Its snowing again ...and so quiet out there. This is the kind of day to light a fire and snuggle with a good book and blanket. I would love to wear my pajamas all day.

Instead of all that, I'm washing and packing to travel to Nebraska for a late Christmas. Once I get there I know we'll have a great time - eating, game playing, movie watching. But the laundry, packing, driving in snow... well I'm sure you understand.

On Christmas eve, we roasted a turkey and opened a few packages. Then Christmas day, our little family sat around the tree and slowly opened our presents for each other, savoring the excitement and sillies of little ones. The morning began with gorgeous, fluffy Christmas snow. Later in the day, we trekked across town to Rick's family and enjoyed spending time eating, opening more presents and just catching up with brother, sisters, nieces and nephew that we don't see often enough.

I wish I had some fabulous pictures from these past days, but I don't. I love this one.

Have a happy New Year!

How can we thank God enough for you... - Paul

The gift of Life

For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son,

so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

God did not send his son to condemn...but to save...

John 3:16-17

Merry Christmas sweet friends!

Ethan's newest chore

Christmas baking has created so many extra dishes to wash.

A "smart" mom trains her children when they are young.

Then just sits back and enjoys all the help!

Yahtzee!

She beat me by one hundred points! With just a small amount of help, Emma won her first game of Yahtzee. Must be Beginner's Luck!

The Kitchen Company

The Kitchen Company is my favorite store. My family owns this cozy shop in Nebraska. Before my Mom died, she and her best friend Kay had this homey kitchen gadget/appliance/country goodie/cappucino bar. Now my dad continues in partnership and my sister helps to manage the store. I just shop their every chance I get. . .

At Thanksgiving, I found some gorgeous christmas gifts. These pictures are not the gifts, by the way, so you need not worry about peeking!

Isn't this the sweetest little sled?!
Wish I could pop in now - I need a cat cookie cutter for Emma's book club later this week.

Hope

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him...

...Trust in him at all time, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

Psalm 62: 5,8

How to make a gingerbread boy

Measure and Mix!

Roll the dough flat.

Cut out the shapes.

Time to bake!

Decorate the cookies.

Emma caught the gingerbread boy!

The reason I'm here

I've been reading in the Psalms for the last while - just resting and listening in on the conversation between God and the one who was after His own heart.

Sometimes phrases catch at me and seem as though my thoughts are the words on the page. My heart longs for that intimacy, that knowing.

Today I read: I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me. (57:2)

Not all of my days feel great with purpose.

But some days do.

Last Saturday took us to a local christmas market. Snow floated from the sky... the day held magic.

Isaiah says that I was created for God's glory (43:7).

On Saturday it was glorious to be part of creation crying out praise to God.

I wonder... how would my days look different if I truly believed

that my purpose was to show God's glory?

Polish Nativity

Carrie, from Pine Meadow Farm, asked if I made the fabric nativity. While I would like to take credit, I cannot. This particular nativity set was made by the women of Elim Christian Center.

When we lived in Germany, many of us went back and forth to a little town in western Poland to buy pottery. Near there, was a little mission called Elim Christian Center. The people at Elim have a wonderful ministry to the poor families and disabled children in the surrounding areas. Local polish women working with ECC made these sets in a program that teaches local women usable skills in order to earn a little money.

Many from our military chapel helped with donations of food, clothing, medical supplies and various other needs. Some even helped with painting and clean up from time to time.

I love that these figures come from this part of my story. I also love the doll-like quality of this set and the fun my children have with them. I'm guessing some of you have sets just like this one. Do you love yours as much as I love my mine?

Do you hear Him?

Listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying,

for he speaks PEACE to his faithful people.

Psalm 85:8

What's for dinner?

Running a little low on dinner inspiration? Not much in the pantry? Check out this amazing website that takes what IS in your pantry and whips up a yummy recipe just for you! This one made me all nostalgic for Germany!

Anticipating the baby

"You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus." -Luke

The advent season is here! Baking cookies, decorating the tree, stringing lights, drinking eggnog and peppermint mochas and yes, even wearing the Christmas sweaters... I love it all. I love the anticipation, the preparation, the getting ready.

Our family's favorite tradition is advent calendars. We have seven. Each is unique. Every morning we go from calendar to calendar moving the star or hanging the next ornament, anticipating the day of Jesus's Birthday.

The Jesse tree is the one we love the most. We save it for dinner or bedtime. The book, the Advent Jesse Tree (or this new one I just found), takes us slowly through the Old Testament. Day by day, through the month of December we are reminded of God's story and His plan to redeem us. This time each day slows us and turns our focus to Jesus, calling to us to see and hear this great big story that is also ours.

Check out Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway. We will be borrowing a few ideas from this calendar that is packed full of everything from crafts to readings to ways to reach out to your neighbors.

I know many of you already do the Jesse Tree with your family. Which tradition is your favorite? Do you have any new ideas?

I'm losing my mind

I know you've had one of those days. The day started off well enough, other than a early rise from my littlest E. We did some school, a little cleaning, made some cookies for a cookie exchange. The whining started, a little fussing and lots of busyness. For Ethan, this kind of busy means he's not feeling right or just overly tired. From that point until now, that little boy hasn't given me peace that has lasted for more than FIVE minutes. You think I'm kidding.

Its five o'clock now and the house is a wreck, the dishes from those early morning cookies still are not done, and little E is howling and whining in the background. There was a day when I thought I had this mom thing down. Well that day is gone and this day I am losing my mind. I am not happy about that.

What does it mean for me to worship God in the midst of this? My yelling is certainly not pointing my children to a loving God. They are not learning of a Savior that is slow to anger. Do they see the inconsistency as they listen to me tell them about the God who loves them and then yell about the room I just cleaned? How do I slow my heart...to truly see my kids and not just the messes and inconvience?

Lord, I want to know you differently than I do. Help me to love with a whole heart, not keeping some back for myself.

By the way, do you think FRUIT loops count as one of the five-a-days. I think that's what I'll fix for dinner.

Taking time to see

Slowing now to notice the gifts I've been given...

...my husband, who is really in it with me

...little ones, to nurture and love and enjoy

...a warm, comfortable home that is my own

...plenty, even more than I need

And oh, so much more.   Stopping to truly see...

...the flicker of a flame

...deep colors that warm my heart

...the crinkle of a leaf under my foot

My heart is changed when I consider all that is given, the gifts that are for me, from my Beloved.  Slow with me to notice, stop to truly see.

This is one place I've been reading this fall... 

And working on this...

A picture is worth a thousand words

While tucking in my babes one last time, I had to chuckle at their little personalities.

No need to wonder who they are - these pictures say it all.

Operation Christmas Child

She's been saving her chore money for the last few months.
Carefully picking and choosing - each item is special.
These kids may not have a doll, pretty pink shirt or even a toothbrush.

"Mom, do you think she will like the cherry or the grape chapstick?"
"I think she will love whichever you choose for her, sweetie."

"I think the little boy would really like a ball!"
"Yes, a ball is a good idea."

"Don't you think the mom and dad would want something too? Maybe we should get something for them."
"Let's start thinking about that..."

"When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? The King will reply, ' I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' " - Matthew

Go here to find out more

National collection week November 12-19

Today is special --its never going to come round again. Grab hold of it and make it matter for now and forever. - Jewels

Trick or Treat?

Pumpkin carving

Oops! Forgot to get a picture of the final product. Tonight...