Merry Christmas

Yesterday we prepared the manger, celebrated with family a bit early, and ended the day by preparing our hearts at a Christmas Eve service.

This morning the kids woke up to find that baby Jesus had indeed found a soft place to lay his head.

We read the Christmas story, dug into stockings, and opened presents, and in the midst of lights, and ornaments, and crumpled brown paper, and bits of string, I prayed that seeds of faith were being sown.

To be honest, I struggle with how to balance the world's Christmas with the real Christmas...how to keep the baby and the truth at the center of it all. More than anything I want these kids of mine to know God's love...

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

~John 3:16

And, for them to know His story by heart...

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, 

praising God and saying,

'Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.'"

I hope you all had a very merry and blessed Christmas full of Christ's joy and peace.

Henry

Much to the children's delight, Henry has spent a little time decorating his house for Christmas.

 

And, he occasionally gets a package or two in the mail.

Henry has become our daily reading companion especially as we do our "Advent stuff" with the kids. I even caught sweet Sophia holding him, and very sincerely repeating "Baby Je, Baby Je" to him. I guess they took his request to learn more about Jesus seriously. They are both so smitten with Henry that I'm afraid they might mutiny when it's time to send him back on his travels once Christmas is over.

I've been quieter than usual around here. We've had a few rounds of sniffles and family visits, and then Friday happened. I'm still speechless and just holding my kids and my Savior a little bit closer.

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
~Psalm 9:9

Sunday

"But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever; his kingdom will never end."
~Luke 1:30-33

My Little Monkey

The last time my sister was up here she took these photos of Sophia and my dad.

I think my dad enjoys having a granddaughter with a bit of a fearless streak in her...

Of course, Sophia enjoys having a BawBaw who encourages her in her wild ways. They are quite a pair. Sometimes I have to close my eyes and hold my breath with those two, but her joy over their adventures is worth it.

Henry C. Mouse Is In The House

Friday morning the kids woke up to quite the surprise. Overnight a mysterious suitcase appeared on the mantle. There was much curiosity about what (or who) might be in it...

Well, hello there!

Meet Mr. Henry C. Mouse. He came complete with his own suitcase house, a mailbox, and a proper letter of introduction.

He is a world traveler and has made many friends abroad. Already he has received an advent calendar from Germany!

In his letter he expressed great interest in learning about Jesus and said that he believed there might be a few little kids here who would gladly tell him what he needs to know.

Levi "wrote" a letter to inform Mr. Henry C. Mouse that he was officially welcome to stay and that he and his sisters would gladly help Mr. Mouse learn about Jesus during this Christmas season.

I don't think I've ever seen my kids grin so much or get so into a storyline. They rearrange his house, bring him into their laps to listen to Bible stories, and when the day is done put him into his little bed. Over the course of the next few weeks our mouse will receive a few letters and presents here and there from his friends around the world. I can already see this becoming a yearly tradition...maybe next year he'll bring his wife or send a friend in his place.

I am grateful that I happened upon these posts on Mini Mocha about her Christmas Mouse. It was exactly what we needed this season....especially for Levi who absolutely thrives on imaginative play.

An Empty Manger

We've had a sick weekend around here. I think/hope that we are all mended or at least almost so. Saturday after a stay at home in our pjs kind of day I was browsing the craziness that is the worldwide web. I spotted this manger and at once gasped and declared, "We NEED one of these!" My husband took me seriously, and illness did not deter him from going outside and coming back in with this...

Okay, so he really came in with a manger that was twice as big. If you too decide that you need a manger do not follow the measurements from that link. Unless, of course, you're looking to donate a manger to your church (ours is about to get one). The look of horror on my face (and possibly me saying, "Honey, that can't stay in our living room.") prompted him to exit and come back in with the smaller more manageable version. I believe it is in the 18 inch range instead of the original 30 inches.

My plan is for the kids to fill it with something soft (hay, yarn? I dunno.) on Christmas Eve. Then when they wake up on Christmas morning a baby Jesus will be in the manger they prepared. It's already initiated some great conversations around here...you know once we explained to the kids that it was not indeed a table or a chair.

Sunday

The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined.

~Isaiah 9:2 

Hello Advent

This evening I suddenly decided that we absolutely without a doubt needed an empty manger to go under our tree. As I type I can hear my husband making it. Gotta love a man who's game for crazy, last minute schemes! Soon I'll be working on a swaddled doll (inspired by these) to go in it on Christmas day. You might call him Baby Jesus, but around here he's "Baby Je"....a little Sophiaism for you.

Earlier this week I put Stephan up to making us an Advent Wreath....not exactly a traditional one, but I love it. Tomorrow we will light the first candle.

The kids began opening their Advent calendars today, and we pulled out our Advent and Christmas books. Advent Storybookhas become our traditional evening read. I believe this is our third year of it. Each story is short, and they all lead up to the birth of Jesus. This year we're also doing Truth in the Tinsel. For those who are familiar with Jesse Trees this is similar, but it's geared toward a younger crowd. It has a daily scripture and devotional along with instructions for simple ornaments and ideas for other activities to do with your kids. We are not doing every craft/activity that goes along with it. There is enough to do this time of the year without sending myself into a panic because I forgot to buy pipe cleaners!

If you're still looking for something to do for Advent:
 Here's an Advent reading plan for our favorite children's Bible, The Jesus Storybook Bible
A Holy Experience offers a free devotional and printable Jesse Tree ornaments.

And, here are a few of our favorite Christmas books:

Song of the Stars: A Christmas Story

A Christmas Goodnight

Who Is Coming to Our House? (Board Book)

Christmas Is Here

What is your family's favorite Advent tradition (newly begun or well established)?

O Christmas Tree

We go to the same Christmas tree farm every year. I nearly broke tradition to try a new one, but at the last minute I was won over by the simplicity and lack of commercialism (i.e.: Santa) that we always find here.

So this year we rode on the same trailer behind the same tractor in the midst of the same fields. There were no lines, nothing for sale other than trees and stands, no light show, no Santa, no elves. We didn't miss any of it.

We practically had the place to ourselves as the kids played chase between rows of baby trees.

Nanno made their year when she bought them their very own itty bitty tree. We put it next to our front door. It was the first to be decorated, and they check on it throughout the day now. Nanno's are terribly good at making little ones feel special.

Levi even got to help cut it down....little boy heaven...

Picking out "Mama's tree" wasn't nearly as fascinating, though...

Unless you ask Lillian. She was pretty into it...

We loaded our trees up and rode back on the tractor to measure and pay. When the kids went running up to the candy striped sign I was reminded of how much I love this tradition. Every year...same picture...same kids...a little taller each time.

And, because I like looking at old pictures of my mother. Here's one for my kiddos to look at someday. At least they'll know I was really there.

Three days later, and we finally have the big tree decorated and the ornament boxes stashed away.

Tomorrow we'll start opening small Advent doors, reading daily scriptures and Advent books, and preparing our hearts for the coming of our Lord. I'm not sure who is more excited...me or the kids.

Happy Thanksgiving

Our day was full and beautiful. There is much to be thankful for.

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving 
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations."
Psalm 100:4-5

Happy Five!

Wow. I promise you it was just yesterday that I brought him home from the hospital. I can still feel those first days of sleep deprivation and pain mingled with the most intense joy. Blink. Blink.
Now he's a boy who thinks he's big like BawBaw and Daddy yet still needs help putting on his socks. He mostly resides in his own little world where he is a different animal every day. He lives them and breathes them. Last week he was an otter. This week a flying squirrel. He rarely answers to his given name. "I AM a squirrel," he says with deep conviction.

Each morning he climbs into our bed and snuggles with Lillian. He whispers "I love you." and "I'll take care of you." into her ear. He spends his days poring over books and playing with trucks. He pulls Sophia into it all at every chance. They are thick as thieves those two.

Five years ago this little boy stole my heart, and I don't ever want it back.

William "Bill" Cole Jr.

Stephan's father passed away today. He had been in declining health for awhile, but over the past month he worsened. Two weeks ago Stephan traveled to Florida to visit him for what we were afraid might be the last time. We are grateful that he had that opportunity.

We've spent part of our evening flipping through old photo albums. I thought I'd share a few of our favorite pictures of these two handsome fellas from back in the day.

We are very thankful for all of the prayers and kind words we've received from family and friends. Past Novembers have seen deaths on both sides of Stephan's family, so this was already an especially hard month. I am reminded, though, of this verse:

 

"Always rejoice, constantly pray, in everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." 

~1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 

Our hope is in Him.