely...made her afraid. My experience is so radically different and there is really no comparison.

Except for one possibly.

She celebrated God's work, and gave thanks to Him. My heart and thoughts echo those voiced so long ago--"My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior"!

blueberry baby

random

I'm feeling random and a bit scattered this morning, as has been pretty much my week. I think it was the Thanksgiving holiday, enjoying time with Nana (grandma) who came to visit for several days, birthday celebrations and just other that has the last two weeks turned upside down. We need to get back on track with our schooling as my children currently believe we're on an eternal break! But, it has been a very fun two weeks as well.

Let's see....

:: I've updated the sidebar lists of books we're enjoying!

:: I've been cooking up a storm {southern terminology} this week freezing meals so that the rest of the month feels lighter--casseroles, enchiladas, quiche are a few--yum! Today I'll make some soups and breads.

:: sometime today I plan to sit and enjoy a cup of tea in my favorite mug.

:: laundry needs to be caught up, but I'm really not looking forward to that as it's my least favorite chore. I'd rather be cooking!

:: though my weekend has several plans already--a baby shower, cantata practice at church & a performance Sunday--I will squeeze in quiet moments around it all. Somehow!

hopefully, you will enjoy some peace in this season as well. a peace-filled weekend to you....

random

december crafting

Decision, decisions! I certainly need to make some. There are way too many craft ideas in my head right about now :: definitely time to get a little realistic. But until then {smile!}, aren't those birdy stamps above so sweet? They're from Martha Stewart's line at Michael's art stores, simply lovely. They should be a priority this month don't you think?

And, here's a project I'm a little behind on as this was meant to be finished in time for Josiah's birthday....two days ago, oops! Fortunately, he won't mind or a Christmas gift it shall be.

A wooden block puzzle! I took books that we've read so much the pages we're worn & then cut and pasted those pages onto wooden cubes. Mod Podge was used as an adhesive and I also put another layer of that on top of the pictures. I have four sides done, so only two more! This idea came from somewhere on the web, but I can't remember exactly where I first saw it.

And then there are crafts I would like to do with the children....like I said, time to prioritize!

december crafting

advent musings

The advent season is finally in full swing over here! After a bumpy start {a.k.a. we didn't start on time and had to catch up}, our family will continue enjoying The Glorious Coming as a daily reading. Personally, I'm appreciating this Advent devotional as it ties the Christmas story into other biblical narratives from the beginning of time. The story of Christ's coming does start in Genesis, right? So, I'm happy we're focusing on this perspective.

On that note, let me mention a new Bible in our home and one that I'm very pleased with. The Big Picture Story Bible has a super thumbs up from our family and is an excellent resource! It paints a picture of the Bible as one unified story focused on the fulfilment of God's promises to his people, and the relationship between the people and their God. Though separated into some chapters, it reads like one big story. We love it! The book has mainly pictures, but is over 400 pages; my younger children begged me to keep reading :: we did almost the whole book in one sitting! This would be an excellent Advent resource as well.

I'd love to hear any ideas of thoughts of what other families are doing to focus on Christ this season!


{photo of our Jesse Tree}

advent musings

happy birthday to the king!

No, it's not the Messiah's birth that the title is referring to, but King Josiah's {as we are all fond of calling him}!

Many people told me that boys would be different. I wasn't convinced that would be true so early, but my son has set the record straight! Oh, how I love this boy. Because he is a snuggler and cuddler still at age 3, his rambunctious ways are quickly forgiven by this Mama.

Oh sure, I'm ready for him to let go of the idea that he can fly and to accept the limitations that gravity places on all of us...but he is precious.

Happy 3rd birthday son.

happy birthday to the king!

anticipation

Welcome December....

The calendar releases yet one more month in anticipation of the last for this year. And here I sit with pen poised above square boxes all lined in rows, ready to write in family events, social activities, appointments and the like. Ready to fill the containers that mark our time, this calendar.

But I pause today and ask....

What do you want to write in, Master? I anticipate duties & tasks, celebration as well. Yet I come to ask for the agenda that my planning has not considered. The invisible to my eye, but felt by my heart script that your hand is writing, impressing upon me.

Show me Lord, so that this month is prioritized according to your will for us. Marking time is not the goal, perfect scheduling and planning not the most important....

I want to anticipate Emmanuel, God with me.

As we celebrate your coming to this earth, let my life welcome you each moment and allow you to come :: to speak & write your script into my days.

As I go about the necessary tasks of organizing our home life, fill me with an awareness of Emmanuel, so that my steps mirror yours for me.

It's Advent. I anticipate and welcome your coming. Not just then, but now.

Today.

{photo credit to stock.xchng}

anticipation