Two boys and their bear...

Certainly not identical but can you tell they're brothers?

A new look

Every now and then (much more often than my husband would prefer) I just feel the need to change something. If I were to analyze this I'm sure if would lead to some kind of inner turmoil or another but I'm not analyzing...just stating. =)

So we put a bit of color on the wall, got a few new decorations (that were all on sale!) and we love the outcome.I found this treasure for $.50! Brad calls it the domino plate.


This is the verse inside Brads ring- So channeling my inner Martha Stewart (a very deep dig!) I wrapped some ribbon around it this sweet square candle
and glued the scrap-booking vellum to it.
Still a work in progress but that's what makes it fun.

My card carrying Owen

On any given moment during the day you will find my youngest walking around with a fist full of memory cards with his bracelette (or rubber bands) adorned hands.

21st Century baby- listening to Daddy's IPOD. Rock out, little dude. (*note what's in his other hand)

I asked for (and got!) a songbook for Christmas and we've had a lot of fun playing and singing thru it together. It's a neat book because they are "older" songs that I am familiar with (yes they are still in print!) so it's fun to teach my kids the songs I remember learning. The boys also like to get just any ole book, put it on the piano and play their own music too. *note the pile of cards next to Owen on the piano. Apparently the ivory keys were temporarily more appealing.

Snowy Day fun...all 27 minutes of it ;-)

Our Father

I'm looking for some free advice here.
How are you teaching your kids how to pray?
How do you teach little ones the need to be respectful to a holy God without becoming rigid and balancing that with the Father side of God who wants to be their friend?
Ideas? Thoughts?

Red plates and silly traits

When I worked at a Christian bookstore during college I remembering seeing a VERY red, ceramic plate that said "You are Special Today" on it. I also remember thinking that anyone who spent $25 on it must really need a friend.

Sometime within the past few months I read somewhere (or heard somewhere) about the idea of having a special plate at dinner to randomly honor an individual in your family on non-days. Not just birthdays or anniversarys, Valentines or Thanksgiving- but normal everyday days to celebrate the unique, quirky, special and silly traits that make it fun to have them part of the family.

Then I thought about THE PLATE.
Oh man- was I really going to go there???
So ok- I did NOT spend $25. I spent $1 on a simple plastic plate from the dollar store and used a Sharpie marker to make it...uh...special. ;-)

Brad was the honoree this time. Despite the moderately cheesy questions the rest of us got to answer about him (i.e. Where is he tickelish, what makes him laugh, what do you love about him etc...) it was enjoyable!

It just goes to show me that, once again, don't judge a plate by it's redness! ;-)

Simple pleasures.

I bought a pack of 4 new kid-sized toothbrushes the other day and figured after getting over our sicknesses lately it would be a good time to pick out a new one.
OH MY WORD. You would've thought it was Christmas morning! The two older boys got SUCH a kick out of picking their own AND that they had lightening bolts on the handle! After scurrying to go try them out I heard (which was hard NOT to hear since he was practically yelling it:

"SETH! These new brushes make you brush your teeth REALLY fast because it has lightening on it. It feels like a lightening storm in your mouth!"

Needless to say, I double checked the effectivness of his "lightening fast" teethbrushing session!

Here's to enjoying the simple...

A glimpse

Do you know the story in the gospels when Jesus is chiding the rich for their giving of charity in order to make themselves look oh so fabulous? Then he counters it with saying the widow who gave 2 minuscule coins quietly was more generous than they. That has always been a familiar and convicting story to me. What is my motivation when I give? Out of sheer obedience is ok but to give out of an overflow of gratitude and love- now THAT is something!

Do you know that feeling you get when you overhear your children being kind to each other? When you "catch" them being sweet? And you just step back- not wanting to intrude in the rarity of the moment...and just smile.

I think that's the feeling God has when I give generously (money, time, gifts, whatever...) to him...he just sits back and smiles.

Brad and I have had a slight glimpse of that feeling lately. We have been genuinely humbled by the generosity of some who have given out of love and sacrifice towards the goal of our Zambia trip. (and please don't read this as an attempt to guilt anyone!) There really are no words to express not only our appreciation- but our awe in seeing God choose to use us feeble humans to accomplish is purpose.
That is humbling experience indeed.

a few of my favorite things...

I'm not sure if Jaedon was Joseph or a shepherd or the innkeeper...

Writing a Christmas Eve note to Santa.

Leaving some cookies, notes and Reindeer food by the fireplace.

Our Christmas Eve campout.

Luke 2- a family tradition.

Seth now officially has the cooties.

Jaedon the clone trooper.


This Christmas season was made especially precious to me when I realized the anticipation of the advent season is a means to celebrate the first coming of Christ and a catalyst to continue on in the hopeful expectancy of his coming again.
Now that's a great way to being a new year!