Tis the Season!

There is nothing quite like the joy at Christmas on any given year, but especially when you have wee ones scurrying around!  As you know, God has given us two!!! 

Wow.  That reminds me that it's been one year since our family became official!  What a Christmas miracle it was!  

I usually begin my day silently staring at the fireplace and twinkling lights around our livingroom with coffee in hand. --I love seeing the silhouette of winter's trees and the shimmer of frost on the roofs as the sun comes up.-- I also end days the same way but with my husband at my side.  

The middle of my day is filled with busy feet playing warrior, princess, ballerina, cowboy, Peter Pan, pirate, and super hero around the house!  There is always somebody either twirling, jumping, or flying by me in a passionate pursuit!  Children really give playing their all, you know?

I don't want to paint only a perfect Norman Rockwell scene constantly in our home.  It's been a real challenge to keep the kids quiet enough while "daddy" sleeps during the day while working nights.  Our house is old and every step can be heard, but the running and jumping rattles through the entire house, which is not conducive to deep sleep. Of course there are still fights and arguments to break up, fits to be thrown, and messes to clean but God has answered this Mommy's prayer and I've tapped into His grace and patience as a parent more now than ever before.  I dove into this position head first (as if birthing two toddlers!) with on the job training, Ha!   While the first year I felt like I failed more days than not, He's giving me more wisdom and insight into their hearts every single day!  God parents me as He teaches me how to do the same.

Despite those moments, at Christmas there is just a spark of excitement that seems to always be lit.  I've been keeping out a little table in the livingroom, and we all color together or play puzzles with the Christmas music humming around!  It's so much fun now that the kids are picking up all the songs and can sing with me!  We have a new book of classic Christmas stories that we read and every day we talk about Jesus birth to really help it sink in deep.  Santa isn't the reason for Christmas but Jesus is!

Heath has been working a bit of a crazy schedule this month in the ER leaving him home a few days in a row and gone a few nights in a row.  I was sort of dreading it, but it hadn't been so bad actually. We spend family time when he's off and so far have had some really good times together.  One of the best memories this year is when we went to a festive Dicken's Christmas festival in Paducah with Heath's parents.  It was wonderful!!! The kids sat in Santa's lap, we toasted marshmallows, there were stands of hot cocoa and wassail, story tellers and shops to browse around. What a precious family memory with the grandparents!

Last weekend we went to two fun (casual) Christmas parties where I made some yummy treats and ate even more! I'm really trying to temper what I eat, while still enjoying the goodies... Lord, help me!

One of my favorite times over the weekend was going to church as a family. Heath works so many Sundays so it doesn't always happen, but worshipping together is one of my favorite things to do!  I had to capture this moment that was too precious.  

We were praying over the water baptism of a child who accepted Jesus as Savior!  (It was all three siblings who were baptized, and their dad is the one who did it.  What a proud daddy moment, and how amazing is that?!!)

This weekend my sister is graduating from college with the highest of honors!  This woman is fabulous in so many ways... I am SO thankful to God she is my sister!!!  We're going to see her walk, and I'm helping mom give her a nice Christmas-y graduation party at my parent's home!  Eeek... I cannot wait!  

As we speak, I'm in the midst of making decorated sugar cookies for it.  I was a very busy bee in the kitchen after the kids were in bed cutting them out in all shapes and baking them. (Sorry for the grainy picture.)  I had a Hallmark Christmas movie going and it was a great time!  I made larger sized cookies, but I think there are about 5 dozen here.  

I have so much to say with such little time this morning.  Hmmm... Seems to be a theme in my life these days.  

Anyways, I praise my Father for sending us our children(!!!), our friends, and my entire family to celebrate His birth with!  I want every single thing I do to reflect His love for me, because He is the reason for all of this.  He is the reason I have even one good thing to say on any blog, because every good gift comes from Him!

The sun is up and so are my kids so we'll have to chat again soon!  What's going on in your home these days?

~Mommy

Winter Wonderland Weekend!

  

What a surprise blessing to get a snowy weekend in the Christmas season, for once!!!  We've been in a winter wonderland here since the ice and snow began on Friday, and the deeply cold temps have kept the white blanket from going anywhere despite the sunshine yesterday.

Pumpkin pancakes were in order for two excited children!

What's better than eating pancakes in a dining room with a Christmas tree and frosty windows?!  Well, the kids didn't care less as long as they got lots of maple syrup!!

Christmas decorations are basically finished!!  But are they really ever done?... I find myself moving and tweaking all month long. ;)

I. Love. Our Christmas tree!

Not because it's the best, but it is beautiful in our red den, and it's chock full of memories hanging on each branch.  That and really cute, fluffy ornaments, too!

This house may be 68 years old with it's share of quirks, but it really shines this time of year!  It brims with traditional red and green, garland and cinnamon pine cones, ribbon and wreaths, and more than plenty snowmen and gingerbread!!!

I took these pictures while the snow was coming down, and the world outside was hushed by silent falling of fluffy flakes.

(Just want to insert here that I know that only by God's  grace and through His love do I have a warm, cozy home to keep.  I need to remember this every time I complain about our heating bill.  At least we have warmth, when some don't even have shoes. My heartfelt prayers go out to those people.)

 

Our kids were napping.  I had my new Thriving Family magazine to read and huge mug of hot chocolate to drink.

This was a very rare snowy day- perfect moment for this mommy.

Our advent calender in on the mantle.  We are actually getting use of after owning in for about 6 years.  I think the charming German gingerbread style house is adorable!  Reminds me of ones we saw in Rothenburg!! 

When the kids awoke, the snow had fallen and I knew it was time!

Time to do what I've dreamed of my entire life.  

Playing in the snow with my own children!  God is SO faithful!!!

My snow angels!  :)

This was pure joy our faces!  We all had a big time!!  Daddy even managed to make an adorable tiny snowman despite the powdery snow.

We came in, stripped off our many layers, and toasted our toesies by the fire!  

Of course this was the right time to drink some old fashioned hot cocoa with marshmallows!

Yesterday I made a huge batch of caramel popcorn to deliver to loved ones.  The season of giving is here.

Last night, despite the weather, we bundled up to attend Cookies and Cocoa party at our friends, the Dunns!  I'm so glad we did.  We enjoyed confections from cookies to cake and all between!  There was even a game of hide and seek our children managed to arrange with a few adults, haha!  Fun memories!!

We came home with full tummies and sleepy heads.  That doesn't mean there wasn't time to admire the magical lights of the Christmas tree before bed.  

I want to talk to those of you who are trying and struggling to have a family like we did, please,  please hear me on this.

I know Christmas can make your struggle harder.  We were in your place for 7 Christmases, and a few of them included many sad days, especially after losing our Bailey.  

I don't ever want to wave a "look what I have" flag, because for a long time I could hardly imagine my life on this side.  The deceiver told us we were the ones was without a "family" since we didn't have kids. Lie ...

First off, just you and your spouse make a family.  I will always believe that!

Second, your day is coming.  (I know you've heard this before.)  It's SO hard now, but it won't always be if you allow God to carry you and trust His plan!!!

Third, you're not alone.  Many others mourn losses this time of year, and in my opinion, infertility certainly feels like a loss.  Turns out, there were several others in our circles dealing with the same struggle. 

I will especially be remembering you, because I remember what it felt like just last Christmas!

Lastly, everything can change in a heartbeat. :D  God is a God of Wonders!

Luke 1:38, 45

"For nothing will be impossible with God.

 

And blessed is she who believed that there would be fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."

The Christmas Season Begins

Good Morning to you.

Happy Sunday and December 1st!!!

Yesterday Heath carried, from the basement, all of our a Christmas decor boxes.  (That is a lot!!) We accomplished much, but I'm not nearly finished, and the tree isn't decorated.  It probably will take a solid week or so to get things how I like.  I "collect" Christmas decor, so my boxes grow every year. :)

This morning, hot homemade cinnamon rolls are warming in the oven as I type this with my coffee in hand.  I made them as "fuel" to our Christmas decorating weekend yesterday, and they were a huge hit!  The little ones were gobbling them up from our hands as the cinnamon and icing ran down their faces, and chins...clothes. :)

Here is some of my cozy Christmas decor I awoke to this morning on shelves in my kitchen.  I just love the warmth it creates in our home!

Some of my favorite ornaments never make it to the tree, but are sprinkled around the house ....

We had a AMAZING Thanksgiving, and I hope you did, too!  I praise Jesus for Heath having time off this year, since we didn't get to go home last.  Sorry to run, but I need to get ready for church, although first let me show you a pic of mom's delectable lemon cake with sugared fruit. This cake is a Thanksgiving tradition for us, but this year the sugared fruit she made sent it over the top!  I have got to try this.

Beautiful, Mom!!!

Finally, a family photo on Thanksgiving....

Have a blessed day as we begin to focus on Christ's birth in this special time of year!

~Mommy