Christmas thoughts

Well, here it is Christmas Eve.  I can't believe it!  Later tonight we will be in a crowded house with SweetHeart's extended family and loving every minute of it.  But right now I have a few quiet moments to share.  As we are reading the Christmas story this year, the part that lingers in my thoughts is when Mary "pondered all these things in her heart."  I wonder what her journal entry was that day.  Maybe she was in awe of knowing promises fulfilled and a knowing kind of hope that future promises would be fulfilled.  Maybe an overwhelming feeling of knowing God is with us as she held Emanuel.  Maybe that feeling of Wow, I'm a mom!  So many times I get caught in the maid and nanny role that I forget I'm a mom and that is the most important job I can have.  Maybe a peaceful scared or confident uncertainty--you know how you can be in the middle of chaos and have that calm feeling that only God can bring because He is faithful, He is perfect love, and He is good. This year with all the challenges and change, I'm so thankful that the same Father who was with Mary in that moment is the same faithful, loving, and good God who orchestrates my life. 

What about you?  What is your favorite part of the Christmas story this year?

Over the weekend

This past weekend my mom and I had the priviledge of attending a Deeper Still event. We had such a good time. And the teaching was phenomenal! Kay Arthur, Beth Moore, and Pricilla Shirer can teach the Word of God! They each had a about an hour and a half to two hours and they taught the whole time! Kay taught the whole book of Ephesians, Pricilla taught Ephesians 3:20-21, and Beth taught about spiritual discernment. Good stuff! On this video on Pricilla's blog, Beth said Kay taught all but two verses, then Pricilla taught those, so it was just the concordance and maps left for her to teach on! haha

Another part that amazed me is the interpreter! Usually they work as a team about 30 minutes and switch, or at least one do the music and the other do the teaching. Not this girl, she did the whole entire conference herself! I was in awe. And she did an amazing job. I would love to sign "In Christ Alone" like she did. Besides the wonderful teaching, Travis Cottrell and his praise team sure lead us in worship. Of course, they are great singers, but I love that the expression on their faces show that they love to worship their God who they know and love. So many times singers or intramentalists look like they would rather be somewhere else, not these guys! Speaking of guys, Travis, the other guy in the praise team, the guitar player, and pianist sang a few gospel songs! Whew! Love that harmony! Friday night Travis was doing a meet and greet, and we got to meet him! (This is not a great pic, but we met Travis!)

Home to reality, but I hope that I let that seed of His Word take root and I'm not exactly the same, but I'm a little different because I spent time with Him this weekend. Thanks, Mom, for the trip!

Home not only to reality, but to the cold! Brr! It has been cold this week! Then this morning we woke up to a winter wonderland. It is very pretty, but I hate to get out in it. Thankfully I don't, but my man and my kids did. We are looking forward to sunshine and a warm up to the 40's! I hear it is on the way!

Here is the group photo my brother took of us that I mentioned in the last post. My mom's parents and my immediate family.

My brother is really great at taking pictures. He captured this silly one of us and then doctored it a little. I teased that it would be our Christmas card photos. However appropriate it may be, I probably won't.

Thanksgiving

Wow! What a week! We visited 3 different towns, 14 hours of travel. And saw a lot of family including all 5 great-grandparents, all 4 grandparents, all aunts & uncles and 1st cousins, and a lot of great-aunts & uncles, and cousins--some that we don't often get to see!

First we went to SweetHeart's hometown for the weekend. Mamaw always celebrates Thanksgiving on the Sunday before. It was great fun to be with family and cousins again. Here is our last name family. And we are going to be an Aunt and Uncle again! SweetHeart's big brother and his wife are expecting again. That will make the cousins the dirty dozen...or something like that!

The leaves were amazing to play in, and of course, we didn't have to show them how!

YUM! Mamaw's chocolate cookies!

Then Monday was my Granddad's 80th birthday. We met my dad's siblings and some of my cousins and their kids at Grandma and Granddad's house for a birthday party. We don't often get together so it was a lot of fun to visit and play with them for the day.

Here are three generations of my last name men that were here. (My generation is missing.)

Here are four generations of my last name women that were here.

SweetBoy got Papa, and Cousin C got his grandpa to play a game of ping pong in the basement. I think the big boys laughed and enjoyed it more!

SweetDoll and Cousin J had a blast playing together!

There were seven of the 11 great-grandkids here today (and there are two more on the way!)

My kids had school Monday (we took them out early for the party) and Tuesday. Then it was off to Granny and Papa's house for Thanksgiving! My brother and his wife were in from the east coast so it was special to have them home. My cousin and her family came too, so there were cousins for my kids to play with here too!

SweetTate and little Cousin K had too much fun playing football!

And it snowed! A really pretty, HUGE flakes snow! The kids had fun playing in it with Dad.

Uncle J gave the kids some gifts he brought back from his trip to China. Those are really cool! And Uncle J and Aunt E let the kids go on a scavenger hunt for their Christmas presents from them (since we won't see them at Christmas). Those were a hit too! My brother got a picture of the group. I'll have to share that when I get it. Here is a picture of four generations of us girls.

This season of giving thanks I am really thankful for family. We are so blessed to know our extended family and have a good time with them. I know that is not necessarily a given. And through the month, we asked the kids what they were thankful for. They said things like God, warm bed, play set, family, friends, animals...all of which, and more, I am grateful for too. Over at Beth Moore's blog she asked what we were thankful for that surprised us most. At first I couldn't think of anything. But the more I thought about it, I'm thankful for our move. I never thought I would say that. Yes, I miss being close to family and friends. And I miss the familiar and have had to learn a new area. But I have my husband, friend, and my kids' dad back from a stressful situation and I'm thankful we are here.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving too! Now it is off to decorate for Christmas!