Christmas at Home

Our Jesse Tree

Entryway

Entryway table

Kitchen with little stockings from my childhood

Kid art

My happy little snowmen.

The trees on the right were a very special gift from my Paul when we were at our first appointment and I was having a most difficult time with some very mean people. 

The trees remind me of how a difficult time really pulled Paul and I together

and toughened me up for battle against sin and the ruler of darkness.  ;)

On a lighter note...

Our Gingerbread house that we made at Thanksgiving.

I was noticing that candy kept missing from it.  All the children denied it, but I knew someone was doing it!

Finally... I caught Hannah one evening with a peice of candy in her mouth that could only have come from the Gingerbread house.  She fessed up and we all were reminded that whatever sin you do in secret always comes out!!  You may be enjoying it for days or weeks, sometimes even years, but the truth always comes out.  Hannah just got a good talkin' too, after all, she's just learning about these things. 

Very cute story to tell though!

Bathroom

The kids love to play with these guys.

and these guys.

I was super excited to buy brand new bulb ornaments for our tree this year.  They were a bit costly, but I purchased 2 sets of 65, one red toned, one gold toned.   The best part is... they are unbreakable!  and will last me for years!  The sad part was that I couldn't get them all to fit!

My dear friends gave me this Alaska Nativity after I did a short-term mission trip to Alaska islands.

Mikasa Nativity

It was sad to retire Buster's stocking this year.

From left to right...

Mary, Momma, David, Hannah, Elijah, Daddy, Ann

Singing snowman given to us by my lovely MIL

One of my favorite parts of Christmas are the cards.

This year, I hope to take them down one each day starting on New Years and pray for the families.

Dining Room

Living Room 

Christmas Sunday

Yesterday was our 4th Sunday in Advent, what I like to call Christmas Sunday.We had a lovely church service followed by refreshments and gift giving.The youth sang two songs, David played a guitar solo, two of our church ladies did a skit, and one of our darling 3 year olds sang a Christmas song in Russian.   We had a Carol Sing and a nice sermon by Capt. Paul reminding us that Jesus didn't only come to save us from sin but to save us for something good in our lives.

Here are 5 of the good things that Jesus saved me for...

Merry Mary

Deep David

Articulate Ann

Excited Elijah

Happy Hannah

We need Christmas...

to remind us that Hope is not the prisoner of despair,

but the captive of faith.

We need Christmas...

 to remind us that being Holy is not being distant

from the world,

but being different in the world.

We need Christmas...

to remind us that Love is not the gift of the giver,

but the giver wrapped up in the Gift.

-General William Booth

Founder

The Salvation Army

Precious Baby Mary!

This is me...

Sigh. Smile.

This is my babe!

We've had 3 babes in this home, they all have loved standing under the table here. 

8 months old tomorrow.

17 1/2 pounds of (as my mother says... "tender juicy baby flesh!") LOVE it!!

Mary has heard her name quite a lot this month. 

We are always saying "Merry Christmas"

and she perks right up and giggles thinking that we're talking to her!

I love my babes more now than I ever have.  It just keeps getting better.

I so enjoy and marvel at watching them grow,

but I'm appreciating that one day, we won't have anymore babes in the home.  Boo hoo.

At least I should start having grandchildren by the time the littlest ones grow up. 

That way, I'll never have empty arms.

Thank you Lord, for children!  (Especially mine! hee!hee!)

Festival of Trees with Ann's Performance

Grocery Outlet sponsored this tree.  *A* (owner) did an amazing and creative job with this.  This was for the Thursday night private dinner which, among other things, also did a "paddle auction" to raise funds for the hospital and us (The Salvation Army). 

I had a hard time picking out my favorite tree.  This one was pretty eye-catching though.

THIS was my FAVORITE tree of all, but not one of the 35 sponsored trees. 

Just a lonely little tree, stuck on a table in the corner.

A Candy themed tree!

This display was a collection site for Toys for us.  It is mostly empty here because the event was not yet open to the public.  But by Saturday, when we came back, it was getting full. 

Yay!  I desperately need more toys for the 430 children we have signed up!

While Hannah RAN in tears the other direction from the Fred Meyer bear,

Mary wanted to stay and check him out.

Elijah and Bear.

David and Bear.

Ann was a little nervous before her dance class performance.  Here she is eating her fingers.

She did so good once it got started!

There's our Hannah girl!

Thank you, Lord, for putting us in a wonderful and supportive community 

Thank you for Christmas and (BUSY!) Craziness, and Celebrations that go on and on and on.

Merry CHRISTmas!

Happy Birthday Ann!

Yesterday was Ann's 5th Birthday!

She started out her day waking up to lots of birthday decorations.

Then she brought sugar cookies with hot-pink frosting to her Tuesday morning pre-school class.

Then we went to dance class.

When we got home, Ann could do anything she wanted, it's her day!

So... we played a very long restuarant/tea parlour game. 

Then she chose to watch Max & Ruby and Olivia and Spongebob.

Then she and her brother Elijah made a rocket

out of the box that Grandma and Grandma sent Christmas presents in.

Then we ended up ordering Cheese with extra cheese Pizza for her dinner party.  Ann's favorite! (I was going to make it, but I was too busy playing with the birthday girl!)

Ann with her presents.  She was very spoiled!  She got a couple of gifts from her grown-up friends at church.  Grandma and Grandpa sent a package.  Our DC sent a card with $5.  A gift from brothers and sisters, and a gift (actually 3 this year!) from Mommy and Daddy.

Getting to see her cake.

Blowing out her candles.

Opening Grandma and Grandpa *S* gift.

Waaay to much tape and plastic bags.  We're guessing that Grandpa wrapped it?!  Ha!Ha!

Paul had to break out the scissors.

So.. let me tell you Mommy and Daddy's gift story...

after Christmas last year the BEAUTIFUL big and poofy Christmas dresses were on sale at Fred Meyers for 75% off.  So I bought 2 of them for Ann and 1 for Hannah and spent like 20 bucks for all three.  I stashed them under my bed all year, so that I could give them to Ann for her birthday.  She loves big, pretty dresses!  The other thing that she's been asking for over the last several months were "bumpits"!! (She's holding them in the pic above)    I still giggle!  Everytime we saw anyone out and about who had poofy hair, Ann would turn and point and get all excited that they might have a "bumpit" on.  (A wee embarrassing!)   She got a Barbie toy from her siblings, but she was still most excited to have her very own "bumpits"!

Elijah wrapped up a couple pieces of his own gum to give to her.

Ann with a quick, sloppy bumpit hairdo.

David tried on the little one.

Elijah too.

Thank you, Lord, for my little girl!!  What a JOY she is!!

The Good (and not so good) of the last couple weeks

GOOD....
-Going to the Festival of Trees (private fundraiser dinner) with my hubby.  Looking at all the trees and sharing a fabulous meal with some very fabulous people from the community at our table.  A very lovely evening. I got to give the speech (when would I ever say no to talking???).

-Going to the Festival of Trees with our family two days later.  In all the years we've lived here, we've never gone, then BAM we get to go twice in one week.  We looked at all the trees together and then... watched Ann perform with her dance class!!  SO CUUUUTE!!

-Getting our Christmas Tree.  Everyone takes a turn sawing except for Mary and I who are videotaping. (I mostly like to video tape rear-ends, but I got a little of their faces in too ;)  The boys carried the tree back to the car.  But the BEST part of all was watching Paul, who insisted on driving while reaching his arm up and through the window to hold the tree to the roof of the car while we drove down to the paying station that had the rope.  (I hope I painted a good enough picture in your mind.)  It was HILARIOUS!  Especially when the tree started falling off twice.  And once, Paul actually let go to wave to some people we know (!?!?) only to remember he should be holding the tree as the tree flew off the car.  I swear, I kept insisting I help,  but I was a good wifey and obeyed his instruction- "just stay out of it".    We are still laughing! 

-Hosting our Advisory Board and Staff Christmas Party at Casa El Mirador.  Two very nice blessings-- first was that one of our employees brought me flowers.  Made my night.   Second, I sat next to a lady, an AB member's guest, who was visiting from Homer, Alaska.  I love Alaska and loved hearing every detail she gave me about Homer and life up there. 

I better make this shorter...

-Watching Elijah's Christmas performance at school.

-Having our friends over for dinner. 

-Having a God-appointed conversation with someone in a parking lot.

-Hearing my oldest son tactfully and respectfully correct me when I messed up his Christmas gift exchange present for school.  (Long story, but he was right, I was wrong)

-Surprise visit from our Divisional Commanders who came bearing gifts for all the children and us too.

-Cozying up most nights with a fire, a movie, and Christmas decor.

-Celebrating my first daughter's 5th Birthday today.  It is ANNday all day long.  (I'll post pics tomorrow, as we're not done celebrating yet!)


Not So Good....
-Catching Mary (the baby) sucking down a bottle of Elmers Glue.

-Slipping and falling on the ice.

-Slipping and falling on the ice for the second time.

-Trying to agree, as a family,  on what Christmas tree to get!

-Forgetting to return the saw to the Christmas tree farm and having to drive all the way back to deliver it.

-Bickering with Paul about the balloon and table decorations for the AB/Staff Christmas Party. me: "Just let me do the balloons MY way!  I can handle it! I run this event, remember??"      Paul: "but Rachel, I'll untangle them so you don't have to cut them"      me: "we don't have enough time to untangle 30 balloons, I'm cutting them.  Now move back before I cut you too"    Paul:  big smile     me:  "I mean it!"     Paul:  big smile

-Freezing cold all day every day.  I'm looooonging for Spring.  The only thing good about Winter is Christmas.

Humble vs. Proud

I wanted to share this from Nancy Leigh Demoss.  Food for thought...

"Humble vs. Proud"

1. Proud people focus on the failures of others. Broken people are overwhelmed with the sense of their own spiritual need .

2. Proud people are self-righteous- have a critical, fault-finding spirit looking at everyone else’s faults with a microscope but their own with a telescope. They look down on others. Broken people are compassionate. They can forgive much because they know how much they have been forgiven. They think the best of others and esteem all others better themselves.

3. Proud people have an independent, self-sufficient spirit. Broken people have a dependent spirit and recognize their need for others .

4. Proud people have to prove that they are right. Broken people are willing to yield the right to be right.

5. Proud people claim rights and have demanding spirit . Broken people yield their rights and have a meek spirit.

6. Proud people are self-protective of their time and their rights and their reputation.
Broken people are self-denying.

7. Proud people desire to be served. Broken people are motivated to serve others.

8. Proud people desire to be a success. Broken people are motivated to be faithful and make others successful.

9. Proud people desire for self-advancement. Broken people desire to promote others .

10. Proud people have a drive to be recognized and appreciated and are wounded when others are promoted and they are overlooked. Broken people have a sense of their own unworthiness and are thrilled that God would use them at all in any ministry, they are eager to give others the credit and they rejoice when others are lifted up .

11. Proud people have a sub conscious feeling this ministry is privileged to have me and my gifts and they think of what they can do for God. Broken people have a heart attitude that says I don't deserve to have any part in this ministry and they have nothing to offer to God, but the life of Jesus flowing through their broken lives.

12. Proud people feel confident in how much they know. Broken people are humbled by how very much they have to learn.
13. Proud people are self conscious. Broken people are not concerned with self at all.

14. Proud people keep others at arms length. Broken people are willing to risk getting close to others and loving intimately.

15. Proud people are quick to blame others. Broken people accept personal responsibility and can see where they were wrong in a situation.

16. Proud people are unapproachable. Broken people are easy to be entreated.

17. Proud people are defensive when criticized. Broken people receive criticism with an open, humble Spirit.

18. Proud people are concerned with being respectable and what others think and working to protect their own image and reputation. Broken people are concerned with being real what they care about is what God knows and are willing to die to their own reputation.

19. Proud people find it difficult to share their spiritual needs with others. Broken people are willing to be open and transparent with others as God directs.

20. Proud people want to be sure that no one knows they have sinned to cover up. Broken people are willing to be exposed because they have nothing to lose.

21. Proud people have a hard time in saying, “I was wrong, will you forgive me.”
Broken people are quick to admit their failures and seek forgiveness when necessary.

22. Proud people in confessing their sins, tend to deal in generalities. Broken people are able to deal with the specific conviction of God's spirit.

23. Proud people fear consequences of their sin. Broken people are grieved over the cause the root of their sin.

24. Proud people are remorseful they got found out. Broken people are repentant over their sin which is evidenced by the fact they forsake them

25. Proud people when misunderstood in relationships, wait for the other one to come and ask for forgiveness. Broken people take the initiative to see if they can get to the Cross first no matter how wrong the other may have been.

26. Proud people compare themselves with others and feel worthy of honor. Broken people compare themselves with the holiness of God and feel a desperate need for mercy.

27. Proud people are blind to their real heart condition. Broken people walk in the light

28. Proud people think they have nothing to be repentant of. Broken people realize that they have a need of a continual heart attitude of repentance.

29. Proud people are unbroken and don't think they need revival, but they are sure everyone else does. Broken people continually sense their need for a fresh encounter with God for a fresh filling of His Holy Spirit.

Which are you?