Now What?

The kids pulled stuffies made from socks(not made by Mommy), little toys and clothes out of their stockings

Daddy helped, since somehow things are always stuck in there really tight, probably an overstuffing issue, which I doubt will get better.

 Lex loving his big 'tuk', Eliz opening her long awaited scooter.

 Her bike is to big to keep in the house, and to ride around easily, so now she and Xander can chase each other around the house-he on his little radio flyer scooter, and she on her big girl decked-out pink scooter.

 Daddy knew what one of his gifts was-thanks to Eliz telling him the day we got it, but he was still pleased.  He's got his new robe over his shoulder, the one I'm wearing as I type this.

 And I got what I'd been wanting, the laptop I'm iusing now to write this post.

I didn't take pictures of Jesus' birthday cake, or the time spent with family-tho I did remember to take the camera, I never got it out.  We came home that night, after two family dinners and lots of playing and laughter, Bry-D and I understanding why our parents were always so worn out after Christmas, and the kids ready both to play and to sleep.  Eliz got her first real Barbie(Aunt Cheryl knows just what a little girl wants), Lex got a set of just-his-size tractors-a clever regift from his Aunt(technically cousin) Kris, in a few days I'll go get a Children's Museum of Indianapolis family + 2 membership, thanks to my parents & sister's honoring my request to them.  It was hard for my mom, who loves watching gifts be opened, but she did well.  All in all, a very good day.

But now that it's over, and the New Year seems to be looming ever bigger, I'm  wondering what next?  After putting so much into this time of year, how do I follow it?  We had gotten back into the habit of breakfast devotionals, thanks to having a Jesse Tree for Advent.  I want to keep it up, but what to follow it with? 

And what should my goals for this year be?  I write out a list of goals each year, and this past year I scrapped my lists and spent most of the year de-cluttering.  I have an organized attic, and garage, something that gives me a freakish amount of joy.  Only one room in the house, the ever evolving play/sewingroom, remains to be organised.  Perhaps I should revisit last years' lists and just use those?

Blue Herron visit

He was up there for about a half hour, just observing, the way Herrons do.  How much more would I see, if I stood as still as him?

Getting close

 It's a short distance for Joseph and Mary from where they are to the stable.  By tomorrow, they'll be getting settled in with the cows and sheep.  Then, the Babe will be here, and all the hub-bub will be over.  It's been along journey, but I'm already thinking of what's to come after the next few days are over.  I wonder how far ahead they were thinking.

Merry Christmas Candy

The first picture was taken with my cell, I cleaned it up before I thought to take a picture with the camera.  The candy dish was filled last night after kids were in bed...

Hmm, one piece of candy left, and chocolate handprints

 Well, he's eating chips there's evidence on his cheeks of other savory food...

 Oh, yes, that's chocolate.  He had help, though I didn't catch his accomplice.

Gift giving in our home

Gift giving often reflects one's value system.  What kind of gift, how many gifts, the cost of the gift(s), tell alot about a person.  Also the person's attitude-both the receiver and the one giving-reveals so much about a person's character.  A bitter gift-giver can also be called a joy-stealer.  A bitter receiver is ungrateful, and makes everyone miserable.  Once we had Eliz, Bry-D and I had our first real talk about values.  Odd, that it wasn't until she was sitting in front of us that we had that conversation.  We knew we wanted to instill the same values, but the how and why of it was different for both of us.  We came from different families, and had importance placed on different things.  We had the same goal, we just had to find out how to reach that goal.  We found that the best way to do that was to make our own way-not to do things the way "his" or "my" family had done it, but to do it totally differently from either of our families.    We agreed that spending time together doing something, playing with each other, or games or reading books was far more important to us than a party or more "things", so for birthdays, one simple, useful gift, and picking a fun activity would be our tradition.  Birthday Parties with friends are every other year(so that as we add birthdays we aren't planning several each year) & instead of recieving presents, we donate to a charity.  It's on the invites and reminders that any gifts will be donated to charity, in the hopes that people realise we're serious, we really don't want gifts.  So far, no one has ever had a problem with this. 

Our Christmas tradition, however, we have had to fight for.  That's mainly because Santa doesn't come to our house.  At all.  Originally, it was because I wasn't interested in putting forth the effort Santa takes.  Trip to the mall or anyplace for a picture?  Not happening.  Remembering to set out cookies and milk?  Right, 'cause I remember stuff like that(whatever) And then, the more we talked, the we more realised, Santa was very contrary to what we wanted to teach our children-mostly that they didn't need material things to be happy, or even to be content.  And Santa's purpose is to bring things.  For the first time, it occurred to me that Santa really has nothing to do with Jesus' birthday.  That's when things really started to come together for us.  Instead of having Santa come, we would celebrate Jesus birthday. 

After a few years of no Santa, we were discussing Santa at MOPs, and one of the moms that did have Santa bring gifts said something I had never thought of.  She stated that telling your children that Santa exists and brings toys, is a lie.  It had never occured to me, it just seemed more like a cultural thing-this is what we do, and we really don't think about why we do it. 

So, if we don't "do" Santa, what do we do?  Since I have a severe sweet tooth, and will find any reason to have cake for breakfast, we have all white birthday cupcakes, with candles, and sing Happy Birthday. 

And that brings us to gifts.  We emphasize that the gift Jesus really wants from us is our hearts, our love, and our obedience. 

But that since Jesus isn't physically there to give a gift, we give each other gifts instead.  And that's when Bry-D said something that I love.  It's not his exact wording, but it's close.

The Three Wisemen brought Jesus three gifts.  They were all gifts He would use, gifts that had a purpose, and I like that.  I don't want to give things just to give them, I want there to be a reason for those gifts-just like even the gift of Jesus being born had a reason.  Let's give no more than three gifts, and they have to be really well thought out.  (I really like being able to fill a stocking with candy and fun little things, so we also hang stockings.)

We read the Christmas Story from the Gospel of Luke-using a Child's Bible, for the sake of the kids, we open our gifts, and empty our stockings. 

Simple.
Purposeful.

And that's where our Christmas traditions began.  This year we've added to it-celebrating Advent, which we've all enjoyed so much, I know we'll be doing it each year from now on.  Something else I'd like to add next year is giving to a charity-maybe giving up getting one of our gifts to do it?  I don't know how we'll fit it in, but after reading about it, my heart yearns for this to be a part of our traditions.  I hope you enjoyyour Christmas traditions, whatever they are.  I hope they grow and evolve with you, as you grow and evolve.

Another snow day

Bry-D built a tunnel with Eliz, since the snow wouldn't pack well enough to make a snowman.

 Poor dogs, always on the outside, er, inside watching all the fun.

 The next day, Eliz & Lex played with the tunnel some more.

 Then they tried to do their favorite outdoor sport-bike riding.

 Didn't go so well.

 However, he's his father's son, and was determined to make it happen.

 Meanwhile, Eliz and I hung up our ice ornaments

 She called herself the Stop Sign Sheriff, and was planning on making sure all the cars stopped.  Then I offered hot cocoa and the cars were left to decide for themselves whether or not to stop.

 I find it painful to acknowledge the fact that very quickly, his footprint will be the big one, and mine will be the small one.

My favorite Christmas so far!

I rely heavily on other bloggers to come up with ideas for me.  That way, I don't have to think as much, and I like that.  So, when Kimba talked about Ann's great Jesse Tree Advent Devotional, my interest was piqued.  After I saw it, I was estatic!  It was just what I had been looking for, something to take the days leading to Christmas deeper, give Christmas much more meaning than gifts, presents, and decorations and music.  (I will say that I'm a Christmas music lover.  The last week of Novemeber is pure torture-I have rules in place to hide my additcion) Last year we didn't really have Christmas, b/c Bry-D was hurt.  I had been thinking for months that I wanted to make sure this year we established some traditions, and that Christmas didn't sneak up on me as it did last year.  So, I printed everything out, cut the pictures for the ornaments, and used red ribbon for hanging.  I got down our 3ft tree form last year, when Bryan was hurt and we couldn't have our regular tree.  Here's the set up-

Because of some of the daily applications, we needed a Nativity.  Or at the very least, a manger and a Baby Jesus.  I sent Bry-D a text that I wante dhim to help me pick out a Nativity, he thought I meant one for the yard.  A big, plastic glowing one. Umm, no.  Not my style.  We did get a plastic one, by Playmobile, but we promised each other that someday we would get a breakable one.  When it wasn't likely to get broken.  This gave us the opportunity to do something I'd heard of from other people-have the people of the Nativity journey through the house to get to the Nativity.

The animals go through the day unaware of what's coming closer with each passing day...                              

The Magi, who have now gotten across one section of kitchen cabinets       

Mary & Joseph, also in the kitchen, right now on the windowsill.    I imagine that they aren't aware of the close proximity of the Magi now, any more than they were 2000  years ago.

Joseph and Mary are passing the grass we're growing from seeds planted (almost daily)in remembrance of kind acts towards others.  Soon enough we'll cut the grass to lay on the manger, to make a soft bed for the Babe. 

My not-quite-finished tree skirt.  I think it needs more embriodery, I just don't know what.

The first snow day!

Bry-D is off on Mondays, which worked out nicely since the snow had been falling for days.

 I don't know if his boots were to big, or he just had to learn how to walk with snow pants on in the snow, but it was cute to watch!

 Bilibo + Rope + Daddy = Sledding down the empty street

 Nothing to it, just hold the rope and let Daddy run, easier than pie!

 Well, almost easy

 Bry-D enjoyed himself

 Though it was much easier this way.

 Bry-D began shoveling the driveway, with some help

 The snow was rather deep in some areas.

 Poor dogs had to stay inside the fence and watch the fun.

We love snow!

Men that mop are HOT!

All dressed up and nowhere to go!