A Snow Day or Three

This has been the scene the last few days... 

so Monday and Tuesday we just hibernated... happily!

It wasn't just snowy, its been bitter cold.

We only left Wednesday night for Christmas play practice.

I love it, 

staying in our pj's, 

baking constantly, 

making a bigger mess than usual because we have nowhere to be and no need to clean up.

Taking extra time to make a nice dinner,

watching Christmas movies over and over.

Here is what our hibernating looks like.

Reading about the birth of Jesus and putting sticker in our mangers scenes as we read.

Helping make Daddy's favorite...

poppy-seed cake and rice krispie treats.

Sadly all good things must come to an end.

But we have a weekend of fun and memory making ahead, 

and I get to go shopping kid free tonight.

There is good in everything.

If your snuggled in warm in your fuzzy robe and slippers, 

or out at the mall braving the crowds...

find the joy!

I Blame You and God Should Too.

God has been calling me out lately.
 I hate when that happens...
but I guess I'm also flattered that He takes the time to notice that I need the lesson.

He's got a lot going on don't you think?

So I'm humbled when I hear so directly from Him.

It went something like this....

Me: Lord I don't understand why everything is so crazy around here lately...
Please help me to be patient.
I'm so tired of all the running around, all the drama, all the late and busy nights.
Why can't they do.... XYZ
Why can't she just.... blah blah blah....
 Really they are creating these issues... can't you deal with them Lord?
It would make everything so much easier!

Are you seeing the problem yet?
(If you are pat yourself on the back because I was not.) 


So here is what God said... and by "said" I mean this verse which I don't know popped into my head 
and I looked it up...

Isaiah 1:13 ~ Stop bringing me meaningless offerings!

Ok... God is usually a little gentler with me.
But I immediately knew what He was saying to me.


God: What are you really praying about? Yourself? Or everyone else?

So at that point in my prayer time I felt bad but still as though I didn't quite get it...
my prayers were meaningless?
The time I was giving to God that morning was meaningless?
Why?
Because I was talking to God about what everyone in my life was doing to me.
What everyone was asking of me.
What everyone was needing from me.
me... me... me versus them.... them... them....

I don't think that God minds when we vent to Him, I think we should speak to God like a friend.
But I think His point to me was that this is what all our conversations lately looked like.

So I prayed to be shown better... and God showed me John chapter 5.
Again the amazing thing was I had no idea what was in John chapter 5.

What I found was the story of a man who had been an invalid for 38 years.
He was waiting by the healing waters of Bethesda.
When Jesus saw him he said "Do you want to be well?"

I read that and thought... what a ridiculous question! Who wouldn't want to be well?

But do you know that the man didn't say yes....
He instead gave Jesus his short list of reasons why he hadn't been made well by the waters yet.

"Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred.

While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me."

To paraphrase:

"Them... them... them....

no one will help me....

everyone pushes in front of me...

no one notices me...

they are all selfish...

they are greedy...

 they are the reason I am this way.

pity me...." 
Now... I have no experience learning how to study the bible,
I am not qualified in any way to teach anyone about faith or God. 
This is just what God was showing me in this story....

Quit blaming others for your circumstances.
Quit judging they're actions so harshly.
Do you think I don't see? 
Do you not trust Me to deal with them the way I'm dealing with you now?
Its not My will for you to be bitter and frustrated.
When you are to act or speak I'll tell you...
until then don't stew...just let Me change you, 
and in doing so you will be doing My will.
And most of all pray for those you feel have wronged you... pray My will for them.
Now.... "Do you want to be well?"


wow..... ouch......


So what is God's will for them?

Well the day after God dealt with me on this subject this verse was the daily verse in my bible.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.

Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9

Not surprisingly the sermon on Sunday was all about this same topic of being critical and judgmental.
Without going off on another tangent, 
it was about the woman who washed Jesus feet with her hair and her tears.... 
Its in Luke 7:36-50.
Read it if you have time.


It is a hard thing when God holds a mirror up to your face.
But it is a beautiful thing to see all the little details of his lesson for you 
and to know He loves you enough to take the time to show you.

So my point in saying this all?

When you hold resentment toward another,

you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. 

Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free.
Catherine Ponder
Are you overly critical?
Are you blaming others for everything?
When you pray, what is the point?
Do you sound like my four year old ratting out her little brother?

Try forgiveness instead.
Try letting God handle it.
Love covers over a multitude of sins, and it keeps no record of wrongs.


That is why the Bible tells us that God is love
Go to Him... He can show you how.

Last Weekend

We had a really busy weekend, and a busy week... and another crazy weekend.....
That is why on Sunday night I'm writing (or rather editing) a post I wrote on Wednesday
about LAST weekend....
Got all that?

So to save my brain a bit of effort I'm going to show more pictures and type less.

Here we go...

We had a birthday.... this is my attempt at a number three pancake...

 It was before eight am and I was getting three kids ready for church.... gimme a break.

Also ignore the weird face he is making.... who knows?

After church we took a quick nap... and by we I mean they... then we headed to Nana's for his Big Birthday Bash.

Decorations by Aunt Julie.

Thank God for Nana's house, but I can't wait till ours is big enough to host these things.

And what else could we do besides a Buzz theme? The boy has an unhealthy obsession... but its cute.

Here is Daddy praying for Tommy's year ahead.

I always love this part.

And here is Daddy yelling at Mommy for letting them put red icing on the cake....

 "It will stain everything! Quit laughing and get me a napkin!!!"

I'm of the school of thought that it is one day... let them go nuts, who cares?

Apparently their father does.

Father knows best?

And the grand finale? He is now a card carrying member of the NRA.

 Uh-oh

Are you eyes watering yet... there is more...

We also got our Christmas tree on Saturday morning, we looked at the calendar and realized it was our last chance for awhile so we took it.

 I know I'm their mother... but this is adorable
.Many layers later we made it to the tree farm.

He looks scared of me doesn't he?

And it seemed we were always going uphill though I know its not possible...

I said to Tom at the outset "We have three small kids, I'm 29 weeks pregnant, lets not go far."

I even said "Not over there at least..." and pointed way across a valley near a pond.

To no avail... the trees in that direction were the best and he knew it.

...she is not outdoorsy either...

 everyone got a turn "helping" Dad with the saw.

Pictures with the tree...
 and timber!!!

 Then me back to the nice warm car... here is me and number 4 getting toasty again.

And last but not least.... first Christmas outfits of the season!

.... whew... maybe I'll get to write about this weekend sometime before Christmas....
I can dream!
 To all a good night!


P.S. If you like the new header and pictures I'll be writing all about that very soon!
My awesome sister in law did them for us... It really deserves its own post!

Ok... for real... good night :)

Dear Tommy,

Dear Tommy,

It's snowing a lot today, just like it did three years ago when you were born. I love it...

I can't explain the joy you have given us the last three years.

You were the sweetest, most content baby, you ate, slept and smiled all the time.

I don't say that lightly anymore... 

your brother is loved beyond measure but I would never call him "easy going".

Its a compliment for sure, 

but even when you are a screaming, crying mess I would still not trade you for the world...

maybe for a few hours... but I could never stay away for long.

 You are a joy to your Daddy too.

I remember trying to shop with him for things for Bella, and wondering why he didn't seem to be having fun.

Now when we go out to get Christmas gifts I have to remind him about our budget
as he dreams about race tracks and nerf guns he can buy for you... or himself?

You brought out something in him I hadn't seen before, its him when he was a little boy.

totally precious.

And to see you be little brother and now big brother to these two melts my heart.

 You are in a tough spot little man, you sort of have a balancing act to perform.

Never the first to do anything, 

but never the baby either.

I don't envy you, and it won't be easy. But then nothing worthwhile ever is.
God gave you this spot in our family because he knew it was a job made just for you.

You have to be patient with someone smaller who you can boss.... sometimes,
and someone bigger... who is going to boss you... sometimes.

I know that part of that sweet nature God gave you was just for this role.

 Don't misunderstand, you do have your moments and meltdowns....  just like anyone.

But the phrase "a rose between two thorns" keeps popping into my head.

 So happy happy happy birthday to you my sweet baby.
Hold on tight to that joy and sweetness that is so much a part of you.
Its God given.... so keep it always.

When your Daddy prayed for you today he said may we have a hundred years more together,
and may the days go slowly....  I'm sure a hundred years won't be enough.
But I'll say Amen.

Love, Mommy

Just Yesterday....

I cried myself to sleep last night because it was Tommy's last night in his crib.

These milestones are getting harder with each child.

Since he is going to be three this weekend we thought now would be a good time to take the binky.

 I don't care what you think of him still having a bink in bed at nearly three.... 

he's mine and I'll do what I want.

 Well he is mostly mine....but as you can see here I have to share him quite a bit.

Anyway we also need the crib soon for the new addition coming in about eleven weeks, give or take.

(Right now I'm thinking: OH MY GOSH SERIOUSLY!?!?... But I'll spare you that tangent...)

I didn't want him to equate the new baby with losing his bed so we decided now was the time for both.
The big boy bed would be the reward for giving up the binky.

So tonight we tucked him in with a new pillow, on Daddy's old bed, 

with the sheets and blanket he used in college back when we first met.

 It was a bit surreal.

 He was happy for the most part, he asked for his binky once, to help him be happy he said.

God help me it was all I could do not to give in.... and he didn't even cry. I'm just a sucker.

But I know a clean break will be easier in the end.

 I tell myself over and over again not to blink...

not to miss these days...

to hold on... enjoy... 

write it all down on my heart and in this space....

But I just can't seem to hold on tight enough to slow it down... they just keep growing.

And I keep thinking,  

Wasn't it just yesterday....?

December First

Let it Snow...

Let it snow....

Let it Snow....

Tom woke me up this morning and told me to look out the window :)

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Picture Perfect Holiday

I had pictured a picture perfect Thanksgiving.

Lots of lounging around, lots of baking, lots of food and family and fun.

And of course some really cute clothes on the kids and a camera in hand to capture it all.

In the end I  did lots of lounging.... Mostly on the bathroom floor....

I did no baking, Tom filled my obligation for apple dumplings.

I ate next to nothing....

And when I finally crawled out of the house to visit in the afternoon I was wearing sweatpants...

and God only knows what the kids had on because I didn't even care where my camera was.

Forget Tommy's adorable tweed three piece suit.

Never mind about Daniel's sweet little cable knit sweater.

I'm sure we can find another occasion for Bella's gold and cream party dress with the matching cardigan.

Bella got this nasty stomach bug on Monday.

By Wednesday night my sainted husband was baking sixty-four apple dumplings while waiting on me and changing Daniel and his sheets four times.... and he even did laundry...

 I don't think he went to bed until after two in the morning

I am blessed beyond measure by that man....

 

Friday Tom was back to work...

Saturday too.... then Saturday night and Sunday it was my turn to play nurse to him and Tommy.

I'm still not sure Tommy was actually sick but he was up every hours crying until I took him to sleep in my bed well after midnight.... so I'm gonna count it cause he seemed miserable.

I am sad....

I am disillusioned by it all.... I feel like I slipped into a coma and missed the holiday entirely.

I am still craving a big turkey dinner with all the trimmings.

I want to watch the parade with the kids...

I want to make the apple dumplings, and have one fresh.... not three days old.

I want to make hand print turkeys...

I want a do over!!!

And now I have to wait a whole year, and I am sad.

I will recover though, only thanks to Christmas.

I just need the right amount of cheer to get me in the mood.

This is one of those moods that you have to make a concerted effort to pull yourself out of.

 

So tonight I'm going to Micheal's... glorious wonder of Christmas crafting.  

  then I'm going to watch a Christmas movie

 Tomorrow night we have practice for the Christmas pageant at church....

and I'm in charge of the crafts.

And through it all I will be listening to the 24/7 Christmas music station.

If you could all do me a big favor and pray for the one thing that I can't orchestrate...

the one thing that would make me perk up all by itself.... snow.

It is supposed to be on its way soon.... and I'm hoping it hurries.

Nothing says Christmas like that beautiful white stuff. 

“Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord. 

“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;

though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

Isaiah 1:18