This Season, my heart has been overwhelmed with the humble manner in which our King came to redeem the world. I just keep feeling amazed that our Savior did not come with great fanfare and earthly glory but as a gently, helpless baby.
We sang this song in church on Sunday, and my heart was touched again. If only you could have heard it! What love has come to us! Merry Christmas!
When love came down to earth
And made His home with men,
The hopeless found a hope,
The sinner found a friend.
Not to the powerful,
But to the poor He came,
And humbled hearts
Were satisified in Him.
What joy, what peace has come to us!
What hope, what help, what love!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Traditions
Traditions...you gotta love them. They help connect our memories from year to year, create bonds among family and friends, and teach us about what is truly valuable.
I love the short-lived tradition my best friend, Christine, and I made over the Christmas breaks during our college years. We would get together and make ornaments. Some of them made of glass balls and dough still hang on my tree. As I show them to Graham and we talk about each one, I remember her sweet friendship and our precious times together.
I also have some ornaments hanging on my tree that my parents gave me when I was a child. We had the tradition of recieving a new ornament every year, and my mom passed along those ornaments to me when I became an adult. Seeing the little brass angel with its dangling bell or the white ceramic bear with the red bow bring up some tender memories of when I was a little girl.
I remember the tradition my brother created with me when we were little. Every Christmas morning long before anyone else was awake, he would sneak in my room and wake me up so we could go see the goodies waiting for us by the tree.
Tim and I are trying to create traditions with our children in hopes that someday they will look back and smile on the ways they celebrated Christmas as children. Some of them are simple and fun like making ornaments to give to family. Some of them will hopefully show love to others like baking treats to pass out to our neighbors. And some of them, the most treasured, will help to remind us of the truths of Christmas. They will center us around the manager and cause our hearts to adore the Savior.
I love the tradition of the Jesus birthday cake Tim and his sister had in their house growing up, so now we bake a cake for Jesus with our children every year. Another special tradition is the Jesse Advent tree. A few years ago, I got together with some ladies in my church to make ornament for the Jesse tree. The 25 ornaments represent different prophecies written about in the Old Testament that foresee the coming of the Christ. Every night, the boys are excited to find out which ornament we will hang on the little Jesse tree. They might not understand all of it now, but in years to come, I hope it will become an important tradition to them.
I would love to hear some of the traditions you had as a child or ones you are now creating as an adult.
I love the short-lived tradition my best friend, Christine, and I made over the Christmas breaks during our college years. We would get together and make ornaments. Some of them made of glass balls and dough still hang on my tree. As I show them to Graham and we talk about each one, I remember her sweet friendship and our precious times together.
I also have some ornaments hanging on my tree that my parents gave me when I was a child. We had the tradition of recieving a new ornament every year, and my mom passed along those ornaments to me when I became an adult. Seeing the little brass angel with its dangling bell or the white ceramic bear with the red bow bring up some tender memories of when I was a little girl.
I remember the tradition my brother created with me when we were little. Every Christmas morning long before anyone else was awake, he would sneak in my room and wake me up so we could go see the goodies waiting for us by the tree.
Tim and I are trying to create traditions with our children in hopes that someday they will look back and smile on the ways they celebrated Christmas as children. Some of them are simple and fun like making ornaments to give to family. Some of them will hopefully show love to others like baking treats to pass out to our neighbors. And some of them, the most treasured, will help to remind us of the truths of Christmas. They will center us around the manager and cause our hearts to adore the Savior.
I love the tradition of the Jesus birthday cake Tim and his sister had in their house growing up, so now we bake a cake for Jesus with our children every year. Another special tradition is the Jesse Advent tree. A few years ago, I got together with some ladies in my church to make ornament for the Jesse tree. The 25 ornaments represent different prophecies written about in the Old Testament that foresee the coming of the Christ. Every night, the boys are excited to find out which ornament we will hang on the little Jesse tree. They might not understand all of it now, but in years to come, I hope it will become an important tradition to them.
I would love to hear some of the traditions you had as a child or ones you are now creating as an adult.
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Puppies!
Andrew's neighbors' dog had puppies, and he invited us over to play with them. They were adorable, and the kids loved it.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Thanksgiving
We spent our Thanksgiving with Tim's mom and his sister and her family at a lakehouse in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It was a relaxing time and the kids enjoyed seeing their cousins.
The whole gang
Graham on the dock outside of the lakehouse.
Davis, Graham, and Hayley
Hayley loves alligators, so she was thrilled when she got to pet one at an alligator farm in Hot Springs.
Perpy and Graham enjoying an Oreo turkey cookie.
The whole gang
Graham on the dock outside of the lakehouse.
Davis, Graham, and Hayley
Hayley loves alligators, so she was thrilled when she got to pet one at an alligator farm in Hot Springs.
Perpy and Graham enjoying an Oreo turkey cookie.Friday, October 30, 2009
The Big Brother
Graham is really beginning to take his role of big brother seriously. He and Wesley have started playing together so well, and it seems they are truly enjoying each other-not just coexisting. I love watching their friendship deepen. Graham likes to "read" Wesley a story before naptime, and when Wesley was sick a few days ago, Graham would give him kisses on the check and say, "Are you feeling better, little buddy?"
We still have lots of moments when the two are struggling to share, but right now, I want to be thankful for how they are both maturing and learning to love each other.
Graham is also excited about being a big brother to his "baby girl", as he affectionately calls her. He frequently asks when we will get her picture in the mail. Today, he said, "Mommy, I used to not want a baby girl with dark hair, but now I do. I can't wait for her to come." I told him how excited I was too and that God made her so beautiful and perfect for our family.
It seems that it's not just my heart that is getting bigger. In the tender heart of a big brother, God is growing a love for his little sister.
We still have lots of moments when the two are struggling to share, but right now, I want to be thankful for how they are both maturing and learning to love each other.
Graham is also excited about being a big brother to his "baby girl", as he affectionately calls her. He frequently asks when we will get her picture in the mail. Today, he said, "Mommy, I used to not want a baby girl with dark hair, but now I do. I can't wait for her to come." I told him how excited I was too and that God made her so beautiful and perfect for our family.
It seems that it's not just my heart that is getting bigger. In the tender heart of a big brother, God is growing a love for his little sister.
Monday, October 26, 2009
DTE
DTE=Date to Ethiopia October 23, 2009Our paperwork is complete, has been notarized and certified, and is in transit to Ethiopia as I type these words. Our adoption agency gives everyone a date when their paperwork has been sent to Ethiopia, and the agency refers to that date throughout the process. It's an important date, and we feel like we have made it to a big milestone now that we have our DTE. We are so excited to be well on the way through the adoption process. We hope to receive our referral in about 9 to 11 months and be traveling to Africa next Fall.
I've heard it said several times that when you adopt, you don't have a baby growing in your tummy, but the baby is growing in your heart. Everyday I feel my heart stretching, getting a little bigger, and I find myself thinking about our baby even more. I picture her playing with her brothers, and I get a lump in my throat every time I think about kissing her sweet cheeks.
In some ways, I think these next nine months will go by quickly. Our boys keep us busy and our days are full. We have a lot to do to get ready for our little girl. I want to cherish this time and not wish it away. I know lots will change once she's here, and there will be lots of adjustments for all of us as with every new baby in a family. Right now is a sweet time with Graham and Wesley, and I am trying to treasure each moment with them. But sometimes I find it hard to be patient. I can't wait to see our baby girl and to have her here with us.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Pumpkin Farm
For the last few weeks, we've been counting down the days until our trip to the pumpkin farm. My boys just love going to see the pumpkins, going on the hay ride, and playing in the dried corn at the farm. Their cousins joined us again which made the day even more special. It was a little chilly, but that didn't stop us from having a great time.
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