A little trip to the North Pole

Weeks ago, we made our annual trip to Bass Pro Shops to visit Santa. This is always one of the highlights of my year! This store is so cool and we all love it! The kids are fascinated with the animals (as are the adults) and they do a fantastic job of making it a magical place for the young-uns! There are tons of toys to play with and carnival stations set up... not to mention enormous gear that it's totally fine to climb all over!

 I didn't get a good shot of them but will check with Lala to see if she got a better one!

 As you can tell from the look on his face, we lost Caden right here so there aren't many more pictures of him. Poor guy. I don't think he was feeling well and the rest of the visit was a little teary. 

 Lizzy was posing. London was scared to death. I am coaxing her with all my might to get close enough for a picture and right about that time and older man walks behind them and screams 'ROOOOAAAARRR!' I got the shot right before London screamed bloody murder! :)

 oh the cuteness.

 2 most beautiful little girls on the planet.

 Making her daddy ever so proud.

 And my favorite part of the trip... London was waiting her turn to go see Santa and right before she walked off she had me lean down so she could tell me something....

Bullet dodged, Santa. 

A serious post....

I am hoping to get at least 2 posts up tonight in an effort to catch up before Christmas, but one I've held onto has been my thoughts on what happened in Newtown, Connecticut. We've all heard plenty on the topic, but at our quiet little house, we don't have cable. And I don't use the computer at night. So my exposure has simply been a mother's thoughts and God's holy word.

I've thought so much about what happened. Two beats of my own heart are 5 years old..... it is too real and terrifying to even finish that thought with the 'what if's'. My best friend is a teacher and we have talked in depth about how part of her job duty is to be a human barricade should bullets pierce the safety of her room, this without concern for the children that she raises in her own home.  Even just typing the words... a hotness swells in me. A heartbroken heart turns to steel. You see, I am a mother and like all mothers, I say without hesitation, 'over my dead body' to anything happening to my child without my consent. So this tragedy turns us momma's to pure cold steel as we ache for the momma's who couldn't protect their children from this horrifying day. I stare at this blinking cursor on my screen with no words, just a hollow, dull pain for these families. But as a parent, I will cry out to God. I will be part of the chorus being lifted to the heavens for mercy to fall like rain on Newtown.

However, in light of this, the Lord has drawn me back into His faithfulness. I feel like in the wake of this awful day, the whole nation is perhaps right where it should be.... in a season of Advent. In a season of waiting and yearning for of our Savior. I’ve been reading the bible through this year and am still in the Old Testament, but these few weeks have felt like Old Testament times to me. A people crying out to God to deliver us from the sin of our nation. Crying out for forgiveness. Crying for mercy. 

I am there. I find myself lost in thought thinking, 'God come quickly.' But this aching also has turned my heart to Christmas. As the people awaited a Savior, we do too. In only a few days now, our Savior was born. Everything I live for and believe in revolves around the birth pains of a young mother 2000 years ago. The blessed birth of my Redeemer. My heart is turned towards Him in such a mighty way again.... In gratitude with a stilled heart for what his birth meant. The celebration of his birth meant the reality of His death. The next 33 years of His life were lived on mission. A mission that nailed Him to the cross for me. For yoU. For every single one of us. He came to be love. To teach us, to show us, to love us. 

I'm humbled by it all again. I will celebrate in gladness but will remember that He came fully knowing the outcome of His life. For that, I will be still and evermore thankful. I can just imagine it...

2000 years ago... The birth so long foretold...

a Savior has come to all people...

The Thrill of HOPE... the weary world REJOICES!

Lamentations 3: 25-33 (MSG)

25-27God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks. It's a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from God. It's a good thing when you're young to stick it out through the hard times.

28-30When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don't ask questions: Wait for hope to appear. Don't run from trouble. Take it full-face. The "worst" is never the worst.

31-33Why? Because the Master won't ever walk out and fail to return. If he works severely, he also works tenderly. His stockpiles of loyal love are immense...

Merry {Hippy-to-the Hop} Christmas, Y'all!

Well, we do Elf Yourself videos every year, but I totally stole the same one one of my best friends made of she and her husband (which was totally hilarious if you know them!) So, to see our annual 'Christmas Card', please click the link below! 

http://host-d.oddcast.com/php/application_UI/doorId=1083/clientId=299/?mId=46614947.3

Merry Christmas, Y'all! It's the most wonderful time of the year! 

Thanksgiving 2012

Dear ole blog, 

I promised to have the Thanksgiving post up and open to the public by 9:00 am. Here it's 3:59 and I have literally 60 seconds to post before I must hit the door screaming, 'CHOP CHOP', as my dear ole dad would say. 

So, here is my 60 second recap. Food? Good grief. Is there any better holiday, really? Family? How about a whole afternoon long visit with Uncle Barry, Doreen, and their adorable Pooch! I'd just give anything if we all lived closer together and could sit at their feet hearing tales of their life in the great Wild West more often! My Uncle is cooler than yours. Sorry, facts are facts. Another fact, my grandmother has the scariest cat ever born. A month later and London still says 'Din Din's cat is MEEEEEE-EEEE-EEEE-EEEAN.' (very sing songy!) Charley Rhea is just gorgeous. The colors of this season are blowing my mind. So incredibly beautiful!!

Thing I learned: 

You can entertain kids for hours by throwing sticks in trees and making pecans fall off the branches. Also, they think you are a hero for being able to do it. Awesome. 

 Backseat smooches from my favorite little turkey!

 Screwing sticks into Lizzy's head, of course!

 Sword fight

 The kids attacking Unc! So funny!!

 The kids WON!!

 {eating the 'christmas candy' on the tree}

 sweet mommy tickles!

 mid-day craft project. Ice cream cones, icing, and 'decorations'! Very fun and sugary!

 An extraordinary darling child...

Din Din, I just love thanksgiving. It's just the perfect break to get away and enjoy our family! Thank you for graciously hosting us each year! We love you and this time of year so very much!

Family, Friends, and the beginning of all things Christmas

Well, I know that Christmas is upon us, but in my little blog world, we left off at Halloween so I still have TWO VIRTUAL MONTHS to goob out about Christmas! YESSSSS!

I read a quote by W.T. Ellis that said, "It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air." I like that! I'll tell you one thing, it is Christmas at our house. London and I have both been so excited about the holidays. Praise the Lord we have no extra money because I would have no doubt transformed our house into a Griswold's replica had I had the funds. London is all about some yard art, and I fall victim to whatever tickles her fancy so it was a rotten combination of splurge urges. Thankfully, my faithful ole bank account put the cabash on the mega holiday trip to Lowe's.

It would've been a thing of beauty....

In all seriousness though, London really started Christmas for us this year. We walked outside one night and the stars were sparkling bright. She wanted to stay outside and watch them so we turned off the outside lights and curled up together on the driveway. The north star was straight over head so I told her the name of the star and how it led the wise men to Jesus. She was fascinated. I told her the whole story of Jesus being born and then we just sat outside, quiet, lost in thought together. 

Well, turns out she really likes the story of Jesus. She asks me to 'say the words about Jesus being borned' almost every day. She never forgets to ask about it if the stars are out. I'm glad that our season began this way because her amazement at the angels and the kings following the star have far outweighed her interest in Santa. Perhaps it just that she's still too young, but 'Santa Baby' as she calls him, is fun, but he's not bigger than Jesus to her this year. Oh that we can hold on this state of mind forever. 

I sure don't mind her loving Santa, but I do love that she is really wanting to make a big deal out of Jesus' birthday and that she likes to talk about it so much! Anyway, on to catch up pictures!

You almost can't take how great this picture is? Baby girl, up on the counter, eating a lemon, cooking dinner with me? Yup. Every time. It admittedly is not the cleanest cooking process ever, but I just can't say no. I remember being a little tyke on the counter with my momma and I just love that she wants to be involved. Last night she dropped a full box of dry rice on the floor. It was..... messy. 

 Here she is being a 'teacher princess' showing me the direction 'down'. Love it all. 

 Here we are in the house at 7 am on a Saturday, playing like we were at my friend Jill's 'bday party but it started raining so we had to hide out in the cave.' Her imagination is colorful. Also, Jill has had the most celebrated birthday of anyone next to Jesus. We've thrown a daily party for her for months now. Lucky. 

 Speaking of! Here's Jill and sweet Lucas at a great dive restaurant that we decided to try out! My word the view was amazing!

 Our first Christmas decorations (and my first Pintrest success!!!)... a felt christmas tree. This has actually been lots of fun! Lu likes changing all the decorations around and it keeps her occupied from the real ornaments!

 {cheese}

 I can't remember why we were at Barry's house this night, but it took all of 3 minutes before the 3 kids were fully decked out in their alter ego personalities! :) 

 I love this picture because Caden was being so 'all boy' here. He had just finished beating the stew out of the corner of the wall with his nerf sword and here he was 'crash landing their magic carpet.' Yes. I love him so much!

A beautiful (in pictures) Thanksgiving post to come!