Merry Christmas

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" Luke 2:11-14

Merry Christmas!

Jeremy reading the Christmas story this morning before placing baby Jesus in the nativity set (Carson's highlight....didn't get a picture of that because my camera was acting up)

Seeing their gifts for the first time

Clueless little Lydi

Breakfast

This picture describes Bryn's morning....all she cared about was the candy and she went through about 5 lollipops....she looks as if she's in a drunken stupor from her candy.

A couple weeks ago Carson brought home wrapped Christmas gifts for Jeremy and I from the church nursery. Jeremy's gift was 2 ornaments of Carson, we LOVE it!

Carson will be starting a little basketball league in a couple weeks...we figured he should at least know how to dribble:)

Leigh with her kiddos, Ava & Emet

Sweet kiddos!

Christmas Eve

We had a fun Christmas Eve with family and friends. Jon (Jeremy's brother), Leigh, Ava & Emet came to celebrate Christmas with us and we had Christmas Eve dinner together. Then Jason, Cayce, Reese, Will, Stu & Clark came over for dessert, the Christmas felt board story, singing "Happy Birthday Jesus" and Charlie Brown Christmas movie. Fun memories!

dinner on Christmas Eve

Jon reading the Christmas story to all the kids (no easy task!)

The kiddos enjoying their sweets

snuggles with Jeremy

To "do" or to "be"

I have really enjoyed reading the blog Making Home. Today she posted a blog recapping some of her posts from 2008 so I started looking back over some of those posts and I was so encouraged! In the midst of getting ready for Christmas and traveling it is so easy to get overwhelmed with the "to-do" list of cleaning, cooking, shopping, wrapping, laundering, packing....all while trying to love my husband and children and maintain our home. It is a mental fight to meditate on the true meaning of Christmas and worship God for the indescribable gift of Jesus....Immanuel! I do not want to be like Martha and fail to spend time at Jesus' feet during this Christmas season.

When I came across this post I was so challenged, it's exactly what I need to hear during these days. It's a breath of fresh air and a good kick in the rear...I hope it does the same for you. Here is the portion of her post that really challenged me:



Instead of asking ourselves, "what am I going to DO today?",
we should be asking, "who am I going to BE today?"

And set our goals accordingly!

For example:

• I'm going to be a respectful and happy wife to my husband.
• I'm going to be a woman who meditates on the Word of God daily.
• I'm going to be a responsive and affectionate mother for my child(ren).
• I'm going to be a diligent student.
• I'm going to be a woman who offers grace instead of judgment to the people around me.
  
• I'm going to work efficiently (as unto the Lord) on what needs to be done at work/home today.
• I'm going to be a woman of prayer, lifting up concerns throughout the day to God.
• and on and on and on.

Does this shift in thinking help you as much as it helps me? I hope so! It helps me to think of the kind of character I want to have (which will then translate into the actions I choose), rather than focusing on the actions themselves. And of course, none of it is possible on our own. We can't "muster up" a gracious spirit or a responsive attitude, at least not consistently. But we CAN be any and all of these things when we are prayerfully submitted to God as women.

I am so convicted by this and yet a sweet freedom comes when I'm reminded that God cares so much more about who I am then the checks by my "to-do" list! Praise God!

Another one of those moments...

About 3 months ago I did a post about "One of those moments" and many of you commented on that and appreciated seeing the real deal around our home. So, as I was nursing Lydia downstairs while Carson and Bryn were "playing" up in the bonus room this morning I overheard tears and screaming so decided to grab my camera as I went to the crime scene:) Enjoy!

Staff Christmas Party

Last night was our Crosspoint Staff Christmas Party and we had a great time. We really love this group of people and enjoy every opportunity we have to be with them. God has been so good to us as we reflect together on the last 3 years since our church was planted. We count it a privilege to serve our Great God with these wonderful people.

Jeremy & I at the party

Cayce & Jason

One of the highlights of the night is our white elephant gift exchange. Everyone brings a wrapped $10 gift and we do the white elephant game together. Matt is showing off his Michael Jordan cologne as Ken looks on.

Gray & Brandy

Jon opening his "interesting" gift

Sarah opening her gift...which was stolen by Sharon later

Poor Gray ended up with the gift Jeremy brought...sorry Gray:(

Dara & Jeremy

This week our dear friends Dara & Jeremy came to visit for a couple nights. Dara is my good friend from Slovakia. We became close friends during our two years in Slovakia on STINT with Campus Crusade. She is so special to me and it has been a blessing to be a part of each others' lives for the past 7 years. Amazingly she married Jeremy, a Clemson grad! She and Jeremy are on staff with Campus Crusade in Slovakia and it is a joy to support their ministry there. They are in the States to visit Jeremy's family, go to new staff training, raise financial support and.....to have a BABY in July! I'm so excited for them! We had a good visit with them and helped them (or scared them to death) see a picture of life with little kids.

Jeremy & Dara at lunch with us in Clemson

Dara & Lydia (she is going to be a great mom!)

Our Little Reindeers

A struggle

There is a very real struggle to being a stay at home mom (actually there are many) and today I read this blog post from "Making Home" (a great blog I enjoy reading from another stay at home mom) and it nailed this "struggle" I'm referring to. I strongly encourage you to read it. Many times there is an inner battle and fight telling me that I really need to get "out there" to have real significance and worth. It's easy to forget that this is "ministry" and not put more value on other types of "ministry" that I see others doing. It's so tempting to believe these lies and forget the great calling that God has given me as a mom to invest my life into these little ones. It truly is a privilege to be a mom and to stay home with them to invest time and energy into training and teaching them about the Lord. I often take this for granted and lose perspective but today I'm reminded in a fresh way what a great responsibility and calling this is. I want to fight against the thoughts and messages that tell me that I'm wasting my time or abilities while being at home with small children. Lord, help me to think rightly from your Word as I seek to honor you in my role as mom and homemaker!

Relaxed!!!!

This summer I had the incredible privilege to come along side and encourage 4 wonderful women of God during our time in Hilton Head on Summer LINK. At the end of our time there we had a banquet and these 4 women surprised me with a gift certificate for a massage here in town. The massage was called a "Fourth Trimester" massage to help your body become "one" again after having a baby. This morning I finally cashed in on my gift and had an incredible massage! It was amazing! I'm still half asleep now. I almost went to sleep during the massage. It was so relaxing and hit the spot! I am so thankful for this wonderful gift from these wonderful women! Thank you girls, I love you!!!

This picture was taken at the banquet this summer (and I'm not missing that big belly at all!)

Tara, Becca, Liz, Ashley & Claire

9 years

Today is our 9 year wedding anniversary! It is hard to believe that 9 years have already flown by. This time 9 years ago I was getting ready to walk down that isle with my dad to enter into a covenant with Jeremy and be united as husband and wife. It was a wonderful day celebrating with family and friends and rejoicing in the goodness of our God! Jeremy, you truly are my best friend and partner in life! I can't imagine life without you and I don't want to. You are so central to much of my life and I adore you! Thank you for 9 wonderful years of marriage. God has used you to sanctify me, encourage me, comfort me, grow me, and teach me. I often take you for granted but today as I reflect on our marriage I am humbled that you are mine and I am yours and the faithfulness of God is so apparent! I am thankful for how you lead our family, for how you love us, for how you provide for us, and for how you make us laugh and enjoy life! I love being with you and I look forward to many more years of life with you, my love! Now hurry up and get home so we can go on our hot date:)

4 month stats

I took Lydia to her 4 month well-check appointment today. I'm so thankful for her life and her health. Here are her 4 month stats:

Weight: 14 lbs. 6 oz. (50%)
Length: 25 in. (75%)
Head: 16 1/4 in. (50%)

As of now she is smaller than Carson and Bryn. At 4 months Carson was 17 lbs. 6 oz. and 27 in. long and Bryn at 4 months was 16 lbs. 12 oz. and 27 in. long.

I am so enjoying her and this stage of babyhood. I was reading in my What to Expect the First Year and this is what that book has to say about the 4 month old baby:

"Someone's all smiles this month-and as a result, chances are you'll be, too. Your infant is just entering what might be considered the golden age of babyhood-a period of several enchanted months when good humor reigns during the day, more sleep is happening at night, and independent mobility has yet to be achieved (which means your baby will continue to stay pretty much where you put him or her, limiting mischief and mayhem; enjoy this while it lasts). Sociable and interested, eager to strike up a cooing conversation, to watch the world go by, and to charm anyone within a ten-foot radius, babies this age are an undeniable delight to be around."

I can't agree more!

Lydia is 4 months

Lydia is 4 months old today! We love her so much. I'm enjoying her more and more as we see her personality come out. She seems to be pretty laid back and cuddly...especially with her momma:) I'm so thankful that she is now sleeping a good 12 hours at night! She goes to the pediatrician on Monday so I'll have her 4 month stats then. I realize with my third baby how fast it really does go by so I'm really trying to savor this time with her. I am in no rush for her to grow up and do the next thing. She is a joy!

The Clemson Christmas Parade

Last night was the Clemson Christmas Parade so we met the Finleys and Amy for an early dinner then headed downtown to watch our small town parade! The kids love this fun Christmas time tradition.

Carson, Reese, Will & Bryn watching the parade

Stu & Clark watching the parade

Bryn taking it all in (she eventually got out of her stroller...just takes her awhile to venture out sometimes)

Lydia all bundled up, not sure what all those noises were

It was cold!

Carson shaking hands with the Papa John "pizza"

Daniel High School marching band

Carson, Bryn & Reese dancing to the marching band

Christmas Party

Last night was our upperclassmen connecting point Christmas party at our house. Every Monday night during the school year we lead an upperclassmen CP group in our home and we love it! We so enjoy college students and being involved in their lives. As I shared last night, they help to keep Jeremy and I young...and we need it since we continue to get older every year while college students stay the same age:) But, more importantly I love how God uses them in my life to spur me on towards love and good deeds! I am also so thankful for the impact that are having and will continue to have on my children. I love the thought of my kids growing up around college students who love Jesus! So, thank you to all you students (you know who you are) who love on my kids!

Stefanie & Susan decked out in their Christmas outfits

Table full of Christmas goodies

Gathered together to sing Christmas carols and share

Our CP group

And a silly one of course