`Tis The Season

Hello All. It`s been so long since I`ve visited blogland. It`s good to be back. ;)

I`m sure you all are gearing up for the holidays and I just wanted to share a few things on my heart, and some of the things we will be doing as a family this year.

Several years ago, I really felt that God was calling us to stop "doing" Santa with our kids. It`s not that we wanted to take the joy, fun, or surprise out of Christmas, but we did want to get Christ back in, and this was the most obvious way to start.

We also started observing/celebrating Advent. We have a little wreath, with candles that we set out on our dining table along with some kid friendly nativity figures. (kid friendly meaning chipped;) Each night we have a little devotional and light the candle that goes with that week, until Christmas morning when we light the white candle in the middle, representing Christ. What a joy it is to build up to that morning, not only to give gifts, but to reflect on the Real reason for this season. Sweet baby Jesus who would not only choose to die for me, but A Heavenly Father willing to send that baby, His Baby. I have often thought of my own babies and wondered, could I do it for anyone, much less a filthy wretch like myself? If I am perfectly honest, my answer would be no each time. I am too selfish to risk my own pain, or the pain of my offspring, for anyone. What an amazing God we serve. This is why we as a family want to look differently than the rest of the world. This is THE reason for so many of the choices that we make throughout the year, but also and especially now, during this season of reflection, and rejoicing.

Which brings me to the next thing that we have started doing. We wanted to play down the "stuff, I want" aspect and the commercialism of this Wholly Season and one of the ways we`ve been able to do that is by making all of our gifts. This will be the first year we are going all the way, nothing bought (except a few stocking stuffers). I can not tell you how stoked I am about this. It is a wonderful way to get the children focused on others and off of themselves. It is also a great opportunity to teach them new skills, and the value of hard work.

One other quick thing, we have always limited the TV time, but now we do not allow them to watch commercials. It is a good way to help them learn to not only guard their eyes, but it helps to eliminate the coveting that tends to happen with us all. Just pay attention to the amount of toy commercials that come on during a Christmas special, it`s sickening to take advantage of younglings this way. I certainly don`t want my money going to further an industry that abuses young minds this way. I`m not saying I will never buy my kids store bought toys, but certainly not during this time of year, when it`s so... disgustingly obvious that money is the end objective. This is just not what we want our children to learn or focus on. Sweet Baby Jesus is the true gift to each of us, and I really want my children to grasp that.

And so I would just encourage each of you to take a little time with God this season and ask Him, is there some little thing, it doesn`t have to be as extreme as we are going,(this has been a gradual change for us over several years) but is there one little thing we can do to get us focused on a more biblical, slower,reflective Christmas with our families? I hope that you will share how God moves your hearts. Blessing to each of you during this exciting season-K

A few more pics

10 Short Years Already?

Just wanted to share some pics of Wade and I, but in looking through what we have, I`ve realized one of us was usually taking the pic. HA!

I still can`t believe that Wade and I have been married for 10 years. It seems like just yesterday we were standing on that cliff and pledging ourselves to each other, trying to make a little family of our mismatched group. Of course it hasn`t always been roses, but man has God blessed us. God is so Good, and I can not imagine who I would be with out Christ or Wade.

Thank you Jane and Dillard, for having Wade and for loving Jesus. Your faith is multi-generational, and I can not express how much that means to me. It has always been my goal to have a grounded, stable, life and family and we do have that, but we have so much more than that as well. Our lives are so rich and full of love and joy and I am so thankful that this is something our children know.

Wade you are my heart and my life and I am so thankful to know you and share my life with you. May we never loose focus of our goals for our family and our relationship with each other and Christ. And may the Lord bless us with many more years together. I love you!

Easter Seder

Sorry for the picture-less post, but I wanted to share this with everyone before Sunday.
For the past several years we have been really trying to focus on the true meanings of holidays. We have started observing Advent during Christmas and eating a Passover dinner/lunch on Easter.
It really is not very hard to do if you take just a little extra time to do the research ahead of time. There are several sites out there that can be of help, but I thought I`d lay out a few of the basics here. You can do a full blown Seder, being very ceremonial, or just read a few verses for each food and explain what it represents, which is what we do. We take a bite of each food, while the verses are read, then we eat the meal. These are a bit out of order and you may choose to use different verses, but this just gives you the idea.

Bitter Herbs- Bitterness of sin and slavery Acts 8:23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.(bitter herbs celery dipped in horseradish sauce)
Karpas- Leafy greens represent the hyssop dipped in Lambs blood to mark the doorways in preparation for Exodus. Exodus12:22 Take a brush of Hyssop, dip into the blood in a basin, and put some of the blood on top and sides of the door frames. Not one of you shall go out the door of his house until morning. Exodus12:13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.
Life is often full of bitter endings and lovely new beginnings, this is exactly what we see in Christ`s Resurrection.
Charoset -Hebrew word for clay, serves to sweeten the bitter herbs of slavery and sin, which is made bearable by the hope we have in Christ.( 2 apples, peeled and cored, chopped finely. 3Tbl. passover wine/or grape juice, chopped almonds,raisins etc.,honey/sugar to taste)
Unleavened bread- In their haste to leave Egypt, God said be ready do not let the dough rise.1Corinthians5:7-8 Get rid of the old yeast,that you may be a new batch without yeast, as you really are. For Christ, our passover Lamb has been sacrificed. There for, let us keep the festival not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth. John6:35 Then Jesus declared, I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. For Christians this may also represent the body of Christ broken for us.( I`m doing a gluten-free recipe this year, so please look up a recipe on line if you plan to do this, or some families use crackers. You may be able to buy it at specialty stores)
Salt water- represents tears of Hebrew slaves. job31:38 If my land cries out against me and all it`s furrows are wet with tears.Psalm42:3 My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, "where is your God?". As Christians we can remember the days of darkness and sadness we all knew before we found the Joy of Christ.
Wine- Represents Jesus` blood shed for us and the redemption it has brought us. We are strengthened and renewed through Him and His sacrifice for us. We can also look with Joy and Excitement to His return. Luke 22:15 He is our hope.( you may also use grape juice and seltzer water for this or sparkling grape juice)
Roasted Lamb- Represents the roasted lamb that was sacrificed at the temple of Jerusalem the night before the exodus, or exit. For us it also represents the Lamb of God,Jesus, who so lovingly, took each of our places. ( this year I`m roasting a leg of lamb with herbs and veggies, potatoes, carrots, honey, olives, onions, You get the idea) Still need to find just the right verses for this one
Preparing our Bodies
As we are preparing our hearts and meals, let us not forget our bodies. Here is a simple little thing you can do that will really help you to feel renewed, and can help to get your mind in a positive place.
Take about 4tbl. of raw honey, place it in a bowl-(the best is local, and can be found at your local farmers market or whole foods store, but you can find it at Wally World. It should really be raw because it has the most healing properties, but if you can`t find it just make sure it`s real honey, not honey flavoring.)
Now add about 3-5 tbl. Turbinado sugar-(turbinado is best because it has more vitamins and the crystals are larger)
Mix together with a spoon, making a paste. Take this to the shower/bath with you and really scrub your entire body, even your face. It can be used several times a week, so you can keep it in a jar with a spoon, in the shower. When ever you are ready to use it, just give it a little stir and scoop it out.
Now if you really want to feel refreshed before taking your scrub to the shower/bath, fill a jar with a good quality olive oil, add a little orange essence, a few drops is all you need. After your shower, BEFORE drying off, rub down with the oil and then towel off. You will feel like you just stepped out of the spa, I promise you.
This is a nice thing for you to do for your better half as well. I don`t mean in a romantical way, (although that`s nice too) but more like in a washing each others feet sort of way. Run a bath for the other person and bathe then. I have done this in the past for Wade(minus the oil), when he has come home dog tired, and it made us both feel good. I feed him, bathe him and put him to bed, and in the morning he feels well rested and is refreshed. It`s just a small thing that doesn`t really cost much, except a little time.
OK, I`ve been on here way too long, but just wanted to share this with you all. I will post pics of our meal later- wish we could be having Passover together, miss and love you all-K

Fat Grubb!!

Just wanted to post a few new picks of the little grub. We`re finally starting to turn a corner with his collic-e-ness. (if that`s a word)He has been sleeping better at night and has even taken a 2 hour nap today! He is getting so big. He`s now wearing 18-24 months clothing!

His expressions remind me so much of Wade, it`s like having a little Wade to cuddle up to when my big Wade is gone.

God is so goood and sometimes I can`t understand why He has blessed me so much? I`m no one special and so very far from deserving. I am reminded of His Grace each time I look into the face of that sweet fat grub, or when I see Gabe or `Tilda trying to soothe him, or the girls helping the little ones,without even being asked, to play a game, practice writing their names, the list is endless.

I am so thankful for my family and the fact that I am able to be home with them, and watch them grow and learn, together each day. God is Good!

Cookies for Breakfast!...

Happy B-Day, to my wonderful Hubby, Wade.

Sometimes it`s OK to eat cookies for breakfast, right? The kids couldn`t wait any longer to "sing" to dad. Which means eat his cake. (wink,wink)

We love you Babe, you are the best! Thanks for working so hard for your family, and for keeping us all on track.

SNOW DAYS/B-Days

So we`ve had a lot of snow here. It`s been so pretty! Also, Layla turned 15 this week. Here are a few pics.Enjoy!

Baby Eli!

Hello All. It`s been so Lo...ng since I`ve posted anything, but a new baby is the best reason I can think of. What can I say about him? He`s such a sweet little thing and we are all very much in love with him, I think he looks just like Wade. Not too much to say really, just wanted to post these pics.Sorry for the fuzzy one. Love you all-K