Wordless Wednesday: Christmas Wonderland

Running

Hollie and I went our separate ways in the blog world. Running The Hard Road is no more. You can follow me now at Running My Victory Lap (www.runningmyvictorylap.blogspot.com).

Countdown to Christmas : Candy Canes

We started out with a story:

A candymaker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would remind people of the true meaning of Christmas; so he made the candy cane to incorporate several symbols for the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ. He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy. White to symbolize the Virgin Birth and the sinless nature of Jesus, and hard to symbolize the Solid Rock, the foundation of the Church, and the firmness of the promises of God.

The candymaker then shaped his cane into the form of a "J" to represent the precious name of Jesus, who came to the earth as Savior. It could also represent the staff of the "Good Shepherd" with which He reaches down to to reclaim the fallen lambs who, like sheep, have gone astray.

Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candymaker stained it with red stripes. He used three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life.

After I read the story I asked a few questions:

Me: What letter is this?

Kaitlyn: A "J"

Me: And what starts with "J"

Landon: Apple!

Me: No, Kaitlyn?

Kaitlyn: Jerusalem!!

I managed to keep a straight face while Dan was bent over the kitchen sink laughing his head off. :-)

Then we started on our reindeer crafts:

Countdown to Christmas : Cookies

Snow Day!

Kaitlyn had her first snow day today. I knew how exciting it was for the kids from personal experience, but never realized how fun snow days are for the parents too!

I was especially happy that Daddy was home with us to be able to enjoy the snow as a family. We got out there and piled up snow to build a fort below our deck (no pictures, I was too busy having fun with my little family). At one point, Landon looked at me and said, "Mommy, this is great that we are all doing team work together."

I was dreading snow like this for selfish reasons, but I am realizing there are more important things other than running on a snow-less road. Hooray for family time and snow days!

Angels

Sometimes you just gotta stay home from church. Today was one of those days. So, while Daddy went off to church to teach, the four of us stayed home and did "church" at home.


I wanted to follow along with what they would be learning if they went to their classes today. So, the passage that I taught was Luke 1:26-38. I read it from my Bible and discussed each verse as I went along to make sure they understood the basic point. At the end, I asked questions.


Earlier in the morning I searched online and found a printable that went along with our lesson and printed one for each of my kiddos. We headed to the table and got to crafting:

452 days

I have been working outside of the home for over a year now. It started out as an act of desperation in a not very likable position. But, one year ago, I got the news that I had gotten the phlebotomy job that I had been praying for.

It has been a perfect fit for me. My boss has been really great and has even had Dan do some side work in the past for him. My co workers are awesome. It's unlike any work environment I have been in ever. We are truly a team and it makes leaving my family and going in to work a little easier. I'll admit that my vein fetish helps a bit too.

It's been fifteen months since Dan lost his job. Every month, I hope and pray it's the last 2nd of the month that we will see that Dan is still unemployed. I don't wish for my old life anymore. I am happy to walk with God down this road that He has set in place for us. Part of me though...okay, a lot of me, still cries out and asks Him to take this cup from me. With the busyness of the season, it's easy to not set out time in His Word and in prayer...and then I begin to feel it again. I feel despair, jealousy, selfishness, sadness, and anger. All of these are a reminder that I can't walk this alone...that I can't let go of His hand for a second.

I am hoping that January will bring some exciting things for us...hoping and praying.

Please God, only one more 2nd...

Countdown to Christmas - The Tree

In the 7 Christmases we have spent together as a married couple, we have never had a real tree. We will be home this year for Christmas so we decided to go pick one out. We ended up at Menards with a tree that cost us about $15...can't beat that!


After we ate our countdown to Christmas kisses, we pulled out the Christmas tree decorations and got to work. I put in a Christmas CD...gotta have Christmas music when decorating the tree. The kids really enjoyed putting things on the tree this year.


After we were finished we read about the Christmas tree and how it should remind us of Jesus.


As the kids get older, the more fun the holidays become.

Countdown to Christmas

We are all so excited for Christmas this year! With the help of a book that my bestest recommended, The ADVENTure of Christmas by Lisa Whelchel, we have a lot planned for the month of December to remember why we celebrate Christmas and to keep the meaning centered around Jesus.

I couldn't get the whole thing in the picture, but this is our countdown to Christmas. It's about 5 ft long. It has three kisses in each bundle. Every afternoon when Kaitlyn gets home from school, we cut the bottom bundle off and they each get a countdown kiss. They can go over and count how many are left to see how many more days until Christmas.

Last night we went and drove around our little town looking at outdoor Christmas lights. Before hand, we read a story about outdoor lights and how we as Christians should be "God's light" in our neighbourhoods all year round. The kids chipped in with tangible ways we can do that. It's was pretty fun.

This month I will be doing several posts on our Countdown to Christmas...our next one starts when Kaitlyn comes home from school in just a bit!!





In other news, my littlest man is now in a twin bed! It was not planned at all. On Sunday night he told us that he wanted to sleep in a big boy bed and so that is where we put him. I didn't think it would last more than 10 minutes, but we didn't hear a peep out of him until the next morning. He is doing wonderfully in his big boy bed...and I am a little excited to get rid of the crib!!!

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

Poppy and my two little men

My sister, brother, and me

Buddies - Levi and Collin


Cousins - my sister's two, my brother's little girl, and my three

Helping make the pumpkin pies

Brothers

Baby Emery thinking her Daddy is pretty funny

Missing

I have been traveling down the same road for almost 8 years now.
I know it all too well.
Often, I put myself on autopilot and a few miles go by that I don't even remember.
I can pass a landmark and know how much longer it's going to be.
I have my favorite places to stop...in case we need to stop.

I used to start in Michigan, just myself in my cute little two door Cavalier.
I would be so excited to see him and would think about him the whole way there.
I would dread driving the opposite way.
My heart would ache when I would read the "Indiana" state sign because we were no longer in the same state together.

I thought once we got married, that this ache would go away.

Now I start in Illinois, my little family and me in a cute little minivan.
I get so excited about seeing everyone in Michigan that I have trouble sleeping the night before.
The time goes by so fast...it's like I blink and it's over.
There is a sadness every time I read the "Indiana" state sign because we are no longer all in the same state.

Although it's getting easier as the years go by to come back home, the ache is still there, and I am always missing someone.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We were able to spend last week in Michigan with my extended family...the first time all being together since last Christmas. It was nice to be together, see grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins...run with my sister every morning (even though she did kick my butt)...see my little niece for the first time...eat my Mom's wonderful cooking (that aided in my gaining 3 pounds!)...talk face to face with everyone instead of over the phone...laugh...love...and be thankful. Pictures are coming!!

Thankful

I've not been one for blogging lately...too busy, too stressed, and just not really that in to it. But, I couldn't pass up doing a thankful post this year.

I find myself staring at my dining room wall (which has "Give Thanks" written across it) reflecting on all God has done. I don't think I have ever been more thankful in my life...never ever:

I find myself thinking about and gazing at my husband often, missing him so much if we even spend a work day apart. I am thankful that we are still going strong and doing better than ever. Satan would love our marriage to fall apart, but no way are we giving him any ground. Marriage is hard work, but man, is it a beautiful thing. Never have I been more in love with my man, especially after the past three months. I don't think I have been more thankful for him in my life...never ever.

I find myself watching my kids play, sitting back and watching them laugh. They are such a joy in my life. I am so thankful for the three little lives He has entrusted Dan and me with. I have a renewed love for my children and I am determined to give my all. I don't think I have ever been more thankful for my kids in my life...never ever.

I am blown away at how God has carried us through these past almost 16 months. I am amazed at all He has provided and we continue to lack nothing. I am thankful for the roof over our heads, the cars in our garage, the food in our cupboards, the clothes in our closets, the shoes on our feet, the warmth of our beds, hot showers in the morning, a flick of a light switch at night. I don't think I have ever been more thankful for the little things and not so little things in life... never ever.

What would I do without our support system? We have such a huge support of family and friends. Honestly, I don't think I would still be standing after this long without these people. God has given us these wonderful people to come along side us and help us to know that He is still here with us through the darkest of times, whether it be a encouraging email or card or a little bit of cash to pay a bill. I don't think I have ever been more thankful for the people God has placed in my life...never ever.

As long as my legs work and my lungs still take in oxygen, I will run. It's an escape, a stress reliever, and a thrill. I am so thankful for the body that God has giving me and for the health He has blessed me with that I am able to run. It's something that I don't intend to ever give up. I don't think I have ever been more thankful that I can run...never ever.

I often think about my SAHM days. Although I long to be at home full time with my kids, I also know that God has blessed me with an incredible job and work environment. I have been working at my current job as a phlebotomist for almost a year now. It was hard to get a system going to keep all my plates spinning, but I feel like I finally have it down. I am thankful that I am able to help out my family financially and lessen the burden on my husband a little bit through this time. I am thankful for the skills that God has blessed me with and the people I get a chance to meet, even if it's ever so brief. I don't think I have ever been more thankful for my job...never ever.

I find myself reflecting on my Savior...on what He did for me and all He continues to do. I think about the fact that He knew my name and numbered my days even before I was alive. I think about His love and care for me. I see His had ever so present in my life. He has carried me places that I never would want to go again unless I knew that He would be right there beside me. I have never trusted in my Savior so much. I don't think I have ever been more thankful for my God in my life...never ever.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you out there! I hope this Thanksgiving you are able to reflect on all you have to be thankful for.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is Good; His love endures forever.

~Psalms 118:1