These are a few of my favorite (Christmas) things

Okay, so I'm feeling Scroogish, and I hate to shop, so here are a few of my favorite Christmasy things (off the top of my sleep-deprived head). I'm trying to feel the Christmas spirit here! :^)

• candlelight church services
• getting to wear my jingle bell earrings
• little girls in velvet with poinsettias in their hair
• the Nutcracker
• dressing up
• our Jesus' Birthday party
• the glow of Christmas tree lights
• my nativity on the piano
• the Little People's nativity which Bella presses to play "Away in a Manger" over and over
• gingerbread creamer - and chocolate mint
• The Polar Express and The Nativity Story - especially the scene where Elizabeth greets Mary

What are some of your favorite things?

graphic was a free sample from Dover Publications

Bella Gracie is a helper!

I came in from a freeeezing cold run to the store last night to a verrry hungry Bella. I said to everyone that I needed help unloading the Walmart bags and then we could eat. Brian got up to help, and I don't recall much help from the other children, but Bella astonished us. My petite 19 month old dragged each Walmart bag - probably about ten of them - through the living room to the kitchen one at a time. She also helped unload them. My favorite was turning around to see her standing on a step stool manhandling the loaf of bread up onto the counter above her head. What a good helper!

Daddy's Strong Today!

This was Anna's joyful deduction as she watched Brian and Bella dance around the living room to his new favorite song. He lasted a few rounds on this cold day in December, and that is certainly reason to rejoice!

Ethan's back!

Visit his blog here.

A Believer

Ethan: "Mom, doesn't Santa only deliver to children?"
Anna: "No! He delivers to believers. People who don't believe get coal. I don't get coal; I'm a believer...(quickly turns into the Monkees melody)."

Santa's friends

Free Family Christmas Activites

There are so many nice things to do. The Nutcracker, Christmas living history events and activities, school performances of Christmas plays, parties.... But inevitably most come with a small price tag. A $5 or $10 very good price tag. But times 3 or 4 kids and a few different activities and the price tag about equals the cost of their Christmas gifts.

So this year I'm being very choosy about where I spend those $5 or $10, and I'm going to focus on all of the free activities, some that we've done before and maybe some that we haven't.

1. Make an Advent Jesse Tree. Use Ann's free devotional. Make a paper tree - I used a big sheet of brown packing paper, use a little Christmas tree, use a branch from the burn pile. Your kids will love it, I promise.
2. A Christmas nature walk. We're planning to do this with our nature club (if anyone else is willing to part with some time this month to join us.) We'll be looking for holly, mistletoe, fir trees and other things that remind us of the season. And I'm hoping that we might find a nice location where we might even be able to collect and bring some of our finds home.
3. Christmas parades. Sure the big city ones are nice, but there's something about a small town atmosphere - and the ability to actually see the parade, that's left us happier with the smaller ones around.
4. A living nativity. I think that most areas have these if you look for them. Our area actually has drive through nativities as well as two walk-through-Bethlehem events. One of them is new this year and much closer than the other one. We thought we were going to miss the one we've been going to because the children have choir performances both nights, so I'm glad to have found another one. They are all free church-sponsored events and one of the highlights of Christmas for my kids.
5. Surprise Pajama Christmas Lights. Instead of just driving past neighborhood light displays, put your kids to bed a little early, if possible, then, after everyone's in bed, but before they have a chance to fall asleep, yell, "Christmas lights! Christmas lights!" and pile into the van for a tour of the best neighborhoods. Travel mugs of hot chocolate are a nice touch.
6. Christmas Carolling. This is becoming a lost art. I think people are just too busy to organize it. If you can grab some friends, do, but we usually just go as a family. One year we just stopped at a small neighborhood we were driving past on the way home from practice and sang at about ten houses, another year we chose a few friends to serenade as part of our pajama Christmas light run, and another year we shared a short Christmas program version of Bible verses and carols with our closest neighbors around us on every side.
7. Christmas Books. We have a couple of boxes of these in the attic that we swap out with regular books. We like to read longer books together as well as storybooks. This year, Brian's reading The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe at bedtime. I know Father Christmas makes an appearance, but I'm still not sure it qualifies as a Christmas book, but it's making them happy. But we've enjoyed The Bird's Christmas Carol, A Christmas Carol, and many other longer holiday stories. Don't forget Christmas books on tape or CD from the library. We'll be listening to The Best Christmas Pageant Ever on our Christmas trip this year - can you believe I've never read that?!
8. Christmas Movies. We have a bit of a movie collection, so we have lots to choose from. I like to watch as many as possible during the season. Sing a long videos are a great way to learn Christmas songs and carols. Don't have a collection? Your library probably does. If you don't have tv or cable. Hulu has a bunch of movies online. The Hallmark channel posts free holiday movies at Christmastime too. And YouTube? You never know what you'll find there, but making Christmas playlists of music videos is really fun.

That should get you started, but don't forget simple Christmas crafts, baking, church Christmas programs and candlelight Christmas Eve services. Simple activities with nativities. I'll share some more ideas sometime. Click on the Christmas label for other Christmas ideas, 'kay?

Christmas Tea

I know it sounds kind of weird, but, oh, yum.

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Eggnogg'n Tea is a blend of black and green tea with all those delicious sweet spices that give eggnog that fabulous smell.

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The only complaint I have is that it's not caffeine free. I prefer caffeine free teas because, well, I like it better when the kids I send to bed actually fall asleep. Call me crazy.

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Our favorite teas right now are some very relaxing caffeine free chamomile blends by Celestial Seasonings - Sweet Apple Chamomile and Honey Vanilla Chamomile tea. And this from a girl that's never been a big fan of chamomile tea, but everyone loves these, and I really do think that the kids go to bed relaxed and fall asleep faster.

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Next up? Ginger Snappish. I'll let you know.

"Thanksgiving" by Ethan

I asked Ethan to write about his Thanksgiving in his journal today. Sometimes I worry that he'll never know how to write in complete sentences, but for now, I'm not cramping his muse.


The pumpkin,
the cranberry.
Life.
Nine years of mine.
Anna, Rose, Bella, Mom, Dad;
Gran, Pa, Gramma, Pappy, Grangran, Eloise,
the past ones, the others.
The turkey steaming,
stuffing with gravy on top.

Thanksgiving.

He went on to write similar pieces on other holidays. I think he may have a future with Hallmark.

Turkey making

Today, Anna helped me mix the aromatics for the turkey, then I offered to hold the turkey up while she stuffed the cavity.

She began, then, "EWW! I touched the turkey! Eww! I touched the turkey! That is so gross. I'm dropping this stuff in one at a time...I don't care.. so that I don't have to - Eww! I touched the turkey!"

Rose murmurs in the background, "Why are you whining about something you're going to eat?!"

Are you ready for advent?

Last year we read Jotham's Journey, a story with a reading for each day of advent. I'm debating on whether to read the next book in the series, or just the Scripture readings. It's hard to keep up with the last week of readings the years we spend Christmas with relatives, but we've been known to pack the advent wreath and take it with us. :^)

Some new printable Jesse Tree ornaments look like a promising project, though.

Botany

"Me and Ethan are going to be investigators today and investigators stick together." - Anna Kate on the monocot and dicot hunt they embarked on with nature journals in hand.

Living with Fibromyalgia

Maybe you've never wondered what it's like to have a husband with fibromyalgia. Maybe you need to know anyway. Maybe everyone ought to be more aware that the people around them that look normal and act normal could be living in so much pain every day that they just want to give up. How would you like to wake up knowing that you would hurt all over, have a headache, and have to think through a fog and that most people weren't going to know, care, or cut you any slack for it.

On a day by day basis, it means that we can't plan anything. Oh, we can try, but we will probably have to cancel a couple of times. The children got free tickets to a waterpark that's about a mile from our home at the beginning of June, we finally went at the end of August. It was the first weekend that summer that Brian felt well enough to go. We'll go on vacation and he might have to stay in bed while we do the things we planned. We never know if it will be a good or bad week, we can only guess.

We usually have a "date night" each week when our kids sleep over at their Gran's, but we can go months without actually doing anything on our date. Usually the energy required to go through the Hardees drive through is already pushing it. Our date nights are frequently just quieter, more peaceful versions of normal nights, hanging out watching a movie at home. I like them, I do. But I have to remember to have no expectations, because usually, he'll be too sick and in too much pain to want to do anything, especially after having to work all day as if he wasn't sick or in too much pain. There really isn't any choice about that.

It means that home repairs are left undone, doctor bills pile up, and remedy after remedy is tried and fails.

It means that the people who ought to know better, forget, or stop caring. Sometimes people just assume that you don't want to do anything. It's never the wanting that was the problem. Other people, especially people at work or at church, must assume that if you are there, you're probably doing okay. Bad assumption. If he was only at work on the days he was not in pain, didn't have a headache, and wasn't thinking through a fog, he would never be there at all. Just assume that he does have a headache, he is working through a pain haze, and he feels awful - and that if you'd woke up feeling that way this morning, you'd be home in bed. Then you'll be closer to the truth. So people, if he's home sick, you can imagine how bad he must feel, and when he comes back, he's not better, he can just stand up now.

And he doesn't just miss days at work, he misses far more days at the beach, church, family outings, and parties. He spends most weekends completely drained from a week at work and goes back not feeling any better.

And having fibromyalgia means worrying that someday all of that effort won't be enough and there won't be a job, and then choosing not to worry about that, because what good does that do anyway? It's in God's hands. Sometimes I don't know what God's thinking (usually!), but if His will brings Him glory than what else is there?

Having fibromyalgia means months and months of misery. Cold days are bad. Rainy days are bad. Hot days are bad. How do you encourage someone who always feels bad? It's not easy. But Brian stays in the Word, and the Lord encourages him. I'm constantly amazed that he can keep on going. I just try to push him enough to be able to live a little more fully. And sometimes I just have to do things on my own. And I'm learning to be okay with that. It's not how it used to be. It's not how either of us want it. It just is.

I just think people ought to know. You don't really understand until you're there. And I remember knowing about people that had fibromyalgia and not really knowing how to help, or how to fit that help into my busy schedule. But at least remember them. Remember to pray for them. And remember that unless you heard that they were miraculously cured, they're probably still sick. And if you did truly want to help, if everyone did one thing each year for the people they knew with chronic illnesses, imagine how much easier their lives would be. Time after time, I've seen people rush to help those sick from chemotherapy - and they should! But the church gets tired of helping these people who never get well, but never die. It disturbed me before I lived the reality for myself.

There are people who have helped us - with medical expenses, yard work, home repairs, and meals (when I get sick, it really goes downhill). And we are so grateful for each and every act of help and kindness. Our neighbors that we are still just getting to know on a more personal basis have really been more help to us than anyone else. They see the way he walks to the house after work, when he thinks no one is watching. They see the yard work start to go undone - and do it. They notice the car parked in the drive on a week day. They are a blessing to us, and we try to bless them in return.

Jesus is my Righteousness. The End.

One by one by family members are joining the ranks of the anti-dispensational "heretics." Rejecting an eleborate story of the multiple stages of end-times drama, and instead embracing a story of redemption, beautiful in its simplicity.

I will not be judged by my works, but by Christ's great work on my behalf. The final judgment for works is simple - they are all good or all evil. Because I am judged on the basis of Christ's righteousness,not my own, I am declared righteous. His righteousness has been imputed to me.

I don't need starry crowns or mansions either. My great reward is Christ and Him alone. If that's not enough for you, that might be something worth worrying about.

Psalms are for singing

Turns out making up your own Psalm melody word for word in the version you want to memorize in works even better. We've got the first half covered already.

Sick

For three weeks now. Flu-like virus, upper respiratory virus/infections, stomach virus - it's mean a never-ending cycle here. And we're missing the best fall weather in the process!

I've only had a couple days of a cold and Brian's felt awful the past two weeks with Ethan and Bella not faring much better, but on average 4 out of the 6 of us have been sick every day for the past 3 weeks despite as much good natural food and supplements as I can manage.

Sooo...Soup for dinner - again. Brian and Ethan haven't been able to stomach much else this week, and Bella's living on smoothies. Anna and I are rebelling against the sick masses and having sandwiches and salad. Oh, and Rose is having PBJ, because that's what Rose always has if given a choice, but I'm using croutons as a bribe to get her to eat salad too - mwah, ha, ha, ha!

Fifth Annual Thanksgiving Psalm Memory Challenge

Each November we choose a Psalm to memorize before Thanksgiving. We've been working our way through Philippians, and have finished (mostly) the first chapter, so we've spent the last few days reviewing Psalms we've memorized in the past - Psalm 1, 23,63 (we don't know this one as well - I had morning sickness that year, blah!) 67, 100, 113, and 150. We initially memorized Psalm 23 when Anna was not quite two, so that she could learn it for Sunday School (she did!), so Rose didn't know it. We've been singing it to this video:




There used to be a website for this song with a different video, but I can't find it anymore. I was glad to find the song on youtube.

I set Psalm 67 to music the year we memorized it and Ethan is the best at long-term retention, so he remembers it. I was pleasantly surprised at how well they all remembered Psalm 113 and Psalm 1 from last year.

This year's Psalm pic was easy since Rose has newly adopted this song:


I prefer the Praise Baby version which is the version she first got stuck in her head, but I couldn't find a video for it - you can listen to a clip here ( "Better Is One Day"). Hillsong's "Blessed" covers a few more verses. The new Sons of Korah have their complete version of the Psalm:




Psalm 84

To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.

1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord of hosts!
2 My soul longs, yes, faints
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
to the living God.

3 Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O Lord of hosts,
my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house,
ever singing your praise! Selah

5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
6 As they go through the Valley of Baca
they make it a place of springs;
the early rain also covers it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength;
each one appears before God in Zion.

8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah
9 Behold our shield, O God;
look on the face of your anointed!

10 For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does he withhold
from those who walk uprightly.
12 O Lord of hosts,
blessed is the one who trusts in you!


As we read through it today, Ethan said, "oh, the Sons of Korah, I like their Psalms! - remember I read through all the Psalms?" I love that boy!

So will you join us in the memory challenge? Choose a Psalm, there's a length appropriate for any one's learning curve, and join us! Let me know in the comments which Psalm you'll be memorizing for Thanksgiving this year.

Let everything that has breath Praise the Lord!

Fall photo shoot

Radical

The Battle

When I consider what Christ has done for me,

When I envision that bloody, rugged tree,

I understand my responsibility,

To arm my mind in the strength of His might,

To follow His steps and faithfully fight

The Battle.


When I remember the love of Calvary,

When I hear his great cry of full agony,

“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

My heart dissolves that I may give him all

and unreservedly obey His call

To Battle.


When Jesus tells me that He has died for me,

I reply in tears, “Lord, I will live for thee!”

Henceforth I leave the world and yield my body

In full surrender to His Spirit's grace,

To triumph in Him everywhere, always

In Battle.


When I discern that Christ did learn to obey

And endured the cross for the joy of the day

That the Lord made to show the eternal way,

I account joy each trial sent from Him,

And live to do His will, although be grim

The Battle.


Shall I not fight having made such profession

Like Christ who before Pilate gave confession

That His kingdom was no earthly possession?

Yes, I must strive, for He witnessed for the truth

That I might be free. His wounds show proof

Of Battle.


Yes, against sin, Jesus Christ strove unto blood,

That he might redeem His chosen unto God,

Translating His Church to heaven from the sod.

Christ spoiled powers by death's great cost,

And freed them from death's fear. The devil lost

The Battle!


When I reckon that I am free from all sin,

(Because his blood leaves no place for guilt within)

With a pure heart and good conscience, I now win.

Because he first loved me, I serve my King.

His victory secures mine; now I sing

In Battle.


So I must fight, holding not an earthly stand,

But for hearts and minds of men fights Jesus' band.

Spiritual wickedness stretches forth its hand,

But I take the armor of Jesus' might

And pull down the holds which against Him fight

In Battle.


When I think that Christ rose from the dead for me,

Over death and hell winning full victory,

Justified by Him, I have a living plea!

So through ever-living strength I fight on,

Sure to overcome, for He has won

The Battle!


~by my 19 year old brother, Isaiah