Merry Christmas

The gifts have been opened, the pictures have been taken, the Christmas meal has been eaten, and the Christmas story has once again been read.

As our family enjoys a cold rainy day indoors, we relish in the pleasures of just being together on this very special day. When I think of all the hours we spent shopping for gifts, decorating the tree, hanging up lights, wrapping presents, attending holiday events, baking cookies, volunteering at church, celebrating with friends, and watching Christmas specials on t.v., it's hard to believe that all those preparations have culminated just for today.

I never did get our Christmas cards ordered and mailed out this year. We did get the family photos taken last week though. Right after a snow storm passed though our area. I'm thinking a Happy New Year's card would be nice for family and friends to receive from us. Our boys have changed so much these past 12 months that many of our relatives wouldn't even recognize them if they passed them on the street... hence the reason to send out cards.

Keith bought Brody and Carson air soft guns this year. Since they can't go outside to play (it is still raining), Keith has decided to set up a bull's eye target in the center of our fireplace so they can do some practice shooting. (I'm not kidding). I have little yellow pellets all of the floor. Some body's gonna be picking them up this evening and it's not going to be me.

Carson just came in holding his forehead. He tried to hit the fireplace target with his gun but the pellet missed and hit one of the ceramic logs instead. It ricoshed back and hit him between the eyes. I'm thankful that he didn't take one out. I seem to remember seeing safety googles in the packaging but for the life of me I can't undestand why no one is wearing them.

I bought Keith an air soft gun too so he could play along with the boys. He is such a big kid at heart. He's already used up all his pellets so I'm sure we'll be making a run to Wal-Mart tomorrow for more.

I just love Christmas time and it really has nothing to do with the presents. To me Christmas is all about spending time with my family, making special memories, and celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

This morning I woke up extra early so I could enjoy our beautiful Christmas tree while I sipped a cup of warm coffee and read through the Christmas story in Luke 2. As I sat all snuggled up in my favorite blanket, I thought about Mary and how she lacked the comforts and basic necessities that first Christmas night as she held her new born son in her arms. Humble beginnings, miraculous moments, and eternal results.

As night falls and everyone gets ready for bed, we plan to watch the Nativity movie together. I can't imagine a better way to end our special Christmas day. We have so much to be thankful for.

Testify this Christmas

Here are the photos I promised. This is a picture of my family. My husband's name is Keith and our two son's are Brody (14 yrs) and Carson (10 yrs)

Here is a not so good photo of the entire group. As you can tell, I'll lacking in quality picture taking capabilities.

This is Brody with some of his friends; Caleb, Alex, and Kerry

Wishing you all a great weekend filled with fun moments with your families.

Many blessings,

Leah

A Cradle That Rocked the World

I just love this time of year. Christmas is fast approaching and before long I'll be writing 2010 on all of my personal checks. I've been busy decorating my home but haven't bought a single Christmas gift. My husband and I have asked our two boys, Brody and Carson, what they would like for Christmas this year and they honestly do not know. We are so blessed and truly have more than we really need. Besides, my favorite part of Christmas is not wrapped up in the those gifts. It's really the way we celebrate as a family and the special memories that are created each year.


I'll tell you about one of our favorite annual events in just a minute. First let me welcome you if you're joining me from my good friend, Karen Ehman's blog. Karen is interviewing me today as part of her 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway. If you haven't met Karen yet, be sure to check out her blog. Karen is an incredibly talented writer and speaker. Plus, she's one of the funniest gals I know. Just thinking about her makes me smile. Karen is celebrating this month with her blog readers through her special Christmas giveaway and today I'm giving away a Proverbs 31 t-shirt to someone so be sure to pop on over and register. You don't want to miss out of this one!


Now, back to one of my favorite holiday celebrations. Each year my son, Brody sings in a city wide teen choir called Testify. After months of long practices, they perform Christmas concerts at local churches, children's homes, and civic centers. It is so amazing to see over 140 teenagers worshipping God and proclaiming the birth of Jesus through songs, dance, and drama. As a mom, I couldn't be more proud of him.


This year their theme is "The Cradle that Rocked the World". When I really stop and think about that statement, I am easily brought to tears. To wrap my mind around the fact that God sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to live a life of complete humility for the redemption of man is an overwhelming thought. To think that Jesus left his heavenly home, completely filled with almighty power, only to empty himself and be wrapped in human flesh which probably consisted of no more than eight pounds is so incredible.


Yes, Jesus eventually grew out of that little cradle. He grew in stature and favor with God and man. He healed the blind, made the sick well, and performed many miracles. He died on a wooden cross for you and for me. Yet, on the third day He conquered death itself and rose from the grave. Now that is something to celebrate!


Yes, that cradle certainly rocked the world and will continue to rock the world until Christ returns to this earth once again in all of His glory and majesty. My prayer for you this Christmas season is that while your busy decorating, shopping for gifts, baking all those yummy Christmas cookies, and celebrating with friends and family that you'll set aside some special time to be with Jesus. To thank Him for all that He's done for you and to celebrate His presence in your life today.


Yes, the cradle that rocked the world - yesterday, today, and forever!


I wanted to post some pictures that I took this weekend at my son's concert but for some reason my computer isn't cooperating with me this morning. Please stop by tomorrow and I'll have them up for you.

Over the summer, Testify will travel to different states with another production so if you'd like to host them at your church, please write and let me know. They are an awesome group of teenagers who love the Lord and are passionate about spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.


Thanks again for stopping by. If you have a minute, please leave a comment and introduce yourself. That would mean so much to me.


Merry Christmas!

Unexpected Surprises

We have an unexpected guest staying with us this Christmas season. His name is Nicholas and he's from the North Pole :)

My son, Carson, came home from school last week all excited and eager to share with me about something that was taking place in his classroom. Several of his classroom buddies had received elves from the North Pole. Carson referred to it has having an "Elf on the Shelf". I hadn't heard anything about these elves. Then again, I haven't watched the news lately.

Carson really wanted an elf and said we needed to place saltine crackers, a small glass of water, and one of his shoes by the fireplace for the elf to arrive. That evening Carson carefully arranged everything near the fireplace but in the morning there was no elf to be found.

He was so disappointed and with tears in his eyes said "I'll be the only kid in my class that doesn't have an elf this year". He suggested that maybe he did something wrong and that's why the elf didn't arrive. I assured him that the elf most likely got detained by some big important assignment at the North Pole and not to get discouraged.

The following evening we placed out the crackers, water, one of Carson's smelling tennis shoes and sure enough, the elf appeared overnight! Carson was so excited he could hardly stand it. He quickly began writing a letter to the elf that was filled with lots of questions. He wanted to know all about his new friend, especially what his name was.

Well, since last week we've found out quite a bit about this little guy. First off, his name is Nicholas. He is nocturnal and gets into a lot of mischief at night when we're sleeping. He loves saltine crackers and water but leaves crumbs all over the place. He likes to dig in sock drawers, toy bins, and the kitchen pantry. During the day, he carefully watches what goes on in our house, making sure that Carson is being a good boy and obeying his parents.

Carson just loves his new friend Nicholas and is so proud of him. Just this weekend, Carson invited several of his neighborhood friends over the meet Nicholas. In fact, Carson wanted you to meet Nicholas too and asked me to please do a blog post this morning. I told him I would as long as I was able to post a picture of him and Nicholas together. He gladly agreed.

Here they are. I kinda think they look a lot a like too!

Merry Christmas,
Leah

Overwhelmed by Your To-Do List?

Do you ever feel completely overwhelmed by your to-do list?

I sure do! If fact, more times than I'd like to admit. I've already sensed that today would be one of those overwhelming days.

Our family was out of town last week visiting my brother and his family for the Thanksgiving holiday. We had such an incredible time and what made it so special was that we just "hung out" the entire time. Our boys were completely content playing with their cousins. They had no interest in going to local attractions or doing any sight-seeing. I know... amazing, isn't it?

We returned home over the weekend and this morning reality slapped us all in the face at 5:45 am when it was time to get everyone ready for school and work. After Brody & Carson hopped on their buses, I snuggled up with a delicious cup of hazelnut coffee and my bible to have some quiet time. With so much on my plate today, I knew the best place to start was with Jesus.

I've been studying about prayer lately so I took some extra time to pray specifically through some situations that had been bothering me. When I was finished, I felt so encouraged and rejuvenated.

I grabbed a notepad and began jotting down my "to-do" list. One page turned into two pages and then three. With each turn of the notepad sheet, my encouragement turned to discouragement. I had so many items on my "to-do" list that I had to create subsections!

All that rejuvenation which held me only moments ago quickly disintegrated and I was left with a complete sense of frustration and wondering what on earth I should do first.

Am I the only woman on planet earth who can get so easily distracted and frazzled by a little piece of paper with line items on it?

Honestly, what would really happen if I didn't complete my to-do list. Well, for starters, the bills wouldn't get paid, the laundry wouldn't get done, and we'd have no food in the house.

Are you wondering what I did with that to-do list? Well, I wanted to burn it, crawl back into bed, and sleep for two more hours. Instead, I mentally handed my to-do list over to God. Since I've been studying prayer lately, I thought maybe God would help me out with my dilemma.

I told Him the things I felt were a priority for today but asked Him to show me what daily assignments He had chosen for me instead.

One by one, I went down the list and as I did, I realized something. Some of these things really
didn't need to be done today. In fact, they could wait until tomorrow or even the end of this week. I also noticed that some of these items could be delegated to other family members.

The most amazing thing was that God actually added some items to my to-do list. One was to send an encouraging email to a friend whose father just had open heart surgery last week. Another was to call my mom and wish her a "Happy Birthday" ... I COMPLETELY forgot it was her birthday today! I'm so glad Jesus reminded me. Another addition to my list was to tell my husband three things that I love about him and let him know how much I appreciate all that he does for our family.

Wow! God had given me three new assignments and I hadn't even had breakfast yet.

So what has this little exercise accomplished for me this morning?

For starters, I no longer am discouraged. If fact, that overwhelming feeling has been replaced with joy and a wonderful sense of peace. Also, my list has been condensed in a way that is realistic for my day. But most importantly I made a conscious decision to take my concerns to God right away instead of trying to figure things out on my own. He responded to my plea for help by showing me what's really important and what matters to Him today.

Do you have a long "to-do" list right now?

If so, I'd like to challenge you to take that list to God. Prayerfully ask Him to show you what items on that list needs to be accomplished today. I bet He'll prompt you to scratch off some things and delegate others to family members. He may even add some other daily assignments that you didn't even think about.

Oh, I sure hope He does! If so, please let me know. I'd love to hear how He's working in your life today.

Being Thankful

Our family made a last minute decision to visit my brother and his family in Florida for Thanksgiving this year. I'm so glad we decided to throw our cares to the wind and do something totally spontaneous for a change.

My brother has a condo right on the beach that happened to be available this week. I've never packed three suitcases so fast in all my life. After a ten hour drive filled with movies, lots of reading, and only two pit stops we arrived safely with smiles our faces. My husband has a tendency to drive with a heavy foot so the fact that we made it to Florida accident-free is something to be thankful about.

Speaking of thankfulness, I just wanted to say "Happy Thanksgiving" to all of you!

As I sit at my laptop, I can't help but be distracted by the view out my window. I'm completely captivated by the beautiful white sand, crystal blue sky, emerald green water and those gorgeous pounding waves. There's a light breeze allowing the palm trees to dance and the only words that comes to my mind at this very moment is "I am so thankful".

Although this year had been tough... I mean REALLY tough for our family when it comes to finances, I can't help but reflect on how many wonderful moments we've had and how blessed we really are.

Today our family will celebrate Thanksgiving with extended family for the first time in five years. My nieces and nephews have grown so much since the last time we've seen them. I'm really looking forward to seeing my uncle and his new bride now that they've moved to Florida from Munich, Germany.

I hope that you have the opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving with your family today. Whether that's extended family, church family, adopted family or friends that have become your family.

Many blessings and prayers to all of you this Thanksgiving season!

With much love,

Chocolate Chip Waffles and a Downey Dryer Sheet

My alarm went off at 5:50 am this morning. This is my normal wake up time during the week which is why I love weekends so much.

Here's the deal. I don't climb out of bed until 6:00 am but having those extra ten minutes is a real luxury to me. I use that time to enjoy the warmth of my cozy soft blankets, the sound of complete stillness in my home and a quiet conversation with God.

First, I say good morning to Him. Then I thank Him for a safe and restful night of sleep. Before the grandfather clock in our foyer strikes 6:00 am, I mentally run through my to-do list for the day and ask Him what needs to be the priorities and what can wait until the next day.

This morning Carson (our youngest son) was up earlier than normal. It's because he fell asleep on our sofa, while reading last night, at 7:30 pm. We let him sleep there until 9:45 pm then carried him up to bed. He was obviously exhausted from our busy weekend and slept almost twelve hours long!

I fixed chocolate chip waffles with fresh strawberries and whipped cream for breakfast. Yum, yum, yum. I know this won't win me the most balanced breakfast award but my boys love chocolate chip waffles so once a week we just go for it.

The waffles were a big hit and before Carson headed upstairs to brush his teeth, he asked "Mom, will you stick my shirt and jacket in the dryer?" He had a big ole smile plastered across his face and I knew exactly what he meant.

Carson didn't want me dry his shirt and jacket because they were damp. Or, because they were wrinkled. He wanted me to place them in the dryer so they would be warm and soft when he put them on.

Now that our weather is cooler and mornings greet us with lower temperatures, Carson has been asking me to warm up his jacket and shirt every morning. It's become our special little routine that puts a smile on his face every single time. As he slips on his Downey scented, warm, and soft shirt, he response with a resounding "aahhh, that feels SO good!". His reaction always puts a smile on my face too and I respond by wrapping my arms around him with a big bear hug.

As he bounced out the door and ran for bus stop this morning, I couldn't help but feel good inside. This morning I was seeing myself as a "good mom".

A mom that fixed her children chocolate chip waffles with fresh strawberries and whipped cream for breakfast.

A mom that packed their lunch boxes and included a small pack of Skittles as an extra surprise.

A mom that got their backpacks and shoes together by the door so they wouldn't forget anything.

And yes, a mom that even put her son's clothes in the dryer so they would be warm when he put them on.

Do I do this every morning.... No, sirree (not sure about that spelling).

Often times, I'm pushing my boys out the door with a granola bar hanging out of their mouths, shoes in one hand and an open backpack (with it's contents spilling out) in the other.

Aahh, this morning was special and I'm relishing in the memories of it.

Come to think of it, I believe it's those small things that we do for our children that mean the most to them. Things that don't cost a lot of money or require much sacrifice. Just the simple things that say " I notice and I love you".

Maybe tomorrow I'll whip up some french toast (from the freezer, of course) and do it all over again.