Blessings

With 2012 winding down, I have been reflecting on the many blessings of this year.  Without a doubt, our number one blessing this year is this sweet little guy.

 It is so true that with each additional child, your heart just grows fuller of love. This little guy is my joy. God continues to use him to bring me to Him. He is working on my selfish motives and areas of pride to teach me that what matters to Him is that I raise this little one to love, serve, and trust Him above everything else.

It is my words, actions, and interactions with my him that say more about God than any Christmas devotionals, weekly bible verses, or getting to church every Sunday. When I choose to love and serve my family using Jesus as my example, Luke will grow up to believe and trust the promises learned through the devotionals, bible verses, and lessons heard at church on Sunday.  

 As I reflect on 2012 and look forward to 2013, I pray that I give my children to God for His glory and His purpose. I pray that I continue to give thanks for the blessings He gives me and use them to grow closer to Him.

 

"Very truly I tell you," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"

 

Gratitude Journal

*For the successful completion of Jake's first semester of high school

*For the upcoming vacation days

*For the gift a baby born in a manager years ago offers me today



 

 

 

 

 

 



Happy Birthday Boys

Happy Birthday to our Irish Twins who turned 6 and 7 years old last week.  We have always celebrated these two together.  I questioned this joint celebration this year, but truthfully these sweet boys have shared much in their short lives and although they are quite different in personality they are great friends.  They share sweet conversations from their bunk beds at night, they play together, share clothes, and look out for each other.

Celebrating their unique personalities and interests.  Andrew is a lover of cars, trucks, buses, basically anything with wheels.  Matt is a sports boy at heart.  He is dreaming of playing football.

God,

I pray that you will reveal yourself to my boys in a powerful way.  Grip their heart and allow them to see that your love for them is beyond any imaginable love.  God I pray that your light would shine long and bright through their life.  That through their example, others would come to know you and of your great love for them. 

God, I pray for their future.  Protect their hearts and minds from all that is evil.  I pray that they would seek you in all their decisions.  That they will live joyfully and know a peace that comes only from your spirit filling their life.  God, I pray that their trust would be completely in you and never waiver.

God, I love these boys from the depth of my soul.  Thank you for entrusting their life to Brett and I. Give us the grace to parent them according to your will.  To teach and parent them using the example of you son.

Amen

Happy Birthday Boys!

 

"Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love."

Psalm 33:18

 

Gratitude Journal

*For the peace and hope available through the spirit

*For fellowship and laughter with friends from our small group

*For the blessings of being a parent and the opportunity to recognize and take hold of them each day.

 

 

 

 



Our Tiny Beautician

This is our beautiful Kate!

I kept her home from school this past Monday because she hadn't been feeling well.  We found out later in the week this was due to an ear infection.  Kate loves to work on art projects.  One of her favorite things to do is color and cut out pictures from her coloring books, so when she asked for a pair of scissors I didn't think twice.  Well the phone rang and I wasn't paying attention to what Kate was doing until I heard her call my name.

"How do you like my hair Mom?"

Kate cut her own bangs!

We went straight to the professional beautician, but there just really wasn't anything she could do since Kate cut her bangs all the way to her scalp.  She trimmed up the top and shortened the back quite a lot and told me hairspray was my new best friend.  After a quick stop at Walmart for new hair accessories, this is our Kate.

 

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, through you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."

Micah 5:2

 

Gratitude Journal

*For the proper perspective

*For my Thursday morning bible study and the opportunity to learn and share about God's word.

*For early morning time with Luke even though I would love to sleep in.  I know these times will be short lived.

 

 

 

 



Our Elf has been busy

Carl took a self-portrait

Missing the North Pole, he made snow angels on our counter.

He accidentally got locked out!

 He hung from candy canes on our dining room light.

 He took our stockings down and replaced them with underwear.

 He went fishing in our fishbowl.

He brought us a treat from the North Pole......a new Christmas movie and popcorn

 

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."  

Isaiah 9:6

 

Gratitude Journal

*For the hope that my faith in Jesus Christ gives each day

*For the opportunity to celebrate the birthdays of our boys

*For Pandora and the discovery of the Jim Brickman station 

 

Carl

This is our elf, Carl.  He came to our family two years ago at Christmas time.  He has always been a pretty good elf.  He minds his manners and cleans up his messes.  He is very quiet at night when he comes back from the North Pole and checking in with Santa. 

This year, I can tell Carl is feeling right at home.  He has been testing the boundaries a little, but the kids are having so much fun with him that we will let him have a little fun!

Day 1

Carl hid in the cabinet with the cups.  The kids found him when Dad opened the cabinet to get their breakfast cups.

 

Day 2

Carl drew with toothpaste on our mirror in the kids bathroom.  I'm pretty sure Carl learned his lesson because toothpaste is not the easiest thing to clean off.  Carl is under strict orders from Santa himself to clean up any messes that he makes!

Day 3

Carl built a racetrack on our table and was busy racing with our nascars when the kids woke up.

Day 4

Carl has seen how much trash we collect in our house, so he decided an extra pick-up day was in order.

 

Day 5

Carl decided to read "The Gingerbread Man" to a group of babies he met in our playroom.

 

Stay tuned to see the future adventures of Carl.

 

"In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered."

Luke 2:1

 

*For great conversation and advice from my sister

*For lunch with my star kindergartner

*For encouraging emails from Kate's sweet teacher

 

 

 

Traditions- Part 2

This year I decided to write down a few fun activities that I thought the kids would enjoy completing this December.  The written format makes me more accountable to both myself and the kids.

December was rung in with the return of our beloved Elf, Carl.  Many faithful readers will note that we did indeed have quite a few conversations before the birth of our last child that involved my husband and children seriously vying to name our sweet baby boy Carl!

Carl returned Saturday morning and set our table for a North Pole breakfast.  He brought hot chocolate and cinnamon bread to make yummy toast.  He also brought a treat from the North Pole for each of the kids.

He also brought a fun family activity....a gingerbread house.

After breakfast, we left in two shifts to enjoy the annual Watkinsville Christmas Parade.

Waiting for the parade to begin.

Emily asked to bring her friend along.  She also brought the class panda, Bamboo.

 

 

"And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."

Luke 1:31-33

 

Gratitude Journal

*For Christmas stories at night before bed

*For teachable moments with my children learning about our Savior

*For Christmas movies on TV that bring back childhood memories

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Traditions- Part 1

The Christmas season is upon us.  I have been struggling with sharing the real meaning of the Christmas season with my children and yet allowing the "fun" things to filtrate our house.  I want more than anything for my children to love to serve others more than serving their own wants and needs.  This is extremely difficult when society, their friends, and their own sinful nature tells them that they deserve something newer, bigger, and more expensive than what they already own.  I pray everyday for their contentment and for God to reach down and grab a hold of their heart.  For them to recognize the blessings of the life they have and the desire to want to share this gift with others.

 

What a blessing to learn as a child that EVERYTHING belongs to God.  That no earthly treasure will last beyond this present life.  To know and understand that God wants your heart, but all your stuff gets in the way of this.  I pray that my children will become adults who have their hands open, not clenched shut.  Who will allow God to use them and their stuff for His glory and to bring others closer to Him

 

We started a new tradition this year to teach our kids more about Jesus, the person who's birth we celebrate on Christmas.  I found the idea in my monthly family magazine "Thriving Families" produced by Focus on the Family. 

Each night, our children listen to a verse or short passage that shares one of the many names Jesus is known by and then we discuss and illustrate the reason Jesus is known as this person.

Above everything else, this Christmas season we want our children to know that the little baby who was born in a manager, who grew into a young man and died for their sin is....

I am

The Word

Son of David

True Vine

Lion of the Tribe of Judah

Bread of Life

Rock

Mediator

Counselor

Lamb of God

Prince of Peace

Great High Priest

The Way

Truth

Immanuel

Messiah

Holy and Righteous One

Son of God

Son of Man

Redeemer

King of Kings

Good Shepard

Light of the World

Jesus 

 

"When Jesus spoke again to the people he said, "I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

John 8:12

 

Gratitude Journal

*For the opportuntity to share in traditions old and new with my family.

*For the lights on the Christmas tree

*For the innocent excitement that this season brings