Christmas 2012

 For years, since our oldest boys were very little boys, our family has celebrated Advent.  Sometimes more faithfully than others, but every year we have an Advent wreath and an Advent devotional.  Our kids represent a wide range of ages and understanding, so it has always presented a bit of a challenge to find a good intellectual fit for everyone, thus the variability in faithfulness.  This year, I found Ann Voskamp's Advent Devotional.  It includes printable ornaments to be hung on a Jesse Tree.

We weren't really familiar with the idea of the Jesse Tree, so we didn't know how it would go, but I committed to giving it a try.

Each night, as we gathered around our table or in our living room by the fire, we read the stories from Scripture--the stories that show us WHY we need a Savior, the stories that remind us WHO we are, and more importantly WHO Jesus (descendent of Jesse--thus, the Jesse tree) is.  Each night, as we read, we remembered.  We revisited HIS story, and thereby, our own.  Each night, we lit the candles and hung up the ornament that corresponded to the story, and each night we prayed. The time we spent together as a family each night is truly my favorite Christmas gift!  

 

Here is a link to Ann's Advent devotional.  It's free and printable.  I would recommend it without reservation.  It was a great fit for everyone in our family.  Our littles enjoyed reviewing all the Bible stories, our biggers got the benefit of Ann's commentary and a deeper understanding of how all of the stories, individually, are great, but when  you put them all together--WOW--what a tapestry of mercy, grace, and redemption.

(http://www.aholyexperience.com/2012/11/free-christmas-family-devotional-jesse-tree-ornaments/)

John Wesley turns 17!

 John Wesley is 17 and all I can think is, "He's ALMOST 18!!!!"  I have to remind myself to breathe, that he is God's, not mine, and that he is growing up and growing in the Lord, just as he should be, and that instead of dreading that I only have a few short months before he is ready to find his own way, I need to treasure every moment that he is HERE with me.  And I do.  But there are moments that all I can think is, "He's ALMOST 18!!!!!"  Oh, how I love this young man!

 For his birthday, he told me not to make a cake because he wouldn't eat it.  He has more self-discipline than anyone I know.  So I made him a big bowl of fruit and bought a pound cake for those of us who like having so many birthdays because it makes for good cake-eating excuses! 

 



Cody is 16!!!!

 Look at this grown-up young man!  It is hard for me to believe that he is the little chubby baby that God gave me 16 years ago!

 This year Cody is looking forward to finally getting to drive his Suburban.  When we retired our big green suburban (that was made before he was even born), he immediately claimed it as his own.  So it is.

 I'm not sure how my mommy heart will take having two boys on the road.  I know I have to "let go" sometime, but gee, they're still just babies, aren't they????

No, I know they aren't.  I have always said that we are raising young men, not boys.  I am so proud of the young man Cody has become, and so blessed that he calls me "Mommy."  

Decking the Halls...

 It's our tradition.  Every year, when it's time to put up the tree, we make it into a party.

We have finger foods, 

 snacks,

and Christmas music. 

We sometimes eat more than we work. 

 And that's okay.

 Because, (as Jared is demonstrating in this picture) decorating can be overwhelming.

But eventually the tree goes up. 

And the lights go on. 

And some years, when we're lucky, they actually WORK and I don't have to make a trip to the store to get more. 

 Everyone has their favorite thing to do.

 Some like to assemble the tree.

 Some like to pretend they're choking to death to provide comic relief from the stress of decorating.

Some like to hang the ornaments. 

 Or make sure the lights are spaced just right.

 And some like to manage the whole affair.  Wonder who?

 Everyone has their favorite ornaments, as well.

All of them are special. 

 Most of them have a story.

 These were mittens my older boys ACTUALLY wore when they were babies.

And these are the handprints from those sweet little hands. 

 Here is the ornament I always make sure *I* get to put up every year.  My sweet Katy.

 And these were the shoes I wore when I was a baby.  The moose is the hand and foot prints of my once-littles and their artwork of trees and reindeer and hats and candycanes.  It is less of a decoration and more a collection of keepsakes, our tree.

 And this year, we've added Chuck's seashells.

 Alas, the finished (for now) product.

 Atop the armoire is Chuck's nativity along with the framed print of my brother's wise words as a backdrop for the wise men who looked that night at the babe who became the Savior whom Chuck now sees face to face.  And this year, more than ever, I'm so glad for the babe in that manger.  For the sweet hope that first cried in the hay.  How grateful I am for that baby hope--that tiny would-be Savior who loves those I love even more than I can.

 Old jars with winter scenes on the shelf of the hoosier my honey gave me just 'cause he loves me so.

 Soldiers guarding hope and peace that I so desperately need every day.

And stockings ALL hung by the chimney with care. 

 Traditions.  Stockings from our childhoods.  His.

And mine.  And all of ours.

And a little boy too tired. 

 Losing patience with the too-long day.

Looking forward to bedtime. 

Waiting for rest. 

Needing comfort. 

Wanting peace. 

Like all the world. 

Come, Lord Jesus. 
We all are waiting, sometimes with joyful anticipation,
but sometimes too tired and out of patience, like my sweet tired boy,
 needing the peace only you offer.

Jared Turns 10!!!

 I know I always start out every birthday post by saying the same thing, but it's the truth, so here goes again.  I can't BELIEVE that Jared is TEN years old!!!  It truly seems like yesterday that I got the phone call that there was a little 3 month old baby in the hospital at UK who needed a foster placement and would we please consider fostering him?  "Oh," the social worker on the other end of the line said, "there are some things you need to be aware of.  This baby is brain damaged, leaving him deaf, blind, and without a suck reflex.  He may not even make it, but they are releasing him from the hospital because there is nothing more they can do for him."  That was true. 

 Indeed, there WAS nothing more THEY could do.  But God?  Yes, BUT GOD!  Wow!  He had a hope and a future in mind for this seemingly broken little boy.  The very night he came home, he jerked out his NG tube and began sucking from his bottle.  A few weeks later he was visually tracking us as we walked around the room.  And one Sunday morning, miracle of miracles, he STARTLED when Harold made a loud noise!  HE COULD HEAR!  I remember Harold and I both crying with the joy of it. 

 Yes, this young man has defied the odds.  He tells his Sunday School friends how God made him see and hear again.  And he knows that his friend, Dustin, was baptized "because he loves Jesus."  This understanding is a far cry from the little baby who "may not make it."  A far cry from the little boy who the neurologist gravely proclaimed would never speak or understand. 

 I am so grateful for that phone call nearly 10 years ago.  I can't imagine how much quieter this house might be without my sweet boy hollering at me every few minutes making his "friendly" demands and asking his million questions all for the millionth time.  What a privilege it has been to witness first-hand as God has worked so many miracles in Jared's life!  What a sacred privilege it has been to be his mommy.

Thanksgiving at Our House...

 This year, we had the privilege of hosting my family's Thanksgiving gathering.  There were 38 of us.  It was so much fun to have everyone in.  Of course it was also very hard because it was the first Thanksgiving we spent without my brother, Chuck.  However, we did get to spend time with Carolyn.  I am so thankful she was able to come.

 Beautiful sisters-in-law. 

Hannah, Raisie, and Isaiah, and the rest of the crew in the background getting ready to gather 'round for the blessing. 

 Time to eat.  It's not hard to host Thanksgiving when a family this big all pitches in.  Everybody brought something to add to the meal, so we had lots of everything!

 Desserts.  The kitchen countertops were full, so we put desserts in the laundry room.

 One of the "adults" tables.  Of course Matthew qualifies because it's where Grandma & Grandpa sat.  He had to be with them or he wouldn't have been "thankful."

 Jared at his Cars table.

 We set up a "kids" table in Jared's bedroom.  Some adults (including Harold and me) overflowed to this table since there wasn't enough room at the two adult tables in the dining room.

 The other "adults" table.  Some kids, too, since they needed to be close to their parents.

 And, of course, cutie-pie Raisie at her seat.

 The bigger kids were able to take their plates to sit at the table downstairs.

 Some boys just don't like me to take their pictures.

Cards for the players.

 Snacks for the observers.

 Movies for the littles.

 Nehemiah is such a handsome little dude!

 What a trio of trouble!  Haha!  Not really, they were all good as gold.

 Jonas entertained Isaiah and Matthew, or they entertained him, not sure which.

 I love this shot of Isaiah, because it reminds me of John Wesley when he was little.  He used to gather up EVERY car he owned and line them all up.

 The littles enjoyed a Diego marathon before they hit the hay for the night.  After we put all our kiddos to bed, some of us stayed up and enjoyed an impromptu stand-up comedy routine featuring Jennifer and Jamie.  I loved going to bed that night with so much of my family under my roof.  But I wasn't so crazy about saying good-bye to them the next morning.  Who would want to say good-bye to this sweet face?