Sunday, December 27, 2009
Christmas 2009 ~ Celebrating with the Kids!
There is nothing like family, celebrating Christmas or any holiday is not the same without the fun and laughter of kids. Here are a few pictures of my favorite people. William could be found chasing the cats, eating chips or taking it easy on the couch sucking his thumb. We opened gifts, baked sugar cookies (of course using Grandma Goldie's yellow bowl)and ate homemade chicken and noodles... Ben played the harmonica while Samuel and I danced the jig. I almost forgot, we made chocolate covered peanut butter balls and Samuel brought me a tomato with a bow on it, he laughed.
Friday, December 25, 2009
It's Christmas Morning!
It's Christmas morning, a day to remember and celebrate the birth of Christ.
My brother Brad sent me this email last night and I thought it was insightful.
Christmas is a time of celebration. Bright packages and ropes of pine, starched red bows and ribbons, eggnog and plum pudding, all promising we’ll be touched by something extraordinary.
But Christmas is a time of memory as much as celebration. For some it is memory of loss, intensified because, for all our lives, we’ve seen it as the season of promise. So much promised by friends and family, so little given in the rush. Christmas is and can be lonely. A loneliness that crowds us like no other as we turn inward, farther from reality than at any other season.
Just once we ought to set about preparing for the downhill run that nearly always accompanies the tinsel. The only way to do so is to get outside us and think about the infant in the manger long ago. Not just remembering His birthday, but remembering the trials and truth that marked His life and, down these many years, also mark ours. We are better because He was the best. Throughout His life He carried the passkeys to His father’s house, then threw them to us from the cross. Whatever went before, life only started when His life began.
God may have been the architect, but He sent Christ, His only son, to be the builder of bridges, people to people. He showed us in a thousand ways that none of us need fear again, that worry is worth nothing, loneliness is self - indulgence, and death is only a passport to everlasting life.
This year, as Christmas makes it’s round again, resolve to smile inside and out. Carry kindness to its farthest edge, compassion still beyond. In the process you may even come to know yourself and like what you find. Then, reaching just a little farther through the mists and myths, maybe even grasp the outstretched hand of God.
What an incredible thought; We need not fear, for we have hope in Christ and can share it with those around us.
That baby in the manger is our Savior, our Redeemer. So in the hustle and bustle of life we should slow down enough to see those around us, and ask ourselves, what can I do or say to bring hope to a world that does not know the Sacrifice that was made?
I think I'll get dressed and go out today to see where I can shine the love of Christ. After all, the kids won't be here until tomorrow so that means I have all day to be a blessing to those around me. In return I think I will be the one who is blessed.
On a different note, before I read this email on was sitting on the couch with my cup of coffee reminiscing of days gone by;
It's funny the things we miss as our kids grow up.
Like the sound of pajamas pitter pattering on the floor.
Stepping on a Lego that almost killed us.
Reading the same book over and over....
I woke up early to a quiet house with Manny sleeping in and the cats curled up under the tree.
As I sat there in the quiet I thought of the days when Zechariah would wake up early with anticipation of Christmas morning.
Recalling how my Mom would decorate the fireplace with plastic poinsettias,and fill our stockings with oranges, and give the kids pajamas that took them 2 years to grow into. :)
Remembering my first bike hidden in the garage.
Memories are good, and for those that have gone before us, Christ gives us the hope we will celebrate together again someday.
For us, we need to love one another and spread that hope that only comes from Christ.
I am thankful that my brother reminded me of what this day is all about.
My brother Brad sent me this email last night and I thought it was insightful.
Christmas is a time of celebration. Bright packages and ropes of pine, starched red bows and ribbons, eggnog and plum pudding, all promising we’ll be touched by something extraordinary.
But Christmas is a time of memory as much as celebration. For some it is memory of loss, intensified because, for all our lives, we’ve seen it as the season of promise. So much promised by friends and family, so little given in the rush. Christmas is and can be lonely. A loneliness that crowds us like no other as we turn inward, farther from reality than at any other season.
Just once we ought to set about preparing for the downhill run that nearly always accompanies the tinsel. The only way to do so is to get outside us and think about the infant in the manger long ago. Not just remembering His birthday, but remembering the trials and truth that marked His life and, down these many years, also mark ours. We are better because He was the best. Throughout His life He carried the passkeys to His father’s house, then threw them to us from the cross. Whatever went before, life only started when His life began.
God may have been the architect, but He sent Christ, His only son, to be the builder of bridges, people to people. He showed us in a thousand ways that none of us need fear again, that worry is worth nothing, loneliness is self - indulgence, and death is only a passport to everlasting life.
This year, as Christmas makes it’s round again, resolve to smile inside and out. Carry kindness to its farthest edge, compassion still beyond. In the process you may even come to know yourself and like what you find. Then, reaching just a little farther through the mists and myths, maybe even grasp the outstretched hand of God.
What an incredible thought; We need not fear, for we have hope in Christ and can share it with those around us.
That baby in the manger is our Savior, our Redeemer. So in the hustle and bustle of life we should slow down enough to see those around us, and ask ourselves, what can I do or say to bring hope to a world that does not know the Sacrifice that was made?
I think I'll get dressed and go out today to see where I can shine the love of Christ. After all, the kids won't be here until tomorrow so that means I have all day to be a blessing to those around me. In return I think I will be the one who is blessed.
On a different note, before I read this email on was sitting on the couch with my cup of coffee reminiscing of days gone by;
It's funny the things we miss as our kids grow up.
Like the sound of pajamas pitter pattering on the floor.
Stepping on a Lego that almost killed us.
Reading the same book over and over....
I woke up early to a quiet house with Manny sleeping in and the cats curled up under the tree.
As I sat there in the quiet I thought of the days when Zechariah would wake up early with anticipation of Christmas morning.
Recalling how my Mom would decorate the fireplace with plastic poinsettias,and fill our stockings with oranges, and give the kids pajamas that took them 2 years to grow into. :)
Remembering my first bike hidden in the garage.
Memories are good, and for those that have gone before us, Christ gives us the hope we will celebrate together again someday.
For us, we need to love one another and spread that hope that only comes from Christ.
I am thankful that my brother reminded me of what this day is all about.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Enjoying the day in Pasadena!
We have been enjoying having April and David with us for a couple of days. Yesterday we drove through the snow flurries to go to Pasadena. It was cold and wet! First we hiked through the rain and had lunch at a cute little restaurant, then we spent the rest of the afternoon at the Norton Simon Museum. After we finished there we came back to a Pizza dinner and killer game of dominoes! I am so glad to have my girl here with me, she is such a incredible young woman. Her Mom would be proud of the person she has become.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Holiday Gathering
April, David, Zack, Bonnie and the kids joined us for a fun afternoon. We ate way too much and enjoyed visiting. The boys were well behaved as usual, and William found a way of turning a table into a train and climbed into the kitchen cabinet. Choo Choo, All Aboard!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Gracie and Rascal Love The Nativity Scene
Well, the fake tree is still standing. The Nativity is not. The house looks like it was decorated by a crazy person. But that doesn't matter around here, because everyone is happy! April and David will be arriving soon, and Zack, Bonnie and the kids will join us for lunch. Yummy! We are going to have a feast!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
The Fake Tree
Last year I had the boys help me decorate the "fake" tree. Manny,Bonnie,Zack and I could not figure out how to put the top on the tree. Samuel looked over and said "it's upside down", we all laughed, it took a 4 year old to help the adults figure out how to assemble a tree! This year I put it together myself with a little help from the cats. Manny just shook his head as though I was asking for trouble. We came home from work and Rascal was in the tree, and a few ornaments were on the floor. As we walked into the house I said "It's not so bad". As I went into each room and saw another Christmas decoration on the floor I repeated myself it's not so bad"....:) It could be worse, the tree is still standing! Which is more than I can say for the Nativity Scene! LOL
Gracie Likes Vogue
Gracie likes Vogue and Country Music, you can find her sitting in front of the T.V. or browsing through the latest Vogue Magazine! Of course Rascal doesn't have time for that, she just wants to play....
Great Job Tiling!
During the summer Bill came out to help us work on our kitchen. It was an experience, one we will never forget! LOL
A Weekend With the Boys!
Zack and Bonnie enjoyed a much needed weekend away from the kids. While they were at the Marine Ball we enjoyed our boys. We ate junk food, watched way too many cartoons, slept under the tent and showed artistic talent on the sidewalk. :)(these pictures were taken in November, but I'm finally getting around to posting them)
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