The decade of...

The year 2000 brought Eric and I a new trend that has continued thru the rest of the decade: kids! Or, to be more specific, BOYS! These past ten years have been full of sleepless nights, messy houses, shoes covered in dog poo, snorting laughter, 2 million loads of laundry, prayers over little souls, prayers over how to feed the bodies that house those souls, wrestling matches, sports both played and watched, "Goodnight Moon" read 101 times, sheets that have been wet, 3.4 billion diapers, little voices learning to hide God's word in their hearts, a few punches and brotherly hits, real golf balls hit towards our neighbor's windows, every animated movie watched and memorized, a couple of pictures here and there, field trips to the pumpkin patch, and cuddlers sneaking into bed with us at night.

It has been a decade of boys. And my heart is grateful.

bored

I am bored out of my mind. I function better when I have a schedule and the boys have a schedule that includes school. I think I have read over three books in the past week. ("Burn" by Ted Dekker is an excellent choice if you are looking for a good read...)

My house hasn't figured out how to house all the new goodies the holidays dumped into it. I am too bored/lazy to figure that out right now. I did really good one day and loaded a couple of trashbags of old toys and put them in the garage. But, my dining room table still needs some help. It becomes our catch all table during crazy times.

I asked Eric what I could do with the boys tomorrow (out of the house because I am losing my MIND) and he suggested I invite myself over to someone's house. I told him that was rude. I am a southern belle with Christian manners and I can't possibly invite myself over. So, since I can't invite myself over, would you give me some ideas that I could do tomorrow...preferably inside but not inside MY home?

I did go see Blindside with Michelle last night and it is REALLY good. I know that I am a little late in seeing it, but dog-gone-it, the theater was sold out! I think everyone needed out of the house or something.

So, I am feeling anxious because the new year starts in 27 and a half hours and I don't have a single resolution yet. I feel like I should have a resolution regarding exercise, but I can't ever find anything I want to stick with. I guess the key word there is "want." If you have a resolution regarding exercise or are already in an exercise habit, what is your secret?

I am going to go finish the stupidest show ever: Glee. The music just keeps bringing me back. I am such a sucker.

Christmas 2009

Merry Christmas Everyone! I hope everyone enjoyed the celebration of our Immanuel's incarnation...I still can't get over the fact that Jesus came as a weak and helpless baby. He knows our weaknesses and limitations. He sympathizes with us and knows how to intercede on our behalves! Glory to His name!

We started the festivities at Papa and Bebe's house. We enjoyed a nice brunch and then laughed at the kids as they opened gifts. After watching the weather, we frantically packed and headed to see my family a day earlier than planned.

Here is Eli, throwing his stocking money into the air and watching it fall.

Just get the boy a Webkinz and he is as happy as can be.

This is one of my fave gifts: I had three humongo prints of the boys done and framed...it is the first time I have ever had anything other than 8x10's of them and I love the bigger size!!

Then, we headed to the great Northwest and THIS is what we woke up to on CHRISTMAS MORNING!! Can anybody say White Christmas?? YAY!!!

Dad carving our ham. Without the electric knife that has been in our family forever. I see a future gift idea coming up...

Mini in her new cowgirl apron! Howdy cutie.

Such an adorable pest my brother is.

The boys with their great grandparents.

The bow girls.

Mom about to open her diamond bracelet. Ya did good, Dad. Pearl necklace was a nice touch, too. OK, you win the best "giver" award this season.

Our Bingo loot!!

About to play bingo! What a fun game for such a competitive person like me! It doesn't matter that the game has nothing to do with skill...it is all about snatching the prize you have your eye on before anyone else does! And when your Grandad takes the chocolate brown Hog hat that you have your heart set on, you realize you will sacrifice your dream just to see it sit on his cute head! (And you don't utter a word that you had your heart set on it because you know he would give it to you in a heartbeat and all the sudden the heart's desire is just seeing him getting something he is going to enjoy!)

I hope you enjoyed your family time, too! Love you all!

I almost forgot to mention the best thing! Christmas night, we went to see my Dad's family at Aunt Karleen's. After stuffing ourselves once again, we sat around and had a little music fest! Kirby played guitar, my aunt Marcia played piano and sang, my cousin Chuck played banjo (which he just learned how to do and he is AWESOME), and Mom, Chuck's wife Maggie, and I sang as well. It was just good fun. Made me long for heaven. As I sat looking at everyone present, I counted at least 7 people gone from our presence. Pops, Granny, Kiley, (aunt) Joyce, (uncle) Jackie, (cousin) Jamie, (uncle) Lee...it made me long for the day when we can sit around a heavenly throne and pick a banjo in front of the King. All together.

In the sweet by and by, we will meet at that beautiful shore.

(Oh, and a special THANK YOU to Mini Moo for designing my blog...isn't she awesome?!)

Siblin' Love

THE WINNER IS...

The winner of the Ted Dekker collection (according to random.org) is
#4 Chelcie!!!

Congrats on the sleepless nights you have won!

It's A Christmas Giveaway, Ya'll!

How about a little giveaway for the holiday season?? Who needs some reading material for the holiday vacation? I just love Ted Dekker, but he is taking up too much room on my bookshelf. I keep telling myself I want to reread his books, but then I come back to reality. Time is always such an issue, huh? So, you get to reap the benefits! I could resell them at a local bookstore, but I thought this would be more fun! Here are the details!

A total of FOUR Tedd Dekker books, all hardback, including "BoneMan's Daughters," "Adam," "Kiss," and "House." They are Christian fiction, but I have to tell you that you need to love mystery and a good thrill to appreciate them! All of the books stand alone...they aren't part of a series or anything.

Since I can't afford to mail 4 hardback books, this giveaway is for people who are in the same town as me! Giveaway ends in 24 hours...on Christmas Eve at 11 am. Happy winning!

humility

When Christmas rolls around each year, the Holy Spirit seems to put a theme on my heart and lets me chew on possibilities. One year I reflected on what Mary must have gone through. Did she consider carrying the Messiah to be the biggest honor of all or was she a little bit worried about what others would say since she was pregnant before her betrothal? Did she feel like she needed to be the "perfect" mommy to the savior of the world, or did she feel a sense of freedom since he was the sovereign savior of the world? Did she feel the same towards her other children that she would eventually bear, or did Jesus, "God with us" always hold a special place in her heart? Just questions I would love to ask Mary one day!

This year, I have been wondering what must have been going on in Jesus's mind before he came to the earth to be born as a human of all things. Did he know from the beginning of time that this is what it would come to? Did his Father reveal it to him later? If he knew, did he start to get cold feet about the whole idea? Trading glory for humility is not an easy thing. I just can't grasp it all!

"Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death--and the worst kind of death at that: a crucifixion."

(from Philippians chapter 2)

How can you be God and yet not consider equality with God something to be grasped? If you are indeed God, how do you go about making yourself nothing? His humility absolutely blows my mind apart. What terrifies me is that my attitude should reflect the same selfless attitude of Christ's. Overwhelmed at that thought, I will save that idea for another day.

Jesus and the humility of leaving the intimacy of His Father's side to be obedient to His Father and to rescue us from true death. Now that is something to chew on! Such love. I cannot even fathom this love.

2009 Favorites!

I was thinking the other day about some of my favorite "things" of 2009. Here are a few:

Fave song: I'd Need a Savior (by Among the Thirsty)
Fave book: When Crickets Cry (by Charles Martin)
Fave recipe: Sausage Mushroom Ragu and Rigatoni (by Rachael Ray)
Fave new photography addition: Lightroom (editing software)
Fave project: Testament Focused
Fave zoo: Memphis
Fave trip: Gulf Shores with Mom and Amelia
Fave book that helped me spiritually: Something More (by Catherine Marshall)
Fave way to meet new people: blogs and photography
Fave thing to do if I have time: write


What are some of your favorites of 2009?

Christmas party!

Our community group had our annual Christmas party last night! We feasted on fiesta chowder, poppyseed ham rolls, hot chicken dip, wienees, hot wings, peppermint ice cream pie, homemade treats, wassail, and laughter! We started at our house and then moved the "band" to Todd and Michelle's so we could play Rock Band. I told the gang that prizes would be in store for the best-dressed. Michelle made her own vest and bought a matching watch. Leanna broke out Charlie Brown and literally arrived with bells on. And Erica went to Goodwill to find the coolest Razorback Christmas sweatshirt ever. I love it when people arrive decked out! (The boys weren't as much fun.)

OK, meet the band! We have Patches on vocals. Eps on guitar and Angus on the other guitar.

Patches can carry a tune!

Note the blue tape on the drumsticks. I broke those a while back. I can get a little carried away with rock band.

Work it, Eps. Love the santa hog.

Next, we have Toadalie. I think he likes the drums the best.

And here is Chelle. She seems to always go for the guitar.

And the winner of the rockingest star of the night: Sweetcheeks on the drums. She won a butt massage. Really, Paula Deen makes a spice called butt massage and Leanna was the winner!

And we can't exclude Jac on guitar. Definitely can't win the rockingest star while sitting down!

Cookies and Kids!

Cookies and kids! Lots of each! A bunch of bloggers and kiddos met in a huge fellowship room and ate a ton of cookies, drank some yummy iced coffee, got a baby fix and laughed at the chaos. Good times!
Now this was precious! All the kids prayed together and thanked God for Jesus.

A few of the kids took turns praying. Sweet.

Melts your heart, huh? No wonder Jesus said "let the little children come to me."

Sam needed a turn. He thanked God for spaceships and the beach, as usual. Love how his eyes are open. I can't really say anything, though, since I was taking pictures while they were praying!

Well, hello, santa baby!

I love seeing this sweet thing, it gives me my "girl" fix!

We discovered this poster at the end of our little party. I think it is going to be our new theme for 2010.

Here it is larger! What on earth does this mean? Does Jesus love me better when I am eating? Only when I am eating? All I know is that I better get to eating!