Let the Christmas Season Begin!!!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Well...all depends on what I have on hand.
2. Real tree or artificial?
I will never, in my life, own an artificial tree. I'd forgo the Christmas tree before I'd go artificial. I know, not very "green" but that's just how it is!!!
3. When do you put up the tree?
As soon as we can convince the Scrooge (aka Craig) to let us!
4. When do you take the tree down?
As soon after Christmas as possible!
5. Do you like eggnog?
Yes Sirree!!! But I cut mine with some milk, otherwise it's just too sweet. And I love Eggnog lattes!
6. Favorite gift received as a child?
You know, I really have a terrible memory. Probably the only Christmas gift I remember receiveing as a child was my Cabbage Patch Doll, and I only remember that because I peeked on my mom's list and saw that I was getting it. She discovered my discovery and did not give it to me for Christmas. Lesson learned! I did get it for my January birthday, though, and have been very careful to avoid peeking at Christmas lists since!
7. Do you have a Nativity scene?
Yes, Craig's grandparents gave it to us soon after we were married. It's the highlight of our Christmas decorations.
8. Hardest person to buy for?
Craig's dad, who has nearly everything:)
9. Easiest person to buy for?
It changes every year but this year, I think it's Noah. He just has so many interests this year! Makes it very fun!
10. Worst Christmas Gift you ever received?
Now I would be incriminating myself if I confessed!!!
11. Mail or email Christmas cards?
I've given up on Christmas cards all together! In another season of life, I will return to this tradition but for now, neither!!!!
12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Honestly, the Charlie Brown Christmas just brings with it the coziest of feelings!!! Good thing I have children so I have a good excuse!
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Veries every year! This year, we started at the end of October.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
I don't think so.
15. Favorite things to eat at Christmas?
My grandma's Cranberry Salad (my Grandma now spends Christmas celebrating in Heaven with Jesus, but one of us still makes this salad) and Amy's warm artichoke dip (she says she gets it from Costco but she should really keep this a secret and I'd just go on thinking that she makes the best Artichoke dip in the world!!!!)
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree?
Either is fine with me, just so long as there are lights!
17. Favorite Christmas song?
"Christmas Canon Rock" and "Mary, Did You Know?"
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
We always travel, but thankfully not too far!
19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and....Rudolph!!!
20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Star
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
We do both!
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
Um...I can't really think of anything that annoys me. However, my husband's list for annoying things about this time of yearis so long that it makes up for the lack of items on my list.
23. Ugliest Christmas Decoration ever invented?
Those blue metal-ish trees, hands down!!! Sorry to those of you who have them. I'm sure they look lovely in YOUR home :).
24. Which looks best, theme trees or homey trees?
Homey trees
25. Do you like Fruitcake?
About as much as I like Mincemeat Pie and Suet Pudding

Love

Kaleb says to me, "Mom, I just know that lady was a Christian". "Really? What makes you think that she was a Christian?" He, in his wise old age of seven responds, "I could just tell by the way that she loved children that she was a Christian".

"They will know we are Christians by our love...by our love

They will know we are Christians by our love"

The TRUE Pandemic

So far in 2009, 5,000 deaths worldwide from H1N1 have been reported to WHO (WHO Pandemic Update 71).

So far in 2009, 37,779,567 babies have been murdered in their mothers' wombs, with this number increasing by about 1 little life lost a second (Abortions this year).

There is a pandemic raging through our world, which is deserving of a state of emergency declaration from the Oval Office, but it has nothing to do with the H1N1 virus, nor can it be curbed with a vaccine.

Hannah-isms

There was a loose pit bull in the neighborhood recently. Hannah came to report this to me: "Mom, Daddy said there is a stray Pinch Bullet in the neighborhood".

For some time now she has been excited to be eating "Cum-cubers".

And last but certainly not least, when informed that it would not be appropriate for her to kiss any boys but Daddy on the lips, she thought for a moment and then sweetly asked if it would be okay with me if she kissed her husband on the lips. Of course I told her that would be fine:).

Photographic Catch-Up

I am so thankful to get to report that my world is looking less and less green and my couch and bed becoming more and more foreign to me. I am fourteen weeks and feeling so, so much better. It was truly a rough first trimester (plus a few weeks) for all of us. When momma is out of commission, it really throws everyone off their axis. We're all glad to be resuming some sort of normalcy again. And our reward?!?! A sweet heartbeat announcing that all was not in vain. Praise the Lord!!!

So before I jump back into blogging, I thought I would do a bit (or a lot) of photographic catch-up! Despite feeling pretty miserable, summer, with all it's fun, treated us to many lovely memories. Here's a peek into our last few months:

Sarah Grace, on her 2nd birthday

A Hello, Kitty cake made by Daddy

The day we found out that we were expecting, we left for Alaska to visit Craig's parents. We spent the first three days camped along a BEAUTIFUL remote lake. We enjoyed kayaking and canoeing around the lake, listening to the loons and watching the sun go down around 11pm!!!
Kaleb would have spent the entire time kayaking! He loved it!

Craig's dad, Craig and the girls. I think Sarah nearly fell asleep kayaking around that peaceful lake. Who could blame her?!?!

Sweet Sarah, preparing "Grass Soup"

The boys took a nice hike WAY up into the mountains.

Upon our return home, Noah found this in his garden, snapped the picture himself, and chose the border. I think it is a marvelous picture, don't you?

Not long after returning home from Alaska, we loaded up once again for a camping trip at Silver Creek State Park with several families from our church in Newberg. There's nothing quite like camping when you are a child. The Fabulous Four had so much fun!!!!

Noah is looking so grown up to me these days. I have only a few more months in the single digits with this one. Where has the time gone? His interests and conversations are becoming more mature in nature. I am really enjoying and treasuring my time with Noah.

Our Hannah Joy...

(Just for the record, I did not ask her to pose! This was all her own doing! If she added a "Please" to that face, I'm most certain we'd give her the world!!!)

I think my husband should get an award of some sort. Like the "Sherpa Award" or something! Little legs get tired going uphill and Daddy legs get very strong.

In August, Hannah celebrated her 4th Birthday with a trip to the zoo and a picnic dinner with grandparents.

Rounding out our summer involved lots and lots of fishing. When so many other foods found themselves on my "Gag me with a pitchfork" list, grilled salmon never failed to hit the spot!!! Craig has found himself one dedicated fishing companion! Though both boys went out many times with Craig, it was Kaleb who eagerly rose every single morning at o'dark thirty to join his daddy on the river.

I am looking forward to blogging again, when time permits. Thanks for taking a journey through our summer with me!

The Latest Knitting Project

I have had good reason to be away! You see, there is a wee one being knit together in my womb by an extraordinary Creator!!! Yes, for those who do not know yet, the Fabulous Four will become the Fantastic Five in March (Lord willing). We are so very grateful for this little one, so humbled and delighted that the Lord would chose to allow us to love and raise one more for Him. The reason for my absence, however, has been the EXTREME nausea I have experienced this time around. I am trying all sorts of things to make it more bearable but have not had much success yet. I welcome any and all suggestions! Until I get a better handle on this thorn in my flesh known as nausea, I likely will continue to be a bit sporadic in my postings. Be assured, though, that all is well here and we are enjoying our summer immensely!!!

The Home Warrior

As arrows in the hand of a mighty warrior, so are children of the youth.

~Psalm 127:4

Did you catch that? Our children....they are arrows.

Not just harmless arrows, but like arrows in the hands of a warrior.A mighty warrior.

Are you believing the lie from the depths of hell that you are nothing more than a housewife, a maid, a server of all but yourself? Are you settling for nothing more than children who walk a straight line, stay out of trouble, and get good grades? Do you view your husband as simply the man who brings home the bacon and changes the oil in the car? If you must honestly answer "Yes" to any of these questions, than stop! Stop believing the lies and start believing the Word of God.

You, as well as your mate, are a warrior, a person ENGAGED in warfare. Who is your enemy? The Bible tells us quite clearly who our enemy is, if we are believers and followers of Christ: "your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8). What is your greatest weapon? Your children! The ones who leave fingerprints on your windows, who bicker with their siblings, who scrape their knees and bang their shins. They are our greatest weapon!!!! They are arrows and they're going to be used to fight against somebody's enemy, either God's enemy or the devil's. We MUST not be complacent! The devil, our adversary, IS walking about, seeking whom he may devour and you know who he wants the most? Our children, because he knows God's Word is true (better than many of us Christians do)! He knows what dangerous weapons our children are! If the devil knows it and believes it, shouldn't we?

Love your children, treasure them for what they are (arrows in the hands of a warrior), pray for them and over them, and get on your knees before the Commander and ask Him, beg Him, plead with Him to make you and your husband warriors equipped and able to raise these arrows for Him. You will find me there, on my knees, too, petitioning the Lord to take our feeble, miserable attempts at raising our children and make it something powerful for the glory of His kingdom.

The next time I have to fill in the blank "Occupation" on a form, I wonder what would happen if, instead of writing 'homemaker', I wrote 'Home Warrior'? I think I'll give it a shot!

P.S. The bow and arrows in these pictures were beautifully crafted by Craig's father and given to him just recently. Such a treasure!

Whirlwind Days

Oh, its been a whirlwind of days. Camera-less days, at that. I have no proof that I've been doing what I've been doing so you'll just have to trust me!

Friday was spent enjoying a Civil War Reenactment provided by the NWCWC. It was a host of fun, though the very warm weather caused us to pity those in wool attire and ushered us sooner than we had planned to the comfort of our air conditioned vehicles. We are looking forward to attending another reenactment when the opportunity arises.

Saturday, not only did we get to enjoy the company of my sister-in-law and my adorable niece and charming nephews two, but also the city's annual 4th of July parade complete with too much candy! The rest of the day was spent slip-sliding (all 50 ft of it!!!), eating, chit-chatting and watching fireworks with 27 children and their parents. Tons of fun, I tell ya! Tons!!!

We continued to enjoy our visit with my sil and children through out the weekend, saying goodbye to them yesterday afternoon. Laundry beckoned, naps enticed, and quiet enveloped the busy-ness of us all.

Which takes us to the present, looking forward to celebrating in just a few days Sarah Grace's arrival into the world two years ago, visiting Craig's parents in Alaska, and soon an anniversary. And thus continues the whirlwind: a grand and blessed whirlwind!

The New-born Babe

" The new-born babe is a fresh act of God.

He is the latest revelation of God's creative handiwork.

The babe's presence so fresh and pure says all anew "God is faithful"."

"Here is the latest impress of the wondrous image of God.....

No thoughtful man can study his own baby, and in his heart doubt the existence of God"

~S.D. Gordon

"Quiet Talks on Home Ideals"

Photo: These are the precious feet of a Gift from the Father to some dear friends of ours.

A Pictoral Update

Little painted toe nails...too cute for words!

"C'Mere, Tucker... c'mere..." She calls out to her doggie, beckons him to his bed, snuggles in beside him, borrows a lock of his hair and snags her thumb. For her, it is pure bliss. This girl and her dog...

A beautiful trip to Pacific City with my parents, complete with the lowest tide of the year. Treasures abound!

Hunting and searching...

Hundreds of starfish: purple, orange and pink, feasting on the mussel-coated rocks

My Dream-Come-True and our Fabulous Four! Oh, how I love these people!!!

Worth it!!!

"Sacrifice is the a and the z, and all the vowels and consonants in between of motherhood. Sacrifice is love at its best.

There is no other spirit for motherhood; no other key to unlock its doors; no other solution of its tangling problems; no other sure weapon to lay its foes low in the dust." ~S.D. Gordon

This quote above was on my mind this morning when Craig took us out to breakfast. We piled our modest-in-number family into a booth and chit chatted about various happenings and the such. The hostess, a young gal looking to be in her early 20s, came to take our drink order. She glanced around our table at Craig and I and the Fabulous Four and then back at me in shock, "Are these all yours?" As I looked around the same table, I joyfully announced, "Yes!!!". Her next question was so fitting: "Isn't it hard?" There was a look of disbelief and perhaps of feeling overwhelmed at the very thought of said children being all hers. I don't criticize her for that question or the look that went with it. There are days when I must look the same way and that same question is written all over MY face. How do you answer such a question? If I answer "No, its not hard", I'm down-right lying. If I say "Yes, it's terribly hard", one would question why its not the Fabulous One instead of the Fabulous Four that sit around our table, with room for more. A thousand thoughts went through my mind as she stood there, looking at me with expectation. There were a million things I would have liked to tell her. But time does not stand still long enough. There wasn't time to tell her that those little people looking back at her have given so much more than they have taken, that I am not the person I was pre-children (and the world is grateful for that!!!) and that life is full of hard work (for goodness sakes, I wouldn't call waitressing an easy job!!!). There wasn't time to tell her that life is not about taking the easy way and doing our best to get out of hard work. There wasn't time to tell her that these children were actually flesh-wrapped gifts from the Creator of the universe with the potential to worship at the feet of Jesus Christ for all of eternity. There just wasn't time....So I looked at my table full of gifts and said to her, "Yep, its hard but it's so worth it".

And it is! It is so worth it!

Preparing...

"I am not preparing my children for college...

I am preparing them for Heaven."

~Voddie Baucham Jr.

Did Your Husband Take You to Church Today?

Did your husband take you to church this morning? Did he sit beside you in the pew, stand with you as you worshipped the Lord, closed his eyes beside you during prayer? Or perhaps he led your family in worship some other time this week, prayed with you before a meal, or read God's Word to you and your children? Have you thanked him? Have you told him lately how much you appreciate him taking your family to church? If not, please do it... today. I know many women who love the Lord but sit alone every Sunday. Both my husband's mom and my own mom took their families to church, with no husband beside them. On behalf of these women, thank your husband today.

Did you leave the house grouchy this morning? Did your husband take too long drinking his coffee, reading the paper, checking his emails? Did he not help you enough with the children this morning? Did he drive too fast or park in the wrong spot or wear that shirt that you just can't stand? Instead of thanking your lucky stars that you have a husband who will take his family to church, did you sit there in that pew grumbling inside about all the things your husband is not? Then please repent before the Lord and then before your husband and count your blessings instead of his faults.

And when you're finished with your counting, on behalf of all the women who sat alone today, wrap your arms around your husband and, even if it feels awkward, thank him for taking you to church today.

If you are one of those women who had to sit alone today, please know that you were on my heart this morning. May you feel the Lord's presence in an undeniable way each and every time you sit in that pew alone. And may the Lord reach into the heart of your husband in a way that only He can, and bring your man to his knees. You are brave women and I admire you greatly.

Sarah Discovers

Sarah Discovers...

...Birds in flight

...Mountain lupine's sweet aroma...Life wrapped around Daddy's finger...Belly Buttons!!!...Shadows in the dust

If This Table Could Talk...

A repost from a few seasons ago...

You know the saying, "If these walls could talk..."? Today I was thinking about my kitchen table. I call it a kitchen table because it is in the kitchen. It could be a dining room table except for the fact that we have never lived in a house big enough to have a dining room. Thus it is a kitchen table. Well, if my kitchen table could talk, oh the stories it would tell. In fact, it just might be the hub of our entire home life.

It is where we share our meals together: nice, homecooked meals made with thoughtfulness and love; after-thought meals made with rice and leftovers; quick meals made with pb&j. It is where we start the day as a family and it is where we end the day as a family.

It is where I expand my role as mother by teaching the ABCs and the 123s. It is where my son first learned to write, add, subtract and read. It is also one of the places my children learn manners.

It is where miscellaneous objects become art, where miscellaneous ingredients become cookies and where miscellaneous activities become memories.

It is where God often meets me when the house is quiet and the children tucked soundly into their beds.

It is where my father sat, waiting to hear the cries of his newborn granddaughter from the bedroom.

It is where I've layed my head in my hands and cried and it is where I've raised my hands to Heaven and praised.

Oh, if this table could talk, oh the stories it could tell!

A Field Trip

I took my USHCs (UnSocialized Home school Children, of course!) to a children's museum in our area the other day. While they played and learned, I captured.

My Littlest Love

I love this little girl. She is our fourth child and I really don't know how I ever lived without her. She's feisty as all get out, louder than the other three combined, can't hold still to save her soul and as sweet as honey. Those eyes and that sweet nose and those kissable lips and her wispy hair... I could go on and on. Sometimes I get lost in her, watching her every move, listening to her sing-song chatter, soaking her in. Smitten, I tell you. Hook-line-and-sinker-in-love. You wouldn't think that you'd be so head over heels about the fourth one. I mean, doesn't that baby love start to get old after four of 'em? Guess not, because I've got stars in my eyes for this one, too. How is it that a mother's heart keeps from exploding?