All I want for Christmas...

I was going through my phone videos and found this one of John. I thought it was a good way to kick off the Christmas countdown. Just for the record I am the "mean Moma" stating that I didn't think he would get that for Christmas! This video is from last year. He had justed turned five...iPod!?!?

Thankful

We were able to spend the morning with Peters side of our family as his parents are in town. Then Peter left for work and I took the children to the Thanksgiving celebration for my side this afternoon. Some of us had turkey at both celebrations, some of us did not. I will not name names.

As I sit here pondering my day, my children are laughing and playing throughout the house. They have run up and down the stairs too many times to count.

I am thankful for many things:

• My husband who is willing to lead this family and works hard for us.
• My children who are healthy, laughing, playing and absorbing God's Word.
• My extended family on both sides...parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts, cousins.
• Another birthday.
  

We truly are abundantly blessed. I hope you had a chance to give thanks today and every day for our Lords gracious provision, endless mercy and saving death.

Ahh the sound!

My washing machine is spinning and I am grateful. It broke a few days ago and with hubby out of town I had to hunt for a Mr. Fix It. After several calls to Sears and Appliance Doctor (both of whom said they could fit me in after Thanksgiving or sometime in December), I hit the jackpot with a company that could come out pretty quick. My washer is working and I have already started the first of what will turn out to be 10 loads or so! What luxury in which we live.
I am so blessed.

Kid Quote

As we are drawing:

Mommy: Daniel, I know what that is! It's a Teepee. That's great.

Daniel: No it's not. It's an Indian House!

Adoptive Mom

God's original plan for my kids was not what it is currently. God's original plan doesn't involve sinful, selfish and depraved people. It involves not eating from a tree and being fruitful and multiplying for His glory, to worship and fellowship with Him. My precious children are here with me because of the self-gratifying nature of this sinful people. And I rejoice because someone else's failures became my reward. I get to be their mom. I get to kiss their hurts, tuck them in, hear them sing and raise them for the glory of his Creator. But I ache. I am fallible. I am faced with the fact that I cannot make it all better all the time. I cannot be Jesus. I can show Jesus, love Jesus and walk within the boundaries of His word. But I cannot take away all the hurt that my children may feel. I can ask the Lord to protect them from the pain and I can teach my children to lean on Him to heal their wounds. That is my job. That is my calling--raising my kids for His glory and His alone. The Lord is faithful to restore what the locusts have stolen. He is Jehovah-Jireh (The Lord will Provide). He is Jehovah-Rophe (The Lord Who Heals). He is Jehovah-M'Kaddesh (The Lord Who Sanctifies). And in the midst of it all He is Jehovah-Shammah (The Lord is There).
Peace be with you all tonight.

What do you do with birthday balloons?

My boys

When I went to bed last night, this is what I found already occupying the space. My precious little boys. 2 and 5. I am so blessed to be their Moma.

Daniel is 5 today!

Happy Birthday Daniel! We are blessed to be your Daddy and Mommy! You are sweet joy to us and we stand amazed at your precious spirit, serving heart and continued growth as you learn more about Jesus! We pray your next year is blessed. We pray that you continue to grow in Him as you gain wisdom and understanding through the fear of the Lord.
Happy 5th Birthday sweet, tough and handsome boy!
We love you, Daddy and Moma

What are you doing for Halloween?

We don't do it. Usually we hide in the basement, lights off out front, gate closed to the porch, eating candy and watching a clean movie! This year we had planned to host a Reformation celebration, talk about Luthers 95 thesis and eat good German food. However, my husband is working. We were invited to a bonfire out in the country where noone but God and those invited know where we are! So, we may do that or we may do the usual. Either way we have a strong conviction that light and darkness have no fellowship together. Before we had children we would pass out candy and tracks. No more. We do not even frequent the stores that are decorated. We have been known to not go into certain stores for the entire month of October. Instead I would drive a little further to pick up whatever we needed.

Our almost 5yo son has a birthday this Thursday. Last year we went shopping for fun plates for his party. Where do you think we went? Yep, to the dreaded, fully decorated, Party City! I wasn't even thinking about the fact that it too would be decorated (I had already driven 10 minutes pass the store we were boycotting due to their decorations). We took a step in the door and a human sized half zombie-half man yard ornament "spoke" to my then 3 yo son. I covered my sons face, turned around and hurried from the store. My son has talked about it for an entire year!

We need to be aware of to what we are exposing our children. For us, it is not enough to "play down" Halloween. We just have to call it what it is and do something else. I understand the shying away from the "what are you going to be" or "do you want to hear my best witch laugh?" UGH. Umm, no thank you and Jesus loves you!

She Likes Scripture

It was right after breakfast when we noticed she was missing. Someone must have let her out to "do her business" and there she remained while we ate our oh-so-yummy scrambled eggs, sausage links and apple butter topped toast. Breakfast was over and it was time to let 'Minnie' have a couple bites of leftover eggs. "Minnie! Minnie! Come here Minnie!" She was nowhere to be found. After realizing we had not seen her since before breakfast we decided it was time to find her. We donned socks, shoes and bike helmets and proceeded to cover The Island in two different directions. Girls one way and Daddy with boys the other way, all yelling, "Minnie!" Mommy driving the Jeep and checking with neighbors. Over an hour passed and still no dog. She never goes that far so this was highly unusual. We checked at Papa and Gramommy as perhaps she wanted better food? No dog. We decided to give up and just wait as we were hopeful she would return. Daddy looked downstairs, Mommy looked upstairs checking each room thoroughly...one...more...time. No dog. No barking. Nothing. We decided to start Family Bible Time and in ran the dog, straight to her water for a big drink and straight to the door to go out for her "business," then back in to curl up and listen to Isaiah (the prophet, not the son). If only we had started Family Bible Time sooner...