Christmas Cards

Thank you all for the Christmas cards that we received. We continued our tradition of praying over each family that sent us a card. It was a priceless moment this year as the kids really got into this and prayed what was on their minds - sometimes funny moments and sometimes sad moments - but they prayed and it was a moment we treasured each day!

You are probably wondering where our Christmas cards were ... well, we had a baby :) We will be sending out birth announcements soon. We did send out a very small number ... mostly ones we could hand deliver and save on postage. So if you didn't get one, know we were/are thinking of you and you will be receiving a birth announcement soon.

If we sent out Christmas cards ... this is the picture we would have sent you :) Merry (belated) Christmas and Happy 2012 to you and yours!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you and yours! We have had a busy few weeks that began with thanksgiving and will end sometime after the new year. So, the blog may be a bit quiet but I can assure you that it is NOT quiet around our home. :-)

We are preparing to celebrate Jesus birthday around here. Don't shoot me e-mails I know that it's not his actual birthday, but it is a time we have set aside and we celebrate it. Our culture has made it so hard to remember the "reason for the season" (in my head I'm singing the old song - he is the reason ... sing with me won't you).

A few years ago at a moms group I attended, the leader brought this statue above and I fell in love with it .... I love the idea behind it and the meaning it holds. It's about Jesus!! I love little reminders that help us all remember the true reason that we stop and celebrate on December 25th ... it's not for presents under our tree, those are nice, but really not needed. For the best present we have ever been given, came and was born of lowly stature for you and for me. He left it all for us! Let's celebrate that!

O come, O come Emanuel! REJOICE!

Lessons from a 6 year old

Today at 4:08 am my baby turned 6! The last 6 years have absolutely FLOWN by! In 6 years Ryan has lived in 3 different states, in 5 different houses, he has gone to 4 different schools, and 4 different churches (not counting all the ones we visited trying to find the one) He has the biggest heart and is ALWAYS striving to do his very best at everything he does.

This year in April Ryan decided to give his life to follow Jesus. His heart has been transformed so much over the last year .... I have seen such tremendous growth. We have had our periods of trial and error but he is learning and his heart is being softened. The best thing is that I see his mind working and I see his heart bending towards the things that matter to the heart of God.

Each year at Christmas, our children get 3 gifts, to represent the 3 gifts that the wise men brought to Jesus when they visited him. Its our way to teach them many lessons at Christmas. They also give away 3 of their toys at Christmas ... it makes room for what they will get but it also teaches them to give to others who do not have as much as us - they get to pick what 3 toys are given away. (we also buy new gifts to give away, so don't think we are scrooges)

This year as Christmas has gotten closer and closer we have talked about the various ways as a family we can help those around us who are in need. One of the things that we talked about was Ryan's birthday. We talked to Ryan about how much he has and how blessed he is compared to so many. (God had already been working on his heart) We asked him if he would mind asking others to bring a gift not for him, but a donation for others. He was more than excited about this idea.

Saturday, was his birthday and everyone who attended brought a donation for a local rescue shelter in our area. We had toiletries galore! Soap, razors, deodorant, toothpaste, tooth brushes, etc ... all for a 6 year olds birthday! He was so excited when we got home and looked at everything that had been brought. His brother even commented how he wanted to do the same thing for his birthday!!

Fast forward to today ... his birthday ... we picked him up from school and took him to deliver his donation to the rescue shelter. We had so much stuff that Ryan couldn't carry it in. We walk in and the staff greeted him with such a grateful heart .... the woman who runs the shelter came out and told us that the Lord told her to pray over Ryan and our family. She prayed the sweetest prayer over him. I cried. I was blown away with how she prayed for my son. I have prayed some of the same words but he is MY son, I should pray those prayers. This lady had no clue, zero, who this child was, she didn't know him before he walked in the door and she has no connection to him. But the prayer she prayed ... WOW! She spoke a word over my son and I cannot wait to see how God brings it to fruition! I've known God was doing something special in his life, but to hear a stranger also testify to that ... WOW is all I can say, WOW!

Today we were blessed so much more than we were a blessing! I love how God encouraged us today as parents through this womans prayer over my son! I loved seeing the JOY on my childs face as he received nothing but gave away instead. I loved seeing how it trickles down to the other two. I love how his heart is changing and growing!

Happy Birthday Jesus

And Merry Christmas to all our friends! Hope you are having a great day as you celebrate and spend time with family!

What fun!

Tonight we went caroling with Jeremy's Aunt, Uncle, Cousins, his parents and a BUNCH of his Aunt and Uncle's neighbors. It was too much fun. A neighbor of theirs had hooked a trailer with lights up to the back of his truck, filled it with hay and the kids jumped in. We walked behind them stopping at any house that had lights on.

This picture is of Ryan with his cousin. He was "taking care of her" - she was cold so he put his arm around her to keep her warm and to make sure that she didn't fall out. Such the gentleman! We hope to get to see more of them before they head back home! We sure hope to do this again next year!! What a great tradition to keep going with our little ones!

Santa ... I know him!

Not really but I love that line in the movie Elf! Tonight Santa came to Jeremy's office. It was SO much fun! The kids had a ball and enjoyed every minute of the attention Santa gave them. Kennedy even sat on his knee and played Peek a boo with him. It was too much fun seeing them talk to him and tell him what they wanted for Christmas. Jeremy's office had put together a first class event for the kids with Santa, cookies, hot chocolate, crafts, 3 wise men, and making cards for the Soldiers!

After meeting Santa we went to Ryan's school where they had their Christmas program. It was so much fun to see him up there singing. Jeremy and I sat and talked afterward about how much he had changed since his first program in the 2's class 3 years ago. I was a proud momma tonight ... but then I'm always proud of my kids!

Hope you guys are enjoying the season and are able to slow down enough to remember the real reason for the season. Jesus coming to earth, humbling himself to become a man and live just to die for you and for me. That's what it's all about ...

Busy, Busy

That's what's we have been! We have had an amazingly full week since last Sunday. Jeremy's parents arrived on the 21st and we filled our week full of fun stuff. Monday we were able to have lunch with Jeremy's cousin, Holly. Tuesday we went to this local place that was doing horse drawn carriage rides through their lit buildings ... very cool! Wednesday was Christmas eve and we went to an early Christmas eve service and then we went to drive through this town that was all lit up. We came home and did our usual Christmas eve traditions and put the boys to bed. I was quite amazed at how quickly they went to bed!

We then got to play Santa while watching Narnia with Jeremy's parents. It was quite difficult keeping all the toys quiet ... and I would like to know who invented the way toys are packaged today!!! It took a sweet forever to get those toys out of those boxes ... we learned the lesson, the hard way, last year not to do it on Christmas morning :)

Thursday was Christmas and was full of fun as the boys were beyond excited! We had cake for Jesus before they were allowed to see what Santa brought. The only time of the year they can have cake with their cereal :) We then played with new toys the whole day long.

We played right up until Jeremy's parents left Saturday and turned around to welcome my parents, brother and future sister-in-law on Sunday. They left today and we are trying to get back to life as normal around here.

Tonight Kennedy had her first taste of oatmeal cereal ... didn't go over so hot. We may just wait a bit longer on trying that one again. Anytime a baby cries while eating is not a good sign :)

Well, hubby and I have a date with a week old Prison Break. We didn't get to see the fall finale last week and are looking forward to watching it tonight. We might even break out the Wii and see if we can beat our previous scores :)

Hope you all are doing well!

Christmas Traditions

Every year at this time we do our best to make sure our kids know the TRUE meaning of Christmas. It was a theme of conversation before we ever had kids of how we would make sure that they knew Christmas was about Jesus first and foremost.

Our first Christmas with Ryan was 4 years ago. He was 2 weeks old and it was a crazy time for us. We were just trying to figure this parenting thing out (and we still are on that road) and were amazingly tired! However, it was still a special time as we began our Christmas Traditions with Children.

Here is what we do in our household .... I love the picture to the left of the kneeling Santa. I saw this for the first time last year through our church and fell in love with it! We want to allow the kids to have the fun of Santa as long as they want to believe but also know the true meaning of Christmas. I think this picture is a beautiful example of how we view Santa in our home.

We begin gearing our kids up for Jesus birthday when we put up our Christmas tree as we talk about the birth and sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the tree so long ago. We pray over the Christmas cards that we receive. The kids will pick out one each night and we pray for that family during our prayer time.


The first time we saw this picture to the left was last year at our church. Our pastor explained how he felt the first time he saw this and how the "Giving to Christ at Chrtistmas" got started in his family and at our church. This Year Ryan made a bank to put his BEST and FIRST gift in to Christ. We are talking as a family about what it means to bring Jesus our BEST gifts first. That's not only through financial means but also through serving others. Ryan can't wait to take his gift to Jesus on Christmas eve. It is the only gift sitting under our tree right now and I love that!

On Christmas Eve we will attend the service at our church. We will make cookies and take the to the firemen and make a birthday cake for Jesus to have on Christmas morning ... the only time they can have cake for breakfast! :) The kids have Chrsitmas PJ's that they get to wear on Christmas eve and we will read the Christmas story from the Bible and thank God for the gift of His Son born so long ago before going to bed.

Christmas morning we wake up and the very first thing we do is sing Happy Birthday to Jesus before the kids go downstairs. Our kids get 3 gifts each to represent the 3 gifts given to Jesus by the wisemen. They also get a stocking from "santa".

There are several other traditions that we will add in year to year as the kids grow older. I love that when Ryan sees something on TV or hears something on the Radio about christmas he will tell us that Christmas is all about Jesus birthday! I love how they knows that it's not about them and all about Jesus.

So tell me about your traditions? How are you keeping Christ in Christmas?

The ADVENTure of Christmas

"Redeeming the Meaning of Christmas... Have you discovered that Jesus sometimes gets lost in the middle of the hustle and bustle of His birthday party? Would you like to be able keep your children’s focus on Jesus and be able to join them in the wonder of the celebration?

For each of the twenty-four days preceding Christmas, The ADVENTure of Christmas serves as a fun and handy guide that describes the true meaning hidden in your most cherished traditions. Hanging lights on the house, wrapping gifts, and decorating the tree will become opportunities to share how these traditions relate to Jesus’ birth. The ADVENTure of Christmas recaptures the delightful essence of this beloved season, giving reasons to joyfully celebrate for years to come."

This came from Lisa Whelchel's website. This book is wonderful! Our church bought these for our Mom's group to purchase at our last meeting. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book and plan to incorporate many of the ideas in this book into our Christmas traditions. The book gives you great ideas and questions to ask your kids, with ways for you to answer the questions. It is a great book. If you don't have this book .... GET IT~! :)

Christmas Already?

Gosh it seems like just yesterday we were packing up our boxes and leaving GA for our new home and state. It's crazy to think that we have been here for 10 months now!! And that we are less than 2 months away from Christmas! Can you believe that? Where does the year go?

Ryan is old enough to understand birthdays and presents. For the past 3 years it hasn't been as big as I think it will be this year in his little mind. We decided early on that we would make sure our boys understood from as early as they could what Christmas was truly about instead of the over commercialization that the media gives this holiday. We have gone to Christmas eve services and we come home on Christmas eve and read the chapters from the Bible talking about Christ's birth. We decided that from this year forward the boys will each get 3 presents to open ... to represent the 3 gifts that the wise men brought to Jesus. They will get stocking stuffer but only 3 gifts each. I think we will get a birthday cake or cupcakes and sing "happy Birthday" to Jesus as well. We also decided this year that the Christmas cards we receive will be prayed over in our house one by one. Each night in December we will pull out a card and pray for that family as a family. I love to hear Ryan as he prays for others. So if you want our family to pray for yours this December ... Send us a card! :)

So how do you handle Christmas with your children? How do you bring the real reason for the Season into your celebrations? I'd love to hear your traditions!